tennessee state university men’s basketball 2012-13 media ...€¦ · 30 win seasons..... 3...

Tennessee State University Men’s Basketball 2012-13 Media Guide • 1


TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY2012-13BASKETBALL

GENERAL INFORMATIONQUICK FACTS ............................................................................ 3MEDIA INFORMATION ....................................................... 4-5TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ...................................... 6-9PRESIDENT DR. PORTIA SHIELDS ...............................................10ATHLETIC DIRECTOR TERESA PHILLIPS ......................................11TEAM SCHEDULE ..................................................................14SEASON OUTLOOK ........................................................ 15-16TEAM INFORMATION .................................................... 17-18

COACHES/STAFFHEAD COACH TRAVIS WILLIAMS .............................. 19-20BEN BETTS ...............................................................................21RODNEY HAMILTON ............................................................22BRANDON JOHNSON ..........................................................23COACHING STAFF .................................................................24SUPPORT STAFF ....................................................................25

2012-13 TIGERSKELLEN THORNTON, SENIOR ............................................26TASHAN FREDRICK, SENIOR ..............................................27ROBERT COVINGTON, SENIOR..........................................28JORDAN CYPHERS, SENIOR ...............................................29PATRICK MILLER, JUNIOR ...................................................30MICHAEL GREEN, JUNIOR ..................................................31DESHAWN DOCKERY, JUNIOR ..........................................32DEVANTE MCCLUNG, JUNIOR ..........................................32CHAED WELLIAN, JUNIOR ..................................................33KHARON BUTCHER, SOPHOMORE ..................................34M.J. RHETT, SOPHOMORE ..................................................34JAY HARRIS, SOPHOMORE .................................................35JORDAN GAITHER, FRESHMAN ........................................35

2011-12 REVIEW2011-12 STATS ................................................................ 36-41

TIGER HISTORYALL-TIME SERIES RECORDS ................................................43YEAR-BY-YEAR RESULTS ............................................... 44-55CAREER RECORDS .................................................................56INDIVIDUAL & TEAM RECORDS ........................................57ALL-TIME LETTERWINNERS ........................................ 58-61LEGENDARY COACHES/TIGERS IN THE PROS ..................................................... 62-67OVC AWARDS .........................................................................68ATHLETIC FACILITIES ............................................................69

CREDITS

The 2012-13 Men’s Basketball Media Guide is a publication of the Tennessee State University Athletic Media Relations office, Alex Mitchell, Men’s basketball contact. Layout and Design by Alex Mitchell and Zekeya Anderson with help from previous sports information directors Zena Lewis and Wallace Dooley Jr. Photography by Sam Jordan. Additional Photos by Nathaniel Perry and Don McPeak. Thanks to Ohio Valley Conference Public Relations, Kyle Schwartz. Printing by MultiAd Printing Solutions Company.

Tennessee State University is an affirmative action institution committed to educating a non-racially identifiable student-body. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons who need assistance with this material may contact TSU’s Athletic Media Relations Office.

Tennessee State University: A Tennessee Board of Regents Institution


COACHING STAFFHead Coach ...................................................Travis WilliamsAlma Mater, Year ............Georgia State University, 1995Record at TSU ........................................................ (First Year)Overall Record ................................................................ 42-45

Basketball StaffAssistant Coach .......................................Brandon Johnson..............................................Georgia State University, 1997Assistant Coach .......................................................Ben Betts............................................................ Roanoke College, 1990Assistant Coach .......................................Rodney Hamilton...................................................................Georgia State, 1998Director of Operations .................................. Miguel Brady.........................................Tennessee State University, 2012Assistant Director of Operations ......... Chuck Davidson........................................... Roger Williams University, 2009Director of Player Personnel ............................. Gus Fraley................................................................ North Carolina, 2011Student Assistant Coach .................... Josh Cooperwood

TIGERS at a GLANCELettermen Returning ..........................................................10Lettermen Lost ........................................................................ 4Starters Returning .................................................................. 4

Team RecordOverall Record 2011-12 ............................................... 20-13Home ....................................................................................11-2Away ........................................................................................ 7-9OVC Record (Finish) ............................................. 11-5 (2nd)

