THE SETTING
The Jaguars look to snap a three-game skid on Tuesday against Texas College at 7:05 p.m. in the Mitchell Center. South Alabama is 5-5 on the year, while Texas College, a NAIA school, is 1-2, but has played six Disvision I schools this year all as exhibitions. This is the first meeting between Texas College and South Alabama.
This will be the fourth consecutive game that the Jags will be featured on television. This game will be broadcast on UPN 44. Jim Cox and Dan Brennen have the call.
A VICTORY OVER TEXAS COLLEGE WOULD...
? Give the Jaguars a 6-5 record.
? Snap a three-game losing skid.
? Give head coach John Pelphrey his 66th victory at the helm of the Jaguar program.
? Give the Jags their first win on television this season.
PROMOTION CENTRAL
The first 300 fans that enter the Mitchell Center will receive Santa Hats and fans can have a free photo with Santa up to an hour before tip-off.
THE SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS
The Jaguars play their final home game before Christmas on Tuesday against NAIA foe Texas College. The Jags have dropped three straight games and look to get back on the winning track against the Steers. USA hasn’t lost three consecutive games since the 2004-05 season.
Leading the way for the Jags this season is junior Demetric Bennett who is averaging a team-best 14.5 points and also leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. He is a team-best 51 of 119 from the field and 26-of-62 from beyond the arc. Second on the team in scoring is junior-transfer Daon Merritt who has had an outstanding beginning to the season. Merritt is averaging 10.5 points and is second on the team in made field goals (39) and is tied for the team lead at the free throw line, making 17 of 22 attempts. He also leads the team in assists with 63 for a 6.3 average.
Seniors Carlos Smith and Leandro Buboltz are third and fourth, respectively on the team in scoring at 10.5 and 7.7. Smith is second on the team in assists with 34 and is second on the team in made 3-pointers with 19.
Junior transfer Ernest Little played in his first game as a Jaguar in the Coors Classic this past Saturday against Ole Miss and did not disappoint. Little scored the first bucket of the game just 11 seconds in and went on to lead the team with 17 points and seven rebounds against Ole Miss.
The Jaguars are coming off of one of the most memorable seasons in school history in 2005-06. USA won both the Sun Belt Conference West Division crown and tournament crown earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament where they fell to eventual National Champion Florida. Despite the loss to the Gators, USA had its best season in over 20 years with 24 wins, the second most in school history and had the nation’s biggest turnaround from 2004-05 to 2005-06. The Jaguars finished the season with a 24-7 mark and a 12-3 record in the SBC West Division.
This season, the Jaguars welcome back five players from a year ago, all whom had significant playing time last season. Senior Carlos Smith played every game at point guard last season, averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 assists per game as a junior. Also back is senior Leandro Buboltz who came into his own during the final nine games of the season. He had his breakout game against Florida in the NCAA Tournament, going 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for 14 points to lead the team. Senior Stephen Cowherd, junior Demetric Bennett and sophomore Trajinski Grigsby also return.
The Jaguars welcome eight new players to the squad this season, four freshman and four transfers. Two of the transfers were with the team last year as they sat out due to NCAA transfer rules. Juniors Kenny Hooks (Oregon State) and Daon Merritt (Richmond) return along with newcomers sophomore Brandon Davis (Jacksonville State/Birmingham-Southern) and junior Ernest Little (UAB). Little will be eligible to play Dec. 21, 2006.
Four freshmen complete the 2006-07 roster. USA has a pair of 6-9 twins from Detroit Country Day High School in Charles and Philip Tabet. In addition to the added size, the Jags also have a pair of freshmen shooters in Darren Cloud (Evansville, Ind./Wabash Valley JC) and Brooks Taylor (Monette, Ark.) Cloud received a medical redshirt from Wabash Valley this past season so he will have four years of eligibility at USA. Taylor comes from Buffalo Island High School.
Head coach John Pelphrey is in his fifth season at the helm of the Jaguar program. He took the team to new heights in 2005-06, winning the division, tournament title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Pelphrey was named 2006 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Pelphrey, the ninth head coach in school history, has a 65-58 record at South Alabama.
LAST TIME OUT - COORS CLASSIC
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- Bam Doyne scored a career-high 28 points in Mississippi's 82-72 victory over South Alabama on Saturday in the Coors Classic.
Dwayne Curtis and Clarence Sanders had 16 points apiece for the Rebels (9-2), who led by as many as 20 in the second half.
Doyne had matched his career-high of 25 points Wednesday night in a win over Louisiana-Monroe, topping that on four free throws in the final 45 seconds to keep the Jaguars (5-5) from mounting a threat.
Ernest Little led South Alabama with 17 points and Demetric Bennett had 16. Daon Merritt had six points and 10 assists.
