TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09

RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HHEIGHTSEIGHTS

TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 22008-09008-09

RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS 1 TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09

GENERAL INFORMATION HISTORY Name ...... First Year of Basketball ...... 1906-07 Location ...... Huntington, W.Va. Overall Record ...... 1,301-952-2 (.577), 96 years Founded ...... 1837 Conference USA Record ...... 20-26 (.435), 3 years Enrollment ...... 13,814 Center Record ...... 283-91 (.757), 27 years Nickname ...... Thundering Herd Last Postseason ...... 0-1 in C-USA Championship Colors ...... Green (PMS 357) & White L, 47-48 vs. Tulane (C-USA First Round) Conference...... Conference USA NCAA Tournament Appearances ...... 5 (1956, 1972, 1984, 1985, 1987) 2008-09 Quick Facts National Affi liation ...... NCAA Division I Last NCAA Appearance ...... L, 60-76 vs. TCU (1987 - First Round) Home Arena (Capacity) ...... (9,043) NIT Appearances ...... 4 (1967, 1968, 1973, 1988) President ...... Dr. Stephen J. Kopp (Notre Dame, ‘73) Last NIT Appearance ...... L, 80-81 vs. VCU (1988 - First Round) Director of Athletics ...... Bob Marcum (Marshall, ‘59) Associate AD/Chief of Staff ...... Jeff O’Malley (Miami-Ohio, ‘90) SPORTS INFORMATION Associate AD/SWA...... Beatrice Crane Banford (N.C. State, ‘92) Assistant AD/Media Relations ...... Randy Burnside (Marshall, ‘99) Associate AD/Finance ...... David Steele (Rice, ‘82) Offi ce Phone ...... 304/696-4660 Associate AD/Facilities ...... Scott Morehouse (Marshall, ‘98) E-Mail ...... [email protected] Associate AD/Compliance ...... Derek Gwinn (Marshall, ‘03) Associate SID/Basketball Contact ...... Brandon Parro (Indiana-Pa., ‘01) Associate AD/Development-Big Green ...... John Sutherland (Kent State, ‘81) Offi ce Phone ...... 304/696-6525 Assistant AD/Media Relations ...... Randy Burnside (Marshall, ‘99) Cell Phone ...... 304/416-4809 Assistant AD/Ticketing ...... Aaron Goebbel (Bowling Green, ‘04) E-Mail ...... [email protected] Dir. of Marketing & Promotions ...... Isaiah Childers (Marshall, ‘02) Assistant SID ...... Bob Pristash (, ‘03) Faculty Athletic Representative ...... Robert Bookwalter (Fresno State, ‘79) Offi ce Phone ...... 304/696-2418 Dir. of Broadcasting ...... Steve Cotton (Florida, ‘87) E-mail ...... [email protected] Offi cial Athletics Website ...... herdzone.com Program Assistant ...... Sandy Toppings Ticket Offi ce ...... 304/696-HERD or 1-800-THE-HERD Graduate Assts ...... Chris Attwood, Brad Bader, Erica Rife, Ben Wright GA Offi ce Phone...... 304-696-5276/4662 COACHING STAFF Mailing Address ...... Marshall Sports Information Head Coach ...... Donnie Jones (Pikeville-Ky., ‘88) P.O. Box 1360 Record at Marshall ...... 16-14 (1 year) Huntington, WV 25715 Overall Record ...... same Overnight Mailing Address ...... Marshall Sports Information Assistant Coaches ...... Shawn Finney (Fairmont State, ‘85) 1801 3rd Avenue Darren Tillis (Paul Quinn College, ‘96) Huntington, WV 25703 Brett Nelson (Florida, ‘04) SID Main Offi ce Phone ...... 304/696-5275 Dir. of Basketball Operations ...... Tim Thomas (Wheeling Jesuit, ‘93) SID Offi ce Fax ...... 304/696-2325 Basketball Offi ce Phone ...... 304/696-6460 Press Row Phone ...... 304/696-3304 Basketball Offi ce Fax ...... 304/696-6000 CONFERENCE USA SUPPORT STAFF Commissioner ...... Britton Banowsky Athletic Trainer ...... Daniel Ricci (Slippery Rock, ‘03) Asst. Commissioner/Media Relations ...... Russ Anderson Strength Coach ...... John Hark (Binghamton, ‘06) Asst. Commissioner/MBB Contact ...... Courtney Morrison Archer Administrative Assistant ...... Angela Orsini (Marshall, ‘07) E-Mail ...... [email protected] Graduate Managers ...... Chris Capko (South Florida, ‘06) Address ...... 5201 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 300 Andrew Garcia (Tulane, ‘06) Irving, TX 75309 Offi ce Phone ...... 214/774-1300 TEAM INFORMATION Offi ce Fax ...... 214/496-0046 2007-08 Overall Record ...... 16-14 Website ...... conferenceusa.com 2007-08 Conference USA Record/Finish ...... 8-8/t-6th Starters Returning/Lost ...... 3/2 Letterwinners Returning/Lost...... 5/8 Newcomers ...... 8

MEDIA GUIDE CREDITS The 2008-09 Marshall University Men’s Basketball Media Guide is a publication of the Marshall Sports Information Offi ce. The guide was designed using Adobe InDesign CS2 and Photoshop CS2 software. The publication was written and edited by Associate Sports Information Director Brandon Parro, with assistance from the entire SID staff . Special thanks to Steve Cotton, Charlie Hagley, Joey Florian, Woody Woodrum and past Marshall SID staff members Gary Richter, Clark Haptonstall, Jake Keys and Andy Boggs for their contributions. Cover designs by Christine Borders of Bulldog Creative. Photography provided by Rick Haye, Marilyn Testerman-Haye, Brad Helton, Greg Perry, Matt Riley, Brad Bader, Brandon Parro, Ben Hunt, Joe Murphy, the NBA Hall of Fame, Mike Fabus (Pittsburgh Steelers), the Marshall Sports Information Offi ce and SID offi ces nationwide. Printing of the 2008-09 Basketball Media Guide was done by the Chapman Printing Company - Huntington, W.Va. - with special thanks to Mark Cole.

2 RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09 Table of Contents • Schedule TABLE OF CONTENTS 2008-09 SCHEDULE The 2008-09 Season NOVEMBER Roster Information 22-23 1 WHEELING JESUIT (exh.) Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Season Outlook 24-26 16 WVU ^ Huntington, W.Va. 2:00 PM Coaching Staff 21 vs. Morgan State^ Daytona Beach, Fla. 2:00 PM Staff Profi les 28-33 22 vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay^ Daytona Beach, Fla. 2:00 PM Support Staff 34-35 23 vs. Ole Miss^ Daytona Beach, Fla. 4:00 PM The Thundering Herd 29 OLD DOMINION Huntington, W.Va. 11:30 AM Player Profi les 38-52