T E N N E E S S E E S TAT E U N I V E R S I T YM E N ’ S B A S K ET B A L L Q U I C K FA C T S

GENERALName of School ................... Tennessee State UniversityCity/Zip ............................................Nashville, Tenn. 37209Founded ............................................................................1912Enrollment .......................................................................9,165Nickname ........................................................................TigersSchool Colors ...................Royal (Reflex) Blue and WhiteAffiliation/Conference ......................... NCAA Division I/OVC Arena ................................................ Gentry Center (10,500)Home Court ............................................. McClendon CourtInterim President ................... Dr. Portia Holmes-Shields Director of Athletics ......................................Teresa PhillipsAthletic Department Phone ...................(615) 963-5034Web Site .......................................................... TSUTigers.comUniversity Web Site .......................................... TNState.edu

ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONSAssistant Sports Information DirectorMen’s Basketball Contact ..............................Alex MitchellOffice Phone ..................................................(615) 963-5674E-mail .................................................jmitch18@tnstate.eduAssistant Sports Information Director ........Jose’ GarciaOffice Phone ..................................................(615) 963-5674E-mail ............................................... [email protected] Relations Coordinator .............Zekeya AndersonOffice Phone ..................................................(615) 963-1867E-mail ........................................ [email protected] Sports Information Director ......Travis KriensOffice Phone ..................................................(615) 963-5674Mailing Address .......................... 3500 John Merritt Blvd...............................................................Nashville, Tenn. 37209

TSU BASKETBALL HISTORYAll-Time Record ..............................1080-753 (since 1944)All-Time Ohio Valley Record.................................. 173-219OVC Regular Season Championships .2 (1993 & 1994)OVC Tournament Record ......... 12-19 (22 appearances)OVC Tournament Championships ........2 (1993 & 1994)NCAA Tournament Record ....................0-2 (last in 1993)National Championships 3 (NAIA - 1957, 1958 & 1959)20 Win Seasons ......................................................................2130 Win Seasons ....................................................................... 3Undefeated Seasons ................................................1 (1949)


TSU Media PoliciesAll requests for working media at home games in the Gentry Center should be directed to Tennessee State University Athletic Media Relations on outlet letter-head or via facsimile by Wednesday of game week. No requests will be honored on game day. Creden-tials will be screened to help ensure a working press area. Unless prior pick-up arrangements are made, credentials can be picked up two hours prior to tip-off at the will call ticket booth. Credentials WILL NOT be mailed.

Courtside and photo passes will be issued to working photographers from the respective teams’ outlets. In accordance to NCAA rules, photographers must stay out of the bench areas of the teams.

No parking passes will be issued. Parking is open and located adjacent to Hale Stadium. Television trucks that provide satellite or uplink functions will be lo-cated in the Tiger Field parking or upper Gentry Cen-ter parking.

Press RowWireless internet is available throughout the Gentry Center Complex. For a private line, contact TSU Ath-letic Media Relations at (615) 963-5674.

The Athletic Media Relations staff will provide game notes, and flip cards prior to the game. Statistical information will be available at halftime and a com-plete game book will follow at the end of the game. A light meal is provided for working media members, between the men and women’s game.

InterviewsWhen possible, interview requests for Head Coach Travis Williams and Tiger players should be direct-ed through the Athletic Media Relations Office. On game day, Coach Williams and selected Tigers will be available following the NCAA “cooling off” period.

RadioEach team’s visiting radio station will have a courtesy line provided. The visiting radio section is located at the end of the media tables behind the visiting team’s bench.

Team VideoAn area is provided for visiting teams to video the contest for coach’s film. Each member of the video team must be credentialed. Contact the Athletic Me-dia Relations staff for information.

Zekeya Anderson Media Relations CoordinatorPhone .............................615-963-1867E-mail [email protected] Women’s Basketball, Secondary Volleyball

Alex Mitchell Sports Information AssistantPhone .............................615-963-5674E-mail ............ [email protected] Volleyball, Men’s Basketball, Track & Field

Jose’ GarciaAssistant DirectorPhone ...............................615-963-5674E-mail [email protected] Softball, Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Golf, Secondary Men’s Basketball

Travis KriensSports Information AssistantPhone ...........................615-963-5674E-mail .............. [email protected] Football, Secondary Women’s Basketball

TSU Athletic Media Relations

C o v e r i n g t h e T i g e r s


www.TSUTIGERS.com

MEDIA OUTLETS

The Tennessee State University Athletics Department website, www.TSUTigers.com, is the “number one” destination for Tiger athletic news, schedules, and scores. Information on all 15 athletic teams at TSU can be found at www.TSUTigers.com. From the site, fans and media can access game notes, previews, rosters, and feature stories. TSU fans from across the globe can view and cheer on the Tigers from their personal comput-ers. One popular addition to the site is video streaming - linked through OVCsports.tv. Everything from news releases, player and coach biographies, historical data, media guides, game results and team statistics can be found on the website.

