Plenty of basketball to be seen tomorrow
By Andrew Gribble
Auburn University Beat Reporter
Published: November 12, 2009
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It’ll be November 13th tomorrow—two months too early for basketball, in our opinion—but we’ll be courtside for both the Auburn men’s and women’s respective season openers.
We’ll be back at our day job Saturday for the tackle football team’s grudge match with the University of Georgia’s tackle football team.
Here are some boxes for both of the basketball games to wet your whistle.
Ladies first…
What: Auburn (0-0) vs. Troy (0-0)
Where: Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum
When: 6 p.m.
TV/Radio: None/WMXA 96.7 FM
Scouting report: The Trojans return three starters and eight letterwinners from a team that finished 16-14 overall and 10-8 in the Sun Belt, which was good for second in their division. Michael Murphy is in his eighth year as the Trojans’ coach, going 91-110. Troy was picked to finish sixth out of six teams in the Sun Belt’s East Division. Troy averaged 13.67 3-point attempts per game in 2008-09.
Projected starters Auburn: F Chantel Hilliard (4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Jordan Greenleaf (7.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), G Parrisha Simmons (1.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), G Alli Smalley (11.1 ppg, 2.0 3pg), G Morgan Toles (N/A)
Projected starters Troy: C Alyce Shearing (9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg), F Tenia Manuel (1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg), F Donette McNair (10.5 ppg, 7.3 rpg), G Brittnie Davis (7.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G Kirsten Smith (5.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Followed by the men…
What: Auburn (0-0) vs. Niagara (0-0)
Where: Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum
When: 8:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: None/WXMA 97.7 FM
Scouting report: The Purple Eagles boast a starting lineup chock full of seniors, four of which who return from last season’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference runner-up team. Niagara finished 26-9 in 2008, ending its season with a 68-62 loss to Rhode Island. The Purple Eagles don’t have any major contributors that stand taller than 6-foot-5, so Auburn will certainly have the height advantage – one of the few times that will occur this season. Niagara was picked to finish second in the MAAC behind defending champion Siena. Purple Eagles coach Joe Mihalich is one of six active coaches who has coached at one school with 200 wins and a .600 winning percentage.
Projected starters Auburn: F Lucas Hargrove (8.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg), C Brandon Knox (2.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg), G DeWayne Reed (13.2 ppg, 3.7 apg), G Frankie Sullivan (9.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg), G Tay Waller (12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Projected starters Niagara: F Bilal Benn (13.8 ppg, 9.3 rpg), F Demetrius Williamson (7.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Rob Garrison (10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg), G Tyrone Lewis (16.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg), G Anthony Nelson (8.1 ppg, 5.5 apg)
