Quickly: Southern Utah's men's basketball team officially opens the 2010-11 season Monday night when the Thunderbirds host California Baptist at 8:00 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.
Game time is approximate as the SUU women's volleyball team is hosting Weber State at 6:00 p.m. in the arena. It is senior night for the Thunderbird spikers.
Southern Utah warmed up for the season by splitting a pair of exhibition games. The Thunderbirds lost a 68-65 decision to Western Montana on Nov. 6, but bounced back on Wednesday night with a 73-67 win over Carroll College.
Cal Baptist opened the season with a pair of home wins, a 67-50 win against Bethany College and a 63-61 overtime triumph over William Jessup. The Lancers also play in a tournament hosted by William Jessup this weekend, matching up with Oregon Tech on Friday and Northwest Christian on Saturday.
The Game: Cal Baptist (2-0, pending the outcome of Friday and Saturday's games) at Southern Utah (0-0), 7:00 p.m., Centrum Arena (5,300), Cedar City, Utah.
The Series: SUU holds a 6-0 lead in the series with Cal Baptist. The teams haven't met since the 1998-99 season, when the Thunderbirds came out on top of the Lancers by a 90-78 count in the Centrum. Prior to that meeting the teams hadn't met since 1987, when the Thunderbirds took a 69-67 home win in overtime before prevailing 101-79 at CBU. Four of the six previous meetings have been in Cedar City.
Radio: All Southern Utah men's basketball games will be broadcast live by KSUU (91.1 FM) and KSUB AM (590) as well as on the internet at www.suu.edu/ksuu. Art Challis will be in his 36th season as the Thunderbirds' basketball play-by-play voice. he is joined on home broadcasts by former SUU great Dean O'Driscoll.
TV: The game will be televised locally in Honolulu but will not be available in Utah. Highlight clips of selected SUU home games will be available via the SUU ftp site. For more information on obtaining those clips and the schedule contact SUU Director of Athletic Media Relations Neil Gardner.
Practice Schedule: Until volleyball season ends later this month the Thunderbirds will have a varied practice schedule, with workouts from 2:30-to-5:00 p.m. or from 3:00-5:30 and the venue switching from the Centrum Arena to the Multi-purpose Building gymnasium. At least two practices per week will be held in the Centrum arena. Practice sessions are generally open to the public but media personnel wishing to attend practice should contact SUU Sports Information Director Neil Gardner at (435) 586-7753 prior to practice.
The Coaches:
Head Coach Roger Reid (Weber State '68) is entering his fourth season on the bench this year after spending the previous two at Snow College.
Reid brings a career Division I mark of 181-137 into the season. His record includes six years as head coach at Brigham Young.
Coach Reid's career has spanned virtually every level of the coaching strata, including the high school, junior college, and NCAA Division I levels as well as in the NBA and international ranks. He is probably best known for his success at Brigham Young University, where he led the Cougars to five NCAA tournament berths and three Western Athletic Conference championships. He has also coached the Phoenix Suns of the NBA and the Hangzhou Horses of the Chinese Basketball Association. Reid coached Snow College to a conference title and a No. 18 national ranking in his final season on the bench there.
Reid is assisted by
Ron Carling (BYU '70), a 39-year coaching veteran who is also entering his fourth season with the program;
Johnny Brown (New Mexico '86), a 17-year veteran of the coaching ranks who is in his fourth year in Cedar City; and assistant
Kenya Crandell (Nebraska-Kearney '96) who is entering his 14th season as a collegiate coach and his third year at SUU.
Exhibition Game Notes
•
Matt Massey led the team in minutes played in both games. He was on the floor for 30 minutes against Montana Western and 37 against Carroll College.
Ray Jones, Jr., was second in both games, with 29 minutes vs. UMW and 32 vs. CC.
• The Thunderbirds blocked 13 shots in the two games, including eight against Carroll College.
Matt Hodgson had three against Montana Western, then
Ramell Taylor swatted three against Carroll.
