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FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University will play only one Big South Conference men's basketball game this week, hosting North Division and in-state archrival Liberty University on Tuesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. on
Senior Night with a special pre-game recognition for senior
Stephen Shockley/Leesburg. The game will be televised on both MASN2 and ESPN3. The Lancers will play their final non-conference game on the road at the University of Tennessee at Martin on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. in the 2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters. Longwood enters the week with an overall record of 5-22, including 2-11 in the Big South following the program's first-ever conference home win past Radford University, 76-61, on Feb. 16.
In the Words of Head Coach Mike Gillian on the Radford Win
“What an atmosphere!
That's what college basketball is all about. As much as that win is for the players and the effort they have put into this season, that one is for the fans that came out to Willett Hall. They have supported us all year long and it's great to be able to give them something to cheer for. It was also wonderful to have such a great turnout of alumni for the game. Those guys are the foundation for what Longwood Basketball has achieved to date, and for the heights it will soar to in the future.”
A Look Ahead to Liberty
Liberty has a record of 9-18 overall, including 5-8 in the Big South, following a 73-68 home loss to High Point on Feb. 16. Dale Layer is in his fourth season with the Flames, where he has compiled a record of 57-65. John Caleb Sanders (13.1 points), Tavares Speaks (12.4 points) and Davon Marshall (12.1 points, 68 3FG) lead Liberty, who is scoring 66.9 points per game, allowing 69.4 points, while shooting 42% from the field, including 36% on three-pointers (6.8) and 71% at the line. Longwood and Liberty have met 26 times since 1978, and the Lancers lead the overall series, 17-9, including 12-1 in games played in Farmville and 10-0 in games played in Willett Hall. The Flames did take a 74-47 home win on January 22. Sanders (20), Casey Roberts (12) and Speaks (10) combined for 42 points for the hosts.
In the Words of Coach Gillian
“When things go well for you, you want to replicate that as closely as possible moving forward. Saturday's home win over Radford was tremendous – the team played well, the crowd turned out in large numbers and was into the game for 40 minutes, and the outcome reflected that. Now, let's move onto Tuesday night and do that all over again against Liberty. This is another of the budding rivalry games that being in the Big South creates and there is a lot at stake for both teams. Liberty has been playing well and will come in here with their sights set on playing their way into a first round tournament bye. The stage is set for it to be a great college basketball game.”
A Look Ahead to UT Martin
UT Martin has a record of 7-18 overall, including 4-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference, following a 96-74 home loss to Southeast Missouri on Feb. 16, and prior to a road game at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 21. Jason James is in his fourth season with the Skyhawks, where he has compiled a record of 27-91. Myles Taylor (16.9 points, 8.0 rebounds) and Mike Liabo (12.9 points, 61 3FG) lead UT Martin, who is scoring 66.3 points per game, allowing 76.0 points, while shooting 40% from the field, including 33% on three-pointers (5.5) and 74% at the line. Longwood and UT Martin have never met in the sport. 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.
In the Words of Coach Gillian
“The BracketBusters event gives us the opportunity to be part of a prestigious series of games and in our matchup versus UT-Martin we'll see if we can, again, replicate our ability to play pretty well away from home. Last time out on the road, we won at Winthrop, and before that, had played well in three-straight Saturday away games. Our team is looking forward to every chance we get to be on the court playing right now and Saturday afternoon out in Tennessee will be no different.”
Leading the Lancers / Season Statistics
Tristan Carey/Colonial Beach (15.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 61 3FG) and freshman
Michael Kessens/Nyon, Switzerland (12.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, 54% FG) continue to lead Longwood. Redshirt-sophomore
Jeylani Dublin/Brooklyn, New York (9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 51% FG), junior
David Robinson/Chesterfield (8.8 points, 32 3FG), along with freshmen
Karl Ziegler/Annandale (5.6 points) and
Lucas Woodhouse/Greenlawn, New York (3.3 points, 4.7 assists) have also been in the lineup. The Lancers are scoring 65.1 points per game, allowing 80.6 points, while shooting 43% (664-1539) from the field, including 31% (128-420) on three-pointers (4.7) and 68% (301-444) at the line.
Who's Hot?
Tristan Carey has scored in double-figures in his last 12 games, averaging 16.2 points while making 26-32 free throws (81%), along with 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
Michael Kessens is averaging 16.0 points in his last seven games, making 45-76 field goals (59%).
Lucas Woodhouse is averaging 5.7 points and 7.8 assists in his last 10 games, making 13-16 free throws (81%).
Jeylani Dublin is averaging 13.3 points in his last three games, making 16-29 field goals (55%) and 8-9 free throws (89%).
