William Bailey Legacy

[knox33]

Breaking News

Morehead State University has been on a roller coaster ride since March. Head coach, Kyle Macy resigned after 9 seasons and a dismal 4-23 (3-17) season in the Ohio Valley Conference. In April, Athletic Director Brian Hutchinson announced Donnie Tyndall as the 12th head coach in MSU history. Tyndall, an associate head coach at Middle Tennessee State University and former assistant at Louisiana State University hit the ground running as the new head coach.

Tyndall hit the recruiting trail hard bringing in Kentucky natives Maze Stallworth (6'4 185lbs), Vincent Crutcher (6'4 205lbs), and Dan Penick (6'8 240lbs). Tyndall landed Cecil Brown (5'11 175) out of Michigan and landed JUCO recruits Nikola Stojakovic (6'2 200lbs) from Serbia and Jamyron Steward (6'3 185) out of Georgia.

This past weekend, Coach Tyndall was cited for behavior detrimental to the team. Although it is not known what occured, Tyndall resigned at a press conference before the Eagles first official practice. This news has A.D. Brian Hutchinson scrambling for a new coach. He has plainly stated that he wants none of Tyndall's assistants as an interim coach and is officially looking nationwide for a replacement. Though this news is shocking to the team, none of the players have indicated whether a transfer will follow Tyndall's resignation.
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Press Conference

Just days after the resignation of Donnie Tyndall as the head coach at Morehead State, Athletic Director Brian Hutchinson has officially named William Bailey as the new head coach and the 13th in MSU history. Hutchinson stated, "After looking at several candidates, the university committee and I have decided on William Bailey." Hutchinson also stated that the 31 year old Bailey from Tennessee was on the candidate list after Macy resigned in March and that he could not pass Bailey up again.

William Bailey's resume is impressive at the high school level, but has no experience at the collegiate level. Bailey led his high school team to an impressive 3 consecutive TSSAA 3A championships and an impressive 28-3 record last year along with a 141-19 record over 5 seasons as a head coach. He is known for his charisma and intensity on and off the court, but he is still an unproven coach. Hutchinson denied any comment on whether Radford's second year head coach, Joe Russell, had any affect on the decision. Russell, who led Radford to a 22-8 record and a trip to the NCAA tournament, is good friends with Bailey and wanted Bailey as his assistant coach last year, but hired Aldrin Quadri after Bailey turned him down.

Coach Bailey stated in today's press conference, "I met with the team yesterday and I would love for each of them to play for me here at Morehead State. What happened with Coach Tyndall is a tragedy for these players and I will accomodate them however I can to make this adjustment easy for us all. I am here to win and I expect great things out of this ball club just as each and everyone of you expect great things from me."

Bailey looks to be stuck in a bind because he only has two weeks to get this team ready for their matchup with Pennsylvania State. It may be a tough year recruiting for the Eagles as well with a new and unproven man at the helm. After last years 4-23 record, Bailey inherits a more experience team with 7 new recruits from Tyndale's recruiting class.

[knox33]

Press Conference

Just days after being hired as the new coach of Morehead State, William Bailey has hired two new assistants and is introducing them today. Bailey stated, "Please let me introduce to you Rene Bey. Coach Bey is a known as a solid offensive mind and has many connections with recruits in Kentucky as well as the many states in our region. I am proud to have him on board. Also, let me introduce to you Duane Frank. Coach Frank is known as an excellent scout and also has seen the majority of the talent around our region. Not only are these two men excellent basketball minds, they are also great individuals. Morehead State is lucky to have both of these men to represent this program."

It seems as though Coach Bailey is already attempting to make solid connections with recruits in Kentucky and around the region. Many believe hiring Coach Bey and Frank was an excellent decision on Bailey's part because these two men are known throughout these parts for their close connections with AAU coaches around the circuit and the state.

Coach Bailey also announced today that after several meetings and talks with each player, he is pleased to announce that all of the players have decided to stay with the team. He stated, "It was two weeks before the first game and these boys are excited to play. It came down to them wanting to play for this University and their belief in what I want to do here. We are coming together as a unit and are improving daily in practices."

[kevin2merida]

nice read keep it up.

