Is Middle Tennessee really that good?
The short answer is that thier record doesn't reflect it yet, but yes. MTSU was picked 2nd in the Sunbelt East. Like UALR they are consistantly pretty good. Here is a description of their team as posted by one of thier fans:
Kermit only lost two players, F Marcus Morrison and G Fats Cuyler. Morrison, who started just 17 games, had a world of talent but was inconsistent and an up and down player, and spent quite a bit of time in Kermit's dog house. Fats Cuyler, a good outside shot and a good team leader, who was more of a 2G than a PG, stated 23 games, but as freshman PG Kanaskie improved, Cuyler moved over to play more 2G as Kanaskie secured the PG job.
Just three were signed. Probably the best signee is Demetrius Green, a 3rd team juco All-American, was a runner-up for Mr. Basketball in KY, IIRC, in HS. Green is a 6-4, 190, 2G with excellent perimeter skills.
Nigel Johnson, a 6-2 PG out Memphis, played at Tallhassee CC his freshman year, graduating with his Assoc. degree in one year. He was a qualifier out of HS and would've likely signed with MT out of HS but things just didn't work out. As PG at the juco, he lead his team to a 31-4 record and lost in the NJCAA title game. Johnson was key in several late season and playoff games hitting the winning shot in several games.
Jay Ivey, a freshman forward from KY, is likely to be redshirted.
MT also has three players who red-shirted last season. The most highly touted is F Desmond Yates, 6-6, 215, from Memphis. Bruce Pearl recruited him, but in the end Yates signed with MT. Kermit and several others close to the program have stated Yates is the most talented player on the team. I would expect him to start almost from the beginning.
Donaries (Dino) Hair, 6-9, 210, was one of the top players in MS while he was in HS. A good mid-range shot, Hair has worked hard in the off season putting on muscle. Can cause the other team to alter their offense. In one game Hair blocked 18 shots. Darren Avery, another player from MS, is a 6-3, 200 guard. Extremely physical.
Three sophomores who saw their playing time increase late last season as true freshmen, are expected to continue to improve. Theryn Hudson, 6-10 C, 240 lbs, made a huge impact late in the season. I expect him to be a solid force in the middle and by the time he's a junior to be the dominant big man in the Sun Belt. Kevin Kanaskie, started quite a bit late in the season as a true freshman at PG. He and Johnson means the PG psotion is in very solid hands. Calvin O'Neil is a big guard who can shoot, rebound, and play defense.
Others returning include Adam Vogelsberg, Sr. 6-4 sharpshooter. MT hasn't had a pure shooter like him in a decade. Bud Howard, a Sr. 6-0 G who can come in and take control of a game through his defense, rebounding, and aggressive style of play. Marques Dawson, a 6-5 jr. F, was injured early last season and got a medical redshirt. Tim Blue, a 6-9 Sr. F, can be an exciting off. player but at times he disappeared last year. Kyle Young, a Sr. 6-10, 220, F is a solid player who led the team in FG % and can play solid defense.
My early guess at starters would be Kanaskie, Green, Vogelsberg, Yates, and Hudson. MT will be fairly young and have quality depth.
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