Young Bearkats look to continue winning ways in 2009
10/15/2008 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Since Sam Houston State moved up to the NCAA Division I level in 1986-87, the Bearkats have not seen a four-year span of success like the past four seasons under the direction of coach Bob Marlin.
From 2004-05 to 2007-08, Sam Houston has produced an 84-39 record, finished among the top three in the Southland Conference each season and appeared in the Southland Conference post-season tournament semifinals three times.
When the Bearkats went 23-8 last year after going 22-9 in 2006 and 21-10 in 2007, they became only the third team in Southland Conference to post three or more 20-plus victory seasons in consecutive years. The other two were Lamar (1980 to 1985) and Louisiana Tech (1984 to 1987).
Only twice before in Sam Houston's 90 seasons of men's basketball have Bearkat teams won more than 23 games -- in 1972-73 (28-1) and in 1985-86 (27-6).
Sam Houston is one of only 37 teams in NCAA Division I men's basketball that has posted 20 victories or more in each of the last three seasons. Of those 37 teams, the Bearkats stand 25th in won-loss percentage with a 66-27 mark (.710).
Last year's senior class of Ryan Bright, Shamir McDaniel, Jeremy Thomas, and John Gardiner were a major part of that four-year success. Bright was a two-time Southland Conference men's basketball "Student-Athlete of the Year" and first team all-SLC selection. McDaniel was a third time All-Southland selection last year. All four have earned their SHSU degrees.
"Our past two senior classes with Ryan, Shamir, Jeremy, John, Aaron Wade, Ryan Griffin, JeJuan Plair and C. J. Hadley have been a pleasure to work with," Marlin said. "They were leaders on the floor and on campus in the classroom."
Now, in 2008-09, Bob Marlin looks to continue the Bearkats' success with a team comprised of five returning lettermen, one red-shirt and seven new players.
Only in his first season at Sam Houston in 1998-99 (four) and in 2003-04 (three) has Marlin returned a smaller group of lettermen in his previous 10 seasons at Sam Houston.
"Definitely we will have more new faces in our lineup than our fans have seen in awhile," Marlin said. "This is the largest group of newcomers we've had since the year after the 2003 NCAA playoff team. Bearkat fans are going to like this group. We're pleased with our recruiting this year and the quality of our new student athletes."
Replacing talented seniors with equally talented newcomers has been a way of life for Marlin.
During the 21st century (2000-2008), the Texas Longhorns are the only NCAA Division I men's basketball team in the state to win more than Marlin's Bearkats.
Totaling the nine seasons from 1999-2000 to 2007-08, Texas has won 225 games, followed by Sam Houston with 172 wins, Texas Tech 163, UTEP 157, Texas A&M 142, and Stephen F. Austin 140. Sam Houston's mark of 172 victories and 95 losses is tops in the Southland Conference in the 21st century.
During the eight seasons since the new century began, the Bearkats have won two Southland Conference regular season titles, reached the finals of the SLC post-season tournament twice (winning in 2003) and produced five 20-plus victory seasons.
While the Kats return only 33 percent of their scoring (721 of 2,192 points) and 36 percent of their rebounding (463 of 1,278 boards), the cupboard definitely is not bare.
DeLuis Ramirez, 6-4 senior forward, and Ashton Mitchell, 5-11 junior point guard, are returning starters. Ramirez averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while Mitchell ranked 5th in assists and 9th in steals in the Southland Conference.
"DeLuis and Ashton, with their quickness and strength, are two guys who can run the floor," Marlin said. "Both have worked hard during the summer because they realize the leadership role we need them to play this season."
Senior post players 6-8 Barkley Falkner and 6-10 Domas Kvedys and sophomore forward 6-4 Josten Crow all saw action in reserve roles in 2007-08.
"All three improved throughout last season, coming on strong at the end of the year," Marlin said. "Domas and Barkley bring us experience inside. Josten will make a bigger impact as well."
Arthur Zulu, a 6-8 transfer from Jacksonville College, red-shirted at Sam Houston last year and brings athleticism to the post position.
The large group of newcomers will change Marlin's approach to the 2008-09 season from the past couple of years.
"With a solid group of returning players the past couple of seasons, we had guys who came to camp knowing exactly the way we're going to play," Marlin said. "This year, it's going to be different. From a teaching stand point, it's going to be a lot of fun. Hopefully, we are going to be a better shooting team and will have good depth. There will be a lot of competition for starting roles and that's always a positive."
Corey Allmond, Preston Brown, Lance Pevehouse and Kendrell Thompson join the squad as transfers.
Allmond, a 6-1 guard from Howard College in Big Spring, Texas, was the Western Junior College Athletic Conference's sixth leading scorer with 17.9 points per game. He was named to the All-WJCAC first team.
Brown, a 6-6 pound power forward from Cowley County Junior College in Arkansas City, KS., averaged 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and shot 55 per cent from the floor while leading the Tigers to a 31-3 record.
Pevehouse is a 6-1 shooting guard who led Clear Creek High School to the regional quarterfinals two years ago. He played for Army Prep in New York in 2007. He averaged 11.6 points per game as a freshman at San Jacinto College last year.
Thompson is a 6-3 guard from Collin County Community College where he averaged 11.6 points and 4.1 rebounds. He earned All-North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference honors as a freshman.
Both Pevehouse and Thompson have three years of eligibility at Sam Houston.
"Corey, Lance and Kendrell all have shown they can shoot the basketball. They'll give us much more depth on the perimeter," Marlin said. "Preston brings a winning attitude to our inside game, playing on teams that have compiled a 117-10 record his last four years. "
The two freshmen bring impressive resumes to Sam Houston as well.
Bootle, a 6-7 post from Houston Saint Thomas, was a first team TAPPS All-State selection, McDonald's All-America nominee and District "Most Valuable Player". As a senior, he averaged 13.1 points and 18.2 rebounds per game with a .543 field goal percentage.
Murray, a 5-10 Huntsville product, was a first team All-District and All-Region selection who averaged 16.1 points and 5.2 assists, He was named as District 18-4A "Most Valuable Player."
"Antuan can score and rebound. He is the young inside player we've needed," Marlin said. "Drae possesses outstanding quickness and has a good understanding of the game."
As always, Sam Houston faces a challenging schedule in 2007-08 that includes eight non-conference games against top NCAA Division I competition.
Sam Houston State holds the nation's second longest home court non-conference winning streak. The Bearkats have won 44 consecutive non-conference games at Johnson Coliseum.
Their last home non-conference loss was to Texas A&M, 73-70, during Marlin's first season at SHSU in 1998-99. Only Duke, with 58 consecutive home non-conference victories, has a longer streak.
The Bearkats have produced a 62-40 non-conference record during Marlin's tenure at SHSU. That includes two wins over Texas Tech along with victories over Baylor, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico State, Houston, Central Florida, Idaho State, Montana State, Fresno State, Chattanooga and Bradley.
Sam Houston State has finished among the top four teams in the Southland Conference in six of Marlin's 10 seasons at Sam Houston. The Bearkats won the league in 2000 and 2003.
"Top to bottom, the Southland is an extremely competitive league with good players and coaches throughout the conference," Marlin said. "Last season was the strongest the league has been in our 10 years here at Sam Houston. It should be even more competitive this season."
