Super Bowl Update

Talked to head coach Don Maestri today. Troy has an exhibition basketball game next Monday at 7 p.m. at Trojan Arena against West Alabama.

Brand new team - 11 new guys - 9 total newcomers, 2 guys who redshirted last year, and then 3 who played last year.

This team will press and play fast, because that's the best way for it to be effective because there's no big-time inside scoring presence. Usually, the 6-foot-9, 240 pound guys go somewhere where the facilities are better, but hopefully that'll change with the new arena being ready in fall 2012. The last legit inside scoring threat was Yamene Coleman, who was a 1-year transfer who came for playing time and helped Troy to a regular season title.

Troy had a recent scrimmage with Alabama State, and stats are not available as teams can't publicize these things, but Maestri said the team scored well in the first half, but not so well in the second.

The team is loaded with guards who may or may not be able to score effectively at this level (we will find out soon enough). Point guard Will Weathers is an all-conference player and he's a good start. With Troy's new way of playing, though, he won't be asked to play 36 minutes a game like last year. Sophomore Nic Combs, who sat out last year as a redshirt (hand injury) is his backup.

Troy's starting lineup for the West Alabama game Monday will be Weathers, guards Emil Jones and Alan Jones and forwards Justin Wright and Ray Chambers.

It'll be different from the starters in the scrimmage vs. ASU, where the Trojans started Weathers, guards R.J. Scott and Daronte Clark and forwards Steven Cunningham and Tim Owens.

The guys I just mentioned, plus sharpshooting transfer guard Deonta Jethroe, are probably all going to play this year. That leaves 3 forwards who could redshirt - junior Westley Hinton and freshmen Breon Dixon and Sidki Muwallif.

You can still play in an exhibition game, but Troy will have to figure out who will redshirt by Friday's season opener at Texas Tech. My guess is 2 of the 3 among Hinton, Dixon and Muwallif will redshirt.

Injury notes - Maestri said Wright (back) and Owens (knee) will play through various pain & ailments this year. "For us to have a chance to be good, we'll need them both to play," he said.
Check back in Monday's paper for a preview story.