This is a First
Longwood is eligible for league statistical rankings for the first time in its Division I era. Through Feb. 16,
Tristan Carey leads the Big South in steals (2.2), is sixth in three-point field goals (2.3) and minutes (33.7), eighth in three-point percentage (.361), ninth in scoring (15.0), 12th in defensive rebounds (4.2), 14th in field goal percentage (.426) and tied for 18th in double-doubles (1).
Michael Kessens is tied for first in double-doubles (9), second in rebounding (8.7) and defensive rebounds (6.0), fifth in blocks (1.3) and offensive rebounds (2.7), ninth in minutes (32.6) and 20th in scoring (12.6).
Lucas Woodhouse is third in assists (4.7), seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.6) and tied for 10th in double-doubles (2).
Jeylani Dublin is tied for 10th in double-doubles (2), 12th in offensive rebounds (2.4) and 17th in rebounding (5.6).
Big South-Only
In 13 Big South games,
Tristan Carey leads the league in steals (2.2), is tied for seventh in three-pointers (2.4), 10th in three-point percentage (.369) and minutes (34.0), and 11th in scoring (15.5), field goal percentage (.424) and defensive rebounds (4.6).
Lucas Woodhouse leads the league in assists (7.0) and is third in assist/turnover ratio (1.9).
Michael Kessens is second in field goal percentage (.558), fourth in defensive rebounds (5.8), tied for sixth in rebounding (7.5), eighth in minutes (34.5), tied for eighth in blocks (1.0) and 19th in scoring (13.8).
Division I Statistical Rankings
Through Feb. 10,
Tristan Carey ranked 30th nationally in steals (2.2), 126th in three-pointers (2.2), 223rd in field goal percentage (.419) and 250th in scoring (14.4).
Michael Kessens ranked 43rd in field goal percentage (.541), 45th in double-doubles (8), 165th in rebounding (8.6) and 168th in blocks (1.3).
Lucas Woodhouse ranked 111th in assists (4.3) and 190th in assist/turnover ratio (1.6). Longwood ranked 134th in assists (13.4), 143rd in steals (7.2) and 188th in field goal percentage (.430).
Youth Being Served
The current seven-man rotation seeing action for Longwood entered this season with a combined seven years of collegiate experience. The group includes
Tristan Carey (two years),
David Robinson (two years),
Jeff Havenstein/Mt. Airy, Maryland (two years),
Jeylani Dublin (one year),
Michael Kessens (zero years),
Lucas Woodhouse (zero year) and
Karl Ziegler (zero years). Prior to an injury, freshman
Nik Brown/Ashburn (zero years) was in the starting lineup, and junior
Mark Parker/Clayton, North Carolina (two years) has seen some time of late.
The Three-Point Stat
Longwood has made at least one three-point field goal in 327 consecutive games, dating back to a road game at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne (11.26.02, 0-6), including a school-record 20 three-pointers made at home against VMI (12.12.11, 20-40). The streak, however, was in jeopardy a year ago against UMKC (11.26.11, 1-13) during the 2011 Chicago Invitational Challenge. The Lancers have made 128 three-pointers (4.7) this year, including a season-high, nine three-pointers two times, most recent at UNC Asheville (9-23) on Jan. 19. The season-low is one made three-pointer, that has occurred twice, at home against Southern Virginia on Dec. 13 (1-8) and again at home against High Point on Feb. 13 (1-10).
Longwood Against The Big South Conference
Longwood is 42-56 all-time against current members of the Big South Conference, including 2-11 this season. Prior to this year, and since becoming Division I-eligible in 2007, the Lancers were 7-6 against Big South schools. Longwood series records against the conference schools include: Campbell (3-4), Charleston Southern (1-1), Coastal Carolina (1-1), Gardner-Webb (5-4), High Point (6-15), Liberty (17-9), UNC Asheville (0-3), Presbyterian (0-1), Radford (5-13), VMI (2-4) and Winthrop (2-1).
Leaving the Non-Conference Behind
Longwood has played 14 non-conference games this season and only has the
2013 Ramada Worldwide BracketBusters non-conference game remaining at the University of Tennessee at Martin on Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. The non-league slate has been brutal with nine games away from Farmville, including road losses at No. 12 Creighton (RPI: 43), No. 21 Georgetown (25), VCU (39), Arkansas (100), Canisius (107), Seton Hall (113), and Marshall (207), along with a conference setback at UNC Asheville (156).
