South Alabama opens its final homestand of the 2007-08 season Monday night when it welcomes Division I newcomer Presbyterian to the Mitchell Center.
The Jaguars (22-5) are coming off a 69-64 victory over Sun Belt favorite Western Kentucky and are now tied for first in the East Division. Demetric Bennett tallied 16 points to lead four players in double figures, but it was Brandon Davis’ double-double by halftime that provided the spark.
Prebyterian is 5-24 this season, its first in transition to Division I, but all 24 losses have come on the road. The Blue Hose lost 77-58 at Tulsa on Saturday.
Other storylines for tonight’s game:
¨
South Alabama is 8-3 this season in non-conference games. This is hte first such encounter since Dec. 29 against Jacksonville.
¨
Ronnie Arrow became the Sun Belt Conference active wins leader last week when Dickey Nutt resigned. Arrow has 82 during his South Alabama tenure.
The Series
South Alabama and Presbyterian have never faced each other on the basketball floor.
This is the fourth series that has opened up this year with the Jags jumping out to a 1-0 lead only once -- against Houston Baptist.
South Alabama dropped first-ever meetings with Miami (Ohio) and Vanderbilt in November.
Arrow Against the Blue Hose
This also marks the first time that Head Coach Ronnie Arrow has faced Prebyterian.
Arrow is no stranger to transitional, start-up-type basketball teams, as he was in the exact same situation at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi eight years ago.
Out of Conference
South Alabama stands 8-3 this season in non-conference action, winning the last four games in the category. The marks the final non-conference game of the regular-season. After this weekend, though, any postseason games would count in non-conference records.
A year ago, the Jaguars finished 7-7 outside of the conference schedule, including 7-5 during the regular season. In 2004-05, the mark was just 4-8.
At Home
South Alabama has an 93-34 record all-time at the Mitchell Center, having won all 14 games at home this season.
This marks the seventh time in the last nine years, including three straight, that the Jaguars have posted double-digit victories in the "friendly confines."
A year ago, South Alabama was 11-3 at home, including 7-2 in the Sun Belt Conference.
Home Streak Stays Intact
The Feb. 16 win over Florida Atlantic was the Jaguars’ 14th in as many outings this year in the Mitchell Center.
The current streak is tied for third among South Alabama’s longest home winning streaks and is tied for 11th in the nation with Duke among active runs.
A listing of the double-digit success runs in Mobile:
Wins Dates
19 Dec. 13, 1973 - Feb. 19, 1974
16 Dec. 21, 1999 - Dec. 23, 2000
14 Dec. 2, 2007 - present
14 Feb. 18, 1988 - March 1, 1989
12 Dec. 12, 1997 - Nov. 14, 1998
12 Dec. 22, 1990 - March 4, 1991
12 Dec. 14, 1978 - Feb. 8, 1979
11 Feb. 10, 1982 - Dec. 28, 1982
10 Jan. 26, 1984 - Dec. 8, 1984
The Quest for the Win Record
With 22 wins in 27 games -- and with at least four games remaining -- South Alabama is now looking at the school record for wins in a season.
The current Jags stand tied for seventh all-time, four short of the 1980-81 team, which won 25 of its 31 games.
A listing of the 20-win teams in order of win total:
Rank Year Wins Games
1. 1980-81 25 31
2. 2005-06 24 31
3. 1997-98 23 30
1996-97 23 30
1988-89 23 32
1979-80 23 29
7. 2007-08 22 27
2000-01 22 33
1990-91 22 31
1983-84 22 30
1973-74 22 28
12. 2006-07 20 32
1999-2000 20 30
1978-79 20 27
Double-Digit Wins
South Alabama has reached double-digit wins in Sun Belt Conference play for the 11th time in history, picking up its 14th win vs. Western Kentucky on Saturday.
A win on Thursday would give the Jaguars the school record for conference wins in a season at 15.
Additionally, combined with 12 wins in 2005-06 and 13 wins a year ago, this marks the first time USA has ever accomplished it three straight years.
A listing of the most Sun Belt Conference wins in school history:
No. Year Wins Losses
1. 2007-08 14 1
1996-97 14 4
1997-98 14 4
4. 1999-2000 13 3
2006-07 13 5
6. 1979-80 12 2
2005-06 12 3
8. 1988-89 11 3
1990-91 11 3
2000-01 11 5
11. 1978-79 10 0
Double-Double News
Brandon Davis recorded South Alabama’s 11th double-double of the season on Thursday, tallying 11 points and 11 rebounds. The junior actually reached the mark in the first half by recording 10 and 10.
The effort was the fifth in the last nine games for the Jaguars.
Davis has the team lead with four this season, one more than De Andre Coleman. Demetric Bennett and Ronald Douglas have each contributed a pair.
20-Point Plateau
South Alabama has had five players combine for 26 20-point scoring efforts this season, with Demetric Bennett heading the list with 15 (including six of the last eight).
Ronald Douglas became the latest Jaguar to join the list with 23 points against Florida Atlantic, while Domonic Tilford has topped 20 points on six occasions. Daon Merritt and Brandon Davis have added two each.