2008-09 Opponents DECEMBER 2008-09 Opponent Capsules 54-66 2 EAST TENNESSEE STATE Huntington, W.Va. 7:30 PM 2009 C-USA Championship Info 67 All-Time Series History 68 6 at Boston University Boston, Mass. 3:00 PM Series History Vs. All Opponents 69-76 13 UT ARLINGTON Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM 2007-08 in Review 17 OHIO Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Results & Leaders 78 20 UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Game-by-Game Analysis 79 23 at Dayton Dayton, Ohio TBA Individual Statistics 80 Points-Rebounds-Assists 81 28 TENNESSEE STATE Huntington, W.Va. 2:00 PM The Last Time... 82 Team & Opponent Superlatives 83 JANUARY Miscellaneous Statistics 84 Conference USA Review 85-87 2 at San Diego San Diego, Calif. 10:00 PM Departed Seniors 88 7 at Memphis* Memphis, Tenn. 9:00 PM Game Recaps 89-98 10 EAST CAROLINA* Huntington, W.Va. 3:00 PM History/Records 14 vs. West Virginia Charleston, W.Va. 8:00 PM Hal Greer 100-101 Cam Henderson Center 102-103 17 at Tulsa* Tulsa, Okla. 8:05 PM Cam Henderson 104 21 SMU* Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM The Thundering Herd Nickname 105 25 at UCF* Orlando, Fla. 2:00 PM Team-Individual Records 106-107 Single-Season Scoring, Reb. Leaders 108 27 at Southern Miss* Hattiesburg, Miss. 9:00 PM Career Records 109-111 31 UAB* Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Yearly Leaders 112-116 Honors & Awards 117-120 Charlie Slack 121 FEBRUARY Marshall History 122-125 4 TULSA* Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM All-Time Coaching History 126 NCAA Tournament Box Scores 127-128 7 TULANE* Huntington, W.Va. 5:00 PM NIT Box Scores 129-130 10 RIO GRANDE Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Herd in the NBA 131 Year-by-Year Results 132-140 14 at UTEP* El Paso, Texas 9:05 PM Greatest Teams in MU History 141-143 18 HOUSTON* Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM All-Time Rosters 144-150 21 at Tulane* New Orleans, La. 4:30 PM Retired Jerseys 151 MU Athletics Hall of Fame 152 25 at East Carolina* Greenville, N.C. 7:00 PM 28 UCF* Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Marshall University Board of Governors 154 Administration 155-158 MARCH Athletics Season in Review 159 4 RICE* Huntington, W.Va. 7:00 PM Assistant Coaches 160 Big Green 161 7 at UAB* Birmingham, Ala. 3:00 PM ISP Sports 162 11-14 Conference USA Championship Memphis, Tenn. TBA NCAA Compliance 163 Staff Directory 164 19-22 NCAA First/Second Rounds Various sites TBA 26-29 NCAA Regionals Various sites TBA Media Information C-USA Composite Schedule/Opp. Media Info 166-67 Thundering Herd ISP Sports Network 168 APRIL Henderson Center/Campus Map 169 4-6 NCAA Final Four Detroit, Mich. TBA Huntington Visitor’s Guide 170 Media Relations 171 Media Outlets • SID Staff 172 Home Games in BOLD CAPS * Conference USA Games All Times Eastern Radio/TV Visual Roster Back Inside Cover ^ Glenn Wilkes Classic

RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS 3 marshallFACTS Location: Huntington, W.Va. Founded: 1837 as Marshall Academy Enrollment: 13,814 (8,000 undergraduate) President: Dr. Stephen J. Kopp Student-Faculty Ratio: 20 to 1 Major Fields for Associate Programs: 51 Major Fields for Bachelor Programs: 50 Major Fields for Graduate Programs: 50

▲ John Deaver Drinko Library

ocated in beautiful Huntington, W.Va., Marshall Page Pitt School of Journalism and Mass Communications, center houses the program and the University is the focal point of a city with a the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, University College, prestigious Society of Yeager Scholars, which is celebrating Lpopulation of about 50,000, situated in a Tri-State the School of Extended Education and the Graduate School its 20th anniversary this year. area of more than 300,000. The Huntington campus, noted of Education and Professional Development. While course work is demanding, the atmosphere in for its attractiveness, level terrain and accessibility, occupies Enrollment at Marshall University is about 14,000, and in which classes are conducted is casual and friendly, with a approximately 88 acres near the center of Huntington, a spring 2007 more than 2,600 degrees were awarded at the student-faculty ratio of 20 to 1. Marshall professors take few blocks east of downtown and just a walk away from the university’s 170th commencement. special care to get to know each student and take pride in banks of the Ohio River. Marshall also has a campus in South Several major construction projects have been completed their students’ accomplishments. There is a genuine feeling Charleston, W.Va., and centers across the state. in recent years at Marshall University. Among those are the of community spirit among the faculty, students and staff Marshall University is named after John Marshall, Chief John Deaver Drinko Library and Information Center, which that makes Marshall a very special place. Because of the Justice of the United States from 1801 through 1835. The has a 24-hour study center and more than 250 computers university’s size, each student can participate fully in all of longest serving Chief Justice in United States history, available for student use; the Joan C. Edwards School of the academic opportunities, including discussion groups, Marshall is widely regarded as having established a broad Medicine at Marshall University; the Robert C. Byrd Center labs, internships and lecture classes. interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, for Rural Health; the Jomie Jazz Center; a 1,000-space Building on a winning tradition and growing national which established the Constitution as the basis of the parking garage, a 500-bed residential housing complex, presence, Marshall’s athletic programs are an integral part American legal system and the “rule of law” as the law of and the Harless Dining Hall. of the university. With 15 varsity sports, Marshall athletic the land. During his tenure as Chief Justice, the Judicial In 2007, the $48 million Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science teams compete at the NCAA Division I level in Conference Branch of the new American government rose to a level of Center opened, as did a $22 million Clinical Education USA. The Thundering Herd teams are an economic and importance commensurate with that of the Executive and and Outreach Center on the site of the former Fairfi eld social focal point of the university, its community and the Legislative branches. Stadium – past football home of the Marshall Thundering Tri-State region. A competitive intramural program provides Marshall was founded as Marshall Academy in 1837, Herd. Additionally, a $94 million public-private project is Marshall students a diverse range of opportunities to designated a college in 1858, the state normal school in underway on the Huntington campus. Main components of participate in team and individual sports. 1867 and a university in 1961. the plan are two new living/learning residence halls, which Today, Marshall University is a thriving institution that will open in time for the fall 2008 semester, and a 123,000 functions through 13 divisions: the Elizabeth McDowell square-foot student recreation center, which is projected to Lewis College of Business, the College of Education and open in January 2009. New baseball and softball fi elds also ▼ Marshall’s Memorial Fountain is a lasting tribute Human Services, the College of Fine Arts, the College of are included in the project. to the 75 people who perished in the 1970 football Information Technology and Engineering, the College of As Marshall continues to expand its campus for future team plane crash. Each point represents one person Liberal Arts, the College of Health Professions, the College growth, its attention remains on the individual student. A who was on the plane and the water is symbolic of of Science, the Marshall University Graduate College, the W. quality education begins with an outstanding faculty. the circle of life. As a state-supported university, fi nancial assistance is a distinct advantage at Marshall. About 60 percent of the university’s students receive fi nancial assistance through grants, loans, student employment and/or academic scholarships, with annual fi nancial aid awards exceeding $92 million. Academic possibilities abound at Marshall with 97 degree programs, including 46 on the baccalaureate level and 42 on the master’s level. Marshall provides a variety of academic options that give students a solid foundation for future success. Among them are exciting study-abroad opportunities, with more than 125 programs off ered in 35 countries. Marshall’s fundamental mission is to make public higher education available to all qualifi ed individuals, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity or creed. Through special programs such as the Higher Education for Learning Problems (H.E.L.P.) program and the West Virginia Autism Training Center, Marshall provides exclusive learning opportunities for people who otherwise might be denied a college education. The John Hall Center for Academic Excellence highlights Marshall’s commitment to undergraduate education of ▲ Old Main the highest quality for outstanding students. Designed to provide academic opportunities and challenges, the

ACADEMIC SUPPORT ► ▼ The Robert C. Byrd Biotech Science Center Marshall’s John Deaver Drinko Library, one of the nation’s fi nest libraries, has a 24-hour study room and more than 250 computers. The library also houses several historical collections and thousands of volumes of books and periodicals.

► MU’s Academic Support Center provides students with assistance through a variety of services. Tutoring Services provides each student with two hours of free tutoring per week in almost any class.

► The MU Writing Center off ers students a variety of resources to help improve their writing, including individual and group

tutorials. ► The center also provides academic advisement for those students unsure about which major to declare.

▲ Chief Justice John Marshall

STUDENT LIFE ▼Marshall Commons student housing development was the first in the nation to offer wireless phones to its residents. ►Marshall is ranked by APB News as one of the safest universities in the country. With emergency phone stations across campus and 24-hour patrols by car, foot and bicycle, MUPD is always there to help.

►Greek life at Marshall provides students with a great way to make new friends, develop new skills, and serve their local community. Several groups even have tutoring programs and scholastic awards.

►Involvement is the key to getting the most from your college experience. Student organizations provide opportunities for growth and development that complement and enhance classroom learning. Marshall provides many opportunities to become involved in campus life with more than 150 active organizations.

