by Commissioner » Sat Nov 18, 2017 10:29 pm
Houston Baptist
When: Sunday, November 19, 4:00 p.m.
Where: Curb Center, Belmont University, Nashville
TV: None
Radio: 910 AM
After Saturday's embarrassing loss to Seattle, the Titans have less than 24 hours to prepare for their next loss, to Houston Baptist, in what's called the "consolation" game, though I can't figure out how it is going to be consoling. Anyway, it will be Catholics vs Baptists for none of the marbles.
The Titans have never played Houston Baptist. HBU began playing D-I ball the same year that Dick Vitale arrived in Detroit. After several losing seasons, the Huskies had three straight 20-win seasons, and one NCAA appearance, under Gene Iba on the early 1980s. But after Iba left to make Baylor a power, HBU faded quickly, and dropped out of D-I after the 1989 season. The University eventually decided to try DI again, and resumed full status for the 2010-2011 season. Ron Cottrell has coached them for all 7 seasons, and last year got a winning record (17-14) for the first time since their return. The Huskies enter Sunday's game at 1-2, with a resume that looks like ours: a blowout win over non-DI Arlington Baptist, but a blowout loss to Providence and another to Belmont.
As you can see below, HBU has a couple of big centers, and 10 guys averaging at least 10 minutes per game. Their two leading scorers are freshmen. Can the Titans take out this Southland Conference team? After Saturday's embarrassment, I'm not so sure.
Probable Starters
PG - Braxton Bonds, 6-2 RS Jr. (6.7 ppg, 5.0 apg)
G - Will Gates, 6-1 RS Sr. (7.0 ppg)
G - Ian DuBose, 6-3 Fr. (12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg))
F - David Caraher, 6-6 Fr. (18.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 41.2% 3PtFG)
C- Josh Ibarra, 6-11 Sr. (11.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg)
Key Reserves
G- Oliver Lynch-Daniels, 6-2 Fr. (4.3 ppg, 3.0 apg)
G - Jalon Gates, 6-1 Soph. (10.3 ppg, 35.0% 3PtFG)
F - Philip McKenzie, 6-4 Fr. (4.3 ppg)
F - Tim Myles, 6-6 RS Sr. (2.7 ppg)
C - Edward Hardt, 6-10 Jr. (5.3 ppg)
Titan All Americans Calihan Swanson Sparrow Ebben DeBusschere Murray Haywood Long Tyler Duerod Phillips Green McCallum