Print Media

The Tennessean1100 BroadwayNashville, TN 37203(615) 259-8010Fax: (615) 259-8826

The City PaperP.O. Box 158434Nashville, TN 37203(615) 383-2229Fax: (615) 298-2780

The MeterTSU P.O. Box 146Nashville, TN 37209(615) 963-5652Fax: (615) 963-5051

The Commercial Appeal495 Union AvenueMemphis, TN 38101(901) 529-2345Fax: (901) 529-2362

Nashville Pride941 44th Avenue N.Nashville, TN 37209(615) 292-9150Fax: (615) 292-9056

The Tennessee Tribune1501 Jefferson StreetNashville, TN 37208(615) 321-3628Fax: (615) 321-0409

Tri-State Defender124 E. CalhounMemphis, TN 38103(901) 523-1818Fax: (901) 523-1820

The Daily Herald1115 South Main St.P.O. Box 1425Columbia, TN 38402931-215-4751

Wire Service

Associated Press215 Centerview Dr. Suite 215Brentwood, TN 37207(615) 373-9988Fax: (615) 376-0947

Radio

WVOL (1470 AM)Flagship Station1320 Brick Church PikeNashville, TN 37207(615) 227-1470

WMRB (910 AM)1014 South Garden St.Columbia, TN 38401(931) 381-7100

WOJG (94.7 FM)

123 W. Market StreetBolivar, TN 38008(731) 658-7689

WNSR (560 AM)1815 Division St.Suite 203Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 844-1039

The Zone (104.5 FM) 506 2nd Ave. Nashville, TN 37210(615) 727-7000

Televison

WKRN Channel 2 (ABC)441 Murfreesboro RoadNashville, TN 37210(615) 369-7240Fax: (615) 248-7239

WSMV Channel 4 (NBC)5700 Knob Hill Road

Nashville, TN 37209(615) 353-2231Fax: (615) 353-2343

WTVF Channel 5 (CBS)474 James Robertson PkwyNashville, TN 37219(615) 248-5285Fax: (615) 244-9883

WZTV Channel 17 (FOX)631 Mainstream DriveNashville, TN 37208(615) 369-5561Fax: (615) 369-3299


Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University has grown dramatically from a small college to two campuses: the 500-acre main campus and the downtown Avon Williams campus which is located in the heart of Nashville near the State capitol.

The diverse student population of more than 8,000 represents 46 states and 45 countries. TSU has been listed for 11 consecutive years in the U.S. News & World Report “Guide to America’s Best Colleges.”

Tennessee State University is a comprehensive, urban, coeducational land-grant university offering 45 bachelor degrees and 24 master’s degrees. Doctoral programs include biological sciences, psychology, public administration, computer information systems engineering, administration and supervision, and curriculum and instruction. When you think about Tennessee State University, many things come to mind – a rich heritage and legacy in athletics, academ-ics, entertainment, research and service.

Tennessee State University has long been a rising star among universities across the country. It is designated as one of the best public historically black colleges and universities in the nation, and it’s not by accident.

Tennessee State University is among the few historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with a chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the oldest and largest freshman honor society in the United States and a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the most prestigious honor society comprising all academic disciplines.

A great deal of focus has been given to improving the academic environment – strengthening our research reputa-tion, attracting and retaining the best and brightest students, encouraging service-focused programs, engaging and supporting expert faculty in diverse fields, building on our student-centered philosophy and holding steadfast to our motto of “Think. Work. Serve.”

THINK


THINK

Today, Tennessee State University’s stu-dent enrollment is more than 8,000.

There are more than 400 faculty and more than 1,200 staff who are part of the univer-sity’s team.

Additionally, the university’s rich strength in embracing diversity is evident with 45 countries and 46 states representative of the student body.

The beauty and accessibility of the univer-sity’s main campus is a plus with now 65 buildings on more than 450 acres.

Complimenting the main campus is a new-ly renovated downtown campus that fea-tures a simulated stock-trading center, a student computer laboratory and continu-ing education, distance learning and multi-media services.