►Marshall has six residence halls off ering single and double rooms, as well as four brand-new residence halls which off er suite-style living.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & RN Option COMMUNITY/TECHNICAL COLLEGE Physical Therapist Assistant HUMAN SERVICES School Nurse Certifi cate Applied Process Technology Police Science Adult & Technical Education Pre-Health Professions Accounting/Bookkeeping Paramedic Science Counseling Banking and Finance Radiologic Technology Elementary Education COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Certifi ed Coding Specialist Respiratory Therapy Family and Consumer Science Classical Language (Latin) Dental Laboratory Technology Technical Studies Recreation Park Resources Communication Studies Electronics Technology Maritime Training Physical Education Economics Biomedical Electronics Paraprofessional in Education Secondary Education English General Studies Undecided (MCTC) Undecided (Education) Geography Adult Degree Completion Program History Health Information Technology JOAN C. EDWARDS COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS Humanities Hospitality Management SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Music International Aff airs Culinary Arts Social Work Theatre Modern Language Pre-Professional Visual Art Multidisciplinary Studies Health Occuptions LEWIS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Undecided (Fine Arts) Political Science Interior Design Accounting Psychology Information Technology Economics COLLEGE OF INFORMATION Sociology Legal Assistant Finance TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING Undecided (Liberal Arts) Public Library Technology Health Care Management Civil Engineering Management Technology Management Information Systems Computer Science COLLEGE OF SCIENCE Accounting Marketing Pre-Engineering (Two-Year) Biological Science Medical Assistant Operations Management Pre-Computer Science Biomedical Sciences Manufacturing Engineering Technology Safety Technology Cellular/Molecular Biology Medical Transcription SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM/ Undecided (CITE) Chemistry Microsoft Certifi ed Systems Engineer MASS COMMUNICATIONS Engineering Geology Occupational Development Advertising COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS Environmental Biology Child Development Specialist Broadcast Journalism Communication Disorders Environmental Science Firefi ghter Option Electronia Media Management Cytotech, Cytotechnology Geology Law Enforcement Specialty Print Journalism Dietetics Integrated Science & Technology Mine Inspection Option Public Relations Medical Lab Technology Mathematics Painting and Allied Trade Radio-Television MedTech, Medical Technology Physics Building and Occupational Trades Nursing Undecided (Science) Social Work Assistant UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Nursing Administrative Assistant Technology Regents BA (Business Emphasis) MarshallWe Are ... • An Educational Community in which all members work together to promote and strengthen teaching and learning; • An Open Community uncompromisingly protecting freedom of thought, belief and expression; • A Civil Community treating all individuals and groups with consideration, decency, and respect, and expressing disagreements in rational ways; • A Responsible Community accepting obligations and following behavioral guidelines designed to support the common good; • A Safe Community respecting each other’s rights, privacy and property; • A Well Community respecting and promoting physical and emotional health; • An Ethical Community refl ecting honesty, integrity and fairness in both academic and extracurricular activities; • A Pluralistic Community celebrating and learning from our diversity; • A Socially Conscious Community acting as citizens of the world and seeking to contribute to the betterment of people and their environments; • A Judicious Community remaining alert to the threats posed by hatred, intolerance and other injustices and ever-prepared to correct them.

NOTABLE ALUMNI Dwight Morrow New York Giants running back U.S. Ambassador

Morris Dempson Busby U.S. Ambassador New England Patriots wide receiver Byron Leftwich

▲ Robert C. Byrd Burl Osborne U.S. Senator newspaper publisher

Billy Crystal actor, comedian Miami Dolphins quarterback

▲ Robert C. Byrd Mike D’Antoni Cynthia Rylant New York Knicks head coach chidren’s author

John Deaver Drinko Soupy Sales attorney, philanthropist actor, comedian

John Fiedler Lou Sahadi motion picture producer publisher, author

Byron Leftwich Brig. Gen. David W. Stallings Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback U.S. Army

Verna LeMasters Gibson Marvin Stone The Limited national journalist (retired)

Hal Greer F. Selby Wellman 50 Greatest Players in NBA History Sr. VP CISCO Systems

Joe Johns Harvey White CNN News founder of Qualcomm

Julia Keller Quinton Wilson Chicago Tribune reporter & ”Rocket Boy,” scientist Pulitzer Prize winner Denise Baisden Wright Mark McVey NASA physician Broadway actor, singer Basketball Locker Rooms The men’s basketball team is scheduled to have in place a brand new, state-of-the-art locker room with construction to be completed in early- to mid-2009. The locker room, designed by Edward Tucker Architechts of Huntington, will be situated under the south stands of the Cam Henderson Center. Campus Construction Projects Student Recreation Center Construction of Marshall’s 123,000- square-foot Student Recreation Center began in September 2007 and will be completed in February 2009. The facility, located at 5th Avenue and 20th Street, will have many features, including a climbing wall, natatorium, juice bar, racquetball courts, basketball courts, fi tness center, group exercise rooms and three-lane jogging track. The center will promote fi tness and wellness as a lifestyle, and inspire students to utilize their free time in a positive and healthy manner. ▲ Student Recreation Center

First Year Freshman Residence Halls Marshall opened its First Year Freshman Residence Halls in August of 2008. The 161,000-square-foot, 782-bed facility includes two four-story buildings, which are called the North and South Resident Halls. Specialty areas in each building include a theater, conference room, classroom, laundry, study areas and a lounge/café. The residence halls feature up-to-date technology, including one wired port per bed, wireless accessibility in all areas, VoIP security phones, video surveillance, card swipe entry access and multimedia in specialty rooms TThehe CityCity ofof Huntington,Huntington, WW.Va..Va.

Frank “Gunner” Gatski Bridge

untington, W. Va., home of the , is just that, a city that embraces its university. In the community of nearly 50,000 Hpeople, the love and support of everything Marshall can be seen in the fans adorned in green and white around town to the atmosphere surrounding campus. As the second largest city in the Mountain State, Huntington has been able to keep its old-time charm while growing into a modern, bustling community centered around the growth and development of the university. A community based in the southwestern part of the state bordering Ohio and Kentucky, Huntington is a former railroad town etched on the Ohio River. Collis P. Huntington needed a railway terminus to connect the East Coast to the Midwest so he created one. In its prime, Huntington was the residential and industrial core of the Ohio River Valley. Today, Huntington remains a busy hub for transportation and industrial activities and is increasingly becoming a center for service businesses and health care. In addition to being a rail center, it is the busiest port on the Ohio River and has highways and airline connections with many major cities. Along with the busy environment, the city off ers a plethora of opportunities for relaxation and fun. Huntington is noted for its broad tree-lined streets, attractive homes, cordial atmosphere and fi ne parks. The city takes pride in its more than 750 acres of parkland. Ritter Park, located in the center of the city, is a premier municipal park utilized year- round by Huntington residents and visitors. The park features a track, tennis courts, a playground, an internationally recognized rose garden, an amphitheatre and multiple picnic areas. Harris Riverfront Park is located in downtown Huntington and plays host to multiple outdoor concerts and various river activities throughout the year. The concerts meet the taste of many individuals ranging from rock to country and rap to jazz. Other river activities include Spring Fest and HuntingtonFACTS Population: 49,007 Founded: 1785 Average High Temp: 65 Average Low Temp: 45

