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RACER BASKETBALL A l o o k i n s i d e t h e 2 0 1 3 - 14 t ea m s a t M u r r a y S t a t e

PR0FILES: Lone seniors Fields, Winfrey to lead next generation of Racers (P. 4-5)

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The News November 8, 2013

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The News

Basketball 2013

November 8, 2013

From the Sports Editor Murray State basketball has provided me with some of my favorite college memories.

Not many people from a midmajor conference can say they were the photographer for a basketball team that was the last undefeated team in the nation.

But I can.

And there is nothing quite like sitting courtside when the Racers hit the game-winning shot, securing a place in the NCAA Tournament.

As journalists, we’re told to be unbiased in coverage.

I may have fist-pumped and yelled when I saw that shot go through. Oops.

Then last year, when the men lost to Belmont in the OVC Chamionsip, all I could feel was sadness and a sense of loss.

Murray had to say goodbye to a group of seniors that won more games than any other group of players in Racer history.

That’s the thing about Murray State basketball, though.

It can really get in your blood and run through your veins.

Ryan I didn’t follow the teams Richardson until I was a Sports Editor sophomore working for The News, but it didn’t take long to become a fan.

Obviously, having the best record in all of basketball makes it easy to love the men’s team, but I became of fan of the women, too.

I get that people don’t like to watch their teams lose, but I can promise the teams like losing much less than the fans do.

That’s why we should support them and go to more games, especially this year.

Inside our guide FRESHMEN PROFILES: Payne, Starks fill big roles (P.6)

AT A GLANCE: Roster, schedule breakdown for men’s, women’s teams (P.8-9)

TRANSITION YEAR: Loss put teams down, not out of OVC championship chances (P.10-11)

THE NEWS PICKS: Players to watch in league, preseason OVC rankings (P.12-13)

For the first time in years, both teams have only one senior.

More than that, though, the players lacing up on gamedays are almost all new to Division I college athletics.

I’ve heard fans say they expect bad seasons. I’ve seen predictions that place Murray low in the conference.

And I won’t lie, I had my own doubts less than two weeks ago.

But now I’ve seen them play.

I’ve seen how fearless they are, running up and down the floor.

They are young and they are new. They don’t know they aren’t supposed to be good.

They don’t know they can take their foot off the throttle because it is only an exhibition game.

If they can play with that intensity all year, we’re in for another good year of Racer basketball.

Maybe that innocent ignorance will bring home a couple of OVC championships.

The News 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Ky. 42071-3301 E-mail: thenews@murraystate.edu Fax: 809-3175 TheNews.org Lexy Gross Editor-in-Chief • 809-6877 Meghann Anderson News Editor • 809-4468 Ryan Richardson Sports Editor • 809-4481 Jared Jeseo Online Editor • 809-5877 Kayla MacAllister Chief Copy Editor • 809-5876 Devin Griggs Opinion Editor • 809-5873 Savannah Sawyer Features Editor • 809-5871 Lori Allen Photography Editor • 809-5878 Janie Stenberg Advertising Manager • 809-4478 Wes Yonts Ad Production Manager • 809-5874 Joe Hedges Adviser • 809-3937

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ONE MORE Basketball 2013

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The News November 8, 2013

Fields hopes to earn another title Ryan Richardson || Sports Editor mrichardson5@murraystate.edu

It was a bit unnatural for Dexter Fields to fall in love with basketball.

But fall in love with it he did, and at an early age.

“I knew I wanted to play basketball for the rest of my life, so I worked for it,” he said.

He had a long journey, but now Fields stands as the lone senior of a Murray State team that features almost an entirely new set of faces who will take the floor.

Fields was born into a football family in Palatka, Fla., which is a town dominated by the same sport.

Fields hesitated and was speechless at first when asked how he ended up on the court instead of on the field.

“I honestly just think I was born to like basketball,” he said. “I don’t even know how I first started.”

Finally, he realized his uncle had the biggest influence.

His uncle played both sports when Fields was young, but only basketball interested him.

Starting in Palatka, though, made it hard for him to draw much attention to his skills.

“Being where I was from, I wasn’t getting noticed,” Fields said. “Teams I played for weren’t bad teams, but nobody was looking at them, so I really had to work my way up.”

