Post by Commissioner on Oct 30, 2018 18:37:04 GMT -5
Wayne State
When 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 3
Where Calihan Hall
Radio Superstation AM 910; WDTK player.listenlive.co/56781
The Mike Davis era will put on its first truly public show on Saturday when the Titans take on Wayne State for the unofficial city championship.
Kudos to Bacari Alexander for re-launching this series, even as exhibition rather than regular season games. Bacari did have an understanding of Titan tradition—we have to give him that much. Unfortunately, the game has been a bit of an embarrassment for Detroit—sure, it’s an exhibition, but we really didn’t plan to lose it two years in a row. In 2016, the Warrior led the entire second half en route to an 85-79 win. Last year, Wayne won a see-saw battle 79-77.
Wayne State's basketball history goes back to 1917, when they played as Detroit Junior College. The Tartars, as they were known from the 1920s, became Detroit City College before the 1923-1924 season. The 1928 Tartars finished 16-1 and in the “recreated historic polls” developed for the Encyclopedia of College Basketball, were retroactively ranked as the #20 team in the country that year. They became Wayne State in 1934-35, which was the first season they played the Titans. Wayne won both match-ups that year against one of the worst Titan teams ever (the Titans finished 4-10).
In the immediate post-war period Wayne was a solid "mid-major" program (to use today’s term), and was briefly a member of the MAC. In the decade following the war the rivalry was at its peak, with the teams playing annually, often a home and home series (although Wayne actually played its home games at the Memorial Building for four seasons, 1954 through 1957). From the 1946 through 1955 seasons, the teams met 20 times, with the Titans winning 11 and the Tartars 9. In 1953, the Tartars started the season 9-0 and cracked the AP top 20 after beating Detroit, Memphis State, and Duquesne (which finished the year ranked 9th in the country) just before Christmas. But the Titans got revenge, beating the Tartars late in the season. In the 1954-55 season, the Titans actually beat Wayne three times, twice as scheduled games and a third time in the finals of the Motor City Tournament, after Wayne upset Penn State in the opening round. Before the 1955-56 season, the NCAA split into two divisions, the "University" or "Major College" division, and the "College" division for smaller schools. Wayne opted for the latter, and the teams quit playing each other. Oddly enough, Wayne had its greatest season ever that year, going 17-1 in the regular season, with its only loss to Louisville. Though now a "College Division" team, the Tartars were awarded an NCAA bid, and beat DePaul in the first round before falling to Kentucky.
The series resumed in the 1970s when Dick Vitale took over at Detroit, with the now-DII Tartars serving as regular fodder for the Titans through the 1987 season (UDM went 11-0 vs. Wayne State from 1974 through 1987.) After a few years off, the rivalry resumed in 1992. In 1993, Wayne State upset Perry Watson's first Titan squad in the season opener. The teams played most seasons through the 2001 season, with the Titans winning six straight until the rivalry was dropped. Meanwhile, in 1999, Wayne State inexplicably* dropped one of the great, unique college nicknames, the Tartars, one of the fiercest and most-feared of history’s warriors, to become the generically boring, slightly un-PC “Warriors” in 1999. In the process, they adopted what is almost certainly the worst mascot in college hoops.
Above: Wayne State's mascot, "W the Warrior." A cross between a slug and a friendly dragon. Below: A Tartar warrior. And we wonder why Wayne State isn't a power anymore.
Wayne, as we’ve learned, is not a pushover, and they won’t be this year, either. They do have 4 players on the roster with Division I experience, including our own former walk-on, Jacob Joubert. The others are 6-5 redshirt junior Xavier Cochrane, who played last year at Albany; 6-2 senior guard Marquel Ingram, who played two years at Bethune-Cookman before joining Wayne last season; and 6-0 senior guard Latin Davis, who played two years at Youngstown State. Ingram and Davis both got some recruiting interest from the Titans while in high school, with Ingram reportedly receiving an offer. Another familiar name is 6-0 redshirt sophomore E.J. Haralson, the son of the former Titan (E.J. senior will begin his 16th season as an assistant on the WSU bench on Saturday).
The Warriors also feature sophomore guard Darian Owens-White from River Rouge, a good player who was scouted by the Titans and several other D-I programs, and 6-9 redshirt senior Tristan Wilson, whose career has been marred by injuries. Wilson, who at one point was slated for Eastern Michigan, missed all of the 2017-18 season and most of the 2016-17 season with injuries. But before that he averaged over a block a game in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
This is not, however, as nearly good a Wayne team as that which has licked the Titans two years running (of course, we probably have less talent, too). The top 4 scorers and top 3 rebounders from last year’s 15-11 squad are gone. Three of those players were career 1000-point scorers, including Ron Booth, who lit us up for 27 points last year. Of this year’s squad, only Latin Davis, Owens-White, and junior Karim Murray saw meaningful playing time for Wayne last season. Davis scored 20 points and had 9 rebounds in last year’s game.