Curtis had nine rebounds and made 7-of-10 shots, dominating early until South Alabama switched to a zone and managed to largely keep him from getting the ball under the basket.
The second game of the South Alabama-hosted event had No. 9 Alabama playing Southern Mississippi.
They have lost three straight games, all to teams from the Southeastern Conference Western Division. South Alabama has lost 14 consecutive games against SEC opponents.
Doyne and the Rebels came out hot, hitting 12 of their first 14 shots and led by as many as 11 points in the first half.
The Jaguars answered with a 12-2 spurt before Doyne put back two missed shots to help the Rebels maintain a 46-36 halftime lead.
The closest South Alabama came after that was seven points on a 3-pointer to open the second half.
TEXAS COLLEGE STEERS
The Steers enter the game with a 1-2 record overall, but have played six Division I schools this season. Most recently, Texas College dropped an 79-63 decision at Southern Methodist on Dec. 3. The Steers had three players in double figures.
Texas College is 0-6 against Division I schools this year and are able to count those six games as exhibition games as a member of the NAIA.
BIG TIME ERNEST
Junior Ernest Little had a huge debut against Ole Miss on Saturday as he led the team with 17 points and seven rebounds in his first game as a Jaguar. Little sat out from January 2006 until now after transferring from UAB. Little opened the game with a jumper just 11 seconds into the game.
UPN 44 PICKS UP FOUR TV GAMES
UPN 44, the sister station of WPMI NBC 15 has picked up the rights to four Jaguar men’s basketball games this season starting with the Texas College game on Dec. 19. The other dates are Jan. 6 against Florida Atlantic, Jan. 13 against Arkansas-Little Rock and Feb. 24 against Troy. The games can be seen on Comcast Cable channel 4.
Now the Jags eight games on television. USA had two games on CSS and one on SportSouth already and have a Jan. 25 game against Louisiana-Monroe on ESPN-Plus along with the four on UPN 44.
MERRITT DISHES AGAIN
Junior Daon Merritt had another 10 assist game against Ole Miss on Saturday. Merritt now has three games with 10 assists this season. He leads the team with 63 assists for a 6.3 average.
SWATTIN’ JAGS
The Jags had a season-high seven blocks against Ole Miss this past Saturday. It was the first time USA has had seven or more blocks in a game since an eight block outing against Auburn-Montgomery during the 2004-05 season. This season, USA had 25 blocks which is more than half of the entire season output of 43 last year. Sophomore Brandon Davis leads the team with 12 blocks.
FROM DOWNTOWN
After two sub-par performances from beyond the 3-point line, USA got the longball going against Ole Miss making 10 of 29 from deep. USA had made just 12 trifectas in the past two games combined prior to Ole Miss.
TOUGH TABET(S)
The Tabet twins had a huge game against Mississippi State Dec. 9 as freshman Philip Tabet made his first career start, scoring a career-high four points and pulling down a career-best five rebounds. His brother Charles came off the bench in the second half to lead the team with a career-best 11 points and four rebounds. Charles was the only Jaguar in double figures against Mississippi State.
JAGS RANK IN NCAA STATISTICS
The Jaguars rank among the NCAA’s best in two different areas as of Dec. 12. USA is tied for 30th nationally in 3-point field goals per game at 8.7. USA also ranks in the top 30 in turnovers per game. The Jags are tied for 23rd averaging 12.4 turnovers per game.
MERRITT IN NCAA STATISTICS
Junior Daon Merritt ranks tied for 21st in the first NCAA Statistics of the year in assists per game with a 5.9 average as of Dec. 12. Merritt had back-to-back 10 assist games earlier in the year.
SIZZLIN’ SMITH
Senior Carlos Smith had another good outing against Auburn on Dec. 6 as he had a game-high 22 points on 8 of 15 from the field and 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. He pulled down six rebounds and had three assists.
TURNIN’ UP THE PRESSURE
Despite a 82-71 setback at Auburn on Dec. 6, the Jaguars forced Auburn into a season-high 22 turnovers. Auburn turned the ball over on seven of its first eight possessions in the game.
CHARITY STRIPE STRUGGLES
The Jaguars have struggled getting to the free throw line so far this season. USA only has been to the free throw line 151 times and made 97 in eight games thus far. Last year through nine games, USA went to the line 215 times and made 148. USA went to the line 12 times at Mississippi State Saturday, making six.
CLUTCH COWHERD
Senior Stephen Cowherd had a big first half against Auburn on Dec. 6. He led all-scorers in the half with 11 points off the bench on 4 of 5 from the field and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. Cowherd finished with a season-high 13 points in the game.
