Super Bowl Update

The day before Troy lost 76-70 to UTSA, sophomore point guard Nic Combs asked to meet with head coach Don Maestri.

He had spent the last three and a half years far away from his home of Edmond, Okla., playing prep school ball in Maine, junior college ball in Mississippi and redshirting a year at Troy after a hand injury and playing as a backup this year to Will Weathers.

He wasn't playing much, just a handful of minutes each game, but wanted to get back home and officially left the team in a meeting with Maestri.

"We talked about a couple of scenarios and asked if he was sure this was what he wanted to do, but he had his mind made up," Maestri said.

"He had been here for a year and a half and his parents never called asking why he wasn’t playing. They let him grow up and become a man. It’s hard to lose him because he’s a fine kid, but if you’re homesick and not happy, I guess you have to move on."

Troy (5-6) opens Sun Belt play Thursday at Denver (10-2). Maestri went out of his way to speak on Combs' character.

"He’s one of the finer kids we’ve had in the 30 years in our program," Maestri said. "He’s one of the nicest and most polite kids. He’s very well-mannered, goes to all his classes, just a fine kid and a fine person."

If Weathers needs a break, Maestri said either Alan Jones or Emil Jones would handle backup duties. Both Jones are currently starters, and Emil Jones has shown the ability to play four positions for the Trojans at just 6-foot-3.

"We’ll move Alan Jones and Emil Jones behind Mo (Weathers)," Maestri said. "Emil, believe it or not, is a very savvy basketball player. We’ll get both of them to step in. Mo’s a guy that unless he gets hurt or is in foul trouble, is going to play 35 minutes a game, so it’s nothing new for him.

"If we lose him, it’s like losing Peyton Manning. We’re in trouble."