MC HOOP SCOOP
Inside the Maryville College Men’s Basketball Program December 2011 Edition
Welcome to MC’s Hoop Scoop
Welcome to the December issue of the MC Hoop Scoop! With our season now in full swing and our players taking their end of semester exams this week and Christmas right around the corner, everyone in the Maryville College program is busy! We play our final game of the first semester this Saturday on the road against Guilford College. Guilford is having a strong season with a 7‐2 record but we feel our team has been progressing nicely in the month of December. We started the month off with a loss at home against a solid Methodist team aHer giving up a Ip‐in with 7 seconds remaining resulIng in a score of 79‐78 in favor of Methodist. Missing a pair of starters, forward Oscar Butler and center Maverick WilleN due to injuries, we weren’t able to control the boards like we wanted to and it ended up geQng us beat. However, the last week and a half has taken a turn for the beNer. We have goNen a big surge from sophomores Craig Raye and A.J. Terrill the past two games and they were key for us to be able to pull out victories over Bryan College and North Carolina Wesleyan. We defeated Bryan College, a NAIA school, on December 3rd, by a score of 81‐68. In our last game, Sunday December 11th, we beat defending USA South conference champion and NCAA tournament parIcipant North Carolina Wesleyan in a thrilling overIme game, 93‐82! With the emergence of our bench and young players, we feel as if our team is headed in the right direcIon. A win at Guilford on Saturday would make our Holiday break that much sweeter.
Maryville’s basketball Scots participated in the 2011 Alzheimer’s Walk on the MC Campus .
Coach Lambert’s Corner Dear MC Basketball Fan,
NUMBERS NCAA Tournaments 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992-1993 1994-1995 1996-1997 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
One step forward and two steps backward…Two steps forward and one step backward…Oh, the challenges of dealing with a young team. Over the past month, this team has really made some strides in its level of maturity and role acceptance. For the first Ime in over a year, and I am daIng back to last season, I am beginning to feel like our team is starIng to “figure it out.” I am referring to the mental aspects of the game. This includes the mental preparaIon that begins in the pracIces leading up to the game. It begins in the extra Ime that a player is willing to put into developing his game. It begins with each player’s willingness to be coached and the overall buy‐ in from every member of the team. It is carried over to one’s ability to hear a scouIng report and apply it to the floor during a game. And it means that each team member is doing his part to insure the success of the team. As a head coach, this is a proud moment. I have been in this business long enough to know that this could change tomorrow, but for now, we are having fun and enjoying the progression. We are coming off an overIme victory against a very good North Carolina Wesleyan team. We blew a five point lead in the final minute of regulaIon, but outscored them 15‐4 in the overIme period for a quality win. I am extremely pleased by the improved play of our freshmen and sophomores. In our last game, we started three freshmen – ChrisIan Ford at point guard, Oscar Butler at the power forward posiIon, and Joey Bodewig in the low post. These three young men seem to get beNer with each ouIng. The inspired play by two of our sophomores, Craig Raye and A.J. Terrill, has given this team a major boost. Craig is coming off the bench at the wing posiIon and has provided an efficient scoring punch to our offense. A.J. is subbing in at the post and is giving us quality minutes as a defender and rebounder. Our ten man rotaIon seems to be set for now. As soon as we get Maverick WilleN back from a severe ankle sprain, we should have our playing rotaIon fairly established. Allow me to share with you some other program developments over the past month: Our J.V. team has shown great progress. We went 2‐1 this past month with several players showing promise for the future. Jethro Griffin, Spencer Peake, Durante Jones, and Corey Conard have been the most consistent scorers of the group. All of our young guys have their moments, but they need to consistently demonstrate the ability to play on both ends of the floor (offense and defense) at the desired level of intensity. This is their introducIon to the college game and they need to understand that it is played at a completely different speed and intensity level than they are accustomed to playing. We were disappointed to find out this week that Alex Arnold will have to medically red‐shirt this season due to a shoulder injury that took place in the pre‐season. Congrats go out to Milton Stanley for being selected as the Great South Player of the Week. His play has been phenomenal in the first part of our season. Milt has exceeded our loHy expectaIons. He leads us in many staIsIcal areas, but most importantly, he leads this team by his day‐to‐day performance on the pracIce floor and in the games. Furthermore, last month our team performed over 300 hours of community service. We parIcipated in the Alzheimer’s Memory Walk on a Saturday morning. We spent most of the day at John Sevier Elementary School and read a book to every class. Several of our team members went up to Walland School in the mountains and parIcipated in a Hoops for Heart event that promoted wellness and the importance of physical acIvity in young people’s lives. Our team does a great job in represenIng our college and they understand the importance of service.
Scots at “The Baird” in Januar y Live Video at www.knoxivi.com Rust 1/3 7:00 p.m. Wittenberg 1/4 4:0 0 p.m
. Greensboro 1/7 2:0 0 p.m. Covenant 1/11 8:0 0 p.m.
LaGrange 1/28 4:0 0 p.m.