The university is arming students with the intellectual resources to compete in a global environment. In support of that, important partnerships have been estab-lished with leading global companies such as Boeing, Raytheon, Dell, IBM and oth-ers, in which both funding and service-learning opportunities are currently active.

SERVE

WORK


KEAN HALL, a simplified Art Deco style gymnasium erected in 1951 at a cost of $1,500,000 was dedicated Wednesday, November 25, 1953.

The structure is located on the south side of the campus at John Merritt Boulevard and 33rd Avenue, North and is named after former TSU Football head coach and Athletic Director, Henry A. Kean.

The building contained at the time of its construction: a gymnasium, health, physical education and recreation classrooms, laboratories, staff offices, and facilities for indoor intramural sports, staff and student recreation and physical therapy. The building was vacated in 1980 when the HPER moved to the new Gentry Center Com-plex.

The 300,000 renovation, approved in 1986-1987, con-nected the building to the Floyd-Payne campus center in 1991. The building became a recreational facility for the general campus population. It also serves as the headquarters for the Air Force ROTC, TSU Athletics and the academic and Hall of Fame.

The PERFORMING ARTS CENTER is located adjacent to the east side of the existing Strange Music Building. The facility houses the Theater, Television, Radio and Music Departments and includes a complete renovation of the Strange Music Building.

A performance theater seating for 400 was constructed as part of the new build-ing. Theater department spaces include classrooms, support spaces and offices. Re-hearsal and production facilities are provided for television and radio departments, as well as offices and support areas.

The music department has new laboratory facilities, practice rooms, classrooms, of-fices and an expanded band practice room and support facilities. The project included approximately 30,400 sq. ft. of renovated space (the Strange Music Building) and 43,000 sq. ft. of new construction.

The DAVIS BUILDING is topped by its landmark cupola and houses the Department of Languages, Literature and Philosophy and the Thomas E. Poag Auditorium. The building, which once housed the administrative offices, is named after TSU’s second president Dr. Walter S. Davis.


The FLOYD-PAYNE CAMPUS CENTER contains various student and administrative offices, campus bookstore, post office, and dining ser-vices. The Center is named after former TSU student and fifth president, Otis L. Floyd, and long-time Dean of Students and Vice-President of Student Affairs, Joseph A. Payne.

The AVERITTE AMPHITHEATER located in the center of campus; landscaped and has permanent seating for 200. The structure is named after Laura M. Averitte, author of Tennessee State University’s alma mater.

The BROWN-DANIEL LIBRARY was erected in 1976 and opened for service during the summer of 1977.

This present structure has 82,000 square feet of space with special study and research facilities for faculty and gradu-ate students, and a Special Collections Room which houses the University’s historical archives, theses, dissertations, and other special materials. The library is named in memory of Library Directors, Martha M. Brown and Lois H. Daniel.


UN

IVE

RS

ITY

PR

ES

IDE

NT

Dr. Portia Shields was appointed to the presi-dency of Tennessee State University effective January 2, 2011 – the first female to assume the role of President in the history of the institution.

Shields assumed the executive post at Albany State University in 1996, becoming its first fe-male president and retiring in 2005 after serving in the capacity for eight years.

As the seventh president of the university, Shields inherited a campus recovering from the destructive flood waters of the Flint River, which had consumed nearly two-thirds of the 204-acre campus in 1994.

Her leadership was critical to the university’s comeback, as she spearheaded a $153 million rebuilding program that revitalized the institu-tion. Perhaps her most notable achievement was the success in raising funds and external support for the University.

She was instrumental in securing an unprec-edented $3-million donation from Georgia-born performing artist Ray Charles in 2002, and pro-cured more than $25 million in external grant funds in the following academic year.

Prior to her leadership at Albany State, Shields served as Dean of the School of Education, Howard University, Washington, D.C. where she initiated the University’s first comprehen-sive early learning and pre-college preparation program in health science. She previously served as director of medical education and biomedical communications in the University’s College of Medicine where she

led the design and build of state-of-the-art science and technology labs and en-hanced the academic performance of medical students.

Most recently, Shields served as chief executive officer and chief academic officer of Concordia College in Selma, Ala., from November 2007 to December 2009.

At Concordia, she improved academic programs and institutional effectiveness, raised campus academic standards and enhanced the college’s financial opera-tions.

Shields also helped Concordia address accreditation concerns. The Southern As-sociation of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) initially placed Concordia on probation for issues concerning 17 different requirements and standards. In its most recent report, SACSCOC cited only two issues remaining for the college to address.

