Published: October 07, 2008 11:49 pm         

Marshall looks to build on last year's success

After posting the school’s first winning season in seven years, the goal for Marshall’s men’s basketball team is simple: Build on the success of head coach Donnie Jones’ first season.

Even though there will be a substantially new look on the bench, the Thundering Herd is looking to use last year’s 16-14 record and sixth-place finish in Conference USA as a springboard into 2008-09.

“You try to build on all that,” Jones said Tuesday during a recruiting break. “We had a winning year and that’s a good feeling.

“We didn’t like the way it ended, how we went out, losing to Tulane in the first round (of the C-USA tournament). But the kids worked hard in the summer. We have some kids who have been in the program and know what it’s like.”

The Herd returns three starters from last year, including two-time all-conference third-team forward Markel Humphrey. The Atlanta native averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a junior.

The other two starters back are 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior forward Tyler Wilkerson (9.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and 6-6 sophomore forward Tirrell Baines (11.5, 5.8).

Guard Darryl Merthie started 10 of 28 games and averaged 8.1 points and a team-high 2.7 assists.

Four seniors finished their careers last season and two players transferred, while shooting guard Matt Walls left school for personal reasons.

There will be plenty of new faces this season, with three transfers who sat out last season and five first-year players in the mix.

“The good thing is we have the three kids who sat out but were able to practice last year,” Jones said of the transfers. “So really we have seven that are back, although only four of them have played (for Marshall).”

Chris Lutz, a 6-3 guard, came to Marshall after spending two seasons at Purdue. Sophomore guard Brandon Powell played a year at Florida when Jones was an assistant coach, and Octavius Spann arrived in Huntington via Georgetown.

Five new recruits will begin their Marshall careers this season and all are expected to contribute — some more than others.

Guard Damier Pitts led Hargrave to an undefeated season and the national prep championship in March.

Another guard, Shaquille Johnson, is the two-time Florida Class 5A player of the year. The runner-up in 2008 was guard/forward Dago Pena, another Marshall signee.

Forward Kore White wasn’t the player of the year, but he did lead Dillard High to last year’s 5A state championship.

Marcus Goode, a 6-10, 315-pound sophomore center who had to sit out last year, joins the team this season. He last played at The Patterson School in South Carolina, where he was a teammate of Baines.

“Obviously there will be some newness this season,” Jones said. “We’ve got a little depth, but it will take them time to learn the system and figure out where they are.”

Marshall opens practice Saturday with Thundering Herd Madness at the Cam Henderson Center. The event tips off at 7 p.m., with admission prices of $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.

Jones will introduce the team to the crowd before conducting a drills session. The team will then compete in a three-point shootout and slam dunk contest, followed by a 15-minute scrimmage.

The regular season begins Sunday, Nov. 16, at home against WVU Tech. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

— E-mail:

gfauber@register-herald.com