C4 | Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 | THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL | www.dnj.

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MTSU 2008-09 Basketball Preview

TEAM BREAKDOWNS BY DNJ MTSU BEAT WRITERS MONTE HALE JR. AND ADAM SPARKS

Womens Roster
Chelsia Lymon
Height: 5-5
Comment
Averaged 9.4 points a game last season, and led team with 55 3-pointers

Guard I 00
Class: JR.

Questions about the Blue Raider men for 08-09

Mens Roster
Eric Allen
Height: 6-4
Comment
JuCo transfer has 1 year, appealing for a second. Streaky 3-pt. shooter, but inconsistent.

Emily Queen
Height: 6-1
Comment

Forward I 3
Class: SO.

Averaged 5.5 points as a freshman and was second on the team in rebounding at 5.9.

Jackie Pickel
Height: 5-10
Comment

Guard I 10
Class: JR.

One of the teams most improved players. Hit 38 3-pointers last season.

Tina Stewart
Height: 5-7
Comment

Guard I 20
Class: FR.

Averaged 18 points and 4.5 rebounds last season at Memphis Central High School.

Brandi Brown
Height: 6-3
Comment

Forward I 21
Class: JR.

Averaged 7.1 points a game last season and made 41 3-pointers.

4. How deep should the bench go? As many as 11 players could be in the regular rotation, but coach Kermit Davis hasnt found the right combinations yet. Newcomers and returning reserves have lacked enough consistency to merit a lot of minutes, but they must play in order to utilize the depth the team has built. Despite several personnel options, MTSUs scoring drops off drastically when the starters leave the floor. ONeil needs to play like he did before last years knee injury, Dino Hair has to play with more passion and JuCo transfers Montarrio Haddock and Eric Allen 2. Is Desmond Yates a difference- must produce. making player? 5. Can MTSU escape Western KenHe better be if MTSU wants to reach its goals. Yates was voted Sun Belt Pre- tuckys shadow? season Player of the Year for good reaSun Belt power South Alabama hasson. He is the best scorer in the league nt been a stumbling block for the Blue and has the confidence to match it. His Raiders, who have ousted USA in scoring average doesnt have to climb, back-to-back league tournaments. But but his impact does. Yates must be able rival Western Kentucky has beaten to take over games when needed. MTSU eight of the last nine times. This should be the year when the 3. Can the squad start strong? playing field is leveled. The Sun Belt Seven of nine title runs through Bowling Green, and games are at MTSU must dethrone the Hilltoppers home to start to take it. Adam Sparks, 615-278-5174 the season, and none are outside the middle Tennessee area until a Christmas tournament. There are two likely losses against Tennessee and Vanderbilt, but the seven others are winnable. MTSU wont be at full strength early in the schedule, but fans wont care. MTSU has a 9-18 record before New Years the last two seasons. Such a slow start wont be acceptable this season.
Desmond Yates

1. When will team be at full strength? Center Theryn Hudson has been hobbled by a foot injury. Even if he plays early, he will be limited. Demetrius Green is suspended the first two games. Calvin ONeil is still a step slow from last seasons knee injury. Injuries and departures have hit the roster the last few seasons, and the bench was depleted in last seasons Sun Belt tournament. This years team must stay healthy and intact. It cant afford to lose its most valuable attribute, depth.

Guard I 1
Class: SR.

Calvin ONeil
Height: 6-4
Comment

Guard/Forward I 4
Class: JR.

Ex-starter, missed 2007-08 with knee injury. Good defender, but a step slow after injury.

Kevin Kanaskie
Height: 6-2
Comment

Guard I 5

Class: SR.

Among all-time leaders in assists, 3-pts, minutes played. May play more SG than PG.

DeMario Williams
Height: 6-4
Comment

Guard I 10

Class: FR.

Three-time Mr. Basketball finalist at Culleoka. Big, strong, athletic point guard.

Nigel Johnson
Height: 6-2
Comment

Guard I 11
Class: SR.

Lightning quick with ball in hand. Led team in assists (3.4) and led Sun Belt in 3-pt. shooting.

Alysha Clark
Height: 5-10
Comment

Forward I 22
Class: JR.

Donaries Hair Forward/Center I 21

Height: 6-9
Comment
Can be a spark off the bench, but his energy comes and goes. Needs to backup Hudson.

Class: JR.

Belmont transfer who was the two-time Player of the Year in the Atlantic Sun.

Abby Andrews
Height: 5-10
Comment

Guard I 23
Class: FR.

Darren Avery Guard/Forward I 22

Height: 6-4
Comment
Some offensive limitations, but a superb lockdown defender and solid rebounder.

Class: JR.

Miss Basketball finalist at Collinwood last year. Scored more than 1,800 career points.

Anne Marie Lanning

Height: 5-11
Comment

Guard I 30

Demetrius Green
Height: 6-4
Comment

Guard I 23

Class: SO.

Class: SR.

Averaged 7.7 points last season. Made 48 3pointers and shot 42 percent from long range.

Dana Garrett
Height: 5-11
Comment

Guard I 32
Class: JR.

Junior college All-American who helped lead Walters State to national tournament.

Questions about the Blue Raider women for 08-09

One of SBCs best defenders. Second in scoring (12.5) and rebounding (4.6) last season.

Montarrio Haddock
Height: 6-5
Comment

Forward I 24

Shytoria Davis
Height: 6-3
Comment

Forward I 40
Class: JR.