Shields has wide range of stellar experiences and accomplishments in the field of higher education with appointments and affiliations with the American Associa-tion of Colleges for Teacher Education, National Association for Equal Opportunity In Higher Education, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Inc., Ameri-can Council on Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities, and Communities in Schools of Georgia. Additional memberships include Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., National Council of Negro Women, and Phi Delta Kappa Honor Society.

She is a published author and a well-known public speaker. She has conducted and participated in more than 100 workshops and seminars on higher education issues, teacher education issues, medical and health-care concerns, educational policy issues, international education and faculty development, academic collabo-rations, retention and high-stakes testing. She served as editor of and contributed two articles to Reflections on Albany State University and contributed to more than 70 publications focused on current issues in higher education, including USA Today (March 21, 2002) and Newsday (March 10, 2002).

Other selected collaborative and independent works include contributions to the publication of a reference book entitled Tests and Teaching Quality, a report of the Committee on Assessment and Teacher Quality of the National Research Council, and collaborative and independent publications focusing on higher education ad-ministration, medical and health concerns, administrative issues at HBCUs, profes-sional development schools, education, and parenting and teacher education. Au-thored chapter entitled, “An African American Woman’s Presidency at a Historically Black University: A Personal Journey,” with other University presidents (publication in process).

Shields received her primary, secondary and college education in her native home, Washington, D.C. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the District of Columbia Teachers College, one of three institutions later merged to form the University of the District of Columbia.

She earned a Master of Arts degree in Education from George Washington Uni-versity, Washington, D.C., and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Additional scholarly research and studies were completed at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Columbia University, New York, New York; American University, Washington, D.C.; and University of the District of Columbia.

Named in 2004 as one of Georgia’s 50 Most Influential Women by the Georgia In-former, Shields is distinguished as one of the founding presidents of the American University of Ethiopia and a member of the Board of Directors of the National As-sociation for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.

DR. PORTIA SHIELDS


DIR

EC

TO

R O

F A

TH

LE

TIC

S

Teresa Lawrence-Phillips became head of the Tennessee State University ath-letics department in April of 2002. As director, the athletic department has made tremendous strides on the playing field, campus, community and classroom.

Some accomplishments under the Phillips’ administration include the launching of the first official website for TSU Athletics in August of 2002, the revitalization of the Big Blue Booster Club, the recognition of Ohio Valley Conference Scholar Athletes, and conference championships in volleyball, women’s track including a PGA minority national championship in men’s golf.

Phillips also has the distinction of being the first woman ever to coach an NCAA Division I men’s basketball team en route to being named one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” by Sports Illustrated in 2003.

She was also named as the Second Most Influential Woman in Sports in Tennes-see by The Tennessean newspaper. In addition, she was named USA Today’s National Coach of the Year in 1990 and was a three-time OVC Coach of the Year selection.

No stranger to athletic success, she was head coach of the Lady Tigers basket-ball program at TSU for 11 seasons from 1989-2000. Phillips guided the 1993–94 squad to the program’s first-ever OVC regular season crown, the Ohio Valley Conference tournament championship, and the team’s first appearance ever in the NCAA tournament.

Phillips and her staff enjoyed their most successful season in 1994–95 as the Lady Tigers (22–7, 12–4 OVC) shared the regular season title. TSU claimed its second consecutive tournament title and a trip to the NCAA tournament. She has been invited twice to serve as an assistant coach for USA Basketball (1995 and 1999) and was invited to serve as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Festival North Squad.

Prior to her stint at TSU, Phillips was head coach at Fisk University for four years. She guided the Bulldogs to WIAC League and Tournament Championships in 1987 and 1988 and was tabbed WIAC Coach of the Year twice (1987, 1988). She compiled a 68-34 overall record with the Bulldogs. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Economics before obtaining a Masters in Education from TSU in 1999. Phillips, who helped recruit six All-Americans and seven All-State players, served as an assistant coach with the Lady Commodores (1981-1984) winning the N.I.T. in 1983.

Phillips earned several honors as a three-year letter winner at Vanderbilt. She was the first recipient of the Lady Commodore Athlete of the Year honor, given to the best all-around female athlete. In addition, she received the Nashville Civi-tan’s Sportsmanship Award in 1979 and 1980.

Community oriented, Phillips has assisted with the National Youth Sports Drug Program and has been appointed to several boards and committees which include: NCAA Basketball Rules, NCAA Championship Cabinet, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Boys’ & Girls’ Club, the Vanderbilt Alumni Advisory Board and the Nashville Sports Council Executive Board.