That is exactly what he did on his road to playing for the Racers.

While still on his hometown team, Fields played against a team from Jacksonville, Fla., which is only about an hour away.

He said they liked his style and asked him to play for their team.

Not too long after playing for Jacksonville, his team played against a squad out of Orlando, Fla. Again, the opposing team took notice of Fields and asked him to come play for them. This time it was for a national tournament.

“After nationals, I never went back,” he said. “I just stayed with them until the end.”

Fields said he thinks it was playing

Lori Allen/The News

Dexter Fields (23) is the only senior for an inexperienced Racer team to look up to this season. for Orlando that got him noticed by Murray State.

He said he knew Assistant Coach James Kane, and the coach had a big role in getting him to Murray.

Kane was not the only connection Fields had with the Racers, though.

He had played against former player Ed Daniel in the Amateur Athletic Union circuit. Fields also had a teammate who knew All-American Isaiah Canaan, someone Fields could see himself playing behind.

“I knew playing with him would have been great for me because he

knows how to distribute the ball and he was getting looked at nationally,” Fields said.

Now Canaan and Daniel are gone, along with other Racer standouts Stacy Wilson and Latreze Mushatt.

Fields is faced with the difficult task of leading a team with little experience in a town that expects championships.

“It’s really difficult, but at the same time it’s not,” he said. “You’ve got a group of guys that’s willing to listen and willing to take the information that’s given to them and go apply it on

the court. It’s making my job easier than if you have guys who let it go in one ear and out the other and think they know everything.”

Fields is one of the few players who can still taste the bitter ending to last season. He said looking back at last year, the team did not bring its best to each game.

As the only senior, Fields said his leadership role is different.

“I’m just trying to do my best to lead these guys the best way I can and do whatever Coach Prohm wants me to do,” he said. “I pretty much just want to be a leader and a mentor to these guys and teach them the game.”

Fields said despite being the leader, it has not really hit him that he is a senior. He said he is not looking forward to that moment because he expects it to be emotional.

In the end, though, he said he wants to look back and say he did more for his team than himself.

“After this season, I think I’ll look back and say I did a pretty good job,” he said. “There are a lot of these guys that don’t know what it feels like to play on this stage and to actually win a college ring. I have two of them, but the most important thing to me is to see these guys happy and to help them win a ring.”

Getting to play in Murray was worth the hard work, Fields said, and he is happy he has been a part of the tradition and brought back championships.

He said the community is great because of its love of basketball and supportive fans.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been around as much loving people as the Racer family,” he said. “They welcome me with open arms. The women are all like mothers and the men are all like fathers to me. I appreciate Racer Nation for accepting me into this family.”

This season, he wants to reward the fans with another OVC title. He said nothing has changed with the loss of so many players.

“The expectations are the same,” Fields said. “We want to bring a championship home to the Racer family.”

The News November 8, 2013

Basketball 2013

5

Winfrey leads by example, looks to hang OVC banner Nick Dolan || Assistant Sports Editor ndolan@murraystate.edu

Jessica Winfrey has had her moments in the spotlight on the court for the Racers.

She was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team after the 2010-11 season and finished in the NCAA top 50 in rebounds, recording 9.7 boards per game.

She also averaged 10.6 points.

But she has had her fair share of adversity, having to overcome injuries that have taken two years away from her game.

Winfrey was redshirted as a freshman during the 2009-10 season and again for the 2011-12 campaign due to injuries. “(Recovery) was tough but I definitely knew that I wanted to be back out on the court, so I had to do it,” Winfrey said. “Whenever I'm dedicated to something I don't want it to stop.”

She said she knew college would be the highest level of basketball she played because she has been hurt so much.

With that in mind, Winfrey pushed through in order to play one final season.

“I knew I had to get back out there,” she said. “I had that mentality I wasn't going to stop. I have to finish this.”

The dream of college basketball began early for Winfrey after being introduced to the game by her father, Stan Winfrey.

“My dad was not going to let me play anything else,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball since I was able to dribble a ball. My dad introduced me to basketball and I'm very grateful for that even though as a young girl I was like, ‘Dad, I don’t want to do this. Oh my gosh can I just go play with Barbies?’ ” Her life in basketball, however, almost came to a sudden halt.

