Marshall Thundering Herd
Overall Rank: #73
Conference Rank: #4 Conference USA
Marshall Team Page
2010-11: 22-12, 9-7
2010-11 postseason: CIT
Coach: Tom Herrion (22-12 at Marshall, 102-50 overall)
Coach Tom Herrion did a fine job leading Marshall to the postseason during his first year with the Thundering Herd. In year two the expectations are higher…and could be quite a bit higher. This is a team loaded with talent, but they are relatively young. The next step up is the NIT, but do not be surprised if this team gives Memphis and others in Conference USA a scare by March.
Who’s Out:
The inexperience is most prevalent in the frontcourt due to the departure of Tirrell Baines and Johnny Thomas. Baines emerged as a consistent interior scorer and had a superb senior season despite being undersized. He averaged 12.8 points and a team high 6.6 rebounds a year ago and finding another interior scorer will be tough. Thomas was a part-time starter, but still managed to tally 9.1 points per game and was a key forward for Coach Herrion’s team. Johnny Higgins, Eladio Espinosa, Aundra Williams and Orland Allen did not see too much playing time last season and they will pretty easily be replaced by the newcomers.
Who’s In:
The obvious need is getting some big guys to help replace Baines and Thomas. Coach Herrion not only brought in some youngsters, but he got some experienced options as well. Junior college transfers Robert Goff and Dennis Tinnon will battle for a starting spot. Goff is a bigger player and more of a banger under the basket, but Tinnon is a tough, scrappy player as well. Yous Mbao, a 7-2 transfer from Marquette, has a little experience and should provide some depth down the bench. Redshirt freshman JP Kambola and true freshman Jamir Hanner will be in the mix as well. Kambola sat out last season for academic reasons, but he will be right there with Goff and Tinnon looking for a starting gig. His lack of experience may keep him on the bench in November, but he will be a key part of this team sooner rather than later. Justin Coleman sat out last season too and originally signed with Louisville. Now that his academic situation is sorted out, Coleman will be one of the best recruits ever to suit up for the Thundering Herd. He is an athletic wing who can score in bunches and there should be a starting job waiting for him. DeVince Boykins and Chris Martin will add more depth to the backcourt, but this team will not need them in 2011-2012.
Who to Watch:
The backcourt has plenty of talent returning. Point guard Damier Pitts is one of the most underappreciated players in the nation. The 5-10 senior led the Thundering Herd with 16.2 points and 4.7 assists. He is a capable outside shooter, but it is his mid-range game that makes him such a dangerous scorer. DeAndre Kane is another dynamic scorer. At 6-4, the sophomore has the size to attack the basket with ease and he tallied 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Those are some impressive numbers from a freshman. If he can start hitting the long ball with a little more consistency, Kane will be almost unstoppable. If Coleman lives up to his hype, Shaquille Johnson and Dago Pena will be relegated to the bench. That is a very good bench. Johnson can handle the ball and attack the basket and started 16 games last season. Pena will continue to play the same role he did most of the 2010-2011 campaign…a shooter off of the bench. After connecting on 41.5 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc, that is a great role for Pena.
Final Projection:
Nigel Spikes was the big body under the basket that allowed room for Baines to score. Spikes is back for his junior campaign and the 6-10, 237 pounder may be asked to do a little more work on the offensive end this year. He only averaged 5.1 points per game last year and most of those points came from easy buckets as a result of offensive rebounds. Spikes is a superb rebounder and he will definitely do that again, but the frontcourt needs a scorer and if the newcomers cannot get the job done, Spikes will have to be the guy. The backcourt has enough talent to carry this team into the postseason, but if the frontcourt can find a scorer and some depth, this is a team that can make a run at the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT
Projected Starting Five:
Damier Pitts, Senior, Guard, 16.2 points per game
DeAndre Kane, Sophomore, Guard, 15.1 points per game
Justin Coleman, Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Robert Goff, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Nigel Spikes, Junior, Center, 5.1 points per game
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