Junior college All-American at State Fair Community College last season.

Molly McFadden
Height: 6-1
Comment

Forward I 44

Class: FR.

Former White County star was District 7-AAA MVP.

Womens Schedule
Saturday Lafayette College Feb. 16-19 Second round preseason WNIT Feb. 25 Chattanooga Feb. 28 Arizona Nov. 30 at LSU Dec. 4 Louisville Dec. 7 at W. Carolina Dec. 11 at Tennessee Alabama Dec. 14 Dec. 16 Dec. 20 Dec. 28 Dec. 31 Jan. 4 Jan. 7 Jan. 11 Jan. 14 Jan. 17 Jan. 21 Jan. 24 Austin Peay Troy at Tenn. Tech at North Texas at South Alabama FAU FIU at Western Ky. at UALR Arkansas State at New Orleans UL-Lafayette Jan. 28 Jan. 31 UL-Monroe Feb. 4 at Denver Feb. 11 at Troy Feb. 15 North Texas Feb. 18 South Alabama Feb. 21 at FAU Feb. 25 at FIU March 1 Western Ky. First round SBC Mach 4 tournament March 7-10 SBC tournament (Hot Springs, Ark.)

N Log on to BlueRaiders.com for photo and video galleries as well as expanded coverage of MTSU athletics. N Read Adam Sparks, Jared Hastings and Monte Hale Jr. blogs.

the road, and Louisville, Arizona and Houston at home. A preseason WNIT game at Oklahoma also is possible. If we shoot well, we can beat anybody on our schedule, Insell said. If we put together a great shooting night, I dont care who were playing. But were smart enough to know youre not going to shoot it great every night. So, with our schedule, weve got to do all the little things well. Its a schedule, though, that will have us ready for 2. Will MTSUs defense again be the Sun Belt. the strength of the team? 5 . H o w m u c h c o n t r i bu t i o n w i l l The full-court press is a staple of MTSU basketball and it figures to MTSU get from newcomers Tina be as devastating again in 2008-09. Stewart, Dana Garrett and Shytoria In fact, the Lady Raiders offense Davis? Stewart, a true freshman back-up often starts with the defense. However, MTSU coach Rick Insell is guard, has been the biggest surprise more concerned with the teams and is more ready to go than any half-court defense and the different of the newcomers right now, Insell sets the Lady Raiders employ. I said. Garrett, a two-guard, has great hope we can get there by January, athleticism and is a great reboundhe said. er for a guard. However, she needs 3 . W i l l r eb o u n di n g be to get in sync with the offense, strength or weakness? Insell said. Davis, a 6-3 post, brings a MTSU was often presence MTSU beaten on the boards last season and it will be needs. She can an emphasis this year. alter shots and Insell says the team needs can be a great to learn how to rebound r e b o u n d e r. with authority Davis is still and belearning on come both ends more of the a g court, gresand Insive in sell exthat repects s p e c t . her to Sometimes we rebound be a with finesse, and you just cant do that, Insell said. major contribu4 . C a n M T S U ha n d l e an tor by Februother aggressive schedule? ary and a key to the teams push for a Sun The Lady Raiders play Belt title. Tennessee and LSU on
Monte Hale Jr., 615-278-5167

1. W h a t w i l l B e lm o n t tr a ns f e r A l y s h a C l a r k bring to the table? The Lady Raiders lost Amber Holt, who led the nation in scoring last season, to the WNBA. However, Clark was a two-time Atlantic Sun Player of the Year. Although the 5-10 forward is a different type of player than Holt, she can take a game over. In fact, it would be a surprise if shes not the teams leading scorer.

Class: JR.

Athletic power forward. May be best bet of newcomers to help team in stretch run.

Desmond Yates
Height: 6-7
Comment

Forward I 31
Class: JR.

Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year. Led team in scoring (16.0). Good 3-pt. shooter.

Antwaun Boyd
Height: 6-2
Comment

Guard I 35
Class: FR.

Redshirted last year. Good physical defender and rebounder. Could be a rising star.

Theryn Hudson
Height: 6-10
Comment

Center I 45
Class: SR.

Led team in reb. (5.4) and Sun Belt in FG pct. (64.7). Injured foot could slow him down.

Josh Jones
Height: 6-9
Comment

Center I 50
Class: JR.

One of Hudsons backups. Showed progress late in preseason. Must be more aggressive.

Mens Schedule
Today Nov. 16 Nov. 21 Nov. 24 Dec. 2 Dec. 7 Dec. 11 Dec. 15 Dec. 17 Dec. 20 Dec. 21 Dec. 22 Dec. 31 Jan. 3 Jan. 8 Jan. 10 Jan. 15 Jan. 17 Trevecca Houston Baptist Tennessee Vanderbilt Houston SIU-Edwardsville Troy Tennessee-Martin at Belmont UC Irvine* Norfolk State* at Missouri State* at North Texas at South Alabama FAU FIU at Western Ky. UALR Jan. 22 Arkansas State Jan. 24 New Orleans Jan. 29 UL-Lafayette Jan. 31 UL-Monroe Feb. 5 at Denver Feb. 7 at Houston Baptist Feb. 12 at Troy Feb. 14 North Texas Feb. 19 South Alabama Feb. 21 at FAU Feb. 26 at FIU Feb. 28 Western Ky. First round SBC Mach 4 tournament March 7-10 SBC tournament (Hot Springs, Ark.) * Travelers Tip-off at Missouri State

Chelsia Lymon