Austin Peay Governors Basketball returns home to face Arkansas State

By James D. Horne | December 5, 2011 |

Austin Peay vs. Arkansas State
December 5th, 2011 | Dave Aaron Arena | Clarksville, TN

Clarksville, TN – John Brady certainly is familiar with Austin Peay and Clarksville.

Before Samford’s brief run as an Ohio Valley Conference school, the Bulldogs under Brady (1991-92 through 1996-97), brought his club to Clarksville on two occasions. In fact, he and APSU head coach Dave Loos battled four times over a two-year stretch.

Now Brady, who spent 10 seasons at LSU, including a Final Four appearance, has his Arkansas State team coming to Clarksville, 7:00pm, Monday night. In his fourth season at Arkansas State, the Red Wolves coach brings a defensive-minded club to Clarksville.

After claiming the Sun Belt West Division a year ago, the Red Wolves are off to a 3-4 start so far this season. But they are coming off consecutive wins against Southeast Missouri (79-63) and St. Bonaventure (58-52 road verdict). Arkansas State is averaging only 55.6 points per game while permitting 60.7. However, opponents are shooting just 40.1 percent from the floor against ASU, not good news for a Govs team that is struggling offensively in the early going.

Guard Trey Finn is leading the way at 12.0 ppg along with 6.3 rpg while forward Brandon Peterson is at 10.3 ppg and a team-best 7.0 rpg.

This will be the first time the Governors have played Arkansas State with its mascot being the Red Wolves, Previously it was Indians until 2008.

The Governors’ offensive woes continued at Memphis in a 91-60 defeat as they shot just 33.3 percent from the floor, connecting on just 24 of 72 attempts. The Govs also collected just two three pointers for the second straight game. Memphis, meanwhile, knocked down 15 three pointers, tying for the second most in school history.

Melvin Baker was the Govs’ lone double-figure scorer for a second straight game, tallying 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting.

Governors Pardon

• This is Austin Peay’s 80th season of basketball.
• Dave Loos, APSU’s all-time winningest basketball coach, also is the OVC’s all-time wins leader with 351 victories. He also has 433 career coaching wins.
• The Dave Aaron Arena playing floor was named Dave Loos Court, Summer 2007. Loos is believed to be one of only three current Division I men’s coaches who are coaching on courts that bear their respective names–Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim–are the other two. Valparaiso’s Homer Drew, who retired after the 2010-11 season, had the floor named after him last season.
• Since 1993-94, Austin Peay has finished no worse than fifth in the OVC standings.
• Austin Peay has reached at least the OVC tournament semifinals in 13 of the last 17 years.
• Austin Peay has made 27 straight appearances in the OVC tournament.

What You Should Know

The Series: This is the 26th meeting between Austin Peay, a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, and Arkansas State, a member of the Sun Belt Conference. The Governors own a 13-12 lead in the series. The two teams have not played since the 2006-07 season when APSU dropped a 77-70 decision in Jonesboro, AR.

Deeper Meanings

What A Win Would Mean: The Govs would gain their first 2011-12 victory. They would improve to 1-9. It would make the Govs 1-1 in December after going 0-8 in November. It would be APSU’s 14th win in the series. It would give Loos a 3-2 mark against Arkansas State coach John Brady. It would improve Loos to 4-2 against Arkansas State. It would be APSU’s 101st win against the Sun Belt Conference. It would be Loos’ 434th career coaching victory and his 352nd APSU win.

What A Loss Would Mean: The Govs would fall to 0-10 on the season, continuing the worst start in APSU history. The Govs would fall to 13-13 all-time in the series with the Red Wolves. It would be their second straight loss in the series. It would drop the Governors to 100-125 all-time against the current Sun Belt members. It would be APSU’s first loss to ASU since it changed its mascot to the Red Wolves. It would be head coach Dave Loos’ 353rd career loss and 300th Austin Peay defeat.

