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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 29, 2022 19:28:24 GMT -5
Ten years ago the Titans were preparing for the 2012-2013 season, a season that would end with the U-D making their seventh trip to the National Invitational Tournament. That was a tumultuous season, but ultimately a successful one that sometimes gets overlooked. I'm almost sure that we won't see a public recognition of that team by the University, so I thought we could use this thread to look back on our most recent major post-season tournament squad, using the "on this date" format that we used for last season's look back on the 2012 NCAA team.
On this date in 2012, the Titans already had an exhibition win on the books, an October 27 win over Rynerson by a score of 87-55. Detroit put five players in double figures, with Jason Calliste and Nick Minnerath leading the way with 16 points each. It was Nick's first action since suffering a knee injury early in the 2011-12 season. Freshman Anton Wilson, known in high school as a sharpshooter, scored 12 points on 4-6 shooting from three.
Coming off a trip to the NCAA tournament in March 2012, the Titans had given fans reason for optimism. Several players returned from the tourney team, including All American candidate Ray McCallum, Jason, Nick, and Dunking Doug Anderson. Juwan Howard, Jr., who transferred from WMU after averaging 9 points per game as a freshman, was eligible. Three star recruit Anton Wilson was a late addition to the class of 2012. The Titans didn't have much returning size, but had tried to address that by adding three JUCO big men: Ugochukwu Njoka, Jermaine Lippert, and Olumide Solanke. It looked like a good roster on paper.
Unknown to most fans at this time, a scandal was brewing behind the scenes. The University was attempting to deal with it privately, but it was only a few days from making a big splash in the media. It was going to get ugly and have an impact on the entire season.
Mostly unaware of the coming storm, on October 29, 2012 the fanbase was looking ahead to the next exhibition game, followed by the season opener against Northern Michigan, and eyeing an early season rematch with St. John's. Hopes were high.
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 31, 2022 6:56:04 GMT -5
On this date in 2012, the proverbial stuff hit the fan for Titan athletics. In two separate news releases, the University announced that athletic director Keri Gaither and assistant men's basketball coach Derek Thomas would be resigning immediately. While some insiders among the Titan faithful had an idea that trouble was brewing, the moves surprised most. While no reason was given for either departure, rumors began to run rampant. It was later revealed that Gaither and Thomas, both married to other people, had been engaged in an extra marital affair. The affair was apparently known through the basketball program. It was later revealed that about two months previous, assistant coach Carlos Briggs had filed a whistleblower report through University channels to report the affair. He also claimed that Coach Thomas was receiving preferential treatment as a result of the affair.
This mess stayed in the media for a while. The next day, November 1, 2012, the University fired Briggs. However, in typical University style, that firing was not announced; the University just waited a month and then took Briggs off of the official website over a month later. Briggs sued, and the case dragged through the courts for a couple of more years, resulting in plenty of negative publicity and bad jokes at the University's expense. All of this was made even worse by the University's stubborn refusal to address the situation publicly, leaving others to shape the narrative about the situation. That remains the University's way of handling unpleasant situations, right up to this day.
The immediate impact of the scandal was the Titans were down two basketball coaches. For whatever reason, they wouldn't fill those positions the remainder of the year. That left the program at a distinct disadvantage and it cost us throughout the season, in various ways. In the immediate aftermath, Head Coach McCallum and assistant Jay Smith tried to return the focus to basketball and get the team ready, while doubling their workload. An exhibition with Tiffin was just a few days away.
The resignations put an end to Gaither's 29 year association with the University. She is currently a fundraiser for Focus: Hope. Derek Thomas is the director of Red Rock Academy. Carlos Briggs was most recently an assistant coach at Florida A&M.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 3, 2022 14:59:34 GMT -5
On this date in 2012, the Titans won their second exhibition game of the 2012-13 season, beating Tiffin 123-71. Jason and Nick combined for 45 points. Ray, Doug, PJ, and Evan all hit double figures. Starters were Nick, Ray, Doug, Jason, and Juwan. The rest of the roster (Big O, NJ, Jermaine, Anton, and Gabe Dos Santos, all saw action. Everyone scored but NJ.
Official attendance was 1228.
After the chaos of the previous few days, following the resignations, it was good to have some basketball to talk about, even if it was an exhibition. The next game, against Northern Michigan, would be the regular season opener.
