Arkansas St

Daily Conference Poll: Who Will Win the Sun Belt?

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:02:15 -0500

Sun Belt Basketball Preview: 08-09

CHN — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:51:49 -0500

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Conference Rank: 18th

All-Sun Belt Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	Josh White	North Texas	So
G	Dominic Tilford	So. Alabama	Sr
F	Desmond Yates	MTSU	Jr
F	Alex Galindo	Florida Int'l	Sr
F	Carlos Monroe	Florida Atlantic	Sr
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
Mid-Major All-Americans Carlos Monroe Desmond Yates		Points: Desmond Yates 16.0 Rebounds: Carlos Monroe 9.5 Assists: Kevin Kanaskie 3.3

Sun Belt Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

79	South Alabama	Sun Belt	1	NCAA
95	Middle Tenn St	Sun Belt	2
123	West Kentucky	Sun Belt	3
175	Ark Little Rock	Sun Belt	4
191	LA Lafayette	Sun Belt	5
201	North Texas	Sun Belt	6
213	Florida Intl	Sun Belt	7
231	Florida Atlantic	Sun Belt	8
241	Denver	Sun Belt	9
247	Arkansas State	Sun Belt	10
264	New Orleans	Sun Belt	11
280	LA Monroe	Sun Belt	12
307	Troy	Sun Belt	13

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the Sun Belt?

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Rise & Fall: The Sun Belt

State of '08: Arkansas

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:44:53 -0400

What is the top D1 basketball program in each state.. and which program is the worst? While there's not much competition in Hawaii.. there are great debates to be had in loaded regions like California, North Carolina, and Texas. The State of '08 is a state by state ranking based mostly on recent success (the last five years) mixed in with subjective factors such as conference prestige, historical success, and overall program direction.

Up today: Arkansas. For more info, check out the State of '08 introduction.

Arkansas - With so many unfamiliar faces on next year's roster, no one's really sure what to expect.. will the Razorbacks be bad or really bad? Also on the negative end, the glory days of the early to mid-nineties (National Champs in '94) seem like distant memories. Regardless, there's not much competition for the title of top team in this state.

UALR - The Trojans bounced back from two down seasons to win 11 Sun Belt games, and won 20 games against all competition. Still, its been years since UALR was relevant on the national scene, or even in the Sun Belt title race. 1996 was their last postseason trip (NIT), and 1990 the last NCAA Tournament bid (which was the end of coach Mike Newell's late eighties glory run).

Arkansas State - The newly titled Red Foxes (nee Indians), Sun Belt rivals of UALR, are coming off a brutal season that included just 8 D1 wins, an RPI of 294, and a 9-game losing streak (at least one of their 8 wins was over UALR..) John Brady was hired in the off-season to right the ship, and hopefully get the program to the Big Dance for just the 2nd time ever.

Central Arkansas - The Fighting Pippens (this is where Scottie went), are new to D1 ball having completed just two seasons with the big boys. All things considered, last year's 10-16 record against D1 teams isn't that bad, and their 280 RPI topped Arkansas State and UAPB.

UAPB - While the Golden Lions are bad by any standard, 310 RPI last year, just two wins over Top 250 teams in the past three seasons, members of the SWAC (the worst league in D1), etc, this program is actually substantially better than it was just a handful of years ago. From 1999 to 2004, UAPB won just 17 D1 games combined in 6 seasons.

Yesterday: Alabama

State of '08: The Introduction

Coaching News: Brady in at Arkansas State & More

Shawn Siegel — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:31:22 -0400

Multiple sources are reporting that Arkansas State has hired former LSU coach John Brady. Brady replaces Dickey Nutt, who resigned after 13 years leading the Indians. Brady was fired by LSU in the middle of the season, with the Tigers struggling to an 8-13 start. Known more for his recruiting prowess than in-game coaching skills, Brady did lead LSU to the Final Four just two years ago. There was some recent rumblings that Nolan Richardson, the long time Arkansas coach, would get the job.. but talks fell through. Out west, Idaho has fired George Pfeifer after two seasons and a 12-48 record. Those numbers might seem horrible, but the Vandals went 10-46 in the two prior seasons as well. This is not a job that many will be clamoring to fill.. Lastly, the Macon Telegraph reported today that former Missouri State head coach Barry Hinson was seen at Mercer, perhaps in-line for the vacant job.

ASU's Adrian Banks Suspended

Press Release — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 12:42:41 -0500

JONESBORO (12/2/07) - Arkansas State Head Men's Basketball Coach Dickey Nutt announced Sunday that senior guard Adrian Banks has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules.

Banks started ASU's first six games this season, averaging 21.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

"Our policies concerning violations of team rules have never changed, regardless of a player's role on our team or how good they are," said Nutt. "We have team rules in place that apply to everyone on the team, and if those rules are broken we will gather all the facts surrounding the violation and then move forward accordingly, which is what we are doing here."

Banks did not travel for ASU's game at Northwestern on Monday, Dec. 3, and his status for future games is yet to be determined.