JAGS COME FROM BEHIND
With a 59-54 win over Samford on Dec. 2, the Jaguars saw that they could come-from-behind and win a game. USA was down by as many as eight points, but used a 11-1 spurt midway through the second half to get back in the game.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE DEMETRIC
Junior Demetric Bennett had his first career double-double as a Jaguar against Samford on Dec. 2. Bennett led the team with 21 points and a career-high 10 rebounds in a come-from-behind victory over Samford, 59-54.
DAON DISHES
Junior Daon Merritt tallied a career-high 10 assists and his first double-double as a Jaguar against Morehead State (Nov. 17) with 12 points and 10 assists, becoming the first Jaguar since Demetrice Williams (1/9/03) to record 10 assists in a game. He followed that performance with another 10 assist outing against West Florida Nov. 22. Against Bowling Green (Nov. 25), Merritt recorded seven assists and leads the team with 53 assists for a 5.8 average.
CAREER-HIGHS AGAINST WEST FLORIDA
Seniors Carlos Smith and Leandro Buboltz set career-highs in points against West Florida on Nov. 22. Smith led the team with 26 points, while Buboltz added 21.
JAGS SHOOT OVER 50 PERCENT
For the first time this season, USA shot over 50 percent for the game. USA was 32-of-62 from the field against West Florida on Nov. 22 for 51.6 percent. USA also tallied a season-best 15 3-pointers against UWF.
STEALIN’ JAGS
The Jags have been coming up with the steals this season as they have a 74-47 advantage in that area, including a 17-4 performance against UC-Irvine. South Alabama has forced 175 turnovers by its opponents in four games compared to 126 by USA.
BOMBS AWAY
The Jaguars had 11 3-pointers in the season opener against UC-Irvine and had 10 against Winston-Salem State and tallied a season-high 15 3-pointers against West Florida (Nov. 22). USA had 10 games in 2005-06 with 10 or more 3-pointers including a season-high 14 last year at Troy.
JAGS SIGN THREE DURING EARLY SIGNING PERIOD
The Jaguars signed three players during the early signing period. USA signed a pair of high school teammates in LaDarius Hall and Jamar Moore from Thomasville High School in Thomasville, Ga. In addition to them, the Jags also signed DeAndrae Ross from Lynnhaven, Fla. and Rutherford High School. All three are guards and could have an immediate impact in 2007-08.
KNOCKING DOWN THE TREY
USA has hit a three-pointer in 221 consecutive games. The last time the Jaguars were held without a trey was Feb. 6, 1999 in a 44-43 win over Arkansas-Little Rock. USA averaged 8.8 three-pointers a game in 2005-06 and averaged 7.4 in 2004-05. USA hit a season-high 11 treys in an 67-63 victory over UC-Irvine in the season opener.
ON THE RADIO AND INTERNET
All South Alabama basketball games are broadcast on WNSP 105.5 FM out of Mobile. This season, fans will have the opportunity to get live web streaming of all home basketball games and selected away contests.
Log onto www.usajaguars.com for more information.
JAGUAR NATION LIVE AND ON DEMAND
This season Jaguar fans anywhere in the world can watch home and selected road men’s and women’s basketball games on their computers. Log onto www.usajaguars.com for more information on how to sign up for Jaguar Nation Live and On Demand.
THE COACHES SHOW RETURNS TO MONDAY
Jaguar play-by-play announcer Lee Shirvanian and coach John Pelphrey host “The Courtroom” each week during the basketball season at Banana Docks Cafe in Mobile. The show airs on WNSP 105.5 FM. The show also can be accessed at www.wnsp.com. The one-hour show now returns to its normal Monday timeslot from noon to 1 p.m., beginning Dec. 4.
PELPHREY NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR
South Alabama head coach John Pelphrey has been named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches, the conference announced Wednesday. Pelphrey guided his team to a 21-6 mark, the best regular season since the 1980-81 season and the 13th 20-win season in school history. Pelphrey is the first Jaguar coach to win the Coach of the Year honors since Bob Wetlich won that honor after the 1999-2000 season.
JAGUARS HAVE BEST TURNAROUND IN THE NATION
The University of South Alabama men’s basketball team had the biggest turnaround in the nation from 2004-05 to 2005-06 in terms of win/loss differential. The Jaguars were 10-18 in 2004-05 and responded with the second most wins in school history, a Sun Belt Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06 with a 24-7 record.
The win/loss differential for South Alabama is 12.5 to lead the nation of all 326 Division I men’s basketball teams. It is figured by the NCAA by adding the difference in the two years together and the difference in losses in the two years and then divide by two. Brigham Young and Memphis were second with an 11.5 differential.
INCHING UP THE CHARTS
Jag coach John Pelphrey, the ninth head coach hired in Jaguar history, is fifth on the all-time wins list at USA with 65. Former USA and Auburn coach Cliff Ellis is the all-time winningest coach in Jag history with 171 victories.