[knox33]

2006-2007 Morehead State Roster

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'4 185lbs. (Louisville, KY) 56 overall FR
SG #2 Quentin Pryor 6'4 170lbs. (Starkville, MS) 68 overall SR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 5'11 175 (Grand Rapids, MI) 56 overall RS-FR
PG #5 Nikola Stojakovic 6'2 200 (Serbia) 57 overall JR
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'1 180 (Owensboro, KY) 52 overall W-FR
PG #11 Brandon Callahan 6'0 155 (Pine Bluff, AR) 66 overall JR
PF #12 Andreas Coleman 6'6 190 (Decatur, IL) 55 overall RS-FR
SG #14 Jamyron Steward 6'3 185 (Columbus, GA) 60 overall JR
PF #15 Shaun Williams 6'6 216 (Union City, NJ) 72 overall SR
SG #21 Cordaryl Ballard 6'3 185 (Columbus, OH) 60 overall SO
PF #22 Ryan Allen 6'7 215 (Columbus, OH) 56 overall JR
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 205 (Louisville, KY) 59 overall FR
PF #41 Dan Penick 6'8 240 (Lexington, KY) 56 overall FR
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 305 (Richmond, KY) 45 overall W-FR
C #53 Clinton Reisz 6'10 235 (Owensboro, KY) 56 overall SO
Coaches
William Bailey: C overall (1st year)
Rene Bey: C- overall (1st year)
Duane Frank: C overall (1st year)

Coach Bailey is extremely happy about the amount of talent he has inherited. He explained, "I know we don't have much heighth on the roster, but our athleticism is through the roof. My guys are just ready to get out there on the floor and use that athleticism to our advantage." Bailey has high expectations for this team. Morehead State has been projected to finish last in the OVC this year. Anything other than last would be considered successful for Bailey.

[knox33]

Eagles Gives Fans a Show

10/23 Midnight Madness

Sleepy eyed kids watched intently while the Eagles of Morehead State gave the crowd a show tonight at the Johnson Arena. "We just wanted to give the crowd a good show tonight. The guys have been waiting for this night and have been excited about showcasing their talent to the fans," explained Coach Bailey. Johnson Arena had a fairly large attendance compared to last season. The city of Morehead is more anxious than excited about their new coach. A lot of the fans were very impressed with the recruiting exploits of former Coach Tyndale and felt very comfortable with him. Tonight, the city of Morehead, KY is showing a kinder side to Coach Bailey after seeing how well the team played during the intra-squad game tonight. Senior Shaun Williams, a preseason All-OVC member, said, "We're happy with Coach B and the type of system he runs. I think we've come a long way since he's been here and he's instilled a lot of confidence in our new guys as well."

Confidence played a big factor in tonight's matchup. The show was taken over by senior sensation Shaun Williams. Although he only stands at 6'6", he muscled his way around defenders to make incredible plays. He finished the game with 25 points and 8 rebounds. Solid play by senior Quentin Pryor with 13 points and 3 rebounds. True freshmen Maze Stallworth (10 points) and Vincent Crutcher (8 points) showed great athleticism. Bailey stated, "Vincent is just a great athlete. He can throw it down with the best of them. Maze is just a great athlete with those intagibles you just can't coach. Both of these young men will be a vital part of Eagles basketball over their careers here. Big men Clinton Reisz (7 points, 7 rebounds) and Dan Penick (5 points, 4 rebounds) are showing a lot of potential and heart down on the block. The team is looking solid with Williams and Pryor as their leader. This guard dominated team will rely on their quickness, athleticism and defense to have a chance at a respectable season this year. Their first game could be a big lesson for the Eagles as they square off against Penn State. Other news states that freshmen Cecil Brown and Andreas Coleman have declared they will redshirt this season.
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Eagles Shock Nittany Lions

11/10 @ Penn State

Final: 75-71

Tonight, the Morehead State Eagles just shocked everyone with a 75-71 win at Penn State tonight. Shaun Williams was absolutely lights out with 25 points. JUCO newcomer Jamyron Steward played a vital role with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists while true freshman Maze Stallworth came off the bench as a human microwave heating up for 10 points and shooting 3-3 from behind the arc. Coach Bailey said, "the result that we had tonight came from everything these guys have been doing in practice." The Eagles stiffling defense forced 38 turnovers and the Nittany Lions looked unprepared. Williams stated after the game, "We were watching them warm up before the game and it just looked like they weren't taking us seriously. We just wanted to come here and show everybody that we aren't going to be a pushover on anybody's schedule." Look out OVC, we could have a contender on our hands.

Morehead State begins the William Bailey era 1-0.

[knox33]

Bailey and Co.'s Late Run Gets Win

11/13 vs. Kennesaw State

Final: 74-69

Tonight the Morehead State Eagles squared off against the Owls of Kennesaw State in their home opener here in Morehead, KY. After trailing significantly throughout the game, Coach Bailey called a timeout with 8 minutes left in the 2nd half. The Eagles, trailing by 15 points, put their 1-2-2 press on the Owls and the lead started dwindling down. At the 3 minute mark, Quentin Pryor nailed 3 of his 12 points to cut the lead to 1 point. The following two minutes left the homecrowd at Johnson Arena in suspense. Shaun Williams (12 points, 5 steals) had a tough time matching up to the Owls 6'10" center, but drew 2 fouls on their big man and sank all four free throws. As the game sea-sawed back and forth, it all came down to free throws. The Eagles junior point guard, Brandon Callahan was cooler than the other side of the pillow as he nailed five consecutive free throws to close out the game with 8 points, 4 assists and 4 steals. Coach Bailey stated, "Coach Ingle's ball club played a great game tonight. We were fortunate enough the be able to make a late run and knock down our free throws. I'm so proud of our boys and the poise they showed down the stretch. They are only going to get better. We have 7 new guys on the team and 5 of those guys are freshman so we are a young club, but we are showing a lot of potential."

