Game 22 - At North Texas

SETTING THE SCENE
Date: Jan. 22 2011
Location: Denton, Texas 
Tipoff: 7:05 p.m. (CST)
Arena: The Super Pit
Arena Capacity: 10,500
Webcast: AStateRedWolves.com

TIPPING IT OFF
The Red Wolves continue their Sun Belt Conference road trip with a matchup with the Mean Green of North Texas Saturday. The matchup will be between one of the highest powered offenses in the league, North Texas, and one of the best defenses in the league in Arkansas State. Tip off against UNT is set for 7:05 p.m.

THE OPPONENT
North Texas stands at 15-4 with a 4-2 conference record which places them in second place in the west division of the SBC. The Mean Green own conference wins over UALR (81-69), Louisiana-Lafayette (80-63), FIU (87-77) and ULM (79-62). North Texas enters the game riding a 16-game home winning streak including posting a 11-0 record at the Super Pit this season. UNT has one of the more experienced teams in the conference starting four seniors and a junior. Three of those starters are averaging in double-digit scoring led by senior Tristan Thompson who is averaging 18.1 points per game while also leading the team in steals with 20. Senior guard Josh White ranks second on the team averaging 13.8 points per game while ranking second with steals and assists with 17 and 51, respectively. Senior forward George Odufawa ranks third on the team with an 11.3 scoring average but leads the team with 9.9 rebounds per game. Senior guard Dominique Johnson comes off the bench averaging 10.4 points per game for the Mean Green. As a team, North Texas leads the Sun Belt in scoring average averaging 79.1 points per game while ranking second in scoring margin at +7.1. Johnny Jones is in his ninth season at the helm of the North Texas program.

THE SERIES
ASU trails the all-time series with North Texas 16-18. ASU was the last team to defeat the Mean Green on their home floor before they began their current 16-game home winning streak. The Red Wolves captured an 83-70 victory at the Super Pit on Jan. 16, 2010.

PETERSON DOUBLES UP
Sophomore forward Brandon Peterson recorded his first double-double of the season and third of his career putting up 14 points with 11 rebounds against Lamar in the Red Wolves last home contest. Peterson is averaging 8.8 points per game 6.3 points per game while leading the team with 21 blocks.

TRENDING WITH THE RED WOLVES
ASU has developed some trends throughout the season holding a 9-0 record at home and own a 9-2 record when leading at the half. ASU is also 7-3 when scoring first and 8-3 when shooting more free throws then its opposition. The Red Wolves are also 9-2 when its starters outscore opponents and 8-4 when outrebounding their opponents.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Senior guard Rashad Allison posted a season-high of nine rebounds against Lamar and only turned the ball over once. Allison leads the team with a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio and 84 assists which ranks first and fourth in the league, respectively. As a team, ASU has a 1.0 assist/turnover ratio and has forced opponents into 13.6 turnovers a game.

FINN DOUBLE DOUBLE
Sophomore guard Trey Finn posted his second double-double of the season and third of his career scoring 14 points while pulling down a season-high 11 rebounds against Middle Tennessee.

DEFENDING THE HOME FLOOR
The Red Wolves are 9-0 this season at home including a 4-0 mark in league play. At the Convocation Center, ASU has four of its five starters averaging in double-digit scoring led by Adams who is averaging 12.0 at home. Finn is averaging 11.1, followed by Boone at 10.7 and Peterson at 10.3. ASU owns a +27.1 scoring margin at home this season scoring 82.0 points per game while holding opponents to 54.9 ppg. ASU is also rebounding well at home owning a +13.9 rebounding margin at the Convo averaging 43.9 while holding opponents to just 30.0 rebounds per contest.


ALL-TIME CONVO HISTORY
Tonight's game will be the 320th game played at the Convocation Center where ASU owns a 231-89 record which amounts to a .721 winning percentage.  ASU draws an average of 5,138 fans to the Convocation Center over its history.

