FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will play at the University of Tennessee at Martin on February 23 at 1 p.m. during the 2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters, as announced this evening by ESPN. It's the first-ever appearance in the event for the Lancers, first-year members of the Big South Conference. Martin, Tennessee is located in the northwest corner of Tennessee, approximately 150 miles northwest of Nashville. Longwood and the Skyhawks of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) have never met in the sport of men's basketball.
“We are excited that, by virtue of being a Big South member, we're able to play in the BracketBusters series of games,” said 10th-year head coach Mike Gillian. “It is the inclusion in events like this that continue to put credibility on what we have built here at Longwood as a Division I program. Although we're not in the position to play in the top tier games in the series at this time, I have no doubt that as our program progresses, there will be many fine opportunities such as this in our future.”
Longwood enters week six of Big South regular season games with an overall record of 3-20, including 0-9 in the league. The Lancers are led by junior
Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach (14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 51 3FG) and freshman
Michael Kessens/Nyon, Switzerland (12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, 55% FG). UT Martin enters this week's action with an overall record of 6-16, including 3-7 in the OVC. The Skyhawks are coached by Jason James, who is in his fourth season, and are led by Myles Taylor (16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Mike Liabo (12.8 points, 52 3FG).
Ironically, Cal Luther, who coached at Longwood for nine years (1981-90, 136-105), also coached at UT Martin for nine years (1990-99, 72-163). He led the Skyhawks through their NCAA Division I Reclassification process. Coach Luther still resides in the area where his wife, Linda, is an Assistant Professor in the UT Martin Department of Nursing.