As Winfrey neared her senior year of high school, the highly touted junior suffered a potential careerending injury that made some college scouts think twice about bringing her into their programs.

But sitting out only made the Arkansas native want to pursue the game she loves more.

“I knew in junior high I was thinking maybe college basketball would be fun,” Winfrey said. “I was still enjoying it and I didn't want to stop playing. It was kind of one of those things.”

She said getting hurt actually helped her realize how much she loved the game. After tearing her ACL, college recruits stopped looking at her.

“I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I don't want to be without basketball, what am I going to do?’ ” she said.

“So it was like I had to work hard, I have to do better, I want to play college basketball and that's what triggered it for me.”

Winfrey said after sustaining her injury, the attention she still received by Murray State Head Coach

File photo

Injuries nearly ended Jessica Winfrey’s career. Now, though, she is playing a final year as the only senior on the women’s team.

Rob Cross and his staff made her decision to become a Racer an easy one, despite losing the chance to play at a power conference school.

“I was technically supposed to be going to Kansas State, but they stopped looking at me once I tore my ACL,” Winfrey said. “Murray State was always in the mix. Coach Cross was always on me and all the former coaches always talked to me and were very positive people.”

She said after she tore her ACL, Cross still talked to her and was interested in her.

“I just felt so blessed and I knew that Murray State was where I needed to be,” Winfrey said.

And as the sixth year head coach, Cross has high hopes for his only senior.

“Winfrey has looked really good in our scrimmages and practices,” Cross said. “She averaged a double-double as a freshman, and this was the first time she had an offseason that was a healthy offseason since then, so I’m hoping she can return to that form. “ Cross said he expects those types of numbers out of her as a fifth year senior. He said she leads the team in practice and has been a vocal leader for the new players.

He’s not alone in his expectations.

Winfrey has high hopes for this year's team, even though they are filled with lowerclassmen.

“Before every season, we meet together as a team and we talk about the goals that we want to set for ourselves as far as now and in the future,” Winfrey

said. “And we are going for that conference and OVC Championship. That is what we want.”

While the goal of a championship is partially one for Winfrey has set for herself, she said it’s all centered around her team.

But her goal is not only to win. It’s also about the legacy she wants to leave for the future of Racer basketball.

“I want to be able to leave with a championship,” she said. “I want to be remembered. I want to be a great positive leader. I just want to have an impact on my team. I want them to know that I want this for them.”

Winfrey said she realizes she is looked up to.

“I have to show what it's like to be a college athlete,” she said. “I have to lead by example. I have to do these things so these freshmen can grow up and be seniors that do these things for other people.”

With the success of the men’s team, the women’s team’s accomplishments have been overshadowed, but Winfrey is determined to step into the spotlight.

“I love our men's team,” she said. “You see a lot of people at the men's games and all this kind of stuff. I want people to know that we have a good team too.”

She said she wants fans to know they can support the women, too, and the team will show them a good time.

“There hasn't been a banner for the women in awhile,” Winfrey said. “We’re going to change that.”

Basketball 2013

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The News November 8, 2013

STEPPING UP Freshmen called on immediately to run the point Cameron Payne replaces former All-American Isaiah Canaan as leader of men’s team Jonathan Ferris || Staff writer jferris2@murraystate.edu

From earning a starting spot on the varsity middle school team as a lowly sixth-grader to leading his high school team to a state championship as a senior, freshman guard Cameron Payne has met every challenge thrown his way.

Perhaps the greatest challenge begins tonight, however, as the Memphis-area native will be asked to lead the Murray State offense in his first collegiate game.

Payne arrived at Murray State prepared to play off the bench while learning Head Coach Steve Prohm’s system.

The plan quickly changed, however, when sophomore guard Zay Jackson tore his ACL in an early October practice.

A few days later, Payne saw the news on Twitter and confirmed it with Prohm.

He would be the Racers’ starting point guard.

“I was shocked when I heard,” Payne said. “I knew that I could do it, I just thought I was going to come off the bench. When I found out I felt I had to get better and I wanted to fulfill that role.”

The first call Payne made was to the man who introduced him to the sport at the age of three.

“I called my dad,” Payne said.

“No one knew and I told him. He knew I was going to get there someday. He just said I need to get better.”

