Troy University Athletics
Trojans Host UAB to Open Season on Saturday
11/14/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
TROY ? The Troy Trojans men's basketball team will open up the 2008-09 season on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm as they host in-state rival UAB.
Though the schools compete in many sports and are separated by just 140 miles on Interstate 65, this will be the first ever meeting between the two schools on the hardwood. Troy will also make a return trip to UAB on December 20.
UAB is led by Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Robert Vaden who averaged 21.1 points per game a year ago. They return four starters from 2007-08 and also will welcome back Paul Delaney III who missed most of last season with a knee injury, but was a first-team all CUSA performer as a junior in 2006-07.
“Vaden is by far the best shooter in college basketball, and in my opinion he will be a lottery pick in the NBA next year. He doesn't need any space to get his shot off. Our fans will see one of the premier players in the country,” head coach Don Maestri said. “Obviously we don't match up well with them in terms of experience. Their guys are seasoned in a good basketball conference.”
Troy lost its top three scorers from last season with the leading returning point scorer being Trayce Macon who contributed 7.1 ppg last season. The Trojans expect to get large offensive production out of several newcomers including Mississippi State transfer Richard Delk.
“I don't know how we'll fare because we will have five new starters from last year. Plus, we are still a little bit banged up. The way we play we have to have depth. We want to play fast and because of our height limitations we are going to have to play harder than our opponent and for that we need substitutes,” Maestri said.
The game also features two of the great coaches in college basketball. Maestri is beginning his 27th season at the helm of the Trojans. He brings in a record of 436-312 (.583), the most by any coach in any sport in Troy history.
Mike Davis is beginning his third season as head coach of the Blazers. He holds a 153-106 (.591) career record with four NCAA tournament appearances (including the 2002 National Championship Game) and two NIT appearances.
“They have Mike Davis who is a great coach and one of the best recruiters in the country. He was a starting guard at Alabama when I was there in 1982. He has developed into one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country and that is impressive because a lot of head coaches forget how to recruit,” Maestri said.
Last season the Blazers finished 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the NIT.
Though the schools compete in many sports and are separated by just 140 miles on Interstate 65, this will be the first ever meeting between the two schools on the hardwood. Troy will also make a return trip to UAB on December 20.
UAB is led by Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Robert Vaden who averaged 21.1 points per game a year ago. They return four starters from 2007-08 and also will welcome back Paul Delaney III who missed most of last season with a knee injury, but was a first-team all CUSA performer as a junior in 2006-07.
“Vaden is by far the best shooter in college basketball, and in my opinion he will be a lottery pick in the NBA next year. He doesn't need any space to get his shot off. Our fans will see one of the premier players in the country,” head coach Don Maestri said. “Obviously we don't match up well with them in terms of experience. Their guys are seasoned in a good basketball conference.”
Troy lost its top three scorers from last season with the leading returning point scorer being Trayce Macon who contributed 7.1 ppg last season. The Trojans expect to get large offensive production out of several newcomers including Mississippi State transfer Richard Delk.
“I don't know how we'll fare because we will have five new starters from last year. Plus, we are still a little bit banged up. The way we play we have to have depth. We want to play fast and because of our height limitations we are going to have to play harder than our opponent and for that we need substitutes,” Maestri said.
The game also features two of the great coaches in college basketball. Maestri is beginning his 27th season at the helm of the Trojans. He brings in a record of 436-312 (.583), the most by any coach in any sport in Troy history.
Mike Davis is beginning his third season as head coach of the Blazers. He holds a 153-106 (.591) career record with four NCAA tournament appearances (including the 2002 National Championship Game) and two NIT appearances.
“They have Mike Davis who is a great coach and one of the best recruiters in the country. He was a starting guard at Alabama when I was there in 1982. He has developed into one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country and that is impressive because a lot of head coaches forget how to recruit,” Maestri said.
Last season the Blazers finished 23-11 and advanced to the second round of the NIT.
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