Marshall Basketball: Top Prospect Brantley Signs with Herd

Marshall University has added another member to its 2013 basketball recruiting class, Notre Dame Prep point guard Jaylen Brantley.

Standing 5-feet-10, 160 pounds, Brantley averaged 16 points and five assist per game during his senior season while shooting 44 percent from three-point range.

A four star recruit according to MaxPreps.com, he was also ranked as the 74th best prospect in the class of 2013 by HoopScoop.

Brantley had scholarship offers from major basketball programs including Georgetown, Florida, Virginia, and  Missouri but, his academics are a concern. It is possible he will sit out next season in order to gain eligibility.

For more on Brantley follow the links below.

1) 247Sports.com Profile
2) ESPN.com Profile
3) Rivals.com Profile
4) Highlight Video (1)
5) Highlight Video (2)

HerdZone.com

Brantley Signs with Men's Basketball

Huntington Herald Dispatch

MU lands prep school point guard

Random Musings: New Basketball Travel Partner, Kambola in China, Kerns at NCAA’s, Softball Regional’s

1) From Doug Smock of the Charleston Gazette, Marshall’s travel partner for men’s and women’s basketball has switched from ODU to UNC Charlotte. The 49ers will be the Thundering Herds only home and home opponent next season. Marshall will play every other Conference USA member once.

2) Next month C-USA’s board of directors is likely to approve a 16 team basketball tournament that will include every school in the league. With all 16 teams participating the basketball championships will be played over five days. For those of you familiar with the Big East tournament, C-USA will follow a similar format with the top four teams receiving a double bye into the quarterfinals.

3) Speaking of basketball, Marshall’s J.P. Kambola has joined Kentucky based ministry group Sports Reach for an 18-day tour of China.

4) Marshall men’s golfer Nathan Kerns will tee off at the NCAA Regional Tournament in Columbus Ohio at 10:10am Thursday morning. You can follow the three day event by clicking here.

5) Last but definitely not least, here is a schedule for this weekend’s NCAA softball regional in Lexington Kentucky. All games will be streamed online at ESPN3.

 

Friday, May 17

Game 1 - Notre Dame vs. Virginia Tech - 5 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Game 2 - Kentucky vs. Marshall - 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Saturday, May 18

Game 3 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 1 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Game 4 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Game 5 - Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 6 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Sunday, May 19

Game 6 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5 -1 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

Game 7 - (If necessary) -3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN3)

C-USA Considering Changes to Basketball Format

Next month Conference USA’s board of directors will consider a number of measures that will potentially impact the leagues men’s and women’s basketball teams.

One proposal would allow all 16 teams to participate in the conference tournament. Previously, C-USA planned to include just 12 schools. With an expanded field the tournament would be held over five days.

The conference is also considering a scheduling change for men’s basketball, moving from a Wednesday-Saturday format to Thursday-Saturday. The league would also like to institute travel partners to reduce long road trips and rising cost.

For more on the proposals visit the links below.

Conference USA

Conference USA Concludes 2013 Spring Meetings

Charleston Daily Mail

Everyone in the pool for the C-USA hoops tournaments

Marshall Softball: Herd Heads to Lexington Regional

After winning the Conference USA softball championship this weekend Marshall University is headed to the Lexington Kentucky region for the NCAA Tournament.

In Lexington the Thundering Herd will be paired with the University of Kentucky, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech. In the double elimination bracket Marshall's first game is against the Wildcats at 7:30 PM Friday evening. The Herd and Kentucky met earlier this season, a 4-3 UK win at home. Friday's game will be broadcast live and free online at ESPN3.com.

Marshall Softball: Herd Wins First-Ever C-USA Championship

Story via Marshall University athletics, HerdZone.com.

TULSA, Okla. – For the first time in school history, the Marshall softball team will be heading to the NCAA Tournament after a 3-1 win over Houston on Saturday to capture its first ever Conference USA Championship.

The No. 4 seed Thundering Herd (35-20) received another outstanding pitching performance from senior Andi Williamson (32-16) who pitched all seven innings, scattered four hits, struck out four, walked two and allowed the only run which was unearned. She was named the C-USA Tournament MVP and shared all-tournament team honors with Ashley Gue, Bri Anna Hope, Katalin Lucas and Jazimine Valle.

Williamson ended the tournament without allowing an earned run and struck out 12 in 21 innings of work.

“Our main goal was to win it. I am still so speechless,” Williamson said. “I still cannot believe that it happened. We are going to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. That has been our main goal since the beginning. We said that we would not be satisfied with second place, and that showed with the determination that we played with all game.”

