07-08 BKB Game Notes-AF.Qxp
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2007-08 VMI BASKETBALL KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES Keydets Kick Off 100th Basketball Campaign at Air Force Classic High-Flying Keydets Looking For History In First-Ever Trip to Air Force Academy VMI Basketball opens its 100th Season by taking on Northern Colorado of the Big Sky Conference, marking the first-ever meeting between the two schools. The trip also marks the first-ever trip to Colorado for the program, and is the first time the Keydets have played West of the Mississippi since beginning the season at the Top of the World VMI (0-00) vs. Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska to kick off the 2003-04 season. The Keydets last played West of the Mississippi in the continental United States in 1991, when they participated in the Weber State Military Tournament in Ogden, Utah. Northern Colorado (0-00) Friday, Nov. 9; 5:30 p.m. MST A season after leading the nation in points (100.9), assists (20.6), steals (14.8) and three-pointers (13.4) per game, the Keydets boast the return of three of their top four scorers, including senior forward Reggie Williams, who led the Air Force Classic; Clune Arena nation in scoring at 28.1 points per game, and junior guard Travis Holmes, who led the country with 3.4 steals per Colorado Springs, Colo. outing. In all, the Keydets return four starters and seven letterwinners, while welcoming six freshmen into the fray. RADIO- VMI Sports Network: WREL-AAM The Keydets made a stunning run to the Big South Championship Finals last season with upset wins over third-seed- 1450 Lexington; WRIS-AAM 1410 Roanoke ed Liberty and second-seeded High Point. The sixth-seeded Keydets then came up three points short of top-seeded INTERNET- Live Audio online at Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C. in the Final, televised on ESPN. www.VMIKeydets.com, Live Stats online at www.GoAirForceFalcons.com This season, the Keydets will enter the year with their highest preseason ranking in over 30 years, coming in third in the Big South’s Preseason Poll. High Point (216 pts.) edged out Winthrop (214) by two points in the voting, while the Keydets (147) were voted ahead of Coastal Carolina (134), UNC Asheville, Liberty, Charleston Southern and Radford. Senior forward Reggie Williams has been selected as one of 50 preseason nominees for the John Wooden Award, given annually to college basketball’s top player. Williams, who was also voted to the Big South Conference’s Preseason All-Conference team, not only led the nation in scoring a year ago, but also ranked in the top four in the Big South in rebounding (4th), FG% (3rd), and assists (3rd). Williams established new Big South and VMI records for points in a season and is on track to become the all-time leading scorer in Big South history, supplanting Liberty’s Larry VMI vs. Blair, who overtook the record last season. Air Force/Dartmouth Should the Keydets play Air Force at the tournament, it would mark the first time that VMI has played each of the Saturday, Nov. 10; service academies. VMI played Army last season in West Point and will host the Black Knights this season, while the 5:30/7:30 p.m. MST Keydets last played Navy three seasons ago, defeating the Mids for the first time by a 78-73 score in Annapolis. Air Force Classic; Clune Arena A VMI win against Northern Colorado would: Colorado Springs, Colo. Mark the first season-opening win for the Keydets since the 2004-05 season, when VMI defeated Southern Virginia RADIO- VMI Sports Network: WREL-AAM 71-33 at home. 1450 Lexington; WRIS-AAM 1410 Roanoke Give VMI their first victory in the opening round of an in-season tournament since defeating Richmond in the Spider INTERNET- Live Audio online at Invitational on Dec. 28, 2001. www.VMIKeydets.com, Live Stats online A VMI win against either Air Force or Dartmouth would: at www.GoAirForceFalcons.com Mark the first-ever win against either team, as VMI has never played Air Force or Dartmouth. KEYDETS AT A GLANCE Probable Starters 2006-07 Stats Pos. # Player Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Notes G 1 Adam Lonon So. 5-11 175 2.0 1.8 3.6 1.4 Led VMI with 1.60 Assist/Turnover Ratio F 2 Willie Bell Jr. 6-5 205 5.5 4.5 1.4 1.4 Top 15 in Big South in Steals (1.46) & Offensive Rebounds (2.1) G 3 Chavis Holmes Jr. 6-4 195 19.2 3.3 2.1 2.8 Led