Tennessee State Tigers may be upper bracket threat
Tennessee State Tigers may be upper bracket threat
Submitted by Tom Myrick
Phone: 907-474-6805
11/14/07
Although not arriving in Fairbanks with startling statistics from the 2006-07 season, Tennessee State’s Tigers may be a major threat to emerge from the BP TOWC’s upper bracket which also includes the host Alaska Nanooks, Colorado State and Oregon State.
Tennessee State’s main man, Cy Alexander, has been around for a number of years and isn’t normally excited about making wild preseason predictions. Yet, he admits there’s reason to be upbeat about this year’s Tiger team which will feature the return of standout Bruce Price in addition to a handful of talented holdovers from last year’s 12-20 club.
Alexander has said, "Price means so many things to us. He brings a lot of leadership to the floor. He can score and at the same time was our finest perimeter defender two years ago before he was injured. The big question mark is how long will it take for him to regain playing form."
Last season: Won 12 while losing 20. Had a difficult time winning on the road where the Tigers lost 14 of 17 games. Finished in a seventh-place tie in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 8-13 record.
Key personnel losses: Major loss was Clarence Matthews who started all but one game for the Tigers and posted an impressive 12.7 scoring average and 7.7 rebound mark. Both were second high on the squad.
Key returning players: Tennessee State’s key returning player, Bruce Price, is back with the Tigers after having missed the entire season last year. He is a key, however, and may be the club’s leader once he proves he has fully recovered from knee surgery. Actually, Price has missed the last two seasons for the most part as he was injured in the sixth game of the 2005-06 season, then re-injured the knee during the summer months and was forced to the sidelines all of last season. He is a skilled player and had turned his name in for the NBA draft last summer before withdrawing and choosing to return to the collegiate game this season. Although there obviously are some questions, Price could be the answer to TS’s bid for conference honors.
In addition, Tennessee State definitely has others ready to lead the Tigers to a standout season. LaDarious Weaver was the club’s leading scorer last season with a 13.7 points-per-game average and is a perimeter threat. Another returning major starter is Reiley Ervin who averaged 9.6 ppg while playing more than 32 mpg. Also Andrae Belton, Jerrell Houston and Moraye Ivy have credentials from a year ago.
Key newcomers: A pair of junior college transfers are expected to challenge for playing time despite the fact Tennessee State is loaded with returnees. Stephan Evans, at 6-9, may be the Tigers’ answer to replace the departed Matthews. Also the 6-6 Emanuel Gaither will hopefully be providing strength inside.
What the experts are saying: The Blue Ribbon Yearbook said: "Tennessee State might have as much talent as anyone in the Ohio Valley Conference, but the Tigers have long been a risky pick, in terms of chemistry. Expect the Tigers to push the OVC’s top teams, ending up somewhere in the upper half of the race and contending for a top-four finish."