Payne said his dad has been a key influence throughout his life on and off the basketball court.

When it came time to choose a school, Payne knew he wanted to stay close to home so his dad could see him play.

“My dad has been to 99 percent of all my basketball games,” Payne said. “I knew when I made my decision that my family would want to

be able to see me play. Murray State allowed that to happen.”

Payne was targeted by Prohm’s staff early in the recruiting process.

As a sophomore in high school, the first school to contact the standout guard was Murray State.

From that point on, Payne was destined to become a Racer.

Payne was the Racers’ first verbal commitment last year and signed his letter of intent during the early signing period last November.

He then went on to lead his high school team to a Tennessee state championship.

Fast forward several months and it seems as if Payne is ready to continue his success at the next level.

Despite the uncertainty that comes with a freshman point guard, Payne is confident he can get the job done.

“I have good basketball I.Q.,” Payne said. “I know the game well and I’m a pretty good shooter. I know how to keep my teammates involved and keep them happy because I know all their strengths.

I feel I can run the team.”

The newest Racer backed up the talk last Saturday during a scrimmage against Freed Hardeman.

Payne made a good first impression with the fans, scoring nine points and dishing out eight assists while leading an effective Racer offense to a 95-68 victory.

Though he admitted an OVC Freshman of the Year award would be a nice addition to his long list of accolades, Payne is more focused on the team’s goals.

“I want to get our team to the OVC championship,” Payne said.

“I want to go to my first NCAA Tournament. I’m more set on our team goals because I feel if our team is doing good, everyone is going to get noticed.”

Janssen Starks stays local to take leadership of Racer offense Tom Via || Staff writer tvia@murraystate.edu

When fans in Murray last saw Janssen Starks, she was hoisting another Region 1 basketball title over her head in the CFSB Center.

Now she is ready to begin her Murray State career.

The journey to Murray State for Starks has been an interesting one, as the Racers had not considered offering the Murray High School guard a scholarship the spring of her junior year.

“Coach Cross was honest with me throughout the entire process and it was a huge reason of why I ultimately chose Murray,” Starks said.

The transformation that got the Racers’ attention was the summer before Starks’ breakout senior season.

“I wanted to be the best player in the region and honestly can’t even remember how I got there but I grew tremendously,” Starks said.

In her final season at Murray High, Starks led the Tigers to their third championship in four years and added the ability to score.

Starks led the state in 3-pointers made and was third in scoring with 25.2 points per game. While Starks said she is happy to be close to home, she knows there is pressure on her.

“It has its good moments and its bad moments,” Starks said.

“Good moments are that you get to be around family and friends, but if you don’t play well, the pressure is on you and being in your hometown and everyone expecting big things.”

Starks comes from a basketball family. Her grandmother, mother and two older sisters played the game. Starks said she wanted to be just like them and play the family game, too.

Starks’ biggest influence in her career has been her oldest sister Ashley who, like Janssen, was a point guard.

“When I was little, I wanted to be just like her and get out there and play with her,” Starks said.

“She wasn’t just good on the court but off the court she was a good person and that’s who I want to be like.”

Starks said the transition to collegiate basketball has been exciting and nerve-racking, but things are starting to slow down as the season nears. With the Racers only returning one starter and four players that saw action last season, Head Coach Rob Cross expects opportunities to be plentiful for Starks and other freshmen.

“If we started today she would be in the starting lineup and that says a lot of a freshman, and I think she has a chance to be a very effective player for us,” Cross said.

While Starks was a scorer in her final year of high school, she is primarily known for being a distributor, which is something she is looking forward to getting back to.

“I always like to pass,” Starks said. “I would pass up any shot to get somebody else a shot.”

As Starks prepares for her first college game tonight against Robert Morris-Springfield, there are a few things she is looking forward to.

“Hearing my named called out will be emotional because I ended my high school career here and am starting my college career here, too,” Starks said. “It is definitely exciting and nerves are going to be in me but I am just going to come out and do the best I can and have all my supporters with me.”

She said her first objective is not to score in her first official game.

Said Starks: “I would much rather have my first career assist.”

The News

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November 8, 2013

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Basketball 2013

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November 8, 2013

Racer basketball HOME

Away

NOVEMBER NO VEMBER 8

V Valparaiso alparaiso

112 2

BRESCIA

7 P.M.

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6 P.M.