ADAMS CAREER NIGHT
Last Thursday at FIU, junior forward Martavius Adams put in one of his most dominating performances of the season scoring a career-high 20 points and pulling down 14 rebounds which was a season-high to record his seventh career double-double. Adams has scored in double-digits all but twice this season and has led the Red Wolves a team-high five times.

FINN NAMED SUN BELT PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Arkansas State sophomore guard Trey Finn was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week for the competition weeks of Dec. 22-Jan. 3 announced the league office Tuesday. It marked the first time this season that an ASU player had been named SBC Player of the Week. Finn led the Red Wolves to a 3-1 record over the holiday break, including a 2-0 start in conference play with wins over South Alabama and preseason favorite Western Kentucky. Finn averaged 15.3 points per game over those four contests while grabbing 6.0 rebounds per game. Finn put up the most dominant performance by an ASU player this season against WKU by scoring a career-high 30 points to lead ASU to an 81-73 victory. Finn also had 10 rebounds, posting the second double-double of his career. During the game against WKU, Finn went 10-16 from the field and 7-9 from three-point range. His 30 points more than doubled his previous career-high in points scored. Finn posted double-digit scoring performances in all four games played during the break, after only breaking double-digits twice previously this season.

ALLISON HOT SHOOTING
Against South Alabama senior point guard Rashad Allison went 6-10 from the field scoring a season-high 18 points, including going 4-5 from three-point range and 2-3 from the free throw line.

RECORD SETTING NIGHT
With their 120-39 win over Central Baptist on Tuesday the Red Wolves tied the school record for points scored in a game and set a school record for margin of victory by beating the Mustangs by 81. ASU also had four players record career scoring performances and had six players in double-digit scoring.

SIX IN DOUBLE-DIGITS AGAINST CBC
Their game against CBC saw six ASU players score in double-digits and four players record career-high scoring performances. Redshirt freshman guard Kinley Ogbonnaya-Branch scored 19 to lead the Red Wolves and set a personal best, Matavius Adams ranked second with 18, followed by Peterson and Sterrenberg who had 14, Townsel with 13 and Finn with 11. Sterrenberg, Townsel and Rashiduddin (4 pts) also set career scoring highs.

FIVE IN DOUBLE-DIGITS VERSUS MO. STATE
ASU had five players score in double-digits against Missouri State in their second meeting of the year last Wednesday in Springfield, Mo. Junior forward Martavius Adams led the squad with 19 points and 9 rebounds coming just shy of picking up his third double-double of the year. Peterson, Finn, Allison and Kirkland each tossed in 10 points for the Red Wolves. Kirkland was perfect from the floor connecting on all five attempts and had three blocked shots. It was the second-straight game that ASU's starting forwards (Adams & Peterson) recorded double-digit efforts.

DOWN LOW DOMINANCE
During the Savannah State Game ASU dominated in all categories around the goal, outrebounding Savannah State 44-20 including a 27-7 advantage in the second half. Forwards Brandon Peterson and Martavius Adams led the Red Wolves scoring 19 and 18 points respectively. In the paint, ASU outscored the Tigers 28-18 and won the battle of second-chance points 19-7. Sophomore guard Trey Finn led the Red Wolves with eight rebounds.

GEORGIA GAME
The Red Wolves battled back from a 21-point Georgia lead getting within seven but were unable to overtake the lead, falling to the Bulldogs, 68-59, in nonconference men's basketball action Saturday. Senior guards Donald Boone and Rashad Allison broke double-digits for the Red Wolves with 14 and 12 points respectively. Boone kept ASU in the game connecting on three three-pointers late in the game which helped spark the ASU comeback.

ASU AT HOME
ASU is 227-89 (.720) all-time at the Convocation Center, including posting a 10-5 record at home last season. Over their 23 years at the Convocation Center, ASU has averaged 5,138 fans per game and has played 315 contests in the building.

