RACER BASKETBALL A special publication of The Murray State News
The News
Basketball
2
From the Sports Editor Where did the time go? It feels like just yesterday we were wrapping up the 2013-14 basketball season with the nerve-wracking CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament championship against Yale, and here we are kicking off a new season. Has it realMallory Tucker ly been seven months since said goodbye to Dexter Sports Editor we Fields and hello to Cameron Payne as the CIT MVP? Yes, it has. But boy, has it flown by. At times I feel completely unprepared to tackle this season, but there’s something else that I feel more: Excitement. This season is going to be one for the books – or I suppose, in my case, one for the papers. And looking at the preseason polls, everyone
knows it. The men were ranked No. 1 at OVC Media Day in Nashville, Tenn., and Cam Payne was named Preseason Player of the Year. Talk about a target on your back. The women were ranked 10th in the preseason, but the votes were widely distributed between teams, which I believe to be a huge indicator that they can seize this season. With senior Keiona Kirby named to the Preseason All-OVC Team, the women don’t lack leadership. From what I’ve seen in the preseason, the talent is there on both teams. The motivation is there. And the fun is definitely there. Racer Mania kicked off the season with players from both teams dancing for all of CFSB’s entertainment, and if you weren’t there, you’ve already missed out. Take it from me as a journalist, student and admittedly, a fan. You don’t want to miss out on any of this season.
November 7, 2014
Inside our guide HEAD COACH Q&A Prohm, Cross talk about season expectations (P.3)
CIT RECAP Revisit the Racers’ 2013-14 postseason championship (P.3)
ON POINT Payne, Wright lead teams from pointguard (P.4)
HOME COURT Racers take the home court at CFSB (P.5)
SENIOR SEASONS
&
Jenny Rohl/The News
Men, women leave legacies, develop leadership (P.8-9)
Seniors Jonathan Fairell and Jarvis Williams greet fans during a poster-signing event after Racer Mania at the CFSB Center Oct. 30.
Rebecca Walter News Editor • 809-4468 Carly Besser Opinion Editor • 809-5873 Hunter Harrell Features Editor • 809-5871 Mallory Tucker Sports Editor • 809-4481 Kayla MacAllister Chief Copy Editor • 809-6877
The Murray State News The News.org
2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Ky. 42071-3301 Email: thenews@murraystate.edu Fax: 809-3175
Mary Bradley
Editor-in-Chief • 809-6877
Elizabeth Legett Online Editor • 809-5877 Allison Borthwick Advertising Manager • 809-4478 Sarah Starks-Beitel Production Manager • 809-5878 Fumi Nakamura Photography Editor • 809-5878 Joe Hedges Adviser • 809-2998
The News
Basketball
November 7, 2014
Coach Prohm Q&A Sports Editor Mallory Tucker interviewed Head Coach Steve Prohm at OVC Media Day 2014
What new players can we expect to step up this season? Prohm: Hopefully we don’t have too many
new guys that have to really step up and do things. We bring back six or seven guys, you know, and I include Justin Seymour in that, because he’s been in the program a year. Wayne Langston’s a guy similar to Fairell’s position last year where he missed the summer because he was graduating from junior college, but he’s getting better. And his best basketball is going to be December, January as he really starts to understand our system. So he’s been a pleasant surprise and I know he’s got a chance to be a good player for us.
And the upperclassmen? Prohm: All the veteran guys are doing what they’re supposed to do. Cameron, Jefferey, T.J., I think T.J.’s had good practice every day. I think he’s showing good leadership, but we need to continue to get better leadership from our seniors.
How is the leadership dynamic different from last year? Prohm: Well everybody last year kind of
rallied around Dexter. And you know, the thing about last year’s team, they had no expectations, and so they were hanging on every one of your words; every word you spoke. Because they didn’t really understand Murray, they didn’t understand the tradition. They knew they had to learn. And we were struggling early. So those guys really, really improved from start to finish. Now, this team has to handle expectations. The seniors have to lead better, and they have to lead by example. And we have to be good every single day.
How do you think the conference is looking this season? Prohm: I think our conference – I’ve said this for a long time – I think it’s very undervalued. I think it’s very underrated and under-appreciated. Our top teams are good, but our bottom teams are getting better.
3
CIT momentum fuels season Kelsey Randolph
Assistant Sports Editor krandolph3@murraystate.edu
Men’s basketball was voted the presea-
son favorite for the 2014-15. With this in mind, Head Coach Prohm has high hopes for the packed schedule. After winning the College Insider Tournament, Racer basketball is ready to jump in the season full force with the goal of winning the OVC Tournament and making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. After being named the CIT MVP and Mid-Major Freshman of the Year by SBNation.com, the sophomore point guard, Cameron Payne from Memphis, Tenn., said the enthusiasm from the CIT is fueling hopes for the season. “We see the net everyday on the wall,” said Payne. “We’re hoping if the atmosphere is right we can have another successful season.” Last season the Racers ended 23-11 and 13-3 in the conference, with a record of 17-1 at home. Prohm said this year the regular season and OVC look promising across the board after being picked the preseason favorite. “If we can get the environment the same as it was during the CIT it would be very hard for another team to come in here and win,” said Prohm. The Racers finished 65 against Yale 57 at the CFSB Center, Murray State only led by one point ending the first half before taking the lead the end of the second half with the win. The Racers begin with 11 nonconference games and one tournament before the start of the OVC season in January. Only two players return with more than a year of experience, so there are improvements to make, but the team has promise, Prohm said. “We have to cut down on our turnovers and work on our ball reversal,” Prohm said. “We have the ability to score
Woodcraftersgalleries.com 270-759-4522
Fumi Nakamura/The News
Former Racer Dexter Fields holds up the CIT Championship trophy as his teammates celebrate around him. in the bunches but when you play fast it gets hard.” Each player has individual potential as well, Prohm said. Despite the hip injury of senior Jonathan Fairell at the start of the season he said they are taking it slow and seeing where the recovery takes them. Fairell is recovering from a torn hip-muscle he hurt playing a pick-up game. The muscle he tore is a vital piece for outward movement of the leg. Surgery is not an option for Fairell and he is healing through rest and light workouts. “We don’t want to do anything to jeopardize him, “said Prohm. “It changes every day. We need him to heal so we can put him on the court. He provides a leadership for us and a presence on the defensive end.” Prohm said the players are working hard and still growing. Prohm hopes junior Tyler Rambo and senior Jarvis Williams will step up while Fairell is out.
“Our sophomore class is being led by Cameron Payne,” said Prohm. “When he’s good, we’re really good. I’ve been fortunate to lead two elite point guards in my time and I’ve seen him (Payne) improve from the beginning of last year to the end of the CIT.” Payne said he’s been working hard during the off season by training with other players and mentally preparing himself to do well. He said he calls his Mom and her support gets him through the whole game. “We ended on a great note,” said Payne said. “It’s a new season but we put the net up from the tournament and we look at it every day. We use it as leverage to keep us moving forward to win the OVC Tournament and hopefully get into the NCAA Tournament.” Payne said even if they don’t win the tournament he hopes the players individually become better men.
The News
Basketball
4
THE PAYNE GAME
November 7, 2014
Point gaurd Cam Payne leads as sophomore with big goals Staff Report
Sophomore Cameron Payne will again
fill the cruicial role of starting point guard for the Racers this year. “When Payne is good we are really good and I think that Cam has got a chance to be a very special player,” said Head Coach Steve Prohm. Some of the big goals that Payne has set for himself and the team are to win during the regular season, and OVC tournament. Payne said the racers will do their best to make it to the NCAA Tournament.
“As a team we want to become better men and become better individuals even after basketball,” Payne said. One of Payne’s personal goals is that he would like to be Player of the Year. Over the course of Payne’s basketball career at Murray State he has won Freshman of the Year award, received several freshman of the week awards and the All-Tournament Team award. Payne said the most exciting moment he has had playing basketball at Murray State was when they won the College Insider Tournament. Payne said he sees himself a few years
from now still playing the game he loves in a the NBA or overseas. He said his success comes first from his teamwork and for him to reach his goals, the team must also be successful. Before each game, Payne eats four or five giant bags gummy bears or gummy worms. He said they give him the extra burst of energy he needs during the game to play hard and fast. “The team thinks I’m crazy because that’s how I get cramps,” Payne said. “I just got to do it because it is what gives me my extra burst of energy during the first half.”
Senior and friend, Jonathan Fairell said he doesn’t know how Payne continues to eat giant bags of candy before each game. “Every time he eats them he plays good,” Fairell said. “As long he plays good he needs to keep eating them.” Fairell said it’s pretty cool to play with Payne because he is a great player and great friend. He said since last season, Payne has matured both as a person and player. “I think Cam is going to do great things this year,” Fairell said. ”I believe he is going to be one of the key fragments to our success.”
Kory Savage/The News
Cameron Payne, sophomore leading point gaurd, answers questions for a WPSD anchorman Adam Wells at Murray State Media Day held Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Wright gives women’s team high hope Kelsey Randolph || Assistant Sports Editor krandolph3@murraystate.edu
For as long as she can remember, a love of basketball was something point guard LeAsia Wright had instilled in her by family. Wright, sophomore from Louisville, Ky., started playing basketball in the second grade. Her aunt encouraged her to start her career to make friends and be involved. “My Auntie had a friend whose daughter played basketball and (my aunt) hoped we would be closer friends by playing together,” Wright said. Wright’s love for the game grew and as she got older, she began playing for a local Amateur Athletic Union while also playing for her middle school and high school. This Racers 5’8’ height naturally placed her in the position of point guard. “I had to be a point guard and I was good at it,” Wright said. “I like it because your team has to trust you to make the right call. I feel like a leader and because there is so much going on at once, it is important that the team trusts the guard.” Attending DuPont Manual High School was the
highlight in Wright’s career so far. She led the team to a successful 2012 KHSAA state title, averaging 15.5 points per game during the tournament. “My favorite memory of basketball has to be helping my team win state,” Wright said. “It was a great feeling and I think about it all the time.” Before transferring to Murray State, Wright played for
“I’m ready to get back into the game. I just want to see how all of our hard work pays off.“ –LeAsia Wright Sophomore from Lousiville, Ky. Western Kentucky. She led the Hilltoppers to Womens National Invition Tournament berth by averaging 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds over 20 games. After transferring and sitting out, Wright has high hopes for the season. Head Coach Rob Cross said he is excited to see the newcomers hit the floor this year. “Olivia Cunningham and LeAsia Wright are both outstanding players,” Cross said. “LeAsia knows how to run a team. The athletic ability should be able to pressure
people into breaking mistakes.” Wright said her goals for the season are to work hard, do well and show everyone how good the team has potential to be. “We put so much time and effort into the game,” Wright said. “If we’re losing we don’t give up, we have to keep playing through it and learn. This team is special and we all have a lot of talent and because of the family atmosphere we have I think it helps us push one another. Western was just a winning team from the coach to the players; Murray is different.” With the first home game against Ohio University one week away Cross has hopes for a big season opener. “Conference play is a wide open league this year,” Cross said. “All the coaches feel everyone can compete and have a good chance at being successful. It’s an exciting chance to go out and play a good brand of basketball. I want to see the bank filled with Racers so they can see what our young ladies are capable of.” Wright said she is ready to get on the court and play a good season. “I had to sit out a whole year,” Wright said. “I’m ready to get back into the game. I just want to see how all of our hard work comes together and pays off.”
The News
November 7, 2014
Basketball
Men’s home game schedule
Nov. 14 7 p.m. vs. University of Houston Nov. 20 7 p.m. vs. Brescia Dec. 3 7 p.m. vs. Bethel Dec. 6 5:30 p.m. vs. Western Kentucky Dec. 17 7 p.m. vs. Alcorn State Dec. 20 3 p.m. vs. Illinois State Dec. 30 7 p.m. vs. Alabama A&M Jan. 15 8 p.m. vs. Belmont Jan. 17 7 p.m. vs. Tennessee State Jan. 29 8 p.m. vs. Eastern Kentucky Jan. 31 7 p.m. vs. UT Martin Feb. 5 7 p.m. vs. Southeast Missouri State Feb. 12 7 p.m. vs. SIU Edwardsvile Feb. 21 1 p.m. vs. Austin Peay State Feb. 26 7 p.m. vs. Eastern Illinois Note: All home games are played at the CFSB Center
Women’s home game schedule Nov. 14 5 p.m. vs. Ohio Nov. 16 3 p.m. vs. Alabama A&M Nov. 18 7 p.m. vs. Blackburn College Nov. 25 7 p.m. vs. Lipscomb Dec. 3 5 p.m. vs. University of Evansville Dec. 20 1 p.m. vs. Jacksonville Dec. 30 7 p.m. vs. Brescia Jan. 15 5 p.m. vs. Tennessee State Jan. 17 5 p.m. vs. Belmont Jan. 22 7 p.m. vs. Eastern Kentucky Jan. 31 5 p.m. vs. UT Martin Feb. 5 5 p.m. vs. Southeast Missouri State Feb. 12 5 p.m. vs. SIU Edwardsville Feb. 18 7 p.m. vs. Eastern Illinois Feb. 21 1 p.m. vs. Austin Peay State Note: All home games are played at the CFSB Center
5
Basketball
6
Explore your opportunities! Majors/Areas Accounting Advertising Business Administration Computer Information Systems Computer Science Economics Finance Graphic Communications Management International Business Journalism Logistics & Supply Chain Management Management Marketing Organizational Communication Public Relations Telecommunications Systems Management Television Production
Graduate programs Business Administration (M.B.A.) Economics Information Systems Mass Communications Organizational Communication Telecommunications Systems Management
Arthur J. Bauernfeind 270-809-4181 http://www.murraystate.edu/business
The News
November 7, 2014
The News
November 7, 2014
Basketball
7
We love to see you happy
20% off parts & services
*Coupon
1400 N 12th St., Murray, KY
270.753.6448 www.davidtaylorchrysler.com
8
Basketball
The News
November 7, 2014
Women’s team seniors aim high Peter Northcutt || Staff writer pnorthcutt@murraystate.edu
The senior class for the women’s basketball team has one goal in mind for its farewell season. The OVC Championship are the main prize for seniors Keiona Kirby, Natanya Jackson and Chanyere Hosey. When asked what they wanted out of their senior season, Jackson and Hosey answered simultaneously, “to get a ring.” Confidence from the upperclassmen stems from their abilities on the court. Leading this crop of seniors is Kirby, who was named to the preseason OVC team at OVC Basketball Media Day in Nashville, Tenn., last week. Last season, Kirby led the Racers in points with an average of 18.3 while shooting the ball at over a 40 percent field goal percentage. Head Coach Rob Cross raved about his senior guard. “Kirby is the kind of player that could be an OVC Player of the Year candidate,” Cross said. “She was second in the conference in scoring when she got hurt, so she would have been right there in the mix last year. The biggest thing with her is going to be her leadership. She’s going to score. She may not put up the number of points she put up last year, because we have more pieces around her that can put the ball in the basket. Her numbers may be down a little bit, but her impact will be just
as big as ever.” The awards and preseason accolades are not what Kirby wants to be remembered by. “I want to be known for my energy on the court and just being a positive person,” Kirby said. “You know, I just want to make the crowd and the fans cheer and have a good time.” Also looking to make an impact in her senior season is Hosey. The 6-1 forward from Bolingbrook, Ill., played in 28 games last year for the Racers while averaging 1.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. Hosey repeated the same sentiment as Kirby when asked how she wants to be remembered by Racer fans. “That I was a good leader, that I was a positive leader,” Hosey said. “I led by example and I worked hard on and off the court.” The third senior of the group, Jackson, is hardly recognizable from her former self as she has lost about 190 pounds over the span of two years at Murray State. Last season, the forward from Nashville, averaged 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds but garnered attention late in the season when she won two OVC Newcomer of the Week awards in February. This year she wants to make an even bigger impact since she is in better shape than ever. “We’ve had some great players that put up a lot of points for us,” Cross said. “But for the first time
since Joy (Scott) we have a true low post presence that we can throw the ball to and say go get us a bucket, and (Jackson) is capable of doing that. She’s also a tremendous passer – probably the most skilled post passer we’ve had in my career here. So she can bring a lot of things to the table, and she’s an intimidating presence on the defensive end.” Jackson is focused and ready to take on her new position as leader of the team. She knows exactly what she wants to be known as on the court this season. “I want to be a really dominant post presence on both ends of the court,” Jackson said, “I want to be remembered as a beast.” As talented and hard working as this group is Cross is still waiting for them to step up as vocal leaders of the team. “They’re a loud group, but we don’t have that one person yet that’s going to stand up when things aren’t going well in practice and pull their team together and lead them out of the doldrums,” Cross said. “We’ve got a couple of people who are trying to do it by example, but you’ve just got to have somebody who’s willing to step up and not be everybody’s friend.” The seniors hope to step into that role this season. “This is my last year going around so I want to make the best of it and be a positive leader,” Kirby said. “I just want to lead my team to a championship.”
The News
November 7, 2014
Basketball
9
Racers gear up for season Seniors prep for a final season to end with a tournament title Peter Northcutt || Staff writer pnorthcutt@murraystate.edu
Many words can be used to describe the senior class on the Murray State men’s basketball team Words like “talented,” “successful” and “driven” all fit seniors Jonathan Fairell, Jarvis Williams and T.J. Sapp. But when describing themselves, one word seemed to be constant: toughness. This scrappy bunch of upperclassmen want Racer fans to remember them not by how many points they scored or how many awards they won, but by how hard they played. Sapp, a senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a from Clemson and averaged 13.3 points per game for the Racers after he became eligible to play in December of last year. “He’s a tough player,” Sapp said, when referring to how he wants to be remembered. “He gave it all he had on the court with passion and excitement. He’s a guy who’s going to give it his all whenever he’s on the court and loves playing for the team that he plays for.” Fellow senior Williams had an outstanding year in his 2013-14 debut season for the Racers. He recorded 14 double-doubles in the regular season alone. Born in Macon, Ga., Williams capped off his junior campaign as a CollegeInsider.com PostSeason Tournament All Tournament player. Fairell, born in Miami, Fla., transferred last season from Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Fla. Known as a bully on the court, Fairell led the team in field goal percentage, along with Williams,
as he shot the ball at a 64.8 percent clip. “He’s one of the toughest athletes to ever come through Murray,” Fairell said, regarding the legacy he wants to leave. “He didn’t back off from anyone. He went hard every single night and he gave it his all.” Unfortunately for Fairell and the Racers, the senior bruiser injured his hip on only the second day of classes this semester and because of the unique location of the injury, it has been a slow healing process. “Jonathan’s injury is not a great thing,” said Head Coach Steve Prohm. “It’s been something we’ve been dealing with since the second day of school and we don’t have any better answers today than we did three months ago. That’s not a good thing to say, but it’s just reality so we’re taking it day by day and week by week.” As disappointing as it is for Prohm and Racer fans, it is more disappointing for Fairell, who has to watch his team from the sidelines. “It’s frustrating as a coach, it’s frustrating as a trainer and I’m sure it’s frustrating for him,” Prohm said. “It’s an unusual injury with the tear in the muscle and where it’s at, but we need him out there because he provides a presence and leadership for us – especially on the defensive end – that we need.” Despite the nagging injury, Fairell is confident that the Racers can do great things on the court this season. “I just want this team to be remembered as one of the greatest teams in Murray history,” Fairell
said. “I want to do what we’re capable of doing this year.” One of the keys to this team’s success is the momentum built from last year’s post season run. After losing the OVC Championship to Eastern Kentucky and missing out on the Big Dance, the Racers capitalized on a bid to the CollegeInsider. com Tournament and won five straight games to. Even though the Racers didn’t reach their ultimate goal of winning the OVC Tournament, they know that the CIT was a special run for Murray State basketball. “We knew we had the team for it, and still to this day we think we lost that game on our own,” Sapp said. “But CIT really brought us together even more as a team because of how we all bonded together. We had one goal and that was to send Dexter Fields out as a champion.” This senior class is not hoping for another CIT bid, however. They have much bigger things in mind. “Championships, I want championships,” Sapp said. “I’m trying to go undefeated. I don’t want anything less. I think we’ve got the team to go a long way. We have so many weapons on this team, all we have to do now is really grow together. Once we grow together and start playing completely as a team, I believe there’s no team out there that will be able to stop us.” These are high aspirations, but with the toughness and leadership that these seniors offer, they plan to make it difficult to stop these Racers from running in March.
10
Basketball
The News
November 7, 2014
Auto • Home • Farm • Business • Life • Motorcycle • Boat
(270) 753-3500 • 100 North 5th St, Murray
The News
November 7, 2014
Basketball
11
The News
Basketball
12
November 7, 2014
Murray_UniversityHomecoming_Ad.qxp_Layout 1 10/29/14 10:20 AM Page 1
$
LOVES THE RACERS!
ARE YOU HUNGRY? STAND A CHANCE. YOUR CRAVING DOESN’T
UNWRAP THE ORIGINAL © 2014 Taco John’s International, Inc.
1 OFF
BREAKFAST BURRITO Not good with any other offer. Limit one per customer. Good only at Murray TJ®.
FREE SMALL ORDER OF POTATO OLÉS WITH ANY PURCHASE
®
Not good with any other offer. Limit one per customer. Good only at Murray TJ®.