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Post by rbj on Nov 3, 2022 20:21:10 GMT -5
On this date in 2012, the proverbial stuff hit the fan for Titan athletics. In two separate news releases, the University announced that athletic director Keri Gaither and assistant men's basketball coach Derek Thomas would be resigning immediately. While some insiders among the Titan faithful had an idea that trouble was brewing, the moves surprised most. While no reason was given for either departure, rumors began to run rampant. It was later revealed that Gaither and Thomas, both married to other people, had been engaged in an extra marital affair. The affair was apparently known through the basketball program. It was later revealed that about two months previous, assistant coach Carlos Briggs had filed a whistleblower report through University channels to report the affair. He also claimed that Coach Thomas was receiving preferential treatment as a result of the affair. This mess stayed in the media for a while. The next day, November 1, 2012, the University fired Briggs. However, in typical University style, that firing was not announced; the University just waited a month and then took Briggs off of the official website over a month later. Briggs sued, and the case dragged through the courts for a couple of more years, resulting in plenty of negative publicity and bad jokes at the University's expense. All of this was made even worse by the University's stubborn refusal to address the situation publicly, leaving others to shape the narrative about the situation. That remains the University's way of handling unpleasant situations, right up to this day. The immediate impact of the scandal was the Titans were down two basketball coaches. For whatever reason, they wouldn't fill those positions the remainder of the year. That left the program at a distinct disadvantage and it cost us throughout the season, in various ways. In the immediate aftermath, Head Coach McCallum and assistant Jay Smith tried to return the focus to basketball and get the team ready, while doubling their workload. An exhibition with Tiffin was just a few days away. The resignations put an end to Gaither's 29 year association with the University. She is currently a fundraiser for Focus: Hope. Derek Thomas is the director of Red Rock Academy. Carlos Briggs was most recently an assistant coach at Florida A&M. On the other board I remember questioning why Gaither was at all of the road games. I mentioned that I didnt remember seeing Kinsman at any of the road games in the past and was ridiculed.
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Post by ptctitan on Nov 4, 2022 4:11:10 GMT -5
On this date in 2012, the proverbial stuff hit the fan for Titan athletics. In two separate news releases, the University announced that athletic director Keri Gaither and assistant men's basketball coach Derek Thomas would be resigning immediately. While some insiders among the Titan faithful had an idea that trouble was brewing, the moves surprised most. While no reason was given for either departure, rumors began to run rampant. It was later revealed that Gaither and Thomas, both married to other people, had been engaged in an extra marital affair. The affair was apparently known through the basketball program. It was later revealed that about two months previous, assistant coach Carlos Briggs had filed a whistleblower report through University channels to report the affair. He also claimed that Coach Thomas was receiving preferential treatment as a result of the affair. This mess stayed in the media for a while. The next day, November 1, 2012, the University fired Briggs. However, in typical University style, that firing was not announced; the University just waited a month and then took Briggs off of the official website over a month later. Briggs sued, and the case dragged through the courts for a couple of more years, resulting in plenty of negative publicity and bad jokes at the University's expense. All of this was made even worse by the University's stubborn refusal to address the situation publicly, leaving others to shape the narrative about the situation. That remains the University's way of handling unpleasant situations, right up to this day. The immediate impact of the scandal was the Titans were down two basketball coaches. For whatever reason, they wouldn't fill those positions the remainder of the year. That left the program at a distinct disadvantage and it cost us throughout the season, in various ways. In the immediate aftermath, Head Coach McCallum and assistant Jay Smith tried to return the focus to basketball and get the team ready, while doubling their workload. An exhibition with Tiffin was just a few days away. The resignations put an end to Gaither's 29 year association with the University. She is currently a fundraiser for Focus: Hope. Derek Thomas is the director of Red Rock Academy. Carlos Briggs was most recently an assistant coach at Florida A&M. What no one realized at the time was that this cancer had been eating at the team and Ray for over two years before it became public knowledge just before the start of the 2012-13 season.