She has held memberships in several organizations, including the Black Coaches

Association, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, the NCAA Championship and Com-petition Cabinet and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

She is an inaugural member of the Girls’ Prepa-ratory School Sports Hall of Fame and a 2008 inductee of the Lookout Mountain Sports Hall of Fame. She lives in Nashville with her two sons, Micah and Kyle.

TERESA PHILLIPS


A total of 122 teams – representing 15 collegiate athletic conferences – will compete in the two-day event (February 22-23), with the entire BracketBusters slate of matchups to be announced in late January.

Of the 61 games, 13 will be televised, with 5 contests on ESPN2, 4 will be aired on ESPNU and 4 on ESPN3. Please consult local listings for start times.

122 TEAMS. 61 GAMES. FOR THE ELEVENTH TIME.

February 22-23, 2013

HOME TEAMSVermont, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana State, Portland State, Southern Utah, Campbell, High Point, Liberty, Presbyterian, UNC-Asheville, Winthrop, Cal Poly, Hawaii, Long Beach State, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Loyola, Univ. of Illinois Chicago, Valparaiso, Wright State, Youngstown State, Fairfield, Marist, Niagara, Rider, Siena, Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan, Hampton, Drake, Indiana State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Wichita State, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee State, UT-Martin, SE Missouri State, Murray State, Belmont, College of Charleston, Western Carolina, Davidson, Central Arkansas, Lamar, Oral Roberts, Texas A&M-CC, IPFW, IUPUI, Nebraska Omaha, Oakland, Western Illinois University, Utah State, UT-San Antonio, UT-Arlington and Saint Mary’s.

AWAY TEAMSAlbany, Montana, Northern Arizona, North Dakota, Northern Colorado, Sacramento State, Weber State, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Longwood, Radford, VMI, Cal State–Fullerton, Cal State–Northridge, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Pacific, Cleveland State, Detroit, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Canisius, Iona, Loyola, Manhattan, Saint Peter’s, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State, Miami, Ohio, Morgan State, Savannah State, Bradley, Creighton, Evansville, Illinois State, Missouri State, Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, SIU-Edwardsville, The Citadel, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin, UMKC, North Dakota State Univ., South Dakota State Univ., Univ. of South Dakota, Texas State, Denver, Idaho and Loyola Marymount.


Entering its 65th year, the Ohio Valley Conference continues to build on the success that has made it the nation’s eighth-oldest NCAA Division I conference. In May 2011 the Conference expanded for the second time in four years, adding Belmont University which begins competition this year. The addition of Belmont gives the OVC 12 members, the most the league has had at one time in its illustrious history. The move added a second team in the city of Nashville and was the first addition to the league since Southern Illinois University Edwardsville joined in 2008. SIUE began regular season play last year, and is eligible for postseason play this year. The 2009-10 school year saw a change in leadership as Beth DeBauche was named the seventh full-time Commissioner in league his-tory on July 28, 2009. She is currently one of just five females to be the head of a Division I conference, and one of just eight to lead a Division I conference all-time. The last three commissioners of the OVC have moved onto jobs as the commissioner of the Big Ten, Big 12 and the Mid-American Conferences. The OVC’s proud history past dates back to 1948, but seeds for the new league were actually planted in 1941. It was then that Roy Stewart, the athletics director at Murray State, Charles (Turkey) Hughes, the athletics director at Eastern Kentucky, and Kelly Thompson, the pub-lic relations director at Western Kentucky, first broached the idea of forming a new conference. Discussions were put on hold by World War II, but reemerged Feb. 27-28, 1948 at the Kentucky Hotel in Louisville as the three original institutions combined with Morehead State, Louisville and Evansville to form the OVC. In the 1950s, the OVC became a pioneer on a much more significant scale socially. During times of racial segregation, league member Morehead State became one of the first non-traditionally black mid-southern institutions to accept a black student. In 1958, Marshall Banks earned athletically-related aid at Morehead, which signed a second black athlete, Howard Murphy, a year later. In 1961, Murphy earned all-con-ference recognition as a halfback in football. With racial barriers broken, the rest of the institutions in the league began to provide educational and athletic opportunities to African-Americans. Through the past 63 years, 15 teams have won or shared the league’s football title. The list is led by Eastern Kentucky, winner of 20 outright or shared football crowns, including both the 2007 and 2008 championships, as they compiled a 15-1 league record over that time pe-riod. Only one other Football Championship Subdivision school (UMass) has won more Conference titles than the Colonels. Among OVC teams, former member Middle Tennessee is next with 11 titles, followed by Tennessee Tech with nine, and Murray State and former member Western Kentucky with eight apiece. Eastern Illinois has claimed five football crowns (including the 2009 title) while Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Tennessee State and former members Evansville and East Tennessee State have captured two apiece. Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri (which captured its first crown in 2010), UT Martin and former member Youngstown State have one title apiece. A sampling of former OVC football stars, some of whom were All-Americans during their collegiate careers before achieving stardom at the professional ranks, include Jim Youngblood and Larry Schreiber (Tennessee Tech), Phil Simms (Morehead State), Virgil Livers and Dale Lindsey (Western Kentucky), Myron Guyton and Chad Bratzke (Eastern Kentucky), Cortland Finnegan (Samford) and Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois). In 2008, former Tennessee State standout Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie became just the fourth NFL First Round draft pick in OVC history when he was selected 16th overall by the Arizona Cardinals. He would break into the starting lineup halfway through his rookie season and started at cornerback for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. The OVC has had at least one former player named a NFL Pro Bowl selection in four of the past five seasons.