ASU TAKES NO. 14/15 MEMPHIS TO OT
The Red Wolves rose to the occasion against Memphis, taking the No. 14/15th ranked squad to overtime after tying the contest with only 34.1 seconds remaining. ASU trailed by 18 points in the first half but Bryant hit a free-throw with 34-seconds on the clock to tie the game. ASU defended well on the ensuing possession forcing the overtime.

ADAMS DOUBLES UP TWICE
Junior forward/center Martavius Adams recorded his second-straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds at Memphis. Adams recorded the first double-double of the year against SEMO last weekend, scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds. Adams has scored in double-digits every game this season and leads the team with 14.1 points per game and has a 7.0 rebounding average, which also leads the team.

FOUR IN DOUBLE-DIGITS VERSUS MEMPHIS
ASU played well against the No. 14/15th ranked Memphis Tigers, notching four double-digit scorers. Junior guard Daniel Bryant led the squad with 15 points including going 4-5 from the charity stripe. Senior Donald Boone was second with 12 points followed by Adams with 11 and Kirkland with 10.

FINN TAKES OVER
Sophomore guard Trey Finn seemed to take over the game at SEMO scoring six points in 51-seconds of action. Finn hit two free-throws, got a defensive rebound on the ensuing possession, they laid the ball in. Finn then stole the ball and converted on a fast-break layup, notching his six points.

BOONE BACK TO FORM
Senior guard Donald Boone looked like he had returned to form against Pepperdine when the sixth-year player put up a season-high of 19 points. Boone went 7-10 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. Boone led ASU during the 2008-09 season averaging 13.6 points per game, but sustained a season-ending knee injury just four minutes into the 2009-10 season.

NEW LOOK BENCH
ASU also got a new look on the end of the bench as two new coaches will be alongside Brady for the season after joining the program earlier this summer. “New” may be a misleading term as both these coaches bring a wealth of knowledge to the program. Isaac Brown begins his tenure as associate head coach and comes to ASU after serving as an assistant coach at Arkansas for the past three seasons. Prior to his time at Arkansas; Brown was an assistant coach at South Alabama. Richard Williams joined the coaching staff late in the summer and will serve as an assistant coach. Williams is well known as the former head coach at Mississippi State. While with the Bulldogs, Williams led the squad to the NCAA Final Four in 1996. During his time at MSU, Williams led his team to five postseason appearances and was named the SEC coach of the year twice.

SBC PRESEASON COACHES POLL
In the preseason coaches' poll, also released Tuesday, the Red Wolves were tabbed to finish second in the west, grabbing 55 points behind 2009-10 tournament champion North Texas, who garnered all 12 of the first-place votes and 72 total points.
      Denver was tabbed third, picking up 51 points, followed by Louisiana-Lafayette (36), UALR (26) and Louisiana-Monroe (12).
     On the east side, Western Kentucky was the overall favorite to pick up the division title, grabbing 71 points and 11 first-place votes. Florida Atlantic was second with 53 points and one first-place vote. After FAU were South Alabama (47), Middle Tennessee (42), Florida International (22) and Troy (17). 
     “Our pick is certainly an indication based on what we did a year ago and based on the players we have returning and the respect that the program has created. Being picked second in the west after two years here has shown that our program has gained some respect around the league and within the league and hopefully that will continue with what we do this year,” said Brady.