Ritter Park

Cabell County Courthouse

Summer Fest. Both festivals feature boat racing, a wide variety of vendors and culminate in spectacular fi reworks displays. More water fun can be found at Beech Fork Lake, just south of downtown Huntington. Beech Fork off ers dozens of campsites, picnic areas and fi shing and also rents pontoon and paddle boats for a relaxing day of leisure. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena is located only blocks from Marshall’s campus and hosts nationally-known musical acts throughout the year and other entertainment events from Motocross to professional wrestling. Within an easy drive of Huntington is a wealth of outdoor adventure. West Virginia is known for its extensive state park system, world class whitewater rafting, skiing, hiking and fi shing. The state park system ranges from majestic Blackwater Falls in the east to the breathtaking view of the New River Gorge at Hawk’s Nest State Park in the south. Huntington also provides a wide array of shopping from the antique capital of Old Central City to the state’s largest shopping mall, the , located in nearby Barboursville. In fall 2004, Pullman Square, a multi-million dollar shopping and entertainment facility, opened along Third Avenue. The complex hosts a variety of nationally-known restaurants and retail shops and includes a state-of-the-art cinema complex. Pullman Square is a showcase for the downtown area and provides greater entertainment and dining options for Huntington visitors and residents. Huntington also boasts an entire menu of restaurants to satisfy any taste. A visit to Huntington wouldn’t be complete without a stop at some of the fi ne restaurants in the area such as Rocco’s or the Marshall Hall of Fame Cafe. When visiting Huntington a trip to historic Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House or Stewart’s Original Hot Dogs is a must. In Huntington, one experiences the advantages of a large city: creativity, excitement and growth. But one also fi nds room to stretch out and relax. The city combines a wonderful mix of Eastern sophistication and Midwestern hospitality, with a gentle touch of Southern charm. CCamam HendersonHenderson CCenterenter

LLARGESTARGEST YYEARLYEARLY CCAMAM HENDERSONHENDERSON CENTERCENTER CROWDCROWD

YYearear Attend.Attend. OOpponentpponent DateDate 22007-08007-08 99,043,043 M Memphisemphis 1 1-12-08-12-08 22006-07006-07 44,755,755 U UABAB 2 2-3-07-3-07 22005-06005-06 99,043,043 M Memphisemphis 2 2-11-06-11-06 22004-05004-05 55,949,949 O Ohiohio 2-26-052-26-05 22003-04003-04 55,861,861 O Ohiohio 1-24-041-24-04 22002-03002-03 66,123,123 O Ohiohio 2-1-032-1-03 22001-02001-02 66,626,626 O Ohiohio 2-16-022-16-02 22000-01000-01 99,016,016 O Ohiohio 2-17-012-17-01 11999-00999-00 7 7,015,015 B Bowlingowling GreenGreen 2 2-26-00-26-00 11998-99998-99 8 8,028,028 M Miamiiami 1 1-23-99-23-99 11997-98997-98 5 5,573,573 W Wakeake FForestorest 1 12-17-972-17-97 11996-97996-97 7,0367,036 AppalachianAppalachian StateState 1-25-971-25-97 11995-96995-96 7 7,136,136 D Davidsonavidson 1-27-961-27-96 11994-95994-95 9 9,637,637 D Davidsonavidson 2-25-952-25-95 11993-94993-94 5,1025,102 MontanaMontana StateState 1 12-4-932-4-93 11992-93992-93 6 6,726,726 G Georgiaeorgia SouthernSouthern 1-16-931-16-93 11991-92991-92 5 5,711,711 O Oralral RRobertsoberts 1 12-6-912-6-91 11990-91990-91 9 9,786,786 W Westest VVirginiairginia 12-4-9012-4-90 11989-90989-90 8 8,991,991 F Furmanurman 2-17-902-17-90 11988-89988-89 7,6397,639 AppalachianAppalachian StateState 2-27-892-27-89 11987-88987-88 110,5760,576 WWestest VirginiaVirginia 12-12-8712-12-87 11986-87986-87 1 10,1530,153 W Westernestern CarolinaCarolina 2-14-872-14-87 11985-86985-86 110,5020,502 WWestest VirginiaVirginia 12-7-8512-7-85 11984-85984-85 9 9,731,731 V V.M.I..M.I. 1 1-5-85-5-85 11983-84983-84 10,70510,705 TheThe CitadelCitadel 2 2-18-84-18-84 11982-83982-83 8 8,472,472 W Westernestern CarolinaCarolina 1-19-831-19-83 11981-82981-82 110,2500,250 AArmyrmy 11-27-8111-27-81 10,25010,250 WestWest VirginiaVirginia 12-5-8112-5-81

The Cam Henderson Center, located in the heart of the Marshall University campus, is the home of the Thundering Herd basketball team. Within the 213,000 square-foot, fully-equipped arena, the team fi nds the tools necessary to achieve success. The Henderson Center, one of the fi nest venues in Conference USA, received a $5M renovation prior to the 1998- 99 season that actually lowered the number of seats from 10,000+ to a more intimate 9,043. The lower half of the arena, which was originally built in 1981, was completely gutted and rebuilt with fan comfort in mind. Permanent, padded, chairback seating was installed along with walkways designed to allow fans to go from section to section without missing any of the game. The portable fl oor, which rested on top of a tarten surface, was also replaced with a permanent wooden fl oor that covers the entire arena base. In the fall of 2003, a refurbished fl oor and new scoreboard were also installed. Through the direction of ESPN, the arena also received state of the art wiring for television and radio broadcasts. In addition to this, a new Big Green Room (Bob Hartley Room) for pregame parties, banquets and functions was HHomeome ooff tthehe ThunderingThundering HerdHerd

opened prior to the 2001-02 season that sits beneath the north side stands. The Hartley Room includes meeting rooms utilized by the basketball team throughout the year. The Henderson Center is a multi-purpose structure that houses much of Marshall University’s athletic department. Inside the facility are the men’s basketball offi ces, a majority of the athletic department staff , the ticket offi ce, an 800- seat natatorium, a state of the art training room, a basketball-specifi c weight room and spacious locker rooms. Since its opening, when the team christened the court with nine consecutive wins, over 2.2 million fans have fl ooded the stands to see the Herd compete. Over the years, the Henderson Center has seen capacity crowds six times and has attracted over 10,000 fans on eight other occasions. The single-game attendance record was set on February 18, 1984, against The Citadel when 10,705 fans witnessed the Herd trounce the Bulldogs, 85-71. Marshall set a single-season attendance record in 1984-85 at 136,633 for the 16- game home schedule, an average of 8,539 per game. The largest crowd to ever see the Herd play was at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., in November of 2001. An announced crowd of 21,483 fi lled Rupp Arena to watch Marshall battle George Washington along with the Kentucky-Western Kentucky contest in the fi rst round of the NABC Classic. IIT’ST’S GGAMEAME DDAYAY ...... AATT MMARSHALLARSHALL UUNIVERSITY!!!NIVERSITY!!! Welcome to Conference USA, home to 12 nationally prominent, tradition-rich members in East Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP. This combination enhances men’s and women’s programs that are steeped in athletic suc- cess and academic prowess. Together, we are committed to excellence, integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in our communities. Dedication to excellence is a common thread for C-USA and the guiding initiative for the league’s promising future.

All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I football in the Football Bowl Subdivision, along with several other men’s and women’s athletic programs, many of which compete regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA sponsors 19 sports - nine for men (baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and indoor and outdoor track and fi eld) and 10 for women (basketball, cross country, golf, softball, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and fi eld and volleyball).

The league sponsors numerous academic awards, including the Commissioner’s Honor Roll and the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom. C-USA annually awards up to 12 post-graduate scholarships, along with the Sport Academic Award, Scholar Athletes of the Year and the Institutional Academic Excellence Award.

SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD Conference USA performers have achieved great success in competition, placing the league among the top conferences in the nation.

Football * Rated among the top seven conferences in the nation * 44 teams have earned bowl bids * Member of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) * Bowl tie-ins with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, GMAC Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, St. Petersburg Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and Texas Bowl

Men’s Basketball * Consistently rated as one of the top basketball leagues in the country * One of 10 NCAA Division I conferences that welcomed more than one million fans in 2007-08 * 78 postseason teams (42 NCAA, 33 NIT and 3 CBI) * Three Final Four teams * National Championship title game in 2008 * Seven Elite Eight NCAA Tournament teams * One NIT Champion and four NIT semi-fi nalists * Inaugural CBI Champion

Women’s Basketball * 42 NCAA Tournament appearances * 29 WNIT appearances * One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 * Two WNIT semifi nalists

Baseball * 44 NCAA appearances * Five College World Series appearances in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2001 * 10 Super Regional appearances * Has produced at least four NCAA teams in each of the last seven seasons

In addition, 29 volleyball teams, 43 men’s and women’s soccer teams and 21 softball teams have earned NCAA Tournament bids. C- USA has sent three men’s soccer teams to the NCAA College Cup, fi ve softball teams to the Women’s College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet 16. The league has also had four national champions in NCAA track and fi eld competition, one national champion in diving and numerous NCAA individual and team competitors in cross country, golf, swimming, tennis and track and fi eld. Overall, Conference USA teams and individuals have made more than 500 NCAA appearances.

SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD C-USA institutions are among the nation’s best in academic performance among student-athletes, bolstered by the fact that student- athletes at league schools have a higher graduation rate than the general student population. Among C-USA’s 5,000 student-ath- letes, there are champions off the playing fi eld as well. In 13 years, 118 student-athletes earned national ESPN The Magazine Aca- demic All-America honors, while 405 were named All-District. In addition, more than 15,000 student-athletes have been named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll or received the Commissioner’s Academic Medal, indicative of outstanding achievement in the classroom.

C-USA ON TV C-USA enjoys signifi cant television exposure through its partnerships with ESPN Inc. and CBS College Sports Television Networks (formerly CSTV). The league entered into long-term agreements with both ESPN and CBS College Sports, which, combined, provides C-USA with signifi cant national and regional exposure for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and all other conference sports. Additionally, the CBS College Sports agreement includes video-on-demand, Internet, broadband, national over-the-air and satellite radio, and wireless distribution as well as corporate marketing rights, and website production through CSTV.com, part of CBS Col- lege Sports. The agreement with ESPN extends the conference’s current regular season football package to include the broadcast of the Conference USA Football Championship Game. It also encompasses distribution of men’s basketball and women’s basketball on ESPN/ESPN2 and both C-USA tournament championship games. C-USA IN THE COMMUNITY The conference’s footprint is concentrated with 12 members in nine states and a combined area population of nearly 17 million. More than 1.1 million living alumni represent C-USA schools across the nation. With a renewed commitment to community involvement, the conference has begun develop- ment of several initiatives to maintain strong ties in C-USA cities, as well as with fans and alumni across the country. C-USA schools also place a priority on giving back to their communities through volunteer service with local and national organizations.

GOVERNANCE Along with the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC, Conference USA is one of the seven conferences having signifi cant representation in the NCAA governance structure. The Presidents of the member institutions serve as the league’s Board of Directors. R. Gerald Turner of SMU currently serves as chair of the C-USA Board.

A PROUD HISTORY; A PROMISING FUTURE Conference USA was formed in 1995 and quickly emerged as one of the nation’s top conferences. The conference unveiled its name, logo and commis- sioner on April 24, 1995, in Chicago. The league’s charter members included Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF. Eleven of the institutions began athletic participation in 1995, while Houston joined competition in the fall of 1996.

The league’s headquarters were established in Chicago and, after nine years, relocated to the current offi ce in Irving, Texas. Britton Banowsky was named Commissioner in October 2002, succeeding Mike Slive, the league’s fi rst commissioner.

C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and the United States Military Academy (March, 1997) as football members. ECU began league competition in 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB began football play in 1999. The league added TCU and ECU (1999) for all sports and they began competition in 2001. USF started C-USA football in 2003. Britton Banowsky Russ Anderson Courtney Morrison Archer Commissioner Asst. Commissioner/ Asst. Commissioner/ Media Relations M. Basketball Contact After celebrating its 10th Anniversary during the 2004-05 season, C-USA began a new Conference USA chapter in 2005-06 when its current membership came together to form the new look of 5201 N. O’Connor Blvd. the league. Suite 300 Irving, TX 75039 Since its formation, C-USA has established a strong foundation, an identity and a history that refl ects the league’s national presence. Thirteen years of remarkable history has rein- Phone: (214) 774-1300 forced the league’s position in collegiate athletics, setting the course for the next decade Media Relations Fax: (214) 496-0055 and beyond. TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09 Strength & Conditioning Strength

John Hark STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH BINGHAMTON, ‘06

Marshall University’s men’s basketball team benefi ts from hav- ing some of the fi nest strength and conditioning facilities and coaches in the Conference USA at its disposal. Under the direc- tion of Strength & Conditioning coach John Hark, the Thunder- ing Herd strives to become bigger, stronger and faster. It is Hark’s job to make sure Marshall’s athletes are as physically sound as any in the country. Hark, in his second year as the men’s basketball strength and conditioning coach at Marshall, is a Certifi ed Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Hark provides each athlete with the proper exercise prescription, nutritional advice and personalized instruction that is required for each individual student- athlete to not only grow in physical talent, but also improve in their mental preparation. Hark places a large emphasis on injury prevention in his workouts, specifi cally designing workouts to avoid the most common injuries. “In order to be successful in your sport, you need to be healthy,” he said. “Simply becoming stronger and more effi cient in the core lifts of our program will greatly reduce the risk of injury, although, in ad- dition we do many specialized exercises at the beginning and the end of workouts considered prehabilitation in order to prevent common injuries - like ankle sprains, knee injuries, and lower back strains.” Hark also keeps up with the latest from NBA workouts, and informs the Herd’s basketball players what it takes to make it physically on the next level. “We keep a chart of particular tests that NBA teams do, and then we do those exact same tests,” said Hark. “We track our re- sults and look at our progress throughout the year. We can then compare our numbers to what some of the guys in the league do. I can tell one of my guards, ‘This is what Chris Paul did on that particular test,’ and it motivates them that much more to do what it takes in the weight room to try and match up.” Marshall basketball players use a spacious, state-of-the-art weight training facility located just off of the playing court in the Cam Henderson Center as well as the brand new Dunfee Strength & Conditioning Center next to the football stadium. Both facilities include a full range of modern equipment from free weights to resistance machines that are designed to give Marshall athletes the competitive edge.

16 RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09 Sports Medicine Sports Dedicated to the Student-Athlete The Marshall Sports Medicine Department is an established program that continues to grow in size and commitment. Marshall University believes that Sports Medicine involves education, treatment and care, not just to the injury, but of the student-athlete. To provide this optimal health care for student- athletes, the Sports Medicine Department has a group of health care providers composed of a head team physician, a head trainer, assistant trainers, graduate assistant athletic trainers and undergraduate staff .

In addition to this, Marshall athletes have access to the area’s fi nest doctors and medical facilities. Marshall Sports Medicine utilizes a 3,600-square foot training area housed in the athletics center at the football stadium, as well Dr. Mitch Shaver as the Henderson Center training room. These MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD PHYSICIAN facilities are equipped with therapeutic and MARSHALL, ‘81 rehabilitative equipment and serve as the hub of injury evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, Warren Mitchel Shaver, M.D., better known as Mitch, is a life-long resident of Cabell County, W.Va. He fi rst came to Marshall in 1977 as a freshman and has education and prevention for our student- remained with the university ever since. Dr. Shaver received his undergraduate, athletes. graduate and medical degrees from MU and completed his Family Practice Residency at Marshall in June, 1993. Dr. Shaver, who developed a keen interest in sports medicine, joined the Team Physicians faculty of MU’s Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in July, 1993. During the 1996- 97 season, he had the privilege of assisting Marshall Head Team Physician Dr. Jose Ricard as men’s basketball primary care team physician and has continued in this role since then. Dr. Shaver is certifi ed by the American Board of Family Medicine and received his Certifi cate of Added Qualifi cation in Sports Medicine in 1999. He is a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at Marshall and serves as Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. In addition to his duties at Marshall, Dr. Shaver has provided sideline coverage for Cabell Midland High School football since 1994. Daniel Ricci MEN’S BASKETBALL ATHLETIC TRAINER, ATC SLIPPERY ROCK, ‘03 Dr. Chuck Giangarra Dr. Stan Tao ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICIAN Ricci’s bio can be found on page 35 with the rest of Marshall’s ORTHOPEDIC PHYSICIAN Basketball Support Staff .