The History of the Ohio Valley Conference


TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY 2012-13 MEN’S BASKETBALL

SEASON SCHEDULE

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

Day Date Opponent Site Time

Mon. Nov. 05 Trevecca Nazarene (EXH) Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Fri. Nov. 09 BYU at Provo, Utah. 8:00pm Tue. Nov. 13 South Dakota State at Brookings, S.D. 7:00pm Thurs. Nov. 15 Minnesota at Minneapolis, Minn. 7:00pm Mon. Nov. 19 South Alabama at Atlanta, Ga. 3:00pm Tue. Nov. 20 Georgia State at Atlanta, Ga. 6:00pm Wed. Nov. 21 Monmouth at Atlanta, Ga. 11:00am Mon. Nov. 26 Fisk Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm

Sat. Dec. 01 Alabama A&M at Huntsville, Ala. 7:00pm Tue. Dec. 04 Drexel Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Sat. Dec. 08 Missouri at Columbia, Mo. 2:00pm Sun. Dec. 16 Lemoyne-Owen Nashville, Tenn. 4:00pmTue. Dec. 18 Middle Tennessee State at Murfreesboro, TN 7:00pm Fri. Dec. 21 South Carolina Upstate Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Sat. Dec. 29 Eastern Illinois * Nashville, Tenn. 7:30pm

Thurs. Jan. 03 Tennessee Tech * at Cookeville, Tenn. 7:00pm Sat. Jan. 05 Jacksonville State * at Jacksonville, Ala. 4:30pm Thurs. Jan. 10 UT Martin * Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Sat. Jan. 12 Southeast Missouri State * Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Thurs. Jan. 17 Jacksonville State * Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Sat. Jan. 19 Belmont * Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Thurs. Jan. 24 Eastern Kentucky * at Richmond, Ky. 7:00pm Sat. Jan. 26 Morehead State * at Morehead, Ky. 7:30pm Thurs. Jan. 31 Tennessee Tech * Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm

Thurs. Feb. 07 Austin Peay * at Clarksville, Tenn. 7:00pm Sat. Feb. 09 Murray State * at Murray, Ky. 7:00pm Thurs. Feb. 14 Belmont * Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Wed. Feb. 20 SIUE * at Edwardsville, Ill. 7:00pm Sat. Feb. 23 ESPN Bracketbuster-TBA Nashville, Tenn. 7:00pm Thurs. Feb. 28 Morehead State * Nashville, Tenn. 7:30pm

Sat. Mar. 02 Eastern Kentucky * Nashville, Tenn. 7:30pm Sat. Mar. 07 OVC Tournament Nashville, Tenn. TBA

Home Games in Bold * = Ohio Valley Conference Game

MARCH


The 2012-13 season outlook for the Tennessee State men’s basketball program looks bright. The Tigers are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in recent history and the team returns four starters. While Tennessee State returns most of its impact players from a year ago, the team will feature a new head coach in Travis Williams.

After coaching at the school as an assistant for three seasons, Williams was awarded the head coach position in April. As the top assistant last season, Williams helped restore a winning attitude to the Tigers’ program. The Big Blue recorded just nine wins in 2009-10, while improving to 14 victories in 2010-11. Last season, the Tigers completed a 20-13 mark.