•
Jordan Weirick hit 7-of-9 shots against UMW (for a team-high 17 points) but missed four of his first five attempts against Carroll. He warmed up after the cold start against the Saints, however, burying three straight down the stretch to help seal the win.
• The SUU defense was efficient in both games. The Thunderbirds held UMW to 38.1 percent shooting (24-of-63), then put the clamps on even tighter against CC, holding the Fighting Saints to 28.4 percent (19-of-67).
• SUU dominated the backboards in the two exhibitions, out-rebounding Montana Western by a 50-28 count and Carroll College by a 49-40 margin. Carroll did have 20 offensive boards to the Thunderbirds' 13, however.
• SUU had just 13 assists in the UMW game but combined for 19 dimes against CC. Jones led the way in both games, with four against UMW and five against CC.
• The biggest problem for the Thunderbirds has been turnovers, with 23 in the UMW game and 19 against CC.
T-Bird Notes
• Southern Utah has seven returning lettermen, the most during the
Roger Reid era, and one redshirt. That group includes one senior, two juniors and five sophomores.
•
Jake Nielson is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 8.4 points per game last season. He also led the team in assists and steals last year with 2.9 dimes and 1.4 thefts per game.
Matt Hodgson is the team's leading returning rebounder and shot blocker. Hodgson averaged 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in 2009-10, when he also paced the team in shooting percentage at .584.
Matt Massey is back after leading the team in 3-point percentage (25 or more attempts) at.440; he hit 11 of 25 from long-range.
Ryan Brimley, the team's only senior, is the top free throw shooter returning; he hit 39-of-46, or 84.8 percent.
• Hodgson set the SUU single-season blocks record last year with 64. His single-game high was six, vs. IPFW, which is tied as the third-best single game in SUU history. He had four rejections in five games.
• SUU went 1-2 in three overtime games last year, the Thunderbirds most in a season since the 2004-05 squad also played three. The SUU record for overtime games in a season is five, in 1997-98. The record for overtime periods in an SUU game is six, which happened in a 93-92 NAIA District semi-final win over Western New Mexico back in 1979.
• SUU is entering its 48th season as a four-year institution, its 23rd as a full NCAA Division I member and its 14th as a member of The Summit League.
• The Thunderbirds will be playing their penultimate season in The Summit League in 2010-11. Southern Utah announced on Nov. 1, that it will be departing The Summit in the fall of 2012 to join the Big Sky Conference.
The 2010-11 Thunderbirds
#2
Brian Cameron6-3, 190, So., G; Draper, Utah/Snow College
Exhibitions: Played six minutes vs. UMW, didn't score but pulled down a rebound and had an assist. Didn't play vs. CC, coaches decision.
At SUU, 2009-10: Spent the season as a medical redshirt. Played in two games early in the season before suffering an injury.
#3
Damon Heuir6-2, 200, So., G; Townsville, Australia/Ignatius Park College
Career Highs: 10 points vs. Oakland (2/11/10), 7 rebounds vs. University of the Southwest (11/19/09), 8 assists vs. University of the Southwest (11/19/09)
Exhibitions: Came off the bench for 11 minutes against UMW, scored two points with three boards and a pair of assists. Came off the bench for eight minutes vs. CC, pulled down four rebounds and dished out an assist but missed his only shot attempt.
At SUU, 2009-10: Played in 25 games with eight starts, averaged 2.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Started the last seven games of the season at point guard. Led team in assists twice.
#5
Ray Jones, Jr.
6-3, 195, Jr., G; Little Rock, Ark./Connors State College
Exhibitions: Started and played 29 minutes vs. UMW, scored eight points, dished out four assists and pulled down a pair of rebounds with a block and two steals. Led the team with five assists vs. CC, also had 12 points, three rebounds and two steals.
At Connors State: Earned honorable-mention all-conference honors last year when he helped Coach Bill Muse's Cowboys to their second straight conference and Region II championships. In 2009 the team finished fourth at the NJCAA national tournament. Team went 58-13 during his two seasons as the squad's point guard, including a 30-4 mark in 2009-10. Averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season when he led the region with his .838 free throw percentage.