As usual, the Titans will have a size advantage. Wilson, at 6-9, is Wayne’s only true big man, and it’s not even clear if he’ll be able to play. The next tallest players on the roster are the 6-5 Cochrane, and 6-5 forward Javon Henderson, a redshirt senior. No one else is listed over 6-2. It’s also a short roster in terms of depth—the Warriors list just 11 players on the roster, one of whom, Tim Huguley, will not be eligible until second semester. One thing Wayne does have going for it is maturity: Wilson and Henderson are 22, Ingram and Cochrane just shy of 22, Murray is 21.
For the Titans, we’ll get to see the early leaders in Coach Davis’s effort=playing time philosophy, get some sense of the team’s style of play, and get to see a lot of guys none of us have ever seen on the court. The last two years, the Titans have simply not come to this game (and, frankly, a lot of other games) ready to play. I expect that will have changed, but we’ll see. The questions to which Titan fans seek answers are as basic as they come: Who will start? Who will be in the rotation? Is Curry going to play? Can Antoine Davis shoot as advertised? How will McFolley be used? Does Blackshear look healthy? But perhaps mostly, is this a team, as opposed to a collection of reasonably talented individuals, and how will that difference, it it’s there, play out on the court?
I don’t really know what Wayne will bring, and I can only guess at their starting lineup after Latin Davis, but we can be assured that they’ll be well coached, well-prepared, and fired up to beat their D-I crosstown rival. Wayne has enough juice to give our young Titans a third straight loss in the series, but we’ll hope that these Titans are made of sterner stuff than the last two editions.
This is a double header with the Lady Titans tipping off against Wayne at 5:00. I’m in New Jersey or I’d make the game—it’s up to you guys to make sure we have a good turnout to start the Davis era.
My Guess at Probable Wayne Starters
G – Latin Davis, 6-0 Sr. (7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 37.0% 3Pt)
G – Darian Owens-White, 6-0 Soph. (2.1 ppg)
G - Karim Murray, 6-1 Jr. (4.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
SF – Xavier Cochrane, 6-5 RS Jr. (0.6 ppg w/ Albany)
C- Tristan Wilson, 6-9 Sr. (4.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg in 2016)
Others
G – Jacob Joubert, 6-3 RS Soph. (0.4 ppg in 7 games w/ Detroit)
G – Marquel Ingram, 6-2 Sr. (played 18 minutes last season)
G – E.J. Haralson, 6-0 RS Soph. (played 24 minutes last season)
F – Javon Henderson, 6-5 RS Jr. (played 11 minutes last season)
When 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 3
Where Calihan Hall
Radio Superstation AM 910; WDTK player.listenlive.co/56781
The Mike Davis era will put on its first truly public show on Saturday when the Titans take on Wayne State for the unofficial city championship.
Kudos to Bacari Alexander for re-launching this series, even as exhibition rather than regular season games. Bacari did have an understanding of Titan tradition—we have to give him that much. Unfortunately, the game has been a bit of an embarrassment for Detroit—sure, it’s an exhibition, but we really didn’t plan to lose it two years in a row. In 2016, the Warrior led the entire second half en route to an 85-79 win. Last year, Wayne won a see-saw battle 79-77.
Wayne State's basketball history goes back to 1917, when they played as Detroit Junior College. The Tartars, as they were known from the 1920s, became Detroit City College before the 1923-1924 season. The 1928 Tartars finished 16-1 and in the “recreated historic polls” developed for the Encyclopedia of College Basketball, were retroactively ranked as the #20 team in the country that year. They became Wayne State in 1934-35, which was the first season they played the Titans. Wayne won both match-ups that year against one of the worst Titan teams ever (the Titans finished 4-10).
In the immediate post-war period Wayne was a solid "mid-major" program (to use today’s term), and was briefly a member of the MAC. In the decade following the war the rivalry was at its peak, with the teams playing annually, often a home and home series (although Wayne actually played its home games at the Memorial Building for four seasons, 1954 through 1957). From the 1946 through 1955 seasons, the teams met 20 times, with the Titans winning 11 and the Tartars 9. In 1953, the Tartars started the season 9-0 and cracked the AP top 20 after beating Detroit, Memphis State, and Duquesne (which finished the year ranked 9th in the country) just before Christmas. But the Titans got revenge, beating the Tartars late in the season. In the 1954-55 season, the Titans actually beat Wayne three times, twice as scheduled games and a third time in the finals of the Motor City Tournament, after Wayne upset Penn State in the opening round. Before the 1955-56 season, the NCAA split into two divisions, the "University" or "Major College" division, and the "College" division for smaller schools. Wayne opted for the latter, and the teams quit playing each other. Oddly enough, Wayne had its greatest season ever that year, going 17-1 in the regular season, with its only loss to Louisville. Though now a "College Division" team, the Tartars were awarded an NCAA bid, and beat DePaul in the first round before falling to Kentucky.