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Old Dominion BETHEL (TN)

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Dayton

Jonathan Fairell, No. 2 Position: Forward Year: Junior Height: 6’7” From: Miami, Fla.

Jarvis Williams, No. 4 Position: Forward Year: Junior Height: 6’8” From: Macon, Ga.

C.J. Ford, No. 11 Position: Guard Year: Sophomore Height: 6’1” From: Fayetteville, N.C.

Tyler Rambo, No. 12 Position: Forward Year: Sophomore Height: 6’5” From: Grandview, Mo.

Jeff Martin, No. 14 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 5’11” From: Katy, Texas

T. J. Sapp, No. 22 Position: Guard Year: Junior Height: 6’3” From: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Dexter Fields, No. 23 Position: Guard Year: Senior Height: 6’2” From: Orlando, Fla.

Justin Seymore, No. 24 Position: Guard Year: Sophomore Height: 6’3” From: Atlanta, Ga.

Jeffrey Moss, No. 31 Position: Forward Year: Sophomore Height: 6’4” From: Madison, Ala.

Terron Gilmore, No. 34 Position: Forward Year: Sophomore Height: 6’7” From: Jackson, Miss.

Zay Henderson, No. 35 Position: Forward Year: Sophomore Height: 6’8” From: Monroe, La.

TBA

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Cameron Payne, No. 1 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 6’2” From: Bartlett, Tenn.

Southeast Missouri

5:30 P.M.

VC Championship 5-8 O OVC

TBA

Graphic by Evan Watson

photos courtesy of Sports Information

The News

Basketball 2013

November 8, 2013

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rosters, schedules HOME

Away

NOVEMBER NO VEMBER Netanya Jackson, No. 00 Position: Forward/Center Year: Junior Height: 6’4” From: Nashville, Tenn.

Taylor Porter, No. 1 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 5’9” From: Louisa, Ky.

Jessica Winfrey, No. 5 Position: Forward Year: Senior Height: 5’10” From: Marion, Ark.

Nikia Edom, No. 10 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 5’6” From: Romeoville, Ill.

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ROBERT MORRIS-SPRINGFIELD 7 P.M.

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KENNESAW STATE STATE STA KENNESAW

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5:15 P.M. 4 P.M.

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Andrea Dickerson, No. 12 Position: Guard/Forward Year: Freshman Height: 5’11” From: Mt. Pulaski, Ill.

Julia Fox, No. 21 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 5’8” From: Lebanon, Tenn.

Keiona Kirby, No. 13 Position: Guard Year: Junior Height: 5’9” From: Jackson, Tenn.

LeAsia Wright, No. 23 Position: Guard Year: Sophomore Height: 5’8” From: Louisville, Ky

Janssen Starks, No. 15 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 5’8” From: Murray

Bianca Babic, No. 31 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 6’0” From: Melbourne, Australia

Ke’Shunan James, No. 20 Position: Forward Year: Freshman Height: 6’1” From: Jackson, Tenn.

Antonia Niebler, No. 32 Position: Guard Year: Freshman Height: 5’9” From: Bad Aibling, Germany

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MOREHEAD STA ST ATE STATE

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MARCH

Chanyere Hosey, No. 40 Position: Forward Year: Junior Height: 6’1” From: Bolingbrook, Ill.

Jashae Lee, No. 42 Position: Guard/Forward Year: Sophomore Height: 5’9” From: Rialto, Calif.

5:15 P.M.

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Southeast Missouri

3 P.M.

5-8 O VC Championship OVC

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Graphic by Evan Watson

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Basketball 2013

The News November 8, 2013

Ryan Richardson/The News

Men’s Basketball Head Coach Steve Prohm said it will take time to see what this year’s team is made of, as they are still learning the plays and learning each other’s style of gameplay.

New team look s t o r eplace win ning est cl ass in hi story Jonathan Ferris || Staff writer jferris2@murraystate.edu

Following a 2011-12 season in which the Racers won their first 23 games, posted a program best 31-2 record and came within minutes of the University’s first ever Sweet 16 appearance, expectations were high to begin the 2012-13 basketball season.

