Troy University Athletics
Troy Back at Home to Face UNO
12/16/2009 7:00:00 PM | Basketball (M)
TROY – By the time the basketball is tossed into the air for tip-off, it will have been 31 days since the Troy Trojans men's basketball team last played a home game. Thursday night they return to Trojan Arena to open up Sun Belt play with New Orleans.
The Trojans are coming off back-to-back losses on the most recent road trip. Over the weekend, Troy dropped games at Marshall and most recently Monday night at Houston.
Troy head coach Don Maestri and his team are anxious to get back onto their home floor and back in front of their home crowd.
“I think we are happy to be home again,” Maestri said. “It doesn't guarantee us anything, but we were definitely tired of being on the road. That's probably the biggest thing.”
Troy is 2-0 at games played in Trojan Arena, but just 1-5 away from the cozy confines. Subsequently, the Trojans have dealt with a hot and cold season through the first 10 games, as evidenced by the team's 5-5 record entering Thursday night's contest.
“We haven't played consistent basketball this year as most teams in our league haven't,” Maestri said. “The league itself has been up-and-down all year. It's had some big wins like Western Kentucky beating Vanderbilt the other night and us beating Auburn. One of the biggest wins of the league, in my opinion, was New Orleans going over and winning at Tulane. They were the underdog, but the won on the road.
“The teams in the league have almost mirrored themselves with inconsistency. I think it has probably been frustrating to most teams in the league. It's been an up-and-down year for just about everybody in the conference.”
The Privateers (5-4, 0-1 SBC) are led offensively by Georgia transfer Billy Humphrey. The senior is scoring 17.8 ppg and is third on the team is rebounding (4.7 rpg). A Chicago native, Humphrey is also second on the team in both assists (23) and steals (13).
“We have a lot of respect for New Orleans. They are having a solid year so far and I think if both teams play well it's going to be a heck of a game.”
First team All-Sun Belt performer Brandon Hazzard is once again pacing Troy offensively, scoring 18.7 ppg. He is joined by four other seniors in double-figures. Richard Delk (14.5 ppg), Michael Vogler (11.6 ppg, 58 assists) and Yamene Coleman (10.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg).
The Trojans are aiming to pick-up a win in a Sun Belt opener for the first time in school history. Troy is 0-4 in previous opportunities. The squad is also looking to avoid its first three-game losing skid since stumbling through two occurrences in the first nine games of the 2008-09 season.
Tip-off is set for 7:05 pm on Thursday night in Trojan Arena. Barry McKnight and Jerry Miller will bring you all the action from courtside on the Troy ISP Network beginning at 6:30 pm.
The Trojans are coming off back-to-back losses on the most recent road trip. Over the weekend, Troy dropped games at Marshall and most recently Monday night at Houston.
Troy head coach Don Maestri and his team are anxious to get back onto their home floor and back in front of their home crowd.
“I think we are happy to be home again,” Maestri said. “It doesn't guarantee us anything, but we were definitely tired of being on the road. That's probably the biggest thing.”
Troy is 2-0 at games played in Trojan Arena, but just 1-5 away from the cozy confines. Subsequently, the Trojans have dealt with a hot and cold season through the first 10 games, as evidenced by the team's 5-5 record entering Thursday night's contest.
“We haven't played consistent basketball this year as most teams in our league haven't,” Maestri said. “The league itself has been up-and-down all year. It's had some big wins like Western Kentucky beating Vanderbilt the other night and us beating Auburn. One of the biggest wins of the league, in my opinion, was New Orleans going over and winning at Tulane. They were the underdog, but the won on the road.
“The teams in the league have almost mirrored themselves with inconsistency. I think it has probably been frustrating to most teams in the league. It's been an up-and-down year for just about everybody in the conference.”
The Privateers (5-4, 0-1 SBC) are led offensively by Georgia transfer Billy Humphrey. The senior is scoring 17.8 ppg and is third on the team is rebounding (4.7 rpg). A Chicago native, Humphrey is also second on the team in both assists (23) and steals (13).
“We have a lot of respect for New Orleans. They are having a solid year so far and I think if both teams play well it's going to be a heck of a game.”
First team All-Sun Belt performer Brandon Hazzard is once again pacing Troy offensively, scoring 18.7 ppg. He is joined by four other seniors in double-figures. Richard Delk (14.5 ppg), Michael Vogler (11.6 ppg, 58 assists) and Yamene Coleman (10.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg).
The Trojans are aiming to pick-up a win in a Sun Belt opener for the first time in school history. Troy is 0-4 in previous opportunities. The squad is also looking to avoid its first three-game losing skid since stumbling through two occurrences in the first nine games of the 2008-09 season.
Tip-off is set for 7:05 pm on Thursday night in Trojan Arena. Barry McKnight and Jerry Miller will bring you all the action from courtside on the Troy ISP Network beginning at 6:30 pm.
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