MSU Basketball 10-11 Guide.Indd
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22010-2011010-2011 RacerRacer BasketballBasketball RRACERACER HHEADEAD CCOACHOACH Billy Kennedy begins his fi fth season as Murray State University’s head men’s basketball coach and the Racer program could not be in a better position than it is right now. After numerous close calls and three-straight second- place fi nishes, the Racers won both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament championship in the 2009-10 season. The Racers capped it off with the program’s second win in the NCAA Tournament when they took down Vanderbilt in San Jose, Calif. MSU’s season is in the books as the best all-time in 85 seasons of this storied program. 31 wins and a 17-game winning streak were just two of several MSU records that fell during the Racers’ run to their 21st OVC championship and 14th trip to the big dance. Kennedy has achieved a lot in his profession, especially in the last six seasons where his teams have averaged 23 wins per season and have earned three conference championships and two trips to the NCAA Tournament. KENNEDY’S OUTLOOK Has Kennedy enjoyed coaching more than he is right now as he heads into his 26th season in the game and 13th as a head coach? “No, especially from an X’s and O’s standpoint,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got such a good group that we don’t have to come in everyday and jack them up and coach effort and that’s why we had a great season. When you get that, you can win, and we’re hoping to do it again.” Kennedy has developed his own unique philosophy from the coaches he served with as an assistant and the time he has been a head coach. His view on how to run a college basketball program is simple… it’s all about the student-athletes and the relationship he has with them once they decide to join the Murray State family. “We have a goal in our program and that is to train young men physically, mentally and spiritually,” Kennedy said. “And to display toughness and character on and off the court.” Kennedy’s love for college basketball is very evident. “I thought I’d be a head coach some day, but I was never caught up in thinking I had to be a head coach,” He said. “I love college basketball, I love what I do and I’m blessed to be doing what I do. Just to be a part of this great game has been fun.” Photo Credit: Kevin Weaks 54 1144 NCAANCAA AAppearancesppearances - 2211 OOVCVC CChampionshipshampionships 22010-2011010-2011 RacerRacer BasketballBasketball BBILLYILLY KKENNEDYENNEDY DEFENSE IN THE BILLY KENNEDY ERA Season Scoring FG% 3PT% Blocks Steals 2006-07 4 (65.8) 1 (.411) 1 (.307) 6 (2.8) 5 (7.1) 2007-08 5 (69.1) 1 (.428) 1 (.342) 5 (3.2) 7 (7.2) 2008-09 1 (63.2) 3 (.432) 1 (.329) 8 (2.1) 4 (7.2) *2009-10 1 (60.4) 1 (.387) 1 (.333) 1 (5.4) 1 (9.6) Note: Statistics shown for scoring, blocks and steals are per game. Totals are for all games in a season among OVC teams. * In 2009-10 NCAA D-I, MSU ranked fi fth (steals), 10th (fi eld goal percentage defense), 19th (blocked shots), 21st (scoring defense) and 124th (3-point percentage defense). HHometownometown THE KENNEDY ERA AT MURRAY STATE down to the wire and that led to three MMetairie,etairie, LLa.a. When Billy Kennedy arrived for his fi rst straight wins in Miami, Fla. at the Coaches season in 2006-07, he quickly realized he vs Cancer Classic. BBirthdateirthdate had a rebuilding project, but he didn’t have MSU ripped through the OVC with a FFebruaryebruary 22,, 11964964 the luxury of time, the program demanded 17-1 mark and wrapped up the regular winning now. season title before the fi nal weekend. EEducationducation Already thin on personnel, Kennedy After beating Tennessee State, SSoutheasternoutheastern LouisianaLouisiana ' 8686 deserved to be OVC Coach of the Year Eastern Illinois and Morehead State to DDegreeegree SSocialocial SStudiestudies EducationEducation after he took a patchwork roster and still win the OVC Tournament, the Racers managed a winning season at 16-14. took down Vanderbilt in the fi rst round HHighigh SSchoolchool In that season, MSU was inexperienced of the NCAA Tournament in San Jose, HHolyoly CCrossross with only two players (Shawn Witherspoon Calif., 66-65 to score the fi rst win for the NNewew OOrleans,rleans, LLa.a. and Tyler Holloway) who had seen signifi cant program in the Big Dance since 1988. playing time. Still MSU managed a second- Kennedy had been part of winning FFamilyamily place showing in the OVC. NCAA games as an assistant, but this WWifeife --MaryMary was his fi rst win as a head coach. CChildrenhildren “When I look back on the time leading WWillill ((22)22) up to our fi rst season here, it’s amazing After the Racers just missed going LLexieexie (20)(20) what we accomplished,” Kennedy said. to the Sweet-16 in a two-point loss to BBrooksrooks ((15)15) “I remember looking at the roster eventual national runner-up Butler, MSU AAnnanna CCateate (6)(6) and we only had fi ve guys, but we added had a 31-5 season and the admiration of Danero Thomas, Ed Horton, Bruce Carter fans and all of college basketball. and Dwayne Paul and did a lot more than Kennedy was named the OVC Coach what people thought we would do.” of the Year and NABC District-19 Coach The building continued in the 2007- of the Year. He was also a fi nalist for the 08 season when MSU had accomplished Skip Prosser Award and Hugh Durham another second-place OVC fi nish and an Award. 18-13 mark. The Racers were also honored with Again in 2008-09, the Racers were in the OVC Men’s Basketball Sportsmanship the OVC title hunt and fi nished in second Award in voting by the leagues’ head place with an overall 19-12 mark. coaches. The report card for Kennedy’s fi rst three “We have developed continuity of seasons showed three winning seasons having a great staff,” Kennedy said. and three near misses for the league title. “Steve Prohm has been with me 12 of The foundation had been set for the the 13 years of my time as a head coach. 2009-10 season, and it was a great ride Isaac has been here three seasons and as MSU started knocking off foes. Amir played for me and now coaches with The Racers turned heads in the season me, so we do have a staff that has been Photo Credit: Fred Mullane opener when they took ranked California together for a while.” 2233 ConsecutiveConsecutive WWinninginning SSeasonseasons 55 22010-2011010-2011 RacerRacer BasketballBasketball RRACERACER HHEADEAD CCOACHOACH MMSUSU CCOACHESOACHES TTHEHE KKENNEDYENNEDY FFILEILE WWINNINGINNING PPERCENTAGEERCENTAGE ((44 oorr mmoreore sseasons)easons) XMurray State University CCarlislearlisle CutchinCutchin 1177 ..725725 • Position: Head Coach TTevesterevester AndersonAnderson 5 .664.664 • Tenure: 2006-Present • Record: 84-44 (4 seasons) SScottcott EEdgardgar 4 ..661661 BBillyilly KKennedyennedy 4 ..656656 XUniversity of Miami (Fla.) SSteveteve NewtonNewton 6 ..640640 • Position: Assistant Coach HHarlanarlan HodgesHodges 6 ..623623 • Tenure: 2005-2006 CCalal LLutheruther 1166 ..610610 • Record: 18-16 RRonon GGreenereene 7 ..603603 e • Finished season with an appearance in the n a l l NIT quarterfi nals. Miami was 7-9 in the ACC u M d e including wins over Maryland, North Carolina r F LLONGESTONGEST WWINNINGINNING SSTREAKTREAK : t i and Wake Forest. d e r C BBillyilly KKennedyennedy 1177 22009-10009-10 o t o h XSoutheastern Louisiana University P Photo Credit: Fred Mullane CCarlislearlisle CutchinCutchin 1166 11935-36935-36 CCarlislearlisle CutchinCutchin 1155 11931-32931-32 • Position: Head Coach RACERS PERFORM OFF THE COURT • Tenure: 1999-2005 SSteveteve NewtonNewton 1144 1989-901989-90 • The Lions were 44-18 in his last two sea- Not only have the Racers won many RRonon GGreenereene 1144 11982-83982-83 sons with back-to-back Southland Confer- basketball games, they’ve performed in CCarlislearlisle CutchinCutchin 1133 11937-38937-38 ence regular season titles and the school’s the classroom and won the OVC’s Team fi rst trip to the NCAA Tournament. Academic Award for men’s basketball for XCentenary College AALL-OVCLL-OVC & NNABCABC HHONORSONORS the 2008-09 school year. IINN TTHEHE BBILLYILLY KKENNEDYENNEDY EERARA • Position: Head Coach “We feel that our program is going in • Tenure: 1997-1999 22006-07006-07 the right direction, and we’re pleased with • Turned Centenary around in two seasons, BBruceruce CarterCarter Jr.Jr. taking it from only six wins in 1997-98 to a 14- the progress we’ve made,” Kennedy said. 22007-08007-08 14 mark his fi nal season, its fi rst non-losing “Our student-athletes are doing it the right season in fi ve years. BBruceruce CarterCarter SSr.r. way. “ 22008-09008-09 XUniv. of California-Berkeley In addition to academic achievement, DDaneroanero ThomasThomas Jr.Jr. • Position: Assistant Head Coach MSU is also about winning championships IIsaccsacc MMilesiles SSo.o. • Tenure: 1993-97 and that is where Kennedy wants to be. • Had two 20-win seasons and made three &&** IIvanvan AAskaska FFr.r. appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The “That’s what we’ve been striving and 22009-10009-10 1997 squad advanced to the Sweet 16. building for since I came here,” Kennedy ^ IIsaccsacc MMilesiles JJr.r. XCreighton University said. “My staff and I want to get it done and ^ BB.J..J. JJenkinsenkins JJr.r.