South Alabama has had two players reach the mark in the same game eight times this season.
Staying at Home
South Alabama has clinched no worse than the No. 3 seed for the Conference Championship, to be hosted at the Mitchell Center March 9-11. By sweeping Western Kentucky during the regular season, the Jaguars need only to post the same record as the Hilltoppers this week to earn the top seed.
The No. 1 seed plays in the 12:30 quarterfinal next Sunday, while No. 3 team plays the late (approximately 9 p.m.) quarterfinal game.
Working For the Weekend
South Alabama has had a 100 percent success rate when playing on the weekend this season. The Jaguars are 10-0 in games played on Saturday and 4-0 on Sunday. Add in one win on Friday night and the Jaguars are 15-0 this year after the work week officially ends.
How About Those Mondays?
Tonight marks the first time South Alabama has played on a Monday this season, completing the seven-day rotation.
The Jaguars are 7-5 this year in games Monday to Thursday.
Turnover Trouble
South Alabama committed 19 turnovers at Western Kentucky, equalling the number recorded in the two previous games combined. The Jaguars had nine at Middle Tennessee and 10 vs. Florida Atlantic. The number against the Blue Raider was the third time the Jaguars have been in single digits this season.
The season low was eight vs. Troy, while the Jags also had nine at New Orleans.
Ironically, the Jaguars are 11-1 this season when they have the same number or more turnovers, while they are 11-4 when having fewer turnovers.
Rebounding Run
South Alabama held a 44-39 rebounding advantage against Western Kentucky, the eighth time in nine games that they held an advantage on the boards. However, the plus-five margin was the first in single digits during that success run.
The Jaguars are now 16-2 this season when outrebounding or being even on the boards.
They lead the league with a +6.6 rebounding margin.
Bennett Makes a Grand
Demetric Bennett climbed into the Top 10 on South Alabama’s all-time scoring list with 16 points against Louisiana-Lafayette on Jan. 24. He currently stands ninth with 1,298 points.
Earlier this season, on Dec. 22 against Middle Tennessee, Bennett became the 13th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau.
The complete listing of 1,000-point career scorers at South Alabama:
No. Name Points Years
1. Jeff Hodge 2221 1985-89
2. Terry Catledge 1866 1982-85
3. Ed Rains 1801 1977-81
4. Rory White 1726 1978-82
5. Junie Lewis 1726 1986-89
6. Andy Denny 1352 1969-72
7. Demetrice Williams 1350 1999-2003
8. Roger Webb 1309 1968-71
9. Demetric Bennett 1298 2005-
10. Derek Turner 1238 1988-92
11. Virgil Stanescu 1126 1998-2001
12. Henry Williams 1074 2000-04
13. Michael Gerren 1028 1982-84
Same Old, Same Old
The Jaguars have used five different lineups during the 2007-08 season with seven players earning at least one start.
The latest group -- Domonic Tilford, Daon Merritt, Demetric Bennett, Brandon Davis and Ronald Douglas -- has started the last three, holding a 3-1 record.
Only Merritt and Davis have opened all 27 contests.
Halftime Leads
South Alabama has held a halftime lead in seven of the last eight games, including a 41-30 advantage over Western Kentucky. The recent exception was a 43-29 deficit at the break, second-largest of the season behind a 51-32 score at Mississippi.
The Jaguars are now 17-1 (11-1 in Sun Belt Conference play) when leading after 20 minutes.
An Offensive Run
South Alabama’s offensive effort fell to 43.8 percent on Thursday, just the second time in six games it has been below 50 percent. The Jaguars hit just 46.8 percent at Middle Tennessee.
Still, the Jaguars are 169 of 337 (50.1 percent) since making a season-low 38.3 percent against North Texas on Jan. 31.
South Alabama has posted 11 games overall this season where it made at least half its shots and is undefeated in those contests.
Daon Dishes
Senior Daon Merritt leads the Sun Belt Conference in both overall assists (146) and per-game average (5.41).
The Jamaica, N.Y., native has led the team in assists 23 this season, including a career-best 13 at Troy on Feb. 10. He had four on Thursday to lead the team for the 23rd time this season. Merritt has had five or more in a contest on 16 occasions.
Climbing the Assist Ladder
Senior Daon Merritt has moved into seventh place on South Alabama’s career assists chart despite playing just two seasons with the Jaguars.
A listing of the top 10 career assists leaders in school history:
No. Name Assists Years
1. Cedric Yelding 566 1989-93
2. Jeff Hodge 461 1985-89
3. Demetrice Williams 429 1999-2003
4. Scott Williams 400 1977-81
5. Junie Lewis 390 1986-89
6. Anthony Foster 373 1992-95
7. Daon Merritt 304 2005-
8. Carlos Smith 297 2003-07
9. Herb Andrew 285 1979-81
10. Ray Edwards 275 1973-75
Three for Career
Senior Demetric Bennett leads the Jaguars in three-pointers this season with 77. He has hit 27 of 61 attempts (44.3 percent) from behind the arc the last eight games, although he is just five of 22 the last three outings.
Bennett started the season ranked seventh all-time in number of threes made, but has moved four notches into second at 194.