Not only did Marshall get a big performance from its senior pitcher, but the freshmen as well. Lucas went 2-for-3 at the plate, scored a run and had a stolen base. Alexandra Bayne came through in the fourth inning with a key insurance run, an RBI double as a pinch-hitter to score the game’s third and final run. Bayne also had a stolen base.

Senior Jazmine Valle went 2-for-2 as the Herd finished the game with eight hits to the Cougars’ four.

“This is a big win for us, getting to the championship game as the four seed and doing what we did,” said head coach Shonda Stanton. “This is for all of the girls who have ever worn the green and white. This is our twentieth anniversary of Marshall Softball. We have so many special people, and I am so proud of the way our student-athletes represented today.”

Marshall, which never trailed, was the first to score. A lead-off walk from junior Savanah Webster put sophomore pinch runner Kristina Braxton on first in her place. With one out, Lucas doubled into right field. In the throw back to the plate, Houston second baseman Kayla Holland threw the ball into Marshall’s dugout and was charged for the error that allowed K. Braxton and Lucas to score, 2-0.

No. 2 seed Houston (40-18) took one back in the top of the third as a leadoff single and throwing error put Houston on second base with no outs. Back-to-back outs put Marshall one out away from shutting Houston down for another inning, but an RBI-single by Haley Outon brought a Katie St. Pierre across the plate to shrink the lead, 2-1.

Houston threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning, but the Herd ended the threat and took the opportunity to extend the lead in the bottom of the fourth.  Webster led the inning off with a single through the left side of the infield, but was taken out at second on a fielder’s choice by Hope on first. Lucas singled into right field to put runners on first and second, before Bayne blasted an RBI-double down the right-field line to push Marshall ahead, 3-1.

Both teams stranded multiple runners on base, Houston with eight, Marshall with 10.

Diedre Outon (12-7) took the loss for the Cougars, who will most likely receive an at-large bid to next weekend’s NCAA Tournament.

Marshall will find out what regional it will play in via the NCAA selection show on Sunday at 10 p.m. on ESPNU.

Marshall Basketball: Kane Headed for Pitt

First reported by Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports, former Marshall University basketball player DeAndre Kane is transferring to Pittsburgh. As a graduate student Kane will be eligible immediately with one year of eligibility remaining.  

A two time All Conference USA second team selection, Kane averaged 34.1 minutes, 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assist per game in three seasons with the Thundering Herd. He also started 93 of 96 games played in a Marshall uniform.

Kane joins a Panther backcourt in dire need of depth. Tray Woodall, the team’s starting point guard is graduating after leading Pitt in points per game last season. In addition to Woodall, reserve guard Trey Zeigler and his 15.5 minutes per game transferred to TCU.  Sophomore point guard James Robinson does return and the Panthers are adding Josh Newkirk, one of the nation’s top backcourt prospects, in this year’s recruiting class.

Marshall announced Kane’s departure in April, he is one of three players (Chris Martin and D.D. Scarver) to leave the basketball program with eligibility remaining this offseason.

Marshall Football: Herd Featured Prominently on National T.V.

Conference USA released its football television schedule for 2013 and Marshall University is prominently featured. Seven of the Thundering Herd's 12 games are slated for national T.V. coverage.

Three games will be aired on the CBS Sports Network including Marshall's home opener against Miami University. In addition CBSSN will feature the Thundering Herd's conference bout with Southern Miss on November 9th and the regular season finale at Joan C. Edwards Stadium against ECU.

Marshall is playing two Thursday night contest on the road, at Middle Tennessee on October 24th and at Tulsa November 14th. Both games, including the Herd's away game against FIU November 23rd are going to be broadcast by Fox Sports. Initially, all three contest are ticketed for FSN although, it is a distinct possibility that the Thursday night games will be moved to Fox Sports 1, a new network that will debut in over 90 million homes this August.

Rounding out the broadcast, Comcast Sports Southeast will show Marshall's home game against UAB November 9th.

Although they were not announced today two away games, Ohio September 15th and Virginia Tech one week later are likely destined for coverage.

Updated 2013 Marshall University Football Schedule

August 31st - Miami (OH), 7pm, CBS Sports

September 7th - Gardner-Webb, TBA

September 14th at Ohio, TBA

September 21st at Virginia Tech, TBA

October 5th - Texas San Antonio, TBA

October 12th at Florida Atlantic, TBA

October 24th at Middle Tennessee, 7:30pm, Fox Sports

November 2nd - Southern Miss, 12:30pm, CBS Sports

November 9th - UAB, TBA, Comcast Sports

November 14th at Tulsa, 7:30pm, Fox Sports

November 23rd at Florida International, TBA, Fox Sports

November 29th - East Carolina, 12pm, CBS Sports

*All times eastern.