No Place Like Home
Longwood has attained a home record of 49-28 in Willett Hall over the last five-plus years since receiving its NCAA Division I certification and eligibility for 2007-08. Not including the first season playing a Division I schedule in 2004-05 (1-10), the Lancers are 63-38 at home over the past seven-plus years. Though an uncharacteristic 3-9 at home this season, Longwood was 7-5 during 2011-12, 10-4 during 2010-11, 9-3 during 2009-10, an outstanding 13-2 during 2008-09, 7-5 during 2007-08, 6-6 during 2006-07, and 8-4 at home during 2005-06. Overall, Longwood has compiled a record of 267-147 on its home court over 32-plus years since playing its first intercollegiate contest in the building on November 22, 1980 against the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, a 62-54 victory by the Lancers.
Big South Conference Weekly Honors
Michael Kessens has been named
The Crons Brand/Big South Freshman of the Week four times: on Nov. 19 for his efforts against Norfolk State (17 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks) and Arkansas (17 points, 11 rebounds, three steals), on Dec. 17 for his efforts against No. 21 Georgetown (10 points, five rebounds) and Southern Virginia (16 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks), on Feb. 4 for his efforts against High Point (22 points, five rebounds) and Gardner-Webb (21 points, three rebounds) and on Feb. 18 for his efforts against High Point (14 points, 14 rebounds)?and Radford (13 points, seven rebounds, three blocks).
Nik Brown has been named The Crons Brand/Big South Freshman of the Week one time this season on Jan. 7 for his efforts against Fairleigh Dickinson (12 points, three rebounds, a career-high five steals, four assists) and Coastal Carolina (19 points, one rebound, five assists).
Collegehoopsdaily.com Honor
Collegehoopsdaily.com has named
Michael Kessens one of the five best players in the Big South Conference for the first half of the 2012-13 season. At the time (14 games), he was averaging 11.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 52.1% (63-121) from the field (0-4 3FG) and 68.0% (34-50) at the free throw line. Kessens added 30.8 minutes per game, along with 22 blocks and 19 steals while posting a league-best six double-doubles. Others named to the list were D.J. Covington of VMI, Anthony Raffa of Coastal Carolina, Stan Okoye of VMI (named the best) and Darren White of Campbell.
Proud New Member of the Big South Conference
In case you missed it … Longwood became the newest member of the
Big South Conference on July 1, 2012. Conference officials had announced on January 23, 2012 that Longwood would become the League's 12th member following a unanimous vote by the Big South Council of Chief Executive Officers. The announcement was made on campus by Big South President and Radford University President Penelope W. Kyle, along with Big South Commissioner Kyle Kallander, former Longwood Board of Visitors Rector and current interim President Marge Connelly, former Longwood President Patrick Finnegan and Director of Athletics
Troy Austin. The addition of Longwood increases Big South membership to 12 institutions for the first time in League history, and the conference now has four members based in Virginia (Liberty, Longwood, Radford, VMI), as well as four each in North Carolina (Campbell, Gardner-Webb, High Point, UNC Asheville) and South Carolina (Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Presbyterian, Winthrop). The Lancers had competed as a Division I Independent since 2007.
Big South Network
The Big South Network is the official video provider for all Big South Conference games. Each member institution is required to produce broadcasts for every home basketball game to be streamed live via the conference network. A paid subscription is required to view live events, with both single-game and season passes available. The Big South Network has an archive of on-demand videos that can be viewed for free. You can view the
Longwood Lancers TV site to watch all of the Lancers' webcasts and see a schedule of upcoming events by visiting longwoodlancers.com or bigsouthsports.com.
VisitMyrtlebeach.com Big South Championships
The 2013 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Men's Basketball Championships will take place March 5-10 at The HTC Center, Coastal Carolina's new Student Recreation and Convocation Center in Conway, South Carolina. All 12 Big South member schools will participate with seeding by divisions -- the top two teams with the best overall conference win-loss percentage in each of the divisions shall receive the top four seeds in the championship and first round byes. The remaining seeds shall be determined based on divisional finish. In the event of a tie for a particular seed, the seed will be determined within each division. Longwood is in the North Division along with Campbell, High Point, Liberty, Radford and VMI. The South Division includes Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian, UNC Asheville and Winthrop.
Two Sign During Early Period
Longwood signed two future Lancers to a National Letter of Intent during the November signing period, including Chris Brady (C, 6-9, 260) of Greenlawn, New York and Chris Shields (F, 6-7, 205) of Hedgesville, West Virginia. Brady was teammates with current Lancers' freshman
Lucas Woodhouse last season at Harborfields High School. Shields plays for Longwood graduate Kelly Church at Hedgesville High School. Ironically, each helped their respective high school teams to state championships last year.
What's Ahead?
Longwood will play its final two regular-season games on the road at North Division opponent Campbell on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. and at North Division and in-state rival VMI on March 2 at 1 p.m.