The series resumed in the 1970s when Dick Vitale took over at Detroit, with the now-DII Tartars serving as regular fodder for the Titans through the 1987 season (UDM went 11-0 vs. Wayne State from 1974 through 1987.) After a few years off, the rivalry resumed in 1992. In 1993, Wayne State upset Perry Watson's first Titan squad in the season opener. The teams played most seasons through the 2001 season, with the Titans winning six straight until the rivalry was dropped. Meanwhile, in 1999, Wayne State inexplicably* dropped one of the great, unique college nicknames, the Tartars, one of the fiercest and most-feared of history’s warriors, to become the generically boring, slightly un-PC “Warriors” in 1999. In the process, they adopted what is almost certainly the worst mascot in college hoops.
Above: Wayne State's mascot, "W the Warrior." A cross between a slug and a friendly dragon. Below: A Tartar warrior. And we wonder why Wayne State isn't a power anymore.
Wayne, as we’ve learned, is not a pushover, and they won’t be this year, either. They do have 4 players on the roster with Division I experience, including our own former walk-on, Jacob Joubert. The others are 6-5 redshirt junior Xavier Cochrane, who played last year at Albany; 6-2 senior guard Marquel Ingram, who played two years at Bethune-Cookman before joining Wayne last season; and 6-0 senior guard Latin Davis, who played two years at Youngstown State. Ingram and Davis both got some recruiting interest from the Titans while in high school, with Ingram reportedly receiving an offer. Another familiar name is 6-0 redshirt sophomore E.J. Haralson, the son of the former Titan (E.J. senior will begin his 16th season as an assistant on the WSU bench on Saturday).
The Warriors also feature sophomore guard Darian Owens-White from River Rouge, a good player who was scouted by the Titans and several other D-I programs, and 6-9 redshirt senior Tristan Wilson, whose career has been marred by injuries. Wilson, who at one point was slated for Eastern Michigan, missed all of the 2017-18 season and most of the 2016-17 season with injuries. But before that he averaged over a block a game in both the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
This is not, however, as nearly good a Wayne team as that which has licked the Titans two years running (of course, we probably have less talent, too). The top 4 scorers and top 3 rebounders from last year’s 15-11 squad are gone. Three of those players were career 1000-point scorers, including Ron Booth, who lit us up for 27 points last year. Of this year’s squad, only Latin Davis, Owens-White, and junior Karim Murray saw meaningful playing time for Wayne last season. Davis scored 20 points and had 9 rebounds in last year’s game.
As usual, the Titans will have a size advantage. Wilson, at 6-9, is Wayne’s only true big man, and it’s not even clear if he’ll be able to play. The next tallest players on the roster are the 6-5 Cochrane, and 6-5 forward Javon Henderson, a redshirt senior. No one else is listed over 6-2. It’s also a short roster in terms of depth—the Warriors list just 11 players on the roster, one of whom, Tim Huguley, will not be eligible until second semester. One thing Wayne does have going for it is maturity: Wilson and Henderson are 22, Ingram and Cochrane just shy of 22, Murray is 21.
For the Titans, we’ll get to see the early leaders in Coach Davis’s effort=playing time philosophy, get some sense of the team’s style of play, and get to see a lot of guys none of us have ever seen on the court. The last two years, the Titans have simply not come to this game (and, frankly, a lot of other games) ready to play. I expect that will have changed, but we’ll see. The questions to which Titan fans seek answers are as basic as they come: Who will start? Who will be in the rotation? Is Curry going to play? Can Antoine Davis shoot as advertised? How will McFolley be used? Does Blackshear look healthy? But perhaps mostly, is this a team, as opposed to a collection of reasonably talented individuals, and how will that difference, it it’s there, play out on the court?
I don’t really know what Wayne will bring, and I can only guess at their starting lineup after Latin Davis, but we can be assured that they’ll be well coached, well-prepared, and fired up to beat their D-I crosstown rival. Wayne has enough juice to give our young Titans a third straight loss in the series, but we’ll hope that these Titans are made of sterner stuff than the last two editions.
This is a double header with the Lady Titans tipping off against Wayne at 5:00. I’m in New Jersey or I’d make the game—it’s up to you guys to make sure we have a good turnout to start the Davis era.
My Guess at Probable Wayne Starters
G – Latin Davis, 6-0 Sr. (7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 apg, 37.0% 3Pt)
G – Darian Owens-White, 6-0 Soph. (2.1 ppg)
G - Karim Murray, 6-1 Jr. (4.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
SF – Xavier Cochrane, 6-5 RS Jr. (0.6 ppg w/ Albany)
C- Tristan Wilson, 6-9 Sr. (4.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg in 2016)
Others
G – Jacob Joubert, 6-3 RS Soph. (0.4 ppg in 7 games w/ Detroit)
G – Marquel Ingram, 6-2 Sr. (played 18 minutes last season)
G – E.J. Haralson, 6-0 RS Soph. (played 24 minutes last season)
F – Javon Henderson, 6-5 RS Jr. (played 11 minutes last season)