Published: March 20, 2008 11:46 pm      

Marshall cooking up title recipe?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, maybe Adron Marshall’s teammates might start demanding some barbecue in the near future.

Last week’s trip to Orangeburg, S.C., resulted in fine dining for the Cougars following the team’s Independent Region championship win over Voorhees thanks to Marshall’s mother, Glendora Marshall, who is from nearby Aiken, S.C.

She got on the grill and whipped up some pork barbecue, lima beans and macaroni-and-cheese casserole that was a hit with the players and coaches.

“That was some of the finest barbecue you’d want,” MSU coach Bob Bolen said, comparing it to the barbecue in Kansas City, where his team is playing in the national tournament. Kansas City, of course, is known for its barbecue.

“That’s how his mom is. She didn’t just make barbecue for her son. She made barbecue for 22 people.”

Marshall and the Cougars are trying to cook up a recipe for a national title.

The Cougars (31-2) face Wayland Baptist of Texas (20-12) at 10 a.m. (EDT) today in the second round of the NAIA tournament.

“I really think we have a chance to go to the national championship,” Marshall said. “I expect a lot from this team. We have seven seniors. I don’t think we should expect less than going all the way to the title.”

Yet he also realizes that heartbreak is always looming right around the corner in Kansas City.

Last year’s first-round exit was disappointing for Marshall and his teammates. MSU hadn’t been eliminated in the first round since losing to Southern Poly (Ga.) 86-59 in 2001.

“Terrible,” he said of the experience. “We thought we could go further. We were the higher seed. To lose like that, in the first round, was heartbreaking. It hurt a lot. That’s why we worked so hard in the offseason. That’s what kept us going.”

This season Marshall averaged 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds and had 52 assists and 45 steals in earning all-Independent Region first-team honors.

He scored in double figures in all but five of MSU’s 33 games this season. And in all five of those games he scored nine points. He had a career-best 26 points against Voorhees on Feb. 1 and had seven threes (7-of-9) against WVU Tech on Dec. 4.

“I still think I could have done better in all categories,” Marshall said. “I don’t really worry about the stats as much as what I can contribute to the team to help us win. I still think I could have contributed more to this team.”

“Adron is solid in all aspects,” Bolen said. “He shoots well, he rebounds well, sees the floor well, and on the defensive end he is our best player. Everything you can think of, help-side defense, taking charges, guarding the ball — he does it all.”

Marshall, who likely will be playing professionally somewhere next season, had 17 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s 85-76 double overtime win over Olivet Nazarene. He fouled out, though, during the first overtime.

“That (game) showed that we had the heart and we can stick together as a team,” Marshall said. “When Jason (McGriff) and I fouled out, our bench really stepped up. I think that’s a good sign for us.”

And a good way to get more barbecue.