B-RadHoops - January 2009January 25, 2009 On Wednesday we played our first game of the year in the “new” Dedmon Center against VMI. It was an electric atmosphere with the largest student body crowd I have seen in Dedmon. We started the game on a 13-0 run but didn’t play our game after that and VMI played well in beating us. VMI plays a unique style with 40 minutes of full court pressure and three-point marksmanship. We didn’t do a good job of defending their primary shooters and they scored 30 points off our 22 turnovers. Our players were extremely disappointed because the student body came out strong to support us.
I always worry how my team will respond after a tough loss, especially with an outstanding opponent up next. And on the road! This was our challenge in preparing for a very hot Liberty Flames (pun intended) squad. After a Thursday “recovery and healing” practice, we gathered on Friday and had one of our best practices of the year. Similar to VMI, Liberty’s lineup features a lot of outside shooters which forces us to consider alternative defenses where our big players don’t have to defend three point shooters. Our practice effort on Friday was outstanding, the defensive focus was sharp, and our spirit renewed.
On Saturday we traveled to Liberty and played double OT minutes in battling to a memorable 94-82 win and our 7th Big South victory and 4th straight conference road win in front of a crowd of 8,000. Everyone on our team contributed to the win. Only 7 players’ logged game minutes but the work of Jamar Jenkins, Aaron Austin, Cole Wilder, Daniel Mitchell and Lazar Trifunovic during the two days of preparation for Liberty was instrumental in the victory.
Special thanks to Bobby Turk and family for making the drive to Lynchburg to root us on Saturday night. And he wasn’t the only Turk keeping track as Bobby’s brother Jimmy, wife Allison and family tuned in on the radio to listen to Rick Watson and Jeff Kleppin call the action down the stretch as soon as they landed stateside after a Caribbean cruise family vacation.
We don’t play until next Saturday at Gardner Webb and we took Sunday off – well deserved for our players and staff. And despite our busy schedule the last few weeks, I have been able to sneak in some movies and have some thoughts on the Oscars. If there is another movie out there better than Slumdog Millionaire – let me know about it. Meryl Streep is remarkable in Doubt. Sean Penn is her equal in Milk. Defiance is an inspiring story of resistance fighters – the Bielski’s who fought against the Nazi’s in the woods of Belarus. You should see them all. I have it on good authority The Reader is also a must see.
My favorite after movie chow is sushi at The Sake House in Blacksburg. Ask them about the Greensboro Roll - - it really is the Greenberg Roll - - long story.
Go Highlanders
Brad
January 18, 2009 We played a strong game on Monday beating Charleston Southern 82-53. Art, Joey and Eric combined to shoot and eye popping 18-26 from the field. That’s .69%! One measure of unselfish basketball is the percentage of assisted field goals. On Monday 22 of our 30 field goals were assisted. Amir led us in that category with 7 and he is currently the Big South assist leader with over 5 apg. Our defense was strong holding Charleston Southern to .36% from the field and just .25% from beyond the arc. On Saturday evening in High Point, NC Kenny Thomas scored 14 points and his last field goal, a three pointer with 2:52 left, put us ahead 59-51. That field goal also gave him 1,000 career points. We won 65-52 with five players reaching double figures. Eric Hall and Chris McEachin were instrumental coming off the bench to combine for 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block. Art Parakhouski was 8-8 from the free throw line. And we committed only 7 turnovers for the game – a season low. Our defense was stellar, holding High Point to just .32% from the field and just .26% on three point attempts.
We are now 6-1 and tied with VMI for first place in the Big South. VMI is having an outstanding season. They make over 13 threes a game, press 94 feet for 40 minutes and earlier in the season won at Kentucky. We beat them twice last year – both overtime games that could have gone either way.
Guess who’s coming to Radford on Wednesday? VMI. A new roof, a new floor, new lighting, a new look with a lot of Radford RED, and ceiling to floor curtains behind end zone seating to create a more intimate basketball setting. Spread the word to make it to Dedmon on Wednesday for what should be an exciting evening and game.
There’s a pre-game party at 5:30 with good food, good drink and fun company. Barnes and Noble donated lots of RU merchandise that will be given away during the event. The team really responds to a spirited crowd—we want to fill up Dedmon and have the stands awash in red. There are new Dread the Red t-shirts at the bookstore. So, get together with a couple of friends, make reservations by calling 540-831-5108 or emailing, put on your brightest red and come on out to Dedmon Wednesday evening. I’ll be wearing my Red RU tie!