The complete listing of career three-pointers at South Alabama:
No. Name 3FGs Years
1. Derek Turner 249 1988-92
2. Demetric Bennett 194 2005-
3. Chris Young 188 2002-04
4. Richard Law 161 2002-06
5. Carlos Smith 153 2003-07
6. Mario Jointer 150 2004-06
7. Jeff Hodge 145 1985-89
8. Demetrice Williams 117 1999-2003
9. Ravonte Dantzler 116 1999-2001
10. Toby Madison 105 1996-98
The Season, Too
With 77 treys this season, senior Demetric Bennett has moved into sixth on South Alabama’s single-season three-pointers list. He needs just four more to equal his 2006-07 total that stands fifth.
Domonic Tilford is also closing in on the list as he is currently two shy of the No. 10 position.
The complete listing of the top 10 three-point seasons at South Alabama:
No. Name 3FGs Years
1. Chris Young 99 2002-03
2. Derek Turner 93 1991-92
3. Chris Young 89 2003-04
4. Mario Jointer 85 2004-05
5. Demetric Bennett 81 2006-07
6. Demetric Bennett 77 2007-08
7. Derek Turner 71 1989-90
8. Ravonte Dantzler 69 2000-01
9. Toby Madison 67 1997-98
10. Albert Telfair 60 1994-95
--------------------------------------------------------
Domonic Tilford 58 2007-08
Tilford Toes the Line
Domonic Tilford continues to knock down his free throws lately, but had a lengthy streak snapped against Louisiana-Lafayette on Jan. 24. The junior had made 36 straight dating back to the first Troy game but has still connected on 58 of his last 63.
For the season, though, Tilford still leads the league at 87.4 percent.
For the record, Tilford has been most clutch when it matters -- he has made 31 of 33 (93.9 percent) in the last five minutes of games.
Overall at the Line
South Alabama’s 74.2 percent free-throw shooting ended a streak of three straight games over 80 percent, the longest run of the season. In fact, the Jags had topped the mark only two other times before the current run.
Still, the success rate over the last four games is 79.3 percent (69 of 87).
The Jaguars have been on a roll recently, topping 70 percent 11 times in 16 games and 15 times in 22 games.
Free throws have been a factor for the Jaguars this season -- they have been to the line 208 more times than the opponent.
Where Did the Threes Go?
Since hitting a season-high 14 three-pointers at Troy on Feb. 10, South Alabama has connected on only 13 over the last three games.
During that span, they have hit four vs. Middle Tennessee, five vs. Florida Atlantic and four vs. Western Kentucky and have not been higher than 27.8 percent.
The Jaguars have made just 13 of 52 (25.0 percent) over the last three games.
Three-Point Bombers
South Alabama has now hit a three-pointer in 268 straight contests, dating back to the 1998-99 season.
The last opponent to hold the Jaguars without a make from behind the arc was UALR on Feb. 6, 1999.
19 Times 10
South Alabama gained its 19th double-digit scoring run of the season against Middle Tennessee when it scoring 12 straight points in the second half.
The longest run of the season was 17 straight points against Denver on Jan. 27.
The Jaguars now have 19 runs this season of 10 points or longer, although only four have come in the last 16 games.
Arrow Among the Elite
Head Coach Ronnie Arrow is in elite company when it comes to Sun Belt Conference coaches and should move into a more exclusive club as the season progresses.
When Arrow left the league in 1995, he ranked second on the coaches win list with 69, but was passed by two others. He has now climbed back into third place on the list with his ninth win this this season.
The top five winningest coaches in Sun Belt Conference history:
1. Gene Bartow, UAB 111
2. Dickey Nutt, ASU 102
3. Ronnie Arrow, USA 83
4. Jessie Evans, ULL 77
5. Marty Fletcher, ULL/DU 66
Win Streak Stops in Second
South Alabama’s 13-game winning streak earlier this season finished tied for second all-time, just one shy of the school record. Ironically, the Jaguars also won 13 in a row last season and had an eight-game run in 2005-06.
The longest winning streaks in USA history:
Wins Year Ended by
14 1980-81 Va. Commonwealth
13 2007-08 North Texas
13 2006-07 Florida International
12 1983-84 Old Dominion
11 1988-89 Michigan
11 1978-79 Illinois State
10 1973-74 Tulane
10 1973-74 Jacksonville
9 1979-80 Va. Commonwealth
8 2005-06 Florida
8 1999-00 Louisiana-Lafayette
8 1997-98 Illinois
8 1979-80 Alcorn State
Among the National Lead, Too
South Alabama’s success run was third-longest in the nation behind only Memphis and Drake when it was snapped.
A listing of 10 longest streaks that have ended during 2007-08:
Rank
at End Team Wins Date
2 Drake 21 02/13/08 1 Kansas 20 01/30/08
1 North Carolina 18 01/19/08
1 Vanderbilt 16 01/12/08
1 Florida 15 11/23/07
4 Washington State 14 01/12/08
4 Dayton 13 01/16/08
4 Indiana 13 01/26/08
4 Mississippi 13 01/09/08
3 South Alabama 13 01/31/08