In Memoriam • Dr. Jose Ricard Long-time team doctor and Thundering Herd supporter Dr. Jose Ricard passed away July 5, 2008. Ricard dedicated his life to helping others and his years of service to Marshall University and the Tri-State region are unmatched. Ricard served as the team physician for Thundering Herd athletics since 1981 and in recent years was named Team Doctor Emeritus. He was a native of Cuba who fl ed communism and came to West Virginia in 1963. A graduate of Havana University, Ricard fought in the war against Fidel Castro as a lieutenant in the Medical Corps. Ricard worked as the Cuban Olympic Team Physician and was the Cuban Sports Medicine Director before escaping to the United States. With Marshall, Ricard held many positions in the Sports Medicine program and his impact will be felt for years to come. He was an Associate Professor in the Family Medicine Department in the MU School of Medicine, he was the director of the MU Athletic Department Sports Medicine program and Co-Chairman of the MU School of Medicine Family Practice Sports Medicine Depart- ment. He was also one of the driving forces that led to the establishment of a medical school at Marshall University and the MU Sports Medicine Hall of Fame. He and his wife Amy present a scholarship annually to the outstanding student-trainer. Ricard was been honored many times for his contributions to Thundering Herd Athletics over the years. He is a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the MU Sports Medicine Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of a Lifetime Member Recognition Award from the Big Green Scholarship Foundation and he became an honorary alumnus of Marshall University in 1986. In addition, he was also honored as the “Doctor of the Year” for the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Ricard was an active member of the Marshall Quarterback Club, the Victory Club, Women’s Basketball Locker Room Club, Tennis Booster Club and Soccer Booster Club. He was the proud father of two daughters, Raquel and Jacqueline, and was one of nine children himself.

RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS 17 TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09 Buck Harless Student-Athlete Program Buck Harless Student-Athlete

▲ Marshall student-athletes have access to state-of-the-art computer labs and outstanding tutors and counselors.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES Tara Helton BUCK HARLESS Marshall University is taking the lead team has been recognized by the American in preparing its student-athletes for life Football Coaches Association repeatedly for STUDENT-ATHLETE after intercollegiate athletics. The program its high graduation rates. One of Marshall’s PROGRAM responsible in seeing the athletes succeed is proudest academic moments came in 1999 the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Program. when quarterback Chad Pennington, an DIRECTOR The program was established in 1981 after a Academic All-American, earned the National generous fi nancial contribution from Mingo Football Foundation’s prestigious Vincent County businessman Buck Harless. DePaul Draddy Award that is presented annual to the top student-athlete in all of The program’s purpose is to aid all Marshall college football. In 2006, Marshall University student-athletes in their academic endeavors placed 166 student-athletes on the C-USA while evaluating their athletic eligibility. Commissioner’s Honor Roll (3.0 or better) - Marshall athletes have access to tutors, second only to ’s 174 members. academic counselors and computer labs to That number continues to climb as Marshall ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFF assist them in their academic pursuits. placed more than 180 student-athletes on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2007. There have been more than 500 academic all-conference selections since the program’s The student-athlete label says it all; college inception and a great deal of those academic athletes are students first and foremost. standouts have earned national acclaim. For At Marshall University that philosophy is instance, several Marshall football players impressed upon all the Thundering Herd have earned Academic All-District honors athletes by their coaches, instructors and and All-America honors and the football fellow students.

Jennifer Burkhart Aliese Orndorff Counselor Counselor

Annette Starling Program Assistant 18 RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS ““WeWe AreAre Marshall”Marshall”

Marshall University’s tradition and heritage made it to the big screen in 2006 when Warner Brothers movie facts Pictures released “We Are Marshall” FACTS nationwide. Total Box Offi ce Gross: $43,545,364 The movie tells the story of Premiere: Dec. 12, 2006 at the Keith Albee Theatre in Huntington the tragic 1970 Marshall football Release Date: Dec. 22, 2006 plane crash and the University and Studio: Warner Brothers Pictures and community’s resolve in the face of Legendary Pictures overwhelming adversity in the days Filming Began: April of 2006 Location: Huntington, W.Va. and that followed and during the 1971 Atlanta, Ga. football season. It was nominated Producer: Basil Iwanyk for the ESPY for best sports movie of Director: Joseph McGinty Nichol “McG” 2006. Screenwriter: Jamie Linden Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, It is a tribute to those who left us Anthony Mackie, Kate Mara, January Jones, on Nov. 14, 1970 and to those who Ian McShane and David Strathairn carried on to lay the foundation ▼ Huntington’s Keith Albee Theatre of what has become the greatest success story in college football history. ▼Matthew Fox, Red Dawson, Jack Lengyel and Matthew McConaughey during fi lming in Huntington.

TTHEHE 2008-092008-09 SEASONSEASON TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09

Numerical Roster # Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Hometown (Previous School) 0 Darryl Merthie Sr.-2L G 6-0 190 Sanford, Fla. (Lake Mary H.S.) 1 Brandon Powell R-So.-TR G 6-3 200 Memphis, Tenn. (Florida) 2 Camden Miller# R-Fr.-TR F 6-8 205 Wheelersburg, Ohio (Western Carolina) 3 Damier Pitts Fr.-HS G 5-10 165 Charlotte, N.C. (Hargrave Military Academy) 4 Markel Humphrey Sr.-3L G/F 6-6 230 Atlanta, Ga. (Stockbridge H.S.) 10 Dago Pena Fr.-HS G/F 6-6 220 Punta Gorda, Fla. (Charlotte H.S.) 14 Chris Lutz R-Jr.-TR G 6-3 190 Bedford, N.H. (Purdue) 23 Shaquille Johnson Fr.-HS G 6-3 195 Jacksonville, Fla. (Robert E. Lee H.S.) 2008-09 Roster Information 24 Octavius Spann R-Jr.-TR F 6-7 225 College Park, Ga. (Georgetown) 25 Adam Williams R-Jr.-1L G 6-4 210 St. Albans, W.Va. (Kentucky) 30 Tirrell Baines So.-1L F 6-6 220 Laurens, S.C. (The Patterson School-N.C.) 32 Tyler Wilkerson Jr.-2L F 6-8 240 Lexington, Ky. (Lafayette H.S.) 34 Kore White Fr.-HS F 6-8 230 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard H.S.) 53 Marcus Goode So.-HS C 6-10 315 Chapin, S.C. (The Patterson School-N.C.)

Alphabetical Roster # Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Hometown (Previous School) 30 Tirrell Baines So.-1L F 6-6 220 Laurens, S.C. (The Patterson School-N.C.) 53 Marcus Goode So.-HS C 6-10 315 Chapin, S.C. (The Patterson School-N.C.) 4 Markel Humphrey Sr.-3L G/F 6-6 230 Atlanta, Ga. (Stockbridge H.S.) 23 Shaquille Johnson Fr.-HS G 6-3 195 Jacksonville, Fla. (Robert E. Lee H.S.) 14 Chris Lutz R-Jr.-TR G 6-3 190 Bedford, N.H. (Purdue) 0 Darryl Merthie Sr.-2L G 6-0 190 Sanford, Fla. (Lake Mary H.S.) 2 Camden Miller# R-Fr.-TR F 6-8 205 Wheelersburg, Ohio (Western Carolina) 10 Dago Pena Fr.-HS G/F 6-6 220 Punta Gorda, Fla. (Charlotte H.S.) 3 Damier Pitts Fr.-HS G 5-10 165 Charlotte, N.C. (Hargrave Military Academy) 1 Brandon Powell R-So.-TR G 6-3 200 Memphis, Tenn. (Florida) 24 Octavius Spann R-Jr.-TR F 6-7 225 College Park, Ga. (Georgetown) 34 Kore White Fr.-HS F 6-8 230 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Dillard H.S.) 32 Tyler Wilkerson Jr.-2L F 6-8 240 Lexington, Ky. (Lafayette H.S.) 25 Adam Williams R-Jr.-1L G 6-4 210 St. Albans, W.Va. (Kentucky) # Will sit out 2008-09 season per NCAA transfer rules

Head Coach: Donnie Jones (Pikeville - Ky. ‘88) Assistant Coach: Shawn Finney (Fairmont State ‘85) Assistant Coach: Darren Tillis (Paul Quinn College ‘96) Assistant Coach: Brett Nelson (Florida ‘04) Director of Basketball Operations: Tim Thomas (Wheeling Jesuit ‘93) Graduate Managers: Chris Capko (South Florida ‘06), Andrew Garcia (Tulane ‘06) Athletic Trainer: Daniel Ricci (Slippery Rock ‘03) Strength Coach: John Hark (Binghamton ‘06) Sports Information Director: Brandon Parro (Indiana-Pa. ‘01)