HEAD COACH JOHN BRADY
With a Final Four appearance and 281 career victories already to his credit, John Brady was announced as Arkansas State's 15th head men's basketball coach by Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee at a press conference held in ASU's Convocation Center on March 19, 2008.
    During his first season with the Red Wolves, Brady helped lead ASU to one of the best starts in program history and achieved the No. 22 ranking on Collegeinsider.com's Mid-Major Top 25 poll. As a team ASU greatly improved its defending and rebounding, finishing near the top of the conference in several statistical categories.
    Brady took a step further in his second season with The Red Wolves, improving their record to 17-14 and the team advanced to the semifinals of the Sun Belt Tournament finishing second in the west. Brady was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year and the District VII Coach of the Year by the USBWA. ASU led the league in three-point FG defense, rebounding offense and defensive rebounding.
    ASU also posted an 11-7 SBC record this season which was its best league mark since the 2006-07 season when ASU achieved the same record. Its 11-wins was the seventh-time since ASU joined the Sun Belt that they have posted double-digit league wins.
    Brady spent the last 10-plus seasons serving as LSU's head coach, leading the Tigers to six postseason berths, two SEC championships and three SEC Western Division titles. Twice named the SEC Coach of the Year,  Brady is a proven winner who has a well-documented record of success and a long list of accomplishments.
    Brady's 16-year tenure as a head coach at both LSU and Samford in Birmingham, Alabama, has been decorated with achievements.  He has coached a combined 25 All-TAAC and SEC selections, 48 academic all-conference choices, posted 11 winning seasons and collected five division championships.  Brady piled up the third most wins in LSU history with 192 and left Samford after the 1996-97 season as the Bulldog's all-time leader in coaching victories (89) as well.
    He quickly turned around an LSU's men's basketball program that had suffered four consecutive losing seasons prior to his arrival, leading the Tigers to a 28-6 record, an SEC championship and an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in just his third season (1999-00) at the helm.  Under Brady's direction, the Tigers recorded six consecutive winning seasons from 2001-02 to 2006-07 while making three trips to the NCAA Tournament and two more to the NIT. The 2005-06 campaign saw LSU post a 27-9 record and advance to the Final Four for the first time in 20 years.
    Not only did Brady coach the Tigers to 23 wins versus ranked opponents, he also led them to victories over two teams ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll (Arizona in 2002-03 and Duke in 2005-06).  Additionally, he orchestrated a 19-game home winning streak over SEC opponents, the third longest stretch in LSU history.
    While at LSU, Brady coached two NBA Lottery picks and six current NBA players.  The Tigers signed nine Parade All-Americans and four McDonald All-Americans under Brady, who also coached three SEC Players of the Year, four players named SEC Freshman of the Year, one SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and 17 All-SEC selections.
    Prior to taking over the reigns at LSU, Brady served as Samford's head coach from 1991-92 through 1996-97.  It didn't take long for him to turn around a Samford program coming off six straight losing seasons, either, guiding the Bulldogs to a 17-10 record in his second season.  He led Samford to three straight winning seasons (1995-97) for the first time since 1982-84, all leading up to a 19-9 record and division title in 1997.  Samford won the TAAC West Division each of Brady's final two seasons at the school for the first time in school history.
    His four winning campaigns at Samford were the first for any coach at the school, and he led the Bulldogs to an 89-77 record after they went 27-83 the four seasons prior to his initial year.  He coached eight All-TAAC and 14 Academic All-TAAC players over six seasons.
    The McComb, Miss., native earned his bachelor's degree in 1976 from Belhaven College, where he was three-year starter and scored over 1,000 points during his college playing career.  Brady was a two-time All-Southern States Conference selection and was later inducted into his alma mater's Hall of Fame.
    He got his coaching start as a graduate assistant with the Mississippi State men's basketball program while earning his master's degree from 1976-77.  Brady took his first head coaching position in Louisiana at Crowley High School in 1977 and led the basketball squad to a 129-49 (.725) record in five seasons.  He was named the 1981 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 3-A Coach of the Year.
    Brady returned to the college coaching ranks in 1982 as an assistant coach at Mississippi State.  He spent the next eight years with the Bulldogs, the first four seasons under coach Bob Hoyt and the next four as a chief recruiter for coach Richard Williams.  Following his tenure in Starkville, Brady returned to Louisiana for the second time, this time to serve as an assistant coach at the University of New Orleans.  Brady helped lead UNO to the NCAA Tournament during his only season with the Privateers.