The Series
South Alabama and Butler have never faced each other before.
The Bulldogs are the fifth first-time opponent on the 2007-08 schedule, with the Jaguars winning two of the the other four series openers.
South Alabama dropped first-ever meetings with Miami (Ohio) and Vanderbilt in November, but won against Houston Baptist in December and Presbyterian in February.
Arrow Against the Bulldogs
Head Coach Ronnie Arrow has also never faced the Bulldogs in his 17-year coaching career.
Against the Horizon League
While South Alabama has never squared off with Butler before, the Jaguars have faced four current members of the Hoizon League, sporting a 4-5 record. USA leads Youngstown State 2-1 and has split two meetings with Wisconsin-Milwaukee, but trails series with Wright State (1-2) and Valparaiso (0-1).
Out of the Conference
South Alabama stands 10-4 this season in games outside of conference play, but the mark is 9-3 against true non-conference opponents.
Discounting the Sun Belt Tournament, where games count on the non-conference side of the ledger, the Jaguars won five straight since a 4-3 beginning.
A year ago, the Jaguars finished 7-7 outside of the conference schedule.
At Neutral Sites
South Alabama has played at one other neutral site this year, winning two of the three games at the Anaheim Classic. After an opening-round loss to Miami (Ohio), the Jaguars defeated San Diego and Chattanooga.
A year ago, USA also posted a 2-1 record at neutral sites, winning both games during the regular season before an upset loss in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Against the Field
South Alabama played four of the other 64 teams competing in the NCAA Tournament this year. The Jaguars held a 4-1 record in those games, defeating Western Kentucky twice, Mississippi State and San Diego.
The lone setback was a 91-88 double-overtime loss at Vanderbilt on Nov. 29.
No More of That
No coach likes to lose, but South Alabama Head Coach Ronnie Arrow has proven it throughout his coaching career.
Arrow holds a 105-72 record (and .593 winning percentage) in the game following a loss. His record at South Alabama is 51-38, while he stood 53-34 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
More impressively is his recent track record -- Arrow has only lost back-to-back games once in the last four years, going 24-1 in contests immediately following a loss.
Tournament History
South Alabama stands 1-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with Ronnie Arrow holding the school’s only victory. He directed his 1988-89 Jaguars to an 86-84 victory over Alabama in a first-round game in Atlanta.
The Jags last made the tournament in 2006, when they won the Sun Belt Conference regular-season and tournament championships.
This year’s at-large selection is the school’s third, with the 1979-80 and 1978-79 teams also being picked by the committee.
The 10-seed this year is the highest that USA has ever been placed in the bracket.
Been There, Done That?
South Alabama has just two players on its roster who have NCAA Tournament experience -- seniors Demetric Bennett and Daon Merritt.
Bennett is the only player who saw action in the Jaguars’ last NCAA trip, a first-round loss to Florida in 2006 as Merritt was sitting out after his transfer from Richmond.
Merritt’s NCAA experience came as a member of the 2004 Spiders team that lost to Wisconsin.
A New Wins Record
With its 26th win on March 9, South Alabama set a new single-season wins record. The previous mark of 25 was set by the 1980-81 team, which won 25 of its 31 games.
This year’s squad is the 14th in USA history -- and third straight -- to have 20-plus wins
A listing of the 20-win teams in order of win total:
Rank Year Wins Games
1. 2007-08 26 32
2. 1980-81 25 31
3. 2005-06 24 31
4. 1997-98 23 30
1996-97 23 30
1988-89 23 32
1979-80 23 29
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 ended the regular season with its school-record 16th conference win. Two teams previously posted 14 victories -- in 1996-97 and 1997-98.
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 16 2
2. 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
Demetric Bennett recorded South Alabama’s 12th double-double of the season against New Orleans on Feb. 28, tallying the 20 points and 11 rebounds.
The effort was the sixth in the last 12 games for the Jaguars.
Brandon Davis has the team lead with four this season, one more than De Andre Coleman and Bennett. Ronald Douglas has each contributed a pair.
20-Point Plateau
South Alabama has had five players combine for 31 20-point scoring efforts this season, with Demetric Bennett heading the list with 18 (including nine of the last 13).
Domonic Tilford has topped 20 points on six occasions, while Daon Merritt and Brandon Davis have reached the mark three times. Ronald Douglas has the final 20-point tally.
South Alabama has had two players reach the mark in the same game nine times this season.
And Don’t Forget 30
Demetric Bennett has topped 30 points in two of the last three contests -- 32 against Middle Tennessee in the conference semifinals and 30 points against Florida International in the regular-season finale.
The more recent pair gives him four 30-point games this season, including a career-best 39 against Mississippi State on Dec. 15. He also tallied 30 in the first meeting with FIU on Jan. 16.
Bennett is the only player on the 2007-08 roster to reach 30 points during his career.
Shooting Stars
South Alabama had a three-game run of 50-percent shooting snapped in the regular-season finale. The Jaguars started strong at 55.6 percent in the first half, but cooled to a final tally of 46.4 percent.
The Jaguars have made at least half their shots on 15 occasions overall this year, including eight of the last 13 games.
Since making a season-low 38.3 percent at North Texas on Jan. 31, the Jags are 299 of 591 (50.6 percent).
Working For the Weekend
South Alabama has had a 100 percent success rate when playing on the weekend this season. The Jaguars are 11-0 in games played on Saturday and 5-0 on Sunday. Add in one win on Friday night and the Jaguars are 17-0 this year after the work week officially ends.
... Better on Thursdays, Too
Thursday is by far the worst day of the week for South Alabama, although the Jaguars have now won two in a row on that day.