I hope that you can see that this team has made great strides in the past month. It is more than just basketball and winning games. This collegiate experience is providing them with valuable life lessons. It is teaching them about giving and receiving. It is teaching them about accepIng their role and place on this team. It is teaching them about establishing goals and making sacrifices for the good of the cause. They are reinforcing many values that they have been exposed to throughout their young lives. I realize that this is a process and we are only in the early phases of developing this team and each individual on this team. I can assure you that we will keep working at it. As we head into the Holiday season, I want to wish you and your family a safe and Merry Christmas. Sincerely, Randy Lambert
Donald Rucker
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
by MC Sports Information •••
Senior forward Donald Rucker is in the Senior Spotlight for the month of December. “Ruck” is an incredibly important piece of the puzzle that is Maryville College basketball. He brings fire and passion to a young team and is one of the most posiIve young men we’ve had the joy of coaching. Ruck’s intensity has enabled him to average 9 ppg and a team high 8 rpg so far through his final season. We sat down with him to find out just what makes him a key part of this year’s team. HS: How has your experience been here at MC both on and off the court? As a person who was not that familiar with Maryville College before coming here, I had a great deal of second thoughts upon arriving on campus for the first Ime. However, every day I have been here I have fallen in love with the college more and more, and I am extremely prideful of the fact that I will soon be a graduate of Maryville College. My college experience has been everything and more. It would be hard‐pressed to find another college where I could parIcipate in all of the acIviIes I love from singing to basketball. I feel really blessed. HS: What is your favorite aspect of Maryville College? The community of Maryville College is truly genuine. I remember first coming on campus and being bombarded by authenIcally nice people that were so proud to not only be a part of Maryville College, but also the Maryville community. This environment is so contagious, and I am delighted to be a member of it. HS: How is the season going so far in your eyes? I could not think of a beNer group of people to be on a team with. I have really been inspired by the tangible growth we have made since our first game and our teams demeanor in the face of adversity. I hope
we conInue to emphasize a willingness to grow, making this season a special one. HS: When the season is over and you look back on what’s happened, what would like to be able to say about your senior season? When it is all said and done, I hope I can say that I have improved as a basketball player and that my role on the team aided in evoking something special. I ulImately hope my presence and work on the basketball court can in some way impact others, inspiring the best out of someone even if it is just one person. HS: “Ruck,” you were just selected to be a part of the Teach for America Program, tell us a liMle about that program and what it means to be a part of something that important to you? EducaIon has always been a part of who I am. I have always known I would end up doing something in this field. I am a firm believer in using your talents, abiliIes, and giHs to impact others, especially those less fortunate than yourself. Teach for America is a compeIIve program that will allow me to do so. I will be placed in a community in
Alabama with high needs and asked to teach in an elementary school for two years. The Teach for America mission states that every child deserves and can have a quality educaIon, and in turn this quality educaIon can transform communiIes. I enjoy being challenged, and I feel this is a challenging experience that will also help me give back to the greater good. I look forward to the experience.
MC Basketball Alumnus of the Month Josh Tummel Class of 2003 •••
What years did you play at Maryville College? 1999 ‐ 2003 What did you major in at the college and what are you doing now? I graduated with a degree in biology. I am now an agent with Tennessee Farm Bureau Insurance, which has very liNle to do with my major. Most memorable game or moment? I always enjoyed NCAA tournament games. My senior class leH with a 5‐4 NCAA tournament record with one trip to the Sweet 16. I wish we could have had several more victories though. Individually I enjoyed averaging a double double my senior season.
students and faculty acknowledged my family and myself while walking around campus. From an athleIcs standpoint, I liked the idea of being a part of a winning program and playing close to home. Most valuable lesson you learned from Coach Lambert? To treat everyone with respect and put Jesus and family first. If you have those prioriIes in place, everything else will follow.
AddiOonal InformaOon… I owe a lot to Maryville College. It was a family atmosphere from the students to the faculty and staff. The professors genuinely cared about my success as a student and always had an open door. I was able to make a lot of lifelong friendships and met my wife, Leslie TalboN (Tummel), class of 2003. We have a son named Asher Why did you choose born January 2011. He Maryville College? already has his Scots I chose Maryville because of basketball jersey. the small family atmosphere that the college provided. Even on my visit, the
Josh Tummel
Christian Ford by MC Sports Information
FRESHMAN FOCUS
The MC Hoop Scoop caught up with starIng point guard, freshman ChrisIan Ford to discuss geQng adjusted to college life and the rigors of college basketball. “C Ford” is having a producIve freshman season thus far averaging 8.5 ppg, 3.3 apg, and is a perfect 12‐12 from the free throw line! Let’s find out MC is treaIng him in his first semester. Hoop Scoop: How have you been able to adjust to college life as a freshman being away from friends and family for the 1st Ome? CF: It’s been hard on me, especially in the beginning. I didn’t really know anyone here so I felt alone. My relaIonship with my teammates and coaches has grown tremendously, and I am now at a comfortable state. I’ve made many friends on campus as well. The adjustment is progressing well, it just took a liNle while. HS: What has been the hardest thing for you so far 4 months into college? CF: The hardest thing for me is geQng enough sleep. My daily schedule consists of classes all day starIng at 9am, pracIce, homework and studying, which keeps me up most the night, then waking up early and doing it all over. It gets exhausIng. HS: Going into their freshman season, most basketball players have different ideas of what college ball will be like…What were your expectaOons coming in and what has surprised you? CF: My expectaIons coming in were that I was going to get worked to the maximum, go through extremely hard pracIces, and maybe some favoriIsm from coaches toward star players. I was surprised to see that every player is treated equally and is given a fair chance. One person’s punishment for a mistake is no different than another’s. The college game is very challenging and demanding. .
HS: How do you think your game has progressed halfway through your freshman season? CF: My game has improved tremendously since the first game. At first, I was afraid to make mistakes and get taken out of the game. I’ve learned the way to stay in is to just simply “play.” Ever since then, my game has improved and I’m doing a lot beNer. HS: What would you like to accomplish as a player and as a team in your 4 years here at MC? CF: The ulImate goal is to win Coach Lambert a naIonal championship. I believe it’s possible. Individually, I’d like to be All‐Conference and in the future, hopefully All‐ American. I want to be one of the best point guards to ever play at Maryville College.