After a long regular season in which the Racers struggled to find consistency, Isaiah Canaan, Ed Daniel and company came up short, blowing a 7-point lead in the final two minutes of the OVC championship game against Belmont.

As Belmont guard Kerron Johnson drained the championship-winning basket in overtime, the careers of the most successful class in program history came to a heartbreaking close.

The six familiar faces of Canaan, Daniel, Stacy Wilson, Brandon Garrett, Latreze Mushatt and Jordan Burge walked off the court for the final time and left an entire fan base wondering the same question: what’s next?

Enter a 2013-14 squad full of unfa-

miliar faces and minimal in-game experience.

Though many have labeled this season a transition year, senior Dexter Fields is not buying it.

Fields, the lone senior and only returning starter, has taken on the unquestioned role as the team’s leader.

“I hope I can look back when it’s done and say I led a young group of guys to a championship,” Fields said.

“I really just want to make these guys happy.”

The Racers’ backcourt took a big hit before the season even began as sophomore guard Zay Jackson sustained a season-ending knee injury and subsequently left the program.

The departure of Jackson forces the Racers to hand over the reins to Cameron Payne, a true freshman out of Bartlett, Tenn. The lone freshman of the 2012-13 recruiting class, Payne averaged 20 points and 10 assists while leading his high school team to a Tennessee state championship.

Payne looks to translate his high school success over to the college ranks as he takes over the Murray State offense.

“He’s very gifted offensively, very skilled and has good basketball I.Q.,” Head Coach Steve Prohm said. “The biggest thing for a freshman is to understand how you have to play on the defensive end. It’s going to be a process, but I’m really excited about his future.”

Payne will likely be the Racers’ starting point guard, at least until the Dec. 17 matchup against Southern Illinois when Clemson transfer T.J. Sapp becomes eligible to play. Prohm said Sapp may play point guard or may contribute in other roles as well.

The Racers will also feature an entirely new frontcourt this season.

Juniors Jarvis Williams and Jonathan Fairell transferred from junior colleges to fill the void left by Daniel, Garrett and Mushatt.

Williams, a 6’8” Gordon State Junior College transfer, averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds per game as a sophomore. In his first season with the Racers, Williams will immediately fill a starting role and will be relied upon to provide a dominant presence in the paint on both sides of the ball.

Fairell, a 6’7” transfer out of Indian

River State College, finished fourth in rebounds among all Division I Junior College schools last season, and scored 17.7 points per game.

The presence of the two big forwards in addition to returning sophomore forwards Zay Henderson and Terron Gilmore off the bench gives the Racers promising depth in the front court. With the injury of Jackson and the ineligibility of transfer guards Sapp and Justin Seymour, Murray State fans should anticipate action in the paint this season.

In what is sure to be a season of change and adjustment, Prohm said the expectations will stay the same for Murray State basketball.

“The goal won’t ever change,” Prohm said. “It can’t. Our goal is always to win as many games as possible in the nonconference, take care of business in our side of the conference, win a conference championship and get back to the NCAA Tournament.”

The quest for the conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth begins tonight as the Racers travel to Valparaiso.

The News November 8, 2013

Basketball 2013

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HIGH EXPECTATIONS Women hope to reach OVC Tournament Tom Via || Staff writer tvia@murraystate.edu

Few players return from a women’s basketball team that posted a 16-13 record and made a trip to Nashville, Tenn., as an 8-seed in the OVC Tournament.

This year features a new team and a fresh start for Head Coach Rob Cross.

“We have a lot of question marks right now because we just don’t know what we have with the season because many haven’t played a collegiate game yet,” Cross said.

Returning from last season is a single starter and the team’s only senior, Jessica Winfrey, whose leadership is unquestioned on the team. Winfrey has battled injuries throughout her career at Murray State but Cross expects her to return to the numbers fans saw in her freshman campaign when she averaged a double-double.

“This was the first time she had an off-season that was a healthy off-season since then so I’m hoping she can return to that form,” Cross said.

It could be argued that the biggest question with the team would be who replaces Mariah Robinson, who led the team last season with 16.8 points per game. Junior guard Keiona Kirby is expected to step into the role. Kirby showed flashes of the ability to create instant offense in appearances off the bench last season.

