2008-09 VMI BASKETBALL KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES KEYDET BASKETBALL GAME NOTES 8-2 VMI Takes On Military Rivals In Sunday Matchup at 3-7 Army Keydets Look to Build On Best Start Since 1976-77 On the strength of 41 points off turnovers, VMI defeated Southern Wesleyan, 113-94, last Saturday afternoon at Cameron Hall. Chavis Holmes tallied 26 points and had five assists, while Travis Holmes had 21 points for the Keydets, along with seven steals and just two turnovers in 34 minutes. Freshman Keith Gabriel contributed 20 pts., six steals and five assists off the bench. By causing 26 turnovers and only committing 12 against the Warriors last Saturday, VMI continued a pair of impressive VMI (8-22, 2-00 Big South) streaks. The Keydets have caused more than 20 miscues while also committing less turnovers than their opponents in each game at Army (3-77, 0-00 Patriot) this season. The Keydets are 8-0 this season when scoring more points off turnovers than their opponents. Sunday, December 21, 1 p.m. At 8-2, the Keydets are off to their best start since the 1976-77 season. That year, the team started 22-1 on their way to the Christl Arena; West Point, N.Y. Sweet 16. That season also saw the Keydets lose their second game of the year at Virginia, as this year’s team did. RADIO- WREL-AAM 1450 Lexington This season marks the first time in school history that VMI has appeared on the CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. The Keydets remained at 21st in this week’s poll, their highest ranking this season. In other rankings news, the Washington Post INTERNET- Live Audio and Stats has ranked VMI seventh on their Atlantic 11 poll this week, comprised of Division I schools located in the Mid-Atlantic. This year online at www.VMIKeydets.com. also marks the first time that VMI has appeared on the list, while the Keydets also received votes in the Associated Press’ Top 25 LIVE VIDEO- Broadcast on the first two weeks of the 2008-09 season. Knight Vision at VMI’s season-opening win at Kentucky not only marked the Keydets’ first win against an SEC team in 33 seasons (1975-76), www.GoArmySports.com. but was also the first time that VMI had defeated Kentucky since 1922. Seniors Chavis and Travis Holmes pace Duggar Baucom’s potent offensive attack this season, as the Keydets look to lead the Tale Of The Tape nation in scoring for the third-straight season. They are one of two sets of teammates nationally to each average over 20 points VMI ARMY per game this season. Chavis and Travis Holmes currently rank as the seventh and 12th scorers in VMI history, respectively, and 103.0 Points Per Game 58.6 are the fourth-highest scoring set of twins in NCAA Division I history with 3,011 combined points. (Page 5 for more info) Senior guard Chavis Holmes is the Big South’s only returning All-Conference player this season. Of the ten players selected to 89.0 Points Allowed 61.2 either the First or Second Teams at the end of last season, eight of them graduated, while UNC Asheville’s Kenny George will not 49.2% Field Goal % 43.8% play this season due to various medical ailments. Chavis Holmes was voted to the Big South Preseason All-Conference team 51.3% FG % Allowed 44.1% prior to the 2008-09 season, when VMI was voted seventh of ten teams in the Preseason Poll. (Page 5 for preseason predictions) In 2008-09, the Keydets are looking to become only the third school in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring 38.6% 3-Point FG % 34.3% for three straight seasons. Furman did so from 1953-55, while Loyola Marymount followed suit from 1988-90. (Page 5 for 13.7 3-Pt. FG Per Game 4.6 more info) 75.3% Free Throw % 72.1% A VMI win against Army would: Mark the Keydets’ third win all-time over the Black Knights. Army currently leads the series 6-2, as VMI’s last win in the series 20.7 Assists Per Game 13.7 came at West Point on Dec. 8, 2005. VMI is 1-3 all-time against Army in West Point. 