Go Highlanders
Brad
January 11, 2009 – I tried 4 times to send out B-RadHoops. But a RU Database Re-Boot didn't want to cooperate and forced me into 4 turnovers. A little too much like our ballhandling problems late in our Saturday win over UNCA! But the problem appears to be resolved so here we go! January 12, 2009 Pretty good week for the Highlanders. Two more league wins to bring our Big South games winning streak to four. Let’s recap: On Monday, January 5 @ Coastal Carolina Art Parakhouski and Joey Lynch-Flohr combined for 32 points and 20 rebounds. Chris McEachin sparked us off the bench with 14 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. We held Coastal to .33% and the final was RU 68, CCU 52. On Saturday, we earned a thrilling overtime win against UNC-Asheville 98-88. The score doesn’t tell how hard we had to fight to pull it off. Asheville never led in the entire game but a buzzer beating layin tied it up and forced the extra five minutes. Despite both Joey Lynch-Flohr – 22 points and Art Parakhouski – 15 points, fouling out, we showed true grit and great teamwork in outscoring UNCA 17-7 during the overtime. We placed six Highlanders in double figures. Amir Johnson played 45 minutes and had a monster game with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. It was a particularly happy evening winning the game and celebrating Chris McEachin’s 20th birthday. Chris scored 10 points and had a key steal and basket in the overtime. Other great news this week – Johann Nordstedt pledged $25,000 to the men’s basketball team for a European off season trip. NCAA rules allow periodic out of season basketball and cultural tours to foreign countries. This donation will allow us to create a fund to one day take our team overseas to play games against top flight European club teams. A trip like this helps us recruit and gives the players a once in a lifetime cultural experience. If you have interest in helping us build the fund, please contact Elizabeth Ton in the University Advancement office at 540-831-6117. On Wednesday January 21st we play VMI and it will be an exciting game back in the new Dedmon Center. We are hosting a pre-game party which begins at 5:30. Please call Donna Johnston in the University Advancement office at djohnston3@radford.edu. We are hoping for a full house. Monday night we host Charleston Southern at 7pm in our last game in Peters Hall. Go Highlanders. Brad P.S. Phillip Martin is #30 on your scorecard and our starting small forward. He’s also earned a 4.0 GPA the past three semesters! P.S.S. Art Parakhouski continues to be among the nation’s leaders in rebounding ! He leads the Big South in rebounds per game – 10.2, is shooting league best .67% from the field and has already notched 8 double-doubles.
January 4, 2009 Myrtle Beach, SC
On Tuesday we played a very strong game on the road against the #6 team in the country – Wake Forest. We outscored them from the field in the first half making 14 field goals to their 12. We held them to .35% shooting but they were 15-20 from the line to our 3 for 5, so we trailed by 7 after the first stanza.
Art Parakhouski scored with 13:59 left, to put us ahead 49-48. With 10:09 left, Phillip Martin hit a jumper to make the score Wake 56 - RU 53.
Wake’s depth, athleticism and talent wore us down and they were able to pull away. We outrebounded them 45-39 and outrebounded them on the offensive glass 16-14. We fought hard in an ACC arena, earned some respect and gained some confidence despite the loss.
This was a guarantee game where Wake paid us to come to their arena. The contract called for officials assigned from the home team’s conference. Playing an undefeated #6 ranked team anywhere is tough. But these high profile games help us grow as a team and they certainly help Radford gain exposure. ESPN.com college basketball featured the game on the Men’s College Basketball link and people across the nation read about the pesky Highlanders putting a scare into Wake.
On Saturday, we played our first Big South road game at Presbyterian College. Presbyterian is new to the league and had a 2-0 league record with December wins at High Point and Coastal Carolina. They are a very tough team, they play extremely hard, and their outstanding coach Gregg Nibert has been there 20 years and has over 330 wins.
We played a strong defensive half holding them to just 7 field goals, .33% shooting, 0 offensive rebounds, outrebounded them 25-8, and held a comfortable 36-18 halftime lead. We stretched the lead to 25 with 10:36 to go when Amir Johnson scored in the lane and coasted home for the win, ending PC’s 14 game home winning streak.
We traveled from Presbyterian to Myrtle Beach Sunday afternoon and practiced late, before heading to Captain George’s for an all you can eat buffet. I know it is exciting to watch our team clicking on all cylinders on the hardwood but you should see them at a buffet! There was a King Crab eat-off draw between Amir Johnson, Jamar Jenkins, Phillip Martin and coach Rick Hall.
We play Coastal Carolina, winners of 4 straight and 6 of 7 Monday night. Cliff Ellis is their coach. He has previously coached in both the ACC at Clemson and the SEC at Auburn. He has over 600 career wins, and a great voice! In his youth he was the lead singer with “The Villagers”, traveled throughout the southeast and recorded some hit records. We’ll be looking to hit some high notes Monday against his Chanticleers.
Go Highlanders.
Brad
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