#10
Ryan Brimley6-4, 190, Sr., G; Sandy, Utah/Snow College
Career Highs: 26 points vs. UC Riverside (12/21/09), 6 rebounds at IPFW (1/14/10), 4 assists vs. UC Riverside (12/21/09), 3 steals at Weber State (12/12/09)
Exhibitions: Started and played 15 minutes vs UMW, scored two points with a rebound and a steal. Started and played 22 minutes vs. CC, finished with four points, three rebounds and two assists.
At SUU, 2009-10: Led the team and in free throw shooting at 84.8 percent, would have ranked fourth in The Summit League but didn't have enough attempts to qualify for the rankings. Finished the season fourth on the team in scoring with 7.8 points per game, third in assists with 1.2 per game, fourth in steals at 0.7 spg, and fifth in defensive rebounds with 2.0 rpg. scored in double figures in 10 games, led team in scoring six times and led or co-led team in steals seven times.
#13
Ramell Taylor6-5, 190, Jr, G/F; Detroit, Mich./Fort Scott College
Exhibitions: Came off the bench for 24 minutes, pulled down seven rebounds, scored six points and had an assist with no turnovers. Came off the bench again vs. CC, scored nine points, pulled down five rebounds, blocked three shots and dished out an assist in 24 minutes on the court.
At Fort Scott CC: Earned academic all-America and second-team all-Jayhawk Conference honors last year when he averaged 16.8 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting .540 from the floor. He also blocked 43 shots for Coach Mike Cook's Greyhounds. Ranked fourth in the league in scoring, 10th in blocks and among the top-20 in rebounding last season. A Phi Beta Kappa student at FSCC.
#21
Jackson Stevenett6-4, 190, So., F; Kaysville, Utah/Davis HS
Career Highs: 13 points vs. Oakland, 8 rebounds vs. North Dakota State, 4 assists at North Dakota State, 2 steals at IPFW
Exhibitions: Did not play, will sit out fall semester.
At SUU, 2009-10: Walked on to the team and earned a spot in the playing rotation, appeared in 21 games with four starts. Finished the season sixth on the team's scoring list at 4.0 ppg, and fifth in rebounding, with 3.0 caroms per game, and tied for second in offensive rebounds with 1.3 rpg. Led or co-led team in steals four times, in blocks twice and assists once.
#22
Jake Nielson6-3, 200, Jr., G/F; Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS
Career Highs: 29 points vs. McNeese State (11/16/09), 9 rebounds at Centenary (12/3/09), 7 assists vs. University of the Southwest (11/19/09), 7 assists vs. UC Riverside (12/21/09), 5 steals at Centenary (12/3/09)
Exhibitions: Started and scored two points with two rebounds and a steal in 11 minutes vs. UMW. Started and scored nine points with a team-high nine rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal before fouling out in 20 minutes on the court.
2009-10 Highlights: Started 21 games and played in all 29, playing both point guard and on the wing. Finished the season second on the team in scoring with an 8.4 ppg average, led the team in assists with 2.9 per game and in steals with 1.4, was also fourth in rebounding, at 3.2 rpg. Led or co-led the team in scoring three times, in rebounds five times, in assists 14 times and in steals 11 times.
#25
Kyle Davis6-8, 205, Fr., F; Draper, Utah/Alta HS
Exhibitions: Came off the bench for 10 minutes vs. UMW, scored three points and pulled down three rebounds. Played five minutes vs. CC, had two steals, two points and a rebound.
At Alta High School: Earned Utah 5A MVP, region four MVP and state tournament MVP honors in 2010 after leading the Hawks to region and state titles. Averaged 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.