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Post by bigchuck on Nov 4, 2022 8:23:09 GMT -5
Plus trying to go through a season with a skeleton staff certainly affected recruiting. It took a couple of years for the full extent of that to be felt. Ray and Jay Smith never got the recognition they deserved for getting through that season with little or no help from the Administration.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 5, 2022 3:14:37 GMT -5
On this date in 2012, the proverbial stuff hit the fan for Titan athletics. In two separate news releases, the University announced that athletic director Keri Gaither and assistant men's basketball coach Derek Thomas would be resigning immediately. While some insiders among the Titan faithful had an idea that trouble was brewing, the moves surprised most. While no reason was given for either departure, rumors began to run rampant. It was later revealed that Gaither and Thomas, both married to other people, had been engaged in an extra marital affair. The affair was apparently known through the basketball program. It was later revealed that about two months previous, assistant coach Carlos Briggs had filed a whistleblower report through University channels to report the affair. He also claimed that Coach Thomas was receiving preferential treatment as a result of the affair. This mess stayed in the media for a while. The next day, November 1, 2012, the University fired Briggs. However, in typical University style, that firing was not announced; the University just waited a month and then took Briggs off of the official website over a month later. Briggs sued, and the case dragged through the courts for a couple of more years, resulting in plenty of negative publicity and bad jokes at the University's expense. All of this was made even worse by the University's stubborn refusal to address the situation publicly, leaving others to shape the narrative about the situation. That remains the University's way of handling unpleasant situations, right up to this day. The immediate impact of the scandal was the Titans were down two basketball coaches. For whatever reason, they wouldn't fill those positions the remainder of the year. That left the program at a distinct disadvantage and it cost us throughout the season, in various ways. In the immediate aftermath, Head Coach McCallum and assistant Jay Smith tried to return the focus to basketball and get the team ready, while doubling their workload. An exhibition with Tiffin was just a few days away. The resignations put an end to Gaither's 29 year association with the University. She is currently a fundraiser for Focus: Hope. Derek Thomas is the director of Red Rock Academy. Carlos Briggs was most recently an assistant coach at Florida A&M. On the other board I remember questioning why Gaither was at all of the road games. I mentioned that I didnt remember seeing Kinsman at any of the road games in the past and was ridiculed. It always seemed strange to me, but I remember that some considered it normal.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 5, 2022 4:36:05 GMT -5
Coach Ray got jammed up by two athletic directors. One messed him up by screwing an assistant coach and the other forced him to add a guy to the staff who actively worked against Ray.
Messy.
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Post by ptctitan on Nov 6, 2022 7:03:02 GMT -5
Coach Ray got jammed up by two athletic directors. One messed him up by screwing an assistant coach and the other forced him to add a guy to the staff who actively worked against Ray. Messy. Without Gaither and Thomas screwing around together, the "other athletic director" would not have occurred. The foundation to Ray's program was rotting from the inside for over 2 years before the adultery became public. The consequences to our school from their adultery have been long-term and severely negative. But sam, the truth is that Ray and his new staff failed to get us back to where we were before the scandal. Recruiting was suffering before that assistant was hired. This is why I place all the blame on the original rot between the first athletic director and Ray's assistant. Ray never had a chance. It was just a matter of when it would crash down - not if it would. Thomas doesn't get a pass for undermining Ray. Under the circumstances, I'm amazed Ray did so well. On the other hand, the rot could also explain why those teams with so much BB talent did not perform better. Through it all, Ray remained a class act. That said, right now, I prefer to look forward. Hopefully, this year we can pull ourselves finally out of the large hole they dug for us.
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Post by fan on Nov 6, 2022 8:37:35 GMT -5
Ray was a class act, we can only think what could have been if he stayed and this became his last job.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 10, 2022 1:00:46 GMT -5
On this date, November 9, in 2012, the Titans opened their regular season with a blowout win over Northern Michigan University. Four Titans hit double figures, including PJ Boutte, who scored a career high ten. Dunking Doug led the way with 25. The game was never close, as Detroit opened up on a 24-3 run. Attendance at the Hall was announced at 1429.
With a record of 1-0, the Titans prepared to face a road test at St. John's.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 13, 2022 23:08:40 GMT -5
On this date, November 13, in 2012, the Titans were on the road to face St. John's. The Titans started fast and took an eight point lead at the half, and led 60-53 with 9:20 to go. A late SJU run put the Titans in a hole, but the good guys battled back. Juwan Howard Jr.'s three at the buzzer was just off, and Detroit came up short, 77-74. It was a solid effort, and had it not been for foul trouble holding Nick to just 17 minutes, the Titans might have won.
Ray was high man with 21 and Jason chipped in 18. But overall, it was a poor shooting night for the good guys. The Titans record leveled off at 1-1.
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Post by motorcitysam on Nov 17, 2022 20:34:12 GMT -5
Ten years ago, on November 17, 2012, the Titans defeated Drake 85-79 in front of just over 2,000 fans at Calihan Hall. It was nip and tuck early, and the Titans opened up to a seven point lead at the half. Despite being limited to 25 minutes by foul trouble, Doug Anderson put up 26 points and ten boards, one of the best games of his Titan career. Nick Minnerath, also in foul trouble and limited to 24 minutes, put up 16 and 9. Ray scored 20 and had five assists. Those three picked up the slack for Howard and Calliste, who combined to go 5-23 from the floor.
The Titans improved to 2-1 on the season. The Drake win was a solid one, and badly needed, as the Titans next three games would be on the road in a seven day stretch against solid competition. The non-conference schedule of 2012 was a tough one, typical of the McCallum era.
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Post by udballer on Nov 21, 2022 19:26:05 GMT -5
Loving the recap, Sam. Keep it up.
I'd say having another Doug Anderson on the team would quickly put 500 additional butts in the seats today. Unfortunately, they've never made another Doug (before or since).
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Post by calihanmole on Nov 22, 2022 12:40:34 GMT -5
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