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LOCATION: Nashville, TN
CONFERENCE: Ohio Valley (OVC)
LAST SEASON: 12-15 (.444)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 9-9 (t-3rd)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 3/2
NICKNAME: Tigers
COLORS: Royal Blue & White
HOMECOURT: Gentry Complex (10,500)
COACH: Frankie Allen (Roanoke College '71)
record at school 108-118 (8 years)
career record 164-179 (12 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Scott Monarch (Miss. Valley St. '90)
Shayne Carey (Stephen F. Austin '94)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 17-15-9-13-12
RPI (last 5 years) 155-166-239-196-243
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference quarterfinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Frankie Allen has been through this before. Tennessee State's ninth-year coach will spend the preseason learning all the new faces on his team. Early in the season, Allen will be searching for the right combination of players. Nothing new here. Because of departures and injuries last season, 18 players saw action for the Tigers, 12 different players started and no player started every game. Five veterans are back from last year, including second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference guard Jamie Roberts and starting power forward Ralph Martin. But the Tigers will again be counting heavily on four newcomers to contribute and some walk-ons to fill out the roster. "Sometimes you're better off starting off with a fresh bunch," Allen said. "We've always been in the hunt since I've been here, for the most part. We always get better as the year goes on. We'll make our presence felt." Allen won't be starting completely over. Roberts, a 6-3 junior guard, returns as one of the OVC's top backcourt players. Last season, Roberts (17.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) was fourth in the league in scoring and second in three-pointers made per game (3.12). He made 81 of 229 three-point shots (.354), shot .398 t from the field and was ninth in the league in free-throw percentage (.758). This year, Roberts may be a bigger and better player.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B- BENCH/DEPTH D
FRONTCOURT C- INTANGIBLES C
One again, Frankie Allen is rebuilding his team at Tennessee State. Only one full-time starter returns from last season, but he's a good one. Jamie Roberts will be one of the league's top guards. Roberts, though, can't carry this team. The return of junior guard Kevin Samuel, a starter two years ago, should help, but the Tigers will be counting on a newcomer to take over the point-guard duties. Ralph Martin, a part-time starter, leads the frontcourt, which appears to be the Tigers' weakness. Allen, though, is optimistic as usual. "I think we'll be in the hunt," he said. "We always are. This league is so competitive, we beat up on each other." This year, the Tigers may take more of a beating than usual. It will take plenty of work for Allen to make this year's team a contender in the OVC race. |
"Physically, he's gotten a little stronger," Allen said. "He's benefited from the off-season weight program. He should be a better defender and rebounder from the two-guard spot. He's an excellent shooter with excellent range." While Roberts has a stronghold on the shooting guard job, the point guard position is open. John Strong, a 6-3 junior, struggled through last season with recurring shoulder problems. Strong (0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg) had surgery on both shoulders during the off-season to repair a problem that has plagued him from birth. Strong will vye for the point-guard job with newcomer Jair Peralta, a 5-11 junior-college transfer. Peralta averaged 10 points and 6.3 assists last season at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. "He's played the position and he's got some experience," Allen said. "We're looking for him to step up. He's really quick, a good distributor of the ball and a good defender." Kevin Samuel, a 6-3 junior, returns at small forward after a redshirt season in 1998-99. Samuel averaged 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds two years ago as a starter. He also had a team-high 91 assists and 48 steals two years ago. Samuel may be the Tigers' top defensive player. If necessary, he can play some power forward, but Allen would rather keep him at the small-forward spot. "Samuel started his first two years and sat out last year," Allen said. "He's a slasher and a good shooter. He averaged double figures his first two years, and was the (OVC's) Freshman of the Year. He's a good rebounder and he's strong enough in our league to play power forward." Allen, however, has the 6-8, 265-pound Martin back as the starting power forward. The Tigers would like to get more scoring this year out of Martin (4.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg), who started the last 13 games in 1998-99. Martin, who shot .461 from the field last year, has good skills, and Allen wants to see them put to use this season. He can play either power forward or center. "He's strong and has a nice shooting touch for a guy that size," Allen said. "He runs well and has good hands, but he can step out to the high post and hit the jump shot. He has good low-post moves and he handles the ball well for a guy that size. He's very mobile." Also in the mix in the post will be 6-11, 265-pound freshman Justin Wingfield, who averaged 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds last season at Blessed Sacrement-Huguenot High School in Richmond, Va. "He's a big, strong kid," Allen said. "He gives us a little more size. We'll try to get him in shape to play. He's a big kid who's got some skills. He has good low-post moves." Tiger fans will be glad to see 6-3 senior forward/guard Leon Murray back on the basketball court. Murray is the quarterback and a star player for the Tigers' football team. He's not bad at hoops, either. Last season, Murray (3.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg) played in only nine games, starting two, before a shoulder injury took him out of action. Murray actually hurt his shoulder during the football season, but played the last four games with the injury. Murray had off-season shoulder surgery and came back stronger than ever. He is versatile enough to play small forward, shooting guard or even point guard. "He's fine now," Allen said. "I watched him in (football) practice and he was throwing it 60 or 70 yards on a line. I look for him to maybe give us some help." Robin Sneed, a 6-5 guard/forward, will join the Tigers after Christmas. A transfer from Angelina (Texas) Junior College, Sneed averaged 18.0 points and 8.6 rebounds last season. Another junior-college transfer, 6-5 junior forward Kurtis Murray, will also vye for quality minutes. Allen saw Murray play at Memphis Hamilton High School before he went to Connors State (Okla.) Junior College, where he averaged 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists last season. Murray can play either forward position. Two of Allen's junior-college signees won't be on the team this year. Soloman Banks, a 6-9 forward/center from Pensacola (Fla.) Junior College, could join the Tigers next season if he gets his academic work straightened out. Fred Robinson, a 6-3 guard from North Idaho Junior College, did not enroll at Tennessee State. Corey Williams, a 6-7 forward, won't return for his senior season, and his loss hurts. Williams (12.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg) was fourth in the OVC in rebounding last season. The other two departed starters were seniors, 6-8 center Jason Johnson (13.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and 6-0 guard Brian Williams (4.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg). Allen will be counting on his four newcomers to give the returnees some help. "I just hope our guys come through and develop and we get ready for the conference," Allen said. "Once the members of this (recruiting) class learn our system, their maturity and experience will make us a better overall team."
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