DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER
HUNTINGTON - J.R. VanHoose and Tamar Slay will be forever linkedin Marshall University basketball lore.
Mr. Basketballs of their respective states, Kentucky and WestVirginia, the two have had the type of careers that if they put upnumbers consistent with last season, they will both finish among thebest Thundering Herd players of all time.
If Marshall's Mid-American Conference Tournament performance isconsistent with previous years, VanHoose and Slay, both seniors,will be branded as pro prospects who never played in an NCAATournament.
Coach Greg White said the Thundering Herd's fate this season islargely in their hands.
"Slay and J.R. are the backbone of this team," White said. "Asthey go, we go. Great players take their universities to greatheights. I've laid the responsibility flat in their hands."
The 6-foot-10, 250-pound VanHoose, who recorded 20 double-doubles last season, says he and Slay accept the pressure.
"We've been here four years and we know what it takes to get itdone in this league," VanHoose said. "Coach has put a lot of faithin us since the day we got here. We don't put any pressure onourselves. Hopefully we can take this team to great heights."
VanHoose averaged 16.6 points and 11.1 rebounds last season, togo along with Slay's 17.3 points and 5.4 rebounds. Slay was a first-team All-MAC selection two seasons ago, when he averaged 19.9 pointsper game. VanHoose earned the same honor last season, while Slayearned second-team recognition.
Both were in Cleveland two weeks ago for the MAC Media Day aspreseason first-team picks. Marshall is touting both as All-American candidates.
Neither is particularly concerned with individual goals.
"As far as team goals, we just want to win the MAC and get a ringbefore we leave here," VanHoose said. "That takes precedent over anyindividual goals. If I go out and play consistent and the way I'mcapable of playing I think I'll help the team out."
There are plenty of questions as the Herd enters this season. Twoplayers must sit out eight games because of NCAA suspensionsconcerning institutional aid. Reserve center Ardo Armpalu could missgames under a potential across-the-board NCAA punishment for foreignplayers participating in professional or club leagues. RonaldBlackshear, a likely starter at shooting guard, can't play untilDec. 15 because of his transfer status.
Slay said it takes chemistry and role players to win achampionship. Does the Herd have it?
"Not right now. We're working on that," he said. "We're layingthe foundation for it. But my main goal is to win a championship. IfI come out and average 10 points a game but we get a championship,I'll be happier than anybody in the nation.
"I don't want to lead the MAC in scoring. That's not one of mygoals. Player of the Year is not one of my goals. I just want to winthe championship. But I also think that if we do that, everythingelse will fall into place."
Slay said the early-season adversity should only make Marshallstronger for the MAC portion of the schedule.
"It's going to be tough and it's going to test us," Slay said."If we just come out and work hard, we'll see what happens. I don'tknow who is going to be suspended. But me, J.R. and Latece(Williams) are ready for the challenge. We're going to come outevery night, work hard and try to get a win."
Assistant coach Jeff Boals said the improvement in both playersis obvious.
"From a physical standpoint, they've improved," Boals said. "Thisis my third year with both of them. It's been amazing to see themdevelop both socially and physically since the time they got here.
"They've obviously developed physically, which goes to hard workin the weight room and genetics. As far as people go, you don't gettwo better people in your program than those two. Slay has assertedhimself leadership-wise. He's more vocal than J.R. is. J.R. leadsmore by example.
"Both had great summers. Tamar had the USA (University Games)trials. J.R. went to Pete Newell's camp in Hawaii again, but heworked with the NBA guys and came back with a lot of confidence.More than anything, they're ready to prove that this is their team.They're determined to win a MAC championship."
Slay was one of 16 finalists for the University Games team. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Beckley native said that equated to about eightdays of two-a-day practices. He is also a one of only 50 playersaround the nation named to the John Wooden Preseason All-AmericanTeam and the award's watch list.
"My summer helped my confidence," Slay said. "Knowing that youcan play with some of the best players in the America gives you theexperience that you need. It was good to see how these guys workedon the court and carried themselves off the court. They werehumble."
VanHoose has 1,353 points and 767 rebounds in his three-yearcareer. Slay, a small forward with a long-range jumper, has 1,225and 346. NBA Hall of Famer Hal Greer, by comparison, tallied 1,337and 765 rebounds in his three seasons at MU. VanHoose is one of onlyfive MU players to have over 1,300 and 700 in a career.
The Paintsville, Ky., native did admit to having one individualgoal.
"The only goal I want to get done is, I need 233 rebounds to getto 1,000," VanHoose said. "As long as I get those, I'll be happy. Ican go out there and not score any points, but at the end of theyear I'd better have 233 rebounds."
Last season VanHoose grabbed 299 boards.
* n n
THE HERD'S first exhibition game is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5,against Worldwide Basketball at the Henderson Center in Huntington.MU has plenty of season ticket packages still available, includingits "MAC-Pack," which includes all nine MAC home games in upperchairback seats for $99.
Writer Andy Spradling can be reached at 348-1712 or by e-mail ataspradling@dailymail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment