Super Bowl Update

Troy hosts Middle Tennessee tonight. The story I wrote was on center Tim Owens (pictured above, Troy University photo) and how he made the most of the chance he was given to play college basketball.

Owens didn't care about school in high school until it was too late, and went to the work world. Someone noticed him playing YMCA ball at age 21, got him into junior college and he eventually made it to Troy.

He'll never be known for his offensive prowess, but Troy's coaches made him better and have gotten some effective play out of Owens. He runs the court well, rebounds and blocks shots. And every now and then, he'll get a putback or a big dunk.

You can read the story HERE.

On to Middle Tennessee, at 13-2, 2-0 in league play, the Blue Raiders are far and away the best team in the league and have wins at UCLA and Ole Miss.

"That's the best team (Kermit Davis) has had in his 10 years," Troy head coach Don Maestri said. "If he says it, then I believe it. They not only have great players, but have extraordinary chemistry. Guys know their roles and are playing winning basketball."

MTSU senior LaRon Dendy has a chance to be the league's Player of the Year. Dendy, an Iowa State transfer, is scoring 14.7 with 6.9 rebounds and racking up other statistics.

"He's the MVP of our league, in my opinion," Maestri said. "He's 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds and he's dribbling up the floor leading the fast break, dunking, shooting, he's a great player."

Davis pulled in a great JUCO guard haul with Marcos Knight (13.3 ppg), Raymond Cintron (7.3 ppg, 27 3pts made), and Bruce Massey (6.0 ppg). Returning starter J.T. Sulton is a load down low and guys like all-conference player Jason Jones (out with injury) and Shawn Jones are also playing well.

HERE is a preview from the Daily News Journal.

It's easily the best and deepest team in the conference. Dendy is just a one-year player, and Maestri knows that taking a talented player with just one year left is a risk worth taking. Detric Golden and recently, Yamene Coleman, were 1-year transfers who helped Troy to big seasons.

"We wouldn't have been the top seed (in 2009-10) if we didn't get Yamene," Maestri said. "He was our missing piece, on the court and chemistry-wise."