The recent success streak has given the Jaguars a winning record in those contests, at 5-4, 4-4 in those contests.
The Jaguars defeated Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy and Western Kentucky on that day, while losing to Miami, Vanderbilt, North Texas and Middle Tennessee.
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 nine, holding a 7-2 record.
Only Merritt and Davis have opened all 32 contests.
Rebounding Run
South Alabama has gained a rebounding advantage in each of the last three games, following a two-game slide. The Jaguars outrebounded Florida International 41-23 in the regular-season finale and New Orleans (29-20) and Middle Tennessee (34-28) in the conference tournament.
South has held an advantage or been even on 22 occasions this season, holding an 19-3 this season in those contests. The record when losing the battle of the boards is 7-3.
The Jaguars lead the lead in rebounding with a +6.3 margin.
Bennett Makes a Grand
Demetric Bennett has climbed into sixth place on South Alabama’s all-time scoring list, the spot where he will finish his career.
In three seasons, he has 1,402 career 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. Demetric Bennett 1402 2005-
7. Andy Denny 1352 1969-72
8. Demetrice Williams 1350 1999-2003
9. Roger Webb 1309 1968-71
10. Derek Turner 1238 1988-92
11. Virgil Stanescu 1126 1998-2001
12. Henry Williams 1074 2000-04
13. Michael Gerren 1028 1982-84
Daon Dishes
Senior Daon Merritt leads the Sun Belt Conference in both overall assists (179) and per-game average (5.59).
The Jamaica, N.Y., native has led the team in assists 28 times this season, including a career-best 13 at Troy on Feb. 10 and nine on two other occasions, including at FIU.
Merritt has had five or more 20 times this year.
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 337 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 90, making two of seven vs. Middle Tennessee. He has now hit 40 of his last 89 (44.9 percent).
Bennett started the season ranked seventh all-time in number of threes made, but has moved four notches into second at 208.
The complete listing of career three-pointers at South Alabama:
No. Name 3FGs Years
1. Derek Turner 249 1988-92
2. Demetric Bennett 208 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 90 treys this season, senior Demetric Bennett has moved into third place on South Alabama’s single-season three-pointers list. He passed his 2006-07 total of 81 in the regular-season finale and moved past Mario Jointer (85 in 2004-50) and Chris Young (89 in 2003-04) during the conference tournament.
Domonic Tilford has also joined the list with 61, good for 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. Demetric Bennett 90 2007-08
4. Chris Young 89 2003-04
5. Mario Jointer 85 2004-05
6. Demetric Bennett 81 2006-07
7. Derek Turner 71 1989-90
8. Ravonte Dantzler 69 2000-01
9. Toby Madison 67 1997-98
10. Domonic Tilford 61 2007-08
Turnover Trouble
South Alabama committed 13 turnovers last Monday, very near its season average. The trouble was that Middle Tennessee only committed 12, marking the fifth time in six games that the opponent has won the turnover battle.
That has not mattered much for the Jaguars, though -- ironically, they are 14-2 this season when they have the same number or more turnovers.
To the Winner...
South Alabama has had the distinction of losing to the eventual national champion twice in its seven previous visits to the NCAA Tournament.
The Jaguars were eliminated by Michigan 91-82 in the second round in 1989 and by Florida, 76-50, in 2006.
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 66 of his last 71.
Tilford leads the league this season at 88.4 percent.
For the record, Tilford has been most clutch when it matters -- he has made 41 of 43 (95.3 percent) in the last five minutes of games.
Overall at the Line
South Alabama’s free throw shooting has been down the last five games after three straight in the 80th percentile. The most recent percentage -- against Middle Tennessee -- was 69.6 percent.
Combined over eight games, the Jags have made 155 of 205, a success rate of 75.6 percent.
The Jaguars have been on a roll recently, topping 70 percent 13 times in 21 games and 17 times in 27 games.
Free throws have been a factor for the Jaguars this season -- they have been to the line 238 more times than the opponent.
Halftime Leads
South Alabama has held a halftime lead in 11 of the last 13 games, although one of the deficits -- 43-29 at Middle Tennessee -- was the second-largest of the season behind a 51-32 score at Mississippi.
The Jaguars are 20-2 (13-1 in Sun Belt Conference play) when leading after 20 minutes and 6-4 when trailing or tied.
21 Times 10
South Alabama had a pair of double-digit runs against Presbyterian, the fifth time this year that the Jaguars had more than one in a game. The others came against West Florida, Grambling, Chattanooga and San Diego.
For the season, USA has now had 21 runs of 10 points or more, with the longest being 17 straight points against Denver on Jan. 27.
Short on Threes
After hitting nine and eight three-pointers, respectively the previous two games, South Alabama has hit only nine total in the last two games. The Jaguars hit four against New Orleans and five vs. Middle Tennessee.
Since hitting a season-high 13 at Troy on Feb. 10, the Jaguars have averaged only five threes per game.
The percentage is on the upswing, though, as USA has hit 38.2 percent the last three games after totalling 24.6 percent the previous four games.
Three-Point Bombers
South Alabama has now hit a three-pointer in 273 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.
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 85
4. Jessie Evans, ULL 77
5. Marty Fletcher, ULL/DU 66
Home Streak Stops at 17
South Alabama finished the season 17-1 at home, losing its final game of the year last week.
The 17-game streak was the second-longest in school history, trailing only a 19-game run during the 1973-74 season.
A listing of the double-digit success runs in Mobile:
Wins Dates
19 Dec. 13, 1973 - Feb. 19, 1974
16 Dec. 2, 2007 - March 10, 2008
16 Dec. 21, 1999 - Dec. 23, 2000
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
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.
Nationally, the winning streak was the third-longest in the nation when it was broken.
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