“I was kind of nervous having to take over the role that Mariah left but I’ve been waiting for this opportunity since my freshman year,” Kirby said.

Kirby and the Racers’ offense will continue to run Cross’ up-tempo offense that showcases their shooting skill from behind the arc. Last season the team shot more than 600 3-pointers but connected on just 30 percent of those shots. Cross hopes that the recruiting class he has brought in will improve on that number.

The freshmen shooting list includes guard Janssen Starks, who led Kentucky her senior season in triples made, guard Julia Fox, who made more than 200 3-pointers in her high school career and Taylor Porter, who finished third in Kentucky with just more than 25 points per contest.

While Cross is excited about the high school statistics, college basketball is a different game, he said.

“Almost every single girl playing in college basketball was the best player on their team in high school so you don’t know how the girls are going to adjust to playing the higher competition,” Cross said.

The Racers have seven freshmen, including three point guards who will have to develop to the college game quickly thanks to the team’s tough nonconference schedule that includes trips to

Ryan Richardson/The News

Head Coach Rob Cross talks to junior guard Keiona Kirby, who is expected to take on the scoring role for the Racers this year.

Evansville, Western Kentucky and Xavier. Cross said the opening games are critical for his young team and they will have to stay focused and maintain their confidence level. The goal is a simple one: to prepare for the conference games.

“We are going to see everything we need to before the conference portion of the schedule comes around,” Cross said.

With such a young and new team, practices this summer were important as the team prepared for the season. Cross said he is pleased with how the team is learning his style of play but won’t allow youth to be an excuse.

“We are not going to allow them to use the freshman excuse to not know what is going on during the game or in practice,” Cross said.

The Racers have had great guards with Cross at the helm of the program and this season should be no different. Starks, Porter and Nikia Edom are all expected to occupy major roles.

“Three freshmen guards are going to play key roles for us, and I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing but we will find out as soon as we start playing in front of people,” Cross said.

The Racers’ front court is led by Winfrey and Netanya Jackson. Jackson is not a new face to the program, but fans will get to see her in action for

the first time this season after being redshirted last year. Jackson, who towers over the team at 6’4,” spent the time off getting into shape and dropped more than 100 pounds.

Winfrey said the hard work has not gone unnoticed.

“I’m so proud of Netanya for all the hard work she has put in this year and she is going to be a beast this season for us,” Winfrey said.

Cross also said the hard work has made a difference in Jackson’s gameplay.

“Netanya is a defensive mistake eliminator,” Cross said. “When you have a girl that tall, she makes up for a lot but she is still trying to adjust to her new body which will take some time.”

The expectations for the team this year are simple for Cross: make the OVC Tournament because anything can happen once the tournament starts.

Winfrey and her teammates have much bigger expectations.

“I really think there is no way we can’t be in the top three of the conference because we are looking so good,” Winfrey said. “We are going after that OVC Championship. That is what we want.”

The Racers begin their journey toward that goal tonight as they host Robert Morris-Springfield at 7 p.m. at the CFSB Center.

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Basketball 2013

The News November 8, 2013

2013-14 OVC players to watch Jarvis Williams – Jr., Forward – Murray State

Keiona Kirby – Jr., Guard – Murray State

The junior college transfer from Gordon State College will be asked to fill the role left behind by Ed Daniel. In two seasons he racked up more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds, and the Racers will need those types of numbers to establish their frontcourt.

Kirby is expected to fill the scoring role left by Mariah Robinson. Kirby knows the system that Cross runs and could have a massive year for the Racers after coming off the bench last season, when she shot 34 percent from 3-point range.

Glenn Cosey – Sr., Guard – Eastern Kentucky

Heather Butler – Sr., Guard – UT Martin

Filling the role vacated by point guard Mike DiNunno, Cosey is the leader of the Colonels and will see his role expand to much more than just a scorer. Cosey missed time last year with a hand injury but led the team in scoring. His numbers will only increase this season with the ball in his hands.

Butler is a three-time All-OVC Team selection and the Skyhawks’ all-time leading scorer. Butler scored 37 points On the national stage last season in March, when the team lost to No. 2 Notre Dame.

Tyler Stone – Sr., Forward – Southeast Missouri

Newsome is the Preseason OVC Player of the Year and Mid-Major Preseason Player of the Year. She set a record for points scored at the OVC tournament with 98 points on the way to the championship. She is UTM’s all-time assist leader and is second in scoring.