Fraley Returns To Practice

With 2:58 left in Austin Peay’s season-opening game at Middle Tennessee, center John Fraley got tangled up with MTSU Kerry Hammonds when the Blue Raiders guard drove to the basket. Both players hit the floor during the collision, but Fraley’s head slammed against the floor. The Clarksville native was removed from the floor on a stretcher and taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a concussion.

That head injury has kept the 6-9 local product out the last three weeks. Last Thursday, he was cleared to begin resuming physical activity for the first time in three weeks. He went through shooting drills and other non-contact work through Saturday. He was allowed to return to limited contact work on Sunday.

Line-Up Shuffle

Attempting to shake up a lethargic offense, Austin Peay utilized its fifth different starting lineup this season at Memphis.

TyShwan Edmondson received the start at point guard while both Josh Terry and Anthony Campbell played the wing positions with Will Triggs and Melvin Baker handling the post spots.

APSU used seven different lineups a year ago.

Free-Throw Improvement

Entering the November 26th game against MTSU, the Govs were shooting a struggling 59.4 percent from the free-throw line this season. Against MTSU, APSU shot 72.7 percent (24 of 33), including 15 of 18 (83.3 percent) in the second half. Last Monday, the Govs again showed improvement, making 11 of 15 free throws for 73.3 percent, including 8-of-9 in the final half. Then against Memphis, the Govs connected on 10 of 13 (76.9 percent). As a result, over the last three games the Govs have shot 78.3 percent, allowing the overall free-throw percentage to rise to 64 percent.

Steal Away

APSU saw its string of two straight double-digit steals games end at Lipscomb, last Monday, but the Govs still had eight in the contest. They also had nine more against Memphis. That came on the heels of a pair of 13-steal contests against Detroit and Middle Tennessee last week. The Govs have recorded 52 steals over the last five games.

Bake And Shake

For the second straight game senior forward Melvin Baker was Austin Peay’s only double-figure scorer with 15 points against Memphis, going 7-of-14 from the floor.

The Amarillo, Texas has averaged 15.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg over the last four games, shooting 55 percent from the floor during that span.

Shooting Pain

After shooting 49.3 percent from the floor against Detroit, November 23rd, the Governors reverted back to their previous shooting troubles in the last three games. APSU made just 21 of 58 shots for 36.2 percent against MTSU and then connected on only 23 of 59 (39 percent) against Lipscomb, Monday. On Saturday versus Memphis, the Govs made only 24 of 72 shots (33.3 percent). As a result, APSU has less than 40 percent in seven of nine games this season and are shooting just 39.5 percent for the season.

Board Room

When Austin Peay grabbed 43 rebounds against Lipscomb, last Monday, it represented a season high.

The Govs had four players with six rebounds or more, led by Will Triggs (eight) while Melvin Baker and TyShwan Edmondson added seven apiece and Josh Terry six.

The Govs grabbed 37 rebounds against Memphis, Saturday, including 19 offensive grabs.

Four On The Floor

For a fifth straight game, point guard Jerome Clyburn was credited with four assists, Monday night, at Lipscomb. In fact, Clyburn has been credited with four or more assists in seven games this season.

Clyburn didn’t start against Memphis, but did finish with three assists in 15 minutes against the Tigers.

Block Party

When APSU was credited with eight blocked shots against Lipscomb, Monday, it represented a season best. In fact, four of the blocks came from senior forward Melvin Baker,

No Joshin’ Around

Senior forward Josh Terry saw his string of double-figure scoring performances end at six against Middle Tennessee as he was held to three points. Terry, who entered the game shooting 61.4 percent from the floor, connected on just 1-of-7 from the
floor.

Terry now has gone three straight games without reaching double figures, tallying eight against Memphis.

Freebird

Freshman forward Chris Freeman tied for the Govs’ lead in rebounding with a season-best six while also scoring five points, all on free throws, against MTSU.

He had a modest season high of six points against Memphis, Saturday.

About James D. Horne

Sections

Topics