Pronunciation Guide Tirrell Baines ...... ter-RELL Markel Humphrey ...... mar-KELL Chris Lutz ...... LUTTS (rhymes with ‘cuts’) Dago Pena ...... DAH-go PAIN-yuh Damier Pitts ...... da-MEER Octavius Spann ...... ock-TAY-vee-is

22 RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09 2008-09 Roster Breakdown (5) Returning Letterwinners (Career Stats) Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Hgt. Wgt. GP/GS PPG RPG Note Tirrell Baines^ So.-1L F 6-6 220 30/29 11.5 5.8 All-Conference USA Freshman Team selection Markel Humphrey^ Sr.-3L G/F 6-6 230 87/78 11.7 5.8 All-Conference USA Third Team selection last two years Darryl Merthie Sr.-2L G 6-0 190 60/11 5.9 2.2 Team leader in assists last season (2.7 apg), logged 10 starts Adam Williams R-Jr.-1L G 6-4 210 25/2 0.6 0.8 Logged 8.5 mpg as defensive stopper Tyler Wilkerson^ Jr.-2L F 6-8 240 58/18 6.0 4.9 Team leader in blocks, rebounds; six dbl-dbls in C-USA play ^returning starter

(8) Letterwinners Lost Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Hgt. Wgt. GP/GS PPG RPG Note Pierre-Marie Altidor Cespedes^ Sr.-1L G 6-0 181 26/22 3.3 1.9 Started 22 games at PG in lone season at MU (Gonzaga transfer) Jean Francois Bro Grebe Sr.-3L F 6-9 230 61/27 2.6 2.1 Finished career with 81 career blocks (8th all-time at MU) Mark Dorris^ Sr.-3L G 6-2 180 90/81 11.1 3.8 MU’s leading scorer last season (13.6 ppg) Robbie Jackson So.-2L F 7-0 265 54/10 2.4 2.2 Transferred to UMBC Taurean Marshall Sr.-4L G 6-3 190 51/3 1.7 1.0 Averaged 13.8 mpg in injury-plagued senior season Jesse Oglesby R-Jr.-3L F 6-10 235 38/1 0.3 0.4 Transferred to West Georgia Bruce Senior Fr.-1L F 6-6 230 6/0 0.3 0.3 Walk-on, appeared in 6 gms as freshman; left team in March Matt Walls Fr.-1L G 6-3 200 22/6 7.2 2.7 Left team in May ‘08 (personal reasons) ^2007-08 starter

(8) Newcomers Name Cl.-Exp. Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Hometown Previous School Marcus Goode So.-HS C 6-10 315 Chapin, S.C. The Patterson School (N.C.) Shaquille Johnson Fr.-HS G 6-3 195 Jacksonville, Fla. Robert E. Lee H.S. Chris Lutz R-Jr.-TR G 6-3 190 Bedford, N.H. Purdue Dago Pena Fr.-HS G/F 6-6 220 Punta Gorda, Fla. Charlotte H.S. Damier Pitts Fr.-HS G 5-10 165 Charlotte, N.C. Hargrave Military Academy (Va.) Brandon Powell R-So.-TR G 6-3 200 Memphis, Tenn. Florida Octavius Spann R-Jr.-TR F 6-7 225 College Park, Ga. Georgetown Kore White Fr.-HS F 6-8 230 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dillard H.S.

By Class By Position

Senior (2): Markel Humphrey, Darryl Merthie Guard (6): Shaquille Johnson, Chris Lutz, Darryl Merthie, Damier Pitts, Brandon Powell, Adam Williams Junior (4): Chris Lutz, Octavius Spann, Adam Williams, Tyler Wilkerson Forward (6): Tirrell Baines, Markel Humphrey, Dago Pena,

Octavius Spann, Kore White, Tyler Wilkerson Sophomore (3): Tirrell Baines, Marcus Goode, Brandon Powell Center (1): Marcus Goode Freshman (4): Shaquille Johnson, Dago Pena, Damier Pitts, Kore White By State

Florida (4): Shaquille Johnson, Darryl Merthie, North Carolina (1): Damier Pitts Dago Pena, Kore White South Carolina (2): Tirrell Baines, Marcus Goode Georgia (2): Markel Humphrey, Octavius Spann Tennessee (1): Brandon Powell Kentucky (1): Tyler Wilkerson West Virginia (1): Adam Williams New Hampshire (1): Chris Lutz

RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS 23 TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09

The 2007-08 Marshall men’s basketball campaign marked a player in program history with 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 100 season of change as Donnie Jones took over and parlayed his fi rst three-pointers in a career. year as a head coach into the Thundering Herd’s fi rst winning sea- There are a number of other records and historical lists that son in seven years. The Herd played with a renewed sense of con- Humphrey will join and/or start before his days at Marshall are over, fi dence in an exciting brand of basketball that gives the Marshall but his determination to take this program back to the postseason faithful much optimism heading into the future. won’t allow him to refl ect quite yet with so much more work to do. That future begins now…although more change is imminent. Humphrey is the lone player on Jones’ squad with three seasons This time around, however, it is not a coaching staff that is new to of college hoops under his belt. His leadership and ability to stay the Herd locker room. healthy will be paramount to Marshall’s success in 2008-09. Instead it is the ma- Humphrey has four teammates with whom he took the fl oor jority of the on-fl oor last year that are returning, including fellow starters Tyler Wilkerson 2008-09 Season Outlook personnel that is new. and Tirrell Baines, who ranked sixth (54.1 pct) and seventh (53.6) in Not to be forgotten in C-USA fi eld goal percentage, respectively. Wilkerson became not a lineup loaded with only one of Marshall’s most improved players in last season’s sec- newcomers are fi ve ond half following a subpar start, but he unexpectedly emerged as returnees – including one of Conference USA’s preeminent big men. Jones hopes he can three starters – who ride the momentum of his dominant play at the end of last year were instrumental in into the beginning of this season. the Herd’s turnaround Baines enjoyed a wonderful fi rst season of college basket- last season; a turn- ball, capped by being named to the All-Conference USA Freshman around that caught Team. The high-fl ying forward ranked second on the team in re- the attention of bounding (5.8 rpg) and third in scoring (11.5 ppg) while logging a Marshall’s rivals and team-high 29 starts. Conference USA foes Guard Darryl Merthie, used primarily off the bench (with 10 alike. starts), proved to be a spark plug to the Herd off ense as he led MU After losing eight in assists (2.7 apg) and doubled his scoring average from the previ- letterwinners from ous season with 8.1 points per game. last year’s team, Jones Junior Adam Williams, who averaged nearly nine minutes has eight newcom- in 25 games last year, returns for his second season in the Green ers at his disposal in and White. The transfer from Kentucky and former Gatorade West DDonnieonnie JonesJones 2008-09. Three of the Virginia Player of the Year was utilized as a defensive stopper last newcomers, however, season, with Jones regularly assigning Williams to guard the oppo- are a trio of famil- nent’s top scorer. iar faces that spent last year on the practice fl oor and watching The crop of fi rst-year players rounded up by Jones and Co., in games from the bench (due to NCAA transfer rules). Chris Lutz, a their fi rst full year of recruiting, is talented, highly-decorated and long-distance ace who set a Purdue freshman 3-point record and ready to accept the rigors of college basketball. led the Big Ten in 3-point percentage during his two-year stint in a Slated to make Boilermakers’ uniform, is now eligible and ready to test the NCAA’s their Thundering new distance from downtown. The last two games Lutz played as Herd debuts this a collegian were in March of ’07 when he scored a season-high 16 fall are center Mar- points in an NCAA Tournament fi rst round upset over Arizona fol- cus Goode (Chapin, lowed by 23 minutes of play in the second round against eventual S.C.), guard Shaquille national champion Florida. Johnson (Jackson- Also anxious to get back to game competition along with Lutz ville, Fla.), guard/ are forward Octavius Spann and guard Brandon Powell. Spann, who forward Dago Pena spent two years at Georgetown, possesses a strong, athletic frame (Punta Gorda, Fla.), and good shooting touch that Jones will use to exploit opposing point guard Damier defenses. Powell, whom Jones recruited to Florida toward the end Pitts (Charlotte, N.C.) of his 11-year stint with the Gators, is yet another player perfectly and forward Kore suited for Jones’ up-temp style of play – and one who spent three White (Fort Lauder- years learning the system leading up to his anticipated Marshall dale, Fla.). debut this season. But before the Marshall fan can get excited about the pros- BACKCOURT pects of the transfers and a highly-touted freshman class, it must Darryl Merthie fi rst recognize the team’s unquestioned leader and playmaker in and Damier Pitts will senior Markel Humphrey. The guard/forward has been one of the serve as the Herd’s most consistent Marshall players of this decade. Humphrey can end point guards in 2008- his career having played the second most games ever in a Thunder- 09. Merthie, a shoot- DDarrylarryl MMerthieerthie ing Herd uniform and is easily within reach of becoming the fi rst ing guard by trade