#32
Jordan Weirick6-4, 195, So., G/F; West Jordan, Utah/West Jordan HS
Career Highs: 12 points vs. University of the Southwest (11/19/09), 9 rebounds vs. IPFW (2/13/10), 4 assists vs. University of the Southwest (11/19/09), 2 steals, five times
Exhibitions: Led the tema with 17 points in 25 minutes off the bench vs. UMW, also had eight rebounds, second on the squad. Scored nine points, pulled down four rebounds, dished out two assists and had a steal in 22 minutes off the bench vs. CC.
At SUU, 2009-10: Came off the bench in 26 games, averaged 3.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game; shot .769 from the free throw line, fourth-best on the team. Was fifth on the team in steals, with 0.5 per game. Led or co-led team in steals three times, in rebounds, blocks and assists once.
#33
Tyson Koehler6-8, 250, So., C; Draper, Utah; Alta HS
Exhibitions: Scored four points, pulled down three rebounds and had two assists with no turnovers in 19 minutes off the bench vs. UMW. Played 18 minutes vs. CC, scored five points with three boards, a block and a steal.
At Grayson County: Earned first-team all-conference honors his freshman season when he averaged 9.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a block per game for Coach Pat Rafferty's Vikings.
#34
Matt Massey6-9, 230, Jr., F; Brisbane, Australia/Nova Southeastern
Career Highs: 18 points at North Dakota State (2/6/10), 13 rebounds vs. Northern Colorado (11/15/09), 4 assists vs. Tennessee Tech (11/25/09), 4 assists vs. UMKC (1/30/10), 2 blocks vs. McNeese State (11/16/09)
Exhibitions: Started and played a team-high 30 minutes vs. UMW, scored 12 points, pulled down seven rebounds, had an assist and a block. Paced the team with 17 points, also had seven rebounds, two blocks and two assists in a team-high 37 minutes vs. CC.
At SUU, 2009-10: Started 25 and played in all but one game, did not play in the season finale' against Centenary. Led the team in offensive rebounds with 1.9 per game, was third on the team in four categories, including scoring, at 7.9 ppg, in rebounding, with 4.2 per game, in 3-point percentage, at .423 and in free throw percentage, at .803. Led or co-led the team in scoring three times, in rebounds eight times, in assists three times, in steals twice and in blocks five times.
#42
Eric Rippetoe6-6, 195, Fr., F; Panaca, Nev./Lincoln County HS
Exhibitions: Did not play, coaches decision.
At Lincoln County HS: Helped Coach Mike Wood's Lynx to three appearances in the Nevada state championship game, winning it all his junior season. Averaged 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and nearly three blocks per game his senior season when he earned first-team all-state recognition.
#44
Matt Hodgson6-11, 240, So., C; Booval, Australia/Ipswich Grammar Sch.
Career Highs: 16 points vs. South Dakota State (1/9/10), 11 rebounds vs. South Dakota State (1/9/10), 1 assist, eight times, 6 blocks vs. IPFW (2/13/10)
Exhibitions: Started and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds in 20 minutes vs. UMW, also scored nine points and blocked three shots with a steal. Hit all three of his shots but sat most of the first half and much of the second because of foul trouble, finished with six points, two rebounds, an assist and a block in 12 minutes on the court.
At SUU, 2009-10: One of just two players to start every game last season, he set the SUU single-season blocks record with 64 rejections. In addition to leading team in blocks he also led the squad with a field goal percentage of .584, was second on the team with 4.9 rebounds per game (5.3 in Summit League games), was second in both offensive (1.3) and defensive (3.6) rebounds per game, and averaged 6.3 points per game, sixth on the team. Led or co-led team in blocks 24 times and had at least one block in all but six games. Was team's top rebounder (or co-leader) 10 times, led the team in steals twice and in scoring once.
#50
Cal Hanks6-11, 230, Fr., C; Logan, Utah/Mountain Crest HS
Exhibitions: Did not play, coaches decision.
At Mountain Crest HS: An all-state selection in 2010 and a two-time all-region performer for Coach Jim Crosbie, a former SUU standout. Helped his team to the state semi-finals his sophomore season and to the championship game as a senior.