15.7 Turnovers Per Game 15.8 Give VMI eight wins in their last nine games. That would be VMI’s best streak since winning nine of ten from Jan. 24 to Feb. 19, 1990. 1.3 Assist/Turnover Ratio 0.9 Improve the Keydets’ record to 4-2 on the road this season. The last time VMI began a season 4-2 away from Lexington was 16.5 Steals Per Game 7.9 1976-77, when the Keydets started out 5-1 when not playing at “The Pit.” 4.1 Blocks Per Game 2.7 Continue the Keydets’ best start since the 1976-77 campaign, when they opened the year 22-1. KEYDETS AT A GLANCE Probable Starters Pos. # Player Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Notes F 2 Willie Bell Sr. 6-6 205 8.4 5.2 2.7 2.4 14 pts., 6 reb., 4 stl. 3 ast. at Virginia; 12 pts., 5 reb., 4 ast. vs. Stevenson G 3 Chavis Holmes Sr. 6-4 195 21.0 4.2 3.2 3.7 31 pts., 5 reb. at Virginia; 29 pts., 5 ast., 2 stl., 1 blk. at UNC Asheville G 10 Austin Kenon So. 5-11 180 15.8 3.5 3.0 1.6 23 pts., 7-11 3-Pt. vs. Winthrop (12/3); 18 pts., 9 reb. vs. Stevenson (11/20) F 15 Ron Burks Fr. 6-4 205 5.1 3.0 3.2 0.6 11 pts., 3 ast., 1 TO at Kentucky (11/14) F 23 Travis Holmes Sr. 6-4 195 20.1 5.6 3.6 4.2 Big South Player of the Week (12/8); 26 pts., 3 reb., 6 stls., 7 ast. at UNCA Off The Bench Pos. # Player Yr. Ht. Wt. Pts. Reb. Ast. Stl. Notes G 1 Adam Lonon Jr. 5-11 175 --- --- --- --- Has not played this season due to hamstring injury G 4 Joey Cantafio So. 5-6 150 4.3 1.0 1.3 0.0 6 pts., 3 ast. vs. Maryland Bible (11/18); 5 pts. at Jacksonville St. (11/29) F 11 Quinn Brownfield So. 6-7 195 1.8 0.5 0.3 0.4 11 pts., 2 reb., 3 3-pt. vs. Maryland Bible (11/18) G 20 Carl Josey Jr. 6-5 195 1.6 1.7 0.7 0.4 4 pts., 2 reb., 2-2 FG vs. Campbell (12/9); 3 pts., 4 reb. in 7 mins. vs. SWU G 21 Keith Gabriel Fr. 6-2 180 15.6 2.3 1.6 2.0 Sixth Man; 25 pts., 6 3-pt. vs. Winthrop (12/3); 20 pts., 6 stls., 5 asts. vs. SWU G 31 Michael Sparks Fr. 6-4 195 9.3 2.7 1.8 1.2 12 pts., 3 reb., 2 asts., 1 stl. vs. Southern Wesleyan (12/13) C 32 Wayne Whiting Fr. 6-7 240 3.8 1.0 0.4 0.2* 10 pts., 1 reb., 1 ast., 1 blk.vs. Stevenson; 9 pts., 4 reb. vs. Maryland Bible F 35 Aaron Blosser Fr. 6-3 205 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.5 3 pts., 1 stl. in 3 minutes vs. Stevenson (11/20) C 50 Stephen Sargent R-Fr. 7-0 245 4.3 0.7 0.7 0.7* 6 pts., 2 blks., 1 reb., 1 ast. in 7 minutes vs. Stevenson (11/20) *- Blocks Per Game Media Schedule/Results (8-22 Overall/2-00 Big South) Information Date Opponent (Television) Time/Result Record Key Stats Nov. 14 at Kentucky (FSN South/BBSN) W, 111-103 1-0 VMI 7-of-8 3-Pt. to begin game, 14-31 3-Pt. in game X VMI Basketball Contacts Nov. 16 at Virginia (Comcast SportsNet) L, 97-107 1-1 UVa 27 2nd Chance Pts.; Outrebounded VMI 50-36 Nov. 18 Maryland Bible W, 118-72 2-1 VMI 57 pts. off 37 MBC TO; VMI 89% FT Nov. 20 Stevenson W, 133-72 3-1 VMI 48% 3-Pt., 33 asts.; VMI 21 stls., 12 blks. Wade Branner, Associate A.D./Athletic Nov. 24 at Campbell W, 97-92 4-1 VMI 48% (19-40) 3-Pt.; 10 3-Pt. off bench Communications (Basketball Contact) Nov. 29 at Jacksonville State L, 67-95 4-2 VMI 21% (7-34) 3-Pt.; JSU 61% FG% Office (540) 464-7515 Dec. 3 Winthrop* (MASN) W, 92-74 5-2, 1-0 VMI 16 3-Pt.; Turnovers: WU 25, VMI 10 Cell (540) 319-1271 Dec. 6 at UNC Asheville* W, 114-105 6-2, 2-0 VMI 56% (15-27) 3-Pt.; Turnovers: UNCA 20, VMI9 Fax (540) 464-7583 Dec. 9 Campbell W, 88-76 7-2 VMI 16-0 run after halftime; CU 26 Turnovers Email [email protected] Dec. 13 Southern Wesleyan W, 113-94 8-2 VMI 41 pts. off turnovers; Turnovers: SWU 26 VMI 12 Web www.VMIKeydets.com Dec. 21 at Army 1 p.m. Dec. 31 Richmond (MASN) 7 p.m. Press Row Phone (540) 463-6725 Jan. 3 at Gardner-Webb* 7 p.m. Jan. 5 at Charleston Southern* 7:30 p.m.