24 RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09

“He gives us instant experience and has a great basketball IQ.” Outlook 2008-09 Season Brandon Powell is a 6-foot-3 guard who has the athleticism to create matchup problems for the opposition. A member of Florida’s second national title team in 2007, Powell is a gritty player out of Memphis, Tenn., who Jones knows he can count on to bring inten- sity and strong defensive play to the fl oor. “Brandon brings toughness and a defensive presence to the team, two traits that are invaluable to our program,” Jones said. Adam Williams’ selfl ess outlook and tireless work ethic return to the Herd for his second season at MU. The St. Albans, W.Va., na- tive proved to be an important reserve for Jones last year, espe- cially at the defensive end of the fl oor. “Adam brings a great attitude to the game and is one of our best defenders,” Jones said. “He improved his strength over the summer and will provide quality minutes in the backcourt.” Shaquille Johnson, a two-time Florida Class 5A Player of the Year, is a freshman who is likely to see signifi cant playing time in 2008-09. A great defender, Johnson averaged 25 points, nine re- bounds, eight assists and four steals per game as a senior and looks to ride that momentum into the next level. “Shaq is a very athletic combo guard who has great versatility and can really defend and score the basketball,” Jones said.

FRONTCOURT Markel Humphrey, an All-Conference USA Third Team selec- MMarkelarkel HHumphreyumphrey tion the last two years, averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season while playing through a stress fracture in his foot. but a player who got plenty of experience at the point guard posi- With a potent surrounding cast and a phenomenal off season in the tion last season, will join the highly-touted Pitts as the Herd’s “quar- weight room, expect those numbers to rise if Atlanta, Ga., native terbacks” this season. can stay healthy in 2008-09. Merthie averaged 24 minutes per game as a junior in 2007-08 “Markel had a terrifi c off season improving his strength, skill and proved to be one of Jones’ most explosive playmakers. Merth- level and leadership,” ie’s remarkable ability to get to the basket and score in bunches was Jones said. “He will un- never more evident than in last season’s game versus West Virginia. doubtedly help lead the The Sanford, Fla., native scored 15 of his game-high 20 points after team this season.” halftime, all in the game’s fi nal 12 minutes, to tie the Mountaineers Despite the injury in the fi nal minute after MU trailed by 12 points with 8:30 remain- last season, Humphrey ing. Although the Herd fell short to WVU that night, Merthie’s raw still led MU in minutes ability was on display and off ered a glimpse of the game-changing (34.2 mpg) and was a talent that he possesses. clutch performer in high- “Darryl has really started to settle into his role at the point pressure situations. With and is emerging into a great leader for our basketball team,” Jones just one year remaining said. in his collegiate career, Pitts, ranked the No. 8 point guard of the Class of 2008 by Scout. Humphrey’s will to help com, will get the opportunity to seize the starting point guard du- this program succeed ties as a freshman. The lightning-quick Charlotte, N.C., product is serves as a sturdy and coming off an undefeated national title run at Hargrave Military powerful pillar to Jones’ Academy where he averaged 25 points and nine assists per game. construction of a win- “Damier is a true point guard who has great quickness and ning program. court vision,” Jones said. “Even as a freshman he possesses excellent It took a season- leadership abilities and looks to impact our program immediately.” and-a-half for Tyler Chris Lutz at shooting guard is a luxury that Jones welcomes Wilkerson to tap into AAdamdam WWilliamsilliams with open arms. The Bedford, N.H., native sank 47.2 percent of his his boundless potential 3-point attempts in his last season played (2006-07 at Purdue) on the court. When the and should provide a rapid ascension to the Herd’s 3-point shoot- second half of 2007-08 began, the light switch went on for the ing percentage. Not only a long-distance threat, Lutz combines a Lexington, Ky., native and opposing frontcourts have felt his wrath sound all-around game with leadership qualities and postseason since. Wilkerson posted his fi rst six career double-doubles in the experience that Jones will call upon often. second half of last year and all came in C-USA play. With an off sea- “Chris is one of the nation’s best 3-point shooters,” Jones said. son to condition and fi nely tune his game, it is the coaches’ hopes RREACHINGEACHING NEWNEW HEIGHTSHEIGHTS 25 TTHUNDERINGHUNDERING HERDHERD BASKETBALLBASKETBALL 2008-092008-09

that Wilkerson continues to evolve and put his stamp as one of the league’s best power forwards. “Tyler was easily last year’s most improved player,” Jones said. “He took 20 pounds off his body in the summer and is emerging into one of the leaders on this team.” Tirrell Baines burst onto the scene last season as a freshman and proved to be the team’s biggest addition, snagged by Jones late in the recruiting process after the coach accepted the MU job. The highly-athletic Baines plucked 2.8 off ensive rebounds per game, second most in C-USA. “Tirrell has improved his size and skill level with a great off sea- 2008-09 Season Outlook son,” Jones said. “He did a wonderful job as a freshman last year and we hope he’ll continue to improve everyday.” Octavius “Tay” Spann is another transfer eager to get back onto the court. A strong, rugged forward, Spann was on Georgetown’s Final Four team in 2007 and is an athlete who possesses a solid all- around game. “Tay brings versatility, athleticism and skill to the fl oor and is a player who is suited for our up-tempo style of play,” Jones said. Dago Pena, runner-up to Johnson in Florida POY voting, was welcomed to the Herd family late in the recruiting process. His game is also a welcome site as the multitalented guard/forward is yet another freshman that is expected to contribute immediately. “Dago is a versatile guard who can play three positions for us,” Jones said. “He is strong and athletic and is one of the team’s best shooters.” Pena’s classmate, forward Kore White, is coming off a state championship at Florida’s Class 5A level in which he averaged a TTirrellirrell BBainesaines double-double per game at Dillard High. White has a physical pres- ence not common in most freshmen, allowing him to step in early “Kore is a strong, athletic rebounder and defender who will in his career to contribute. bring energy and toughness to our team,” Jones said. Speaking of physical presences, Marcus Goode will make his collegiate debut and provide plenty of presence in the lane. The 6-foot-10, 315-pound sophomore has the skill set and size to make an impact at Marshall and in C-USA. “Marcus is very talented and very skilled,” Jones said. “He worked extremely hard in the off season to lose weight. He’s still learning to reach that intensity level needed to play at a high lev- el.” Camden Miller, the former Ohio Player of the Year at Wheelers- burg High, joined the MU program this off season after transferring from Western Carolina. Miller, a 6-foot-8 forward, will help the Herd get better on the practice fl oor while solidifying his own game dur- ing his year off per NCAA transfer rules.

Marshall will face many challenges in 2008-09, among them is a competitive schedule that features 15 games versus teams that appeared in the postseason last year. The Herd has plenty of explosive athletes and fi repower at its disposal in year two of the Jones era, yet plenty of inexperience to boot. Success depends partly on how quickly on-fl oor chemis- try ripens between a small group of veterans and a large group of newcomers. Also important is how quickly the freshmen adapt to the college game because their contributions will be unquestion- ably counted on. With a blueprint for success etched last season, Marshall has big plans to reach new heights in 2008-09. TTyleryler WWilkersonilkerson

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