Jasmine Newsome – Sr., Guard – UT Martin Stone, the OVC’s preseason player of the year, has dominated the OVC for the past few years. Stone is one of the most complete players in the conference. He leads SEMO in scoring and is also one of the best shot blockers in the OVC.

Marie Carpenter – Sr., Guard – Eastern Kentucky Myles Taylor – Jr., Forward – UT Martin Taylor is recovering from an injury suffered late last season, but the Skyhawks are going to depend on Taylor to be competitive. Taylor does get into foul trouble but still ranks high in the conference in both scoring and rebounding.

Carpenter played in only 19 games last season due to a broken hand, but when on the court she led the team with more than 14 points per game. In a wide-open OVC East Division, Carpenter has the scoring ability to control a game and lead the Colonels to a regular season title.

Diamond Henderson – Jr., Guard – Tennessee Tech Travis Betran – Sr., Guard – Austin Peay In just his second year at Austin Peay, Betran can score and will be able to play off the ball, allowing him to get open and take shots. If Austin Peay wants to end its streak of losing seasons, he will have to make it happen.

As a sophomore last season, Henderson led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 16 points per game. With the departure of five seniors, Henderson will be the team’s primary ball handler and will look to get near the basket.

The News November 8, 2013

OUR PICKS Basketball 2013

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OVC preseason rankings Sports Editor Ryan Richardson, Assistant Sports Editor Nick Dolan and staff writers Jonathan Ferris and Tom Via casted their votes regarding the teams’ placements for the 2013-14 season. A first-place vote was worth six points, down to sixth place receiving one point. The votes were tallied for each division to show the overall predicted order of finish.

MEN’S BASKETBALL WEST

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WEST

EAST

EAST

1. SOUTHEAST SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2. MURRAY MURRAY STA ST ATE STATE 3. AUSTIN PEAY PEAY 4. UT MARTIN 5. EA STERN ILLINOIS EASTERN 6. SIU EDW ED WARDSVILLE EDWARDSVILLE 1. EA EASTERN STERN KENTUCKY 2. BELMONT 3. MOREHEAD STATE 4. TENNESSEE STA ST ATE 4. JACKSONVILLE JACKSONVILLE STA ST ATE STATE 6. TENNESSEE TECH *Tennessee State and Jacksonville State received an equal number of votes.

1. UT MARTIN 2. SIU EDW ED WARDSVILLE EDWARDSVILLE 3. MURRAY MURRAY STA ST ATE STATE 4. EA STERN ILLINOIS EASTERN 5. SOUTHEA ST MISSOURI SOUTHEAST 6. AUSTIN PEAY PEAY 1. BELMONT 2. TENNESSEE TECH 3. EA STERN KENTUCKY EASTERN 4. MOREHEAD 5. TENNESSEE STA ST ATE STATE 6. JACKSONVILLE JACKSONVILLE STA ST ATE STATE Graphics by Evan Watson

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November 8, 2013

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5% Murray State Discount

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November 8, 2013

$ 10 Off

Any Road Service Call OR Towing Expires 05-31-14

$ 5 Off

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Donate a new unwrapped toy at any of these locations and enjoy these benefits: Max’s 641 T Towing-$5 owing-$5 of offf any oil change or $10 of offf any towing or road service need Gattis Pizza Pizza-15% -15% of offf purchase of buf buffet fet Bring a toy to the Racer football game on Nov .23 & get Nov.23 a free ticket for the Racer Basketball Game on Nov Nov.. 26 Big Apple Café Café-Nov. -Nov. 27 rebate nig night, ht, 10% of food sales will be donated to the toy drive.

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REDEFINING AN ERA

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Basketball 2013

The News

November 8, 2013

New faces will rule the court for both basketball teams, championships still ultimate goals

Taylor McStoots and Ryan Richardson/The News

NEW TEAMS: Both basketball teams host several new faces this year after heavy losses to graduation. Above, sophomore Jashae Lee (42) drives in for a layup against Berea. Below, freshman Cameron Payne runs the point against Freed Hardeman.

Right, sophomore Jeffery Moss is one of the few players returning who earned playing time last season.