BECKLEY —
It was this week one year ago that Marshall put together its biggest tournament run in seven seasons as a member of Conference USA.
The run fell just short with a loss to Memphis in the championship game. But the march to the title game was good enough to earn the Thundering Herd a spot in the National Invitation Tournament.
Now, leaving Tulsa with a championship trophy in hand is Marshall’s only shot at postseason basketball.
The Herd will take on Tulane at 9:30 p.m. Eastern today in the first round of the 2013 C-USA Tournament at the BOK Center. Marshall (13-18, 6-10) goes in as the ninth seed, while Tulane (18-13, 6-10) is No. 8.
The teams met only once in the regular season, but there is familiarity between them This will be the third time since 2006 that Marshall and Tulane have met in the first round in the 8-9 matchup. Tulane was eighth in ’06 and ninth in 2008, and won both times.
The Green Wave defeated the Herd 91-75 on Feb. 6 behind 23 points from Josh Davis. The Herd also got a 23-point performance, from Elijah Pittman, but 16 turnovers proved Marshall’s undoing.
DeAndre Kane, who was named to the All-Conference USA second team Monday, leads the conference and ranks eighth in the nation with 7.1 assists per game. The junior guard also ranks 10th in the conference with 14.9 points per game.
Kane continues to move up the school’s all-time career lists in several categories. He recently joined Skip Henderson as the only Marshall players to rank in the top 15 in scoring, top 10 in assists and top 10 in steals.
Pittman leads the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game, while senior forward Dennis Tinnon is Marshall's leading rebounder at 9.1 boards per game.
Davis, who is averaging 17.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game for Tulane, is a first-team selection. Second-team sophomore guard Ricky Tarrant leads the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game.
Marshall leads the all-time series 8-6, but is just 5-7 in the C-USA Tournament.
The winner of tonight’s game will meet No. 1 Memphis in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Eastern Thursday.
The semifinals are set for Friday, and Saturday’s championship game (11:35 a.m. Eastern) will be broadcast live on CBS.
— E-mail: gfauber@register-herald.com
Today's Sports Front
C-USA madness starts tonight
Thundering Herd squares off with Tulane in Tulsa
- Today's Sports Front
-
-
Woodrow downs defending AAA champs
It’s a play that Woodrow Wilson has practiced everyday this season and has rarely had to utilize.
It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton. -
No repeat for Warriors
Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night. -
’Hounds hold off upset bid from Man Hillbillies
Valley’s potent offense never came to life, but the Greyhounds are still alive.
Valley (22-7) — with several players hitting .400 or better this season — could muster just three singles against underdog Man (6-20-1) in one of two Class A Region 3 baseball semifinals Tuesday, but the ’Hounds manufactured two runs in the crucial fifth inning to finally go ahead of the stubborn Hillbillies and escape with a 3-2 victory. -
WVU baseball team helps tornado victims
West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey was having lunch at an Oklahoma City restaurant Monday afternoon, keeping a close watch on the television set.
With every passing minute, the tornado that devastated the Oklahoma town of Moore, was moving closer and closer to his location and its path was being documented by a local television station. At one point, the coach even looked out the window to see if he could see the approaching funnel. -
Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship Format Changed
In the wake of this week’s devastating storm in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, the Big 12 Conference is postponing the start of the 2013 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship. No. 3 seeded WVU scheduled to take on Kansas at 4 p.m. (Central) on Thursday.
-
Patriots, Warriors meet in anticipated matchup
The matchup many people expected will take place today.
-
Fayette teams, Cavaliers vying for Class A spots
Two Fayette County baseball teams have advanced deeper into postseason play and will begin Region 3 tournament action today.
-
Epling already having a busy week for Miners
At this point a year ago, Sam Lewis was the only player on the West Virginia Miners roster to have reported to Beckley. All he did was pitch two no-hitters, and the Miners won the 2012 Prospect League championship.
-
Confident Mavs headed to states
From the outset, James Monroe’s mission was clear: Get to the state softball tournament.
-
Eagles get 2nd shot at Tigers
The road to the Class AAA state championship for Princeton last year went through Beckley. A repeat would require the same stop, but Woodrow Wilson is looking to put up more resistance this time around.
- More Today's Sports Front Headlines
-
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