Big South in 3-PT FG Per Game (3.38) G 23 Travis Holmes Jr. 6-4 195 15.0 4.9 3.2 3.4 Big South Defensive Player of the Year; Led Nation In Steals Per Game (3.36) F 55 Reggie Williams Sr. 6-6 195 28.1 8.0 4.4 1.7 Led Nation In Scoring Last Season; One of 50 Wooden Award Nominees Off The Bench 2006-07 Stats Pos. # Player Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Notes G 4 Joey Cantafio Fr. 5-6 180 - - - - Son of Former VMI Head Coach Joe Cantafio; Led Benedictine to State Champ. G 10 Austin Kenon Fr. 5-11 180 - - - - Career 3-PT FG Leader at First Colonial HS F 11 Quinn Brownfield Fr. 6-7 195 - - - - Named Team Athlete of the Year at Anderson HS G 12 Nick Matson Jr. 6-4 190 1.1 0.6 0.0 0.0 Joined team over Holiday Break last season G 22 Christian Hunter Fr. 6-2 180 - - - - Led Kenston HS to Conference Championship G 32 Carl Josey So. 6-5 195 1.9 1.8 0.4 0.3 Played In 17 Games despite injuries F 34 Hunter Houston Fr. 6-6 195 - - - - Honorable Mention All-State (6A-Alabama) at Mountain Brook HS C 50 Stephen Sargent Fr. 7-0 245 - - - - Whitewater HS Career Blocks and Rebounds Leader *- Steals Per Game; ^- Blocks Per Game Media Schedule/Results (0-00 Overall/0-00 Big South) Information Date Opponent (Television) Time/Result Key Stat Record Nov. 9 vs. Northern Colorado & 7:30 p.m. 0-0 X VMI Basketball Contacts Nov. 10 at Air Force or vs. Dartmouth & TBD Nov. 14 West Virginia Wesleyan 7 p.m. Wade Branner, Assistant AD/SID Nov. 21 James Madison 7 p.m. Nov. 25 at Ohio State (Big Ten Network) 8 p.m. Office (540) 464-7515 Nov. 28 Columbia Union 7 p.m. Cell (540) 319-1271 Dec. 1 Army 1 p.m. Fax (540) 464-7583 Dec. 4 at South Carolina State 7:30 p.m. Email [email protected] Dec. 8 Howard 1 p.m. Web www.VMIKeydets.com Dec. 10 Newport News Apprentice 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at William & Mary 8 p.m. Dec. 30 at Richmond 6 p.m. Christian Hoffman, Assistant SID Jan. 2 at Mercer 7 p.m. (With Team at Air Force Classic) Jan. 8 Southern Virginia Noon Office (540) 464-7514 Jan. 12 at Charleston Southern* 7:30 p.m. Cell (540) 460-6920 Jan. 14 at Coastal Carolina* 7 p.m. Jan. 19 UNC Asheville* 1 p.m. Email [email protected] Jan. 23 at Winthrop* 7 p.m. Jan. 28 Liberty* 7 p.m. X Weekly Luncheon Feb. 2 at High Point * 7 p.m. Each Wednesday during the season, Feb. 5 Radford* 7 p.m. Feb. 9 Coastal Carolina* 1 p.m. VMI hosts luncheons featuring head Feb. 11 Charleston Southern* 7 p.m. coach Duggar Baucom and selected Feb. 16 at UNC Asheville* (MASN) 7 p.m. Keydet players. The lunch, which Feb. 20 Winthrop* 7 p.m. begins at noon, is usually held at Feb. 23 at Radford* (MASN) 4 p.m. Moody Hall on the VMI post. Media Feb. 26 at Liberty* 7 p.m. Mar. 1 High Point* 1 p.m. planning to attend the weekly luncheon Mar. 4 Big South Championship Quarterfinals 7 p.m. should call the VMI Sports Information Mar. 6 Big South Championship Semifinals 6 p.m./8 p.m. office to RSVP at (540) 464-7253. Mar. 8 Big South Championship Finals (ESPN2) 11 a.m. X VMIKeydets.com & - Air Force Classic * - Big South Conference Contest All Times Eastern The official website of VMI athletics, Reggie Williams Redux the Conference’s men’s basketball preseason poll. It’s the VMIKeydets.com, includes pregame Last season, Reggie Williams took the world of College highest a VMI basketball team has been picked in a confer- notes, game and season statistics, Basketball by storm, topping the national scoring charts on ence preseason poll in over 30 years. postgame notes and quotes and rele- his way to several recognitions. This season, he has already The Keydets received 147 points in the preseason poll vant news releases to the VMI been honored with numerous preseason honors, including for third place – behind High Point which was edged Winthrop for the top spot with 216 points and 15 first place Basketball program. The website is VMI’s first ever nomination for the John R. Wooden Award, votes and Winthrop's 214 points and 14 first place votes. updated daily. college basketball’s most prestigious honor. After leading the country with a 28.1 points-per-game It is a reversal from a season ago, when the Keydets average, Williams was not only named to the Big South’s were picked last in the Conference’s Preseason Poll. All-Conference First Team, but also received recognition from the NABC, who tabbed the forward to their District 4 Baucom Rewarded With Contract Extension: Second Team.