Arkansas State Signs Juco Product

Press Release — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:36:11 -0400

JONESBORO (4/30/07) - Arkansas State University head men’s basketball coach Dickey Nutt has announced that Michael Lance, a First Team All-Region XVI selection as just a freshman at Three Rivers (MO) Community College last season, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Indians next season.

“We are extremely excited about Michael Lance joining our Arkansas State family and basketball program,” said Nutt. “Michael is coming out a rising sophomore and that only enhances things for us because it gives us three good years with him.”

The 6-3, 185-pound guard will have three years of eligibility remaining at Arkansas State after helping lead Three Rivers CC to the Region XVI regular-season and tournament championship as a freshman in 2006-07. Lance started 36 games for a Raiders team that posted a 26-11 overall record and 8-0 mark in Region XVI while receiving votes in the final NJCAA Top-25 poll.

“I have said for many years as head coach at Arkansas State that we have the utmost respect for coach Gene Bess and his program,” said Nutt. “Anytime we can get a young man from his program, we feel like we are getting a winner and this is no different. Michael Lance knows how to win and has proven that everywhere he has been.”

The Poplar Bluff, Mo., native averaged 12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season to rank sixth in scoring and 14th in rebounds, assists and steals among all Region XVI players. He also made 82 percent of his free throws and shot 45 percent from the field to rank third and sixth in the region, respectively.

“Michael brings a lot of intangibles with him,” said Nutt. “Many of the things that he does out on the floor do not get recorded on a stat sheet. He is going to get down on the floor and make a lot of hustle plays. He can also get to the basket, shoot the ball very well and defend the opponent’s best player.”

Lance attended Twin Rivers High School, where he was named to the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association All-State Team for Class 3A as both a junior and senior. He scored a team-high 16 points in Missouri’s large-school all-star game as a senior and also competed in the BA slam-dunk and three-point contest prior to the game.

Arkansas St 69 - Monmouth 67 (OT)

Press Release — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:50:06 -0500

JONESBORO (11/12/06) - The Arkansas State men’s basketball team (0-3) was edged 69-67 in overtime by Monmouth (1-2) in its final game of the Cox Classic on Sunday at Old Dominion’s Constant Convocation Center.

Trailing 56-50 with 3:26 left to play, freshman guard Ryan Wedel hit a three-pointer that sparked a 9-0 Indians to give them a 59-56 lead with 1:04 remaining in regulation. However, Monmouth was able to force the game into overtime when Mike Shipman was fouled on a drive to the basket and converted two free throws with one second left that tied the game 60-60.

Neither team never held more than a one-possession advantage during overtime, but it was Monmouth who broke a 67-67 tie off a basket by Dejan Delic with 15 seconds remaining that proved to be the winning bucket. The Indians’ Chris Brown was able to get off one final jumper as time expired, but the shot was off and the Hawks were able to escape with the victory.

“The shot selection was fine, it just didn’t fall for us,” said Arkansas State head coach Dickey Nutt. “We broke down defensively by going for the steal (late in the game) and leaving a guy wide open for a layup. I have to give Monmouth credit. They are a patient and solid team.”

ASU hit 52 percent of its shots in the second half, but was unable to maintain its hot shooting in overtime as its percentage dropped to .333 in the overtime period. The Tribe finished the game with a 41.5 shooting percentage. Monmouth, on the other hand, was able to convert 50 percent of its shots in overtime and finished with a 42.6 field goal percentage.

Both teams pulled down 36 rebounds, but the Hawks recorded three more assists and committed three fewer turnovers than the Indians. Monmouth also recorded 10 blocks, but ASU posted five steals in comparison to the Hawks two.

ASU had three players scored in double figures, including junior guard Adrian Banks with a game-high 24 points. Junior forward Isaac Wells added 17 points and Wedel added 10. Wedel also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while junior forward Kewain Gant had seven rebounds and also chipped in eight points.

Monmouth had four players reach double digits in the scoring column, led by Marques Alston and Whitney Coleman with 16 points each.

- From ASU Media Relations

Ballard Leaves Arkansas State Team

Press Release — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:00:00 -0400

JONESBORO (10/11/06) - Arkansas State head men’s basketball coach Dickey Nutt has announced that sophomore guard Brandon Ballard has left the team for personal reasons.

Ballard played in 19 games, including 10 as a starter, as a freshman last season. He averaged 5.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game during the 2005-06 season.

“Naturally, I am very disappointed that Brandon has made this decision not to play basketball,” said Nutt. “It’s a decision that has been weighing on his mind for quite some time now about playing the game of basketball. My door will always be open to Brandon and I wish him all the luck in the world.”

Ballard Leaves Arkansas State Team

Press Release — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 03:00:00 -0400

JONESBORO (10/11/06) - Arkansas State head men’s basketball coach Dickey Nutt has announced that sophomore guard Brandon Ballard has left the team for personal reasons.

Ballard played in 19 games, including 10 as a starter, as a freshman last season. He averaged 5.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game during the 2005-06 season.