This season, Williams will have the luxury of coaching an experienced team led by senior forward Robert Covington and junior guard Patrick Miller.

Last season, Covington led the team in points per game and rebounds per game with 17.8 and 7.9, respectively. At six-foot-nine, Covington is always a threat to score in the low-post, but he really shines from behind the three-point line. He attempted the most three pointers on the team last season (145), but he also made the highest percentage of his shots from behind the arc (.448).

While Covington excelled at making outside shots last season, he also had the benefit of playing with a point guard who could feed him the ball in Miller. The Chicago Ill. native led the team with 118 assists last season and also averaged double-digits points per game (10.8). Miller also played his part on the defensive end of the floor, tallying a team-high 51 steals and 120 rebounds.

Covington and Miller will play an integral part for the Tigers this season, but the team also has good leadership across the board with four seniors. Two of those seniors are Jordan Cyphers and Kellen Thornton.

Cyphers, a guard who transferred from Utah, averaged eight points per contest in his first season at Tennessee State and was another deep shooting threat- out of his 198 shots, 121 were from beyond the three-point line. Cyphers made 44 of those shots for a percentage of .364.

Thornton is another transfer that TSU picked up from Illinois State, and he made a splash with the team in his first season. Thornton was third on the team in points per game (9.1) and second in both field goal percentage (.525) and rebounds per contest (4.5).

Rounding out the starting five is sophomore M.J. Rhett. Rhett, a native of Hopkins S.C., started 26 games last season as a freshman and played mostly the power forward position. Rhett had the second most rebounds on the team last year (147) and recorded 14 blocks.

The non-conference schedule looks daunting with games at Missouri and BYU, but the Tigers hope that a tough open-ing slate will allow them to improve upon last year’s second place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Catching the MadnessAlthough Tennessee State fell one game short of making the NCAA Tournament, the team was invited to play in the Col-legeInsider.com Tournament featuring Mid-Major programs from across the country. The appearance marked the third time in program history that the Tigers have made a postseason tournament since joining Division I. The Tigers lost their last postseason appearance to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1994.

2 0 1 2 - 1 3 M e n ’ s B a s k e t b a l l S e a s o n O u t l o o k


Giant Killers On Nov. 20 of last year, Tennessee State made history by notching its first win over an SEC opponent. The Tigers won a one-point contest over the University of South Carolina in the opening round of the Continental Tire Las Vegas In-vitational. Then, the Tigers made history again by defeating its first ranked opponent with a 72-68 victory over then-unbeaten and No. 7 ranked Murray State. Robert Covington led the team in points on both nights with 16 against South Carolina and 16 versus Murray State.

Williams Takes the WheelTravis Williams was named the 16th head coach of the Tennessee State Tigers on Arr. 13, 2012. He worked under ex-head coach John Cooper for three seasons before being handed the reigns once Copper left for the University of Miami (OH). Prior to being an assistant, Williams led Fort Valley State University in Georgia for three seasons, even leading the Wildcats to 18 wins during the 2006-07 season. From there, Williams was hired by the Dongguan Parklane Snow Wolf Professional Basketball Club in China’s National Basketball League (NBL). Williams only coached the team during pre-season before returning state-side.

Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Isaiah Canaan, Murray State

Isaiah Canaan, Murray StateIan Clark, Belmont Robert Covington, Tennessee State Ed Daniel, Murray StateJud Dillard, Tennessee TechKerron Johnson, BelmontPatrick Miller, Tennessee StateMarland Smith, Southeast MissouriTyler Stone, Southeast MissouriMark Yelovich, SIUE

East West

Belmont (21 first-place votes) – 131 points Murray State (22) – 132Tennessee State (3) – 109 Southeast Missouri (2) – 108Tennessee Tech – 87 Austin Peay – 92Morehead State – 77 SIUE – 73Eastern Kentucky – 56 Eastern Illinois – 49Jacksonville State not eligible to be ranked UT Martin – 38

2 0 1 2 - 1 3 M e n ’ s B a s k e t b a l l S e a s o n O u t l o o k

2 0 1 2 - 1 3 M e n ’ s B a s k e t b a l l P r e s e a s o n A l l - O V C Te a m a n d P r e -d i c t e d O r d e r o f F i n i s h

tennessee state university men’s basketball 2012-13 media ...€¦ · 30 win seasons..... 3...

Documents