Morehead State is now 2-0.
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Recruiting News

According to 2kprep.com analyst, Lawrence Thouin, Coach Bailey is hot on the recruiting trail. His main priority is Kentucky's Mr. Basketball Maynard Rivera out of Owensboro, KY. The 6'7" 210 lbs 3-star small forward is known for his silky smooth shot and great leaping ability. This guy hustles up and down the floor and could be a prime time player at the Division I level. According the Thouin, "Bailey did not waste any time with Rivera. He immediately made a trip to Owensboro after accepting the Morehead State job. Bailey's main priority is big men. With only two scholarship for the class of '07, Bailey is definitely looking for either a power forward or a center maybe even both if he cannot sign Rivera. Thouin has a list of who Bailey is recruiting heavily.

1. Maynard Rivera 6'7" 210lbs. (Owensboro, KY- #162 overall, #38 SF) Kentucky Mr. Basketball 3*- great athleticism and sweet shot
2. LeCory Bernard 6'11" 240lbs. (Toledo, OH- #175 overall, #31 C) 3*- good hands and solid post skills; can rebound with the best of them
3. Abe Wheless 7'0" 247lbs. (Gary, IN- #314 overall, #52 C) 3*- big man with great defense; has a long way to go, but good potential
4. Pierre Stehly 6'9" 228lbs. (Chicago, IL- #146 overall, #35 SF) 3*- great athlete with explosive leaping ability; what he lacks in speed he makes up for in IQ
5. Vitor Hipsher 7'0" 255lbs. (Melbourne- #225 overall, #40 C) 3*- this world recruit has great offensive skills and a lot of upside; he is a work in progress
6. Prosper Snipes 6'10" 220lbs. (Savannah, GA- #276 overall, #50 C) 3*- very quick for a big man and an explosive leaper; needs work on rebounding
7. Maushae Ireland 6'7" 228lbs. (Roswell, GA- #245 overall, #56 SF) 3*- decent shooter, but a great hustler; solid IQ
8. Aly Webber 6'10" 263lbs. (Fort Wayne, IN- #324 overall, #55 C) 3*- one of the best rebounders around with decent offensive skills; does not hustle very well
9. Roger Ma 6'10" 227lbs. (Chicago, IL- #470 overall, #101 SF) 2*- although he has a lot of heighth, he is not very quick; solid jump shooter
10. Ricardo Bigelow 6'7" 210lbs. (Lexington, KY- #732 overall, #167 SF) 2*- good athlete, but has no apparent strengths; needs a lot of work

Thouin says each of these recruits have high interest in the program, but Bailey may be stretching himself too far. "He has no proven record so far so I am skeptical as to whether Bailey can get some of these recruits. He may be reaching too high and his team may suffer because he is flying out to see these guys and that is taking away from his hands on experience with the team," states Thouin.

[knox33]

Eagles Show Youth in 20 Point Blowout

11/17 @ South Alabama

Final: 61-81

"We just didn't come ready to play. You've gotta hand it to our opponent because they just used their height to their advantage. They were just a bit quicker and a bit more athletic than us. We will just use this loss as a lesson learned," explained Coach Bailey after their 20 point blowout tonight. No doubt the Eagles are disappointed in their showing tonight. They could not hit a shot or handle the ball. It looked more like a high school team playing a college team for the most part. Shaun Williams gave a respectable 15 points and 5 steals performance while big man Ryan Allen exited with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. South Alabama's Sergio Boxley torched the Eagles all night with a 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals performance.

Morehead State falls to 2-1.
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Bailey's Boys Bounce Back

11/21 vs. ETSU

Final: 88-68

True freshman Maze Stallworth lit up the arc by going 5-5 from 3-point range and finished the game with 20 points and 3 steals while Shaun Williams fought his way to 16 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. The hot shooting of Quentin Pryor (13 points, 6 steals) and Brandon Callahan (13 points, 4 assists, 4 steals) helped extend the lead late in the game. Bailey beamed, "The guys were disappointed in themselves with the loss to South Alabama and they used the last 3 days to build their confidence back up through intense practices. They know they can be a good team and they are intent on putting in the time in practice to get themselves where they want to be." ETSU came out firing on all cylinders as did the Eagles, but Morehead State used big defensive spurts to make runs that the Buccaneers just could not come back from. Thus, blow out city.

Morehead State is now 3-1.

[knox33]

Eagles Make it Two in a Row

11/24 @ Fairfield

Final: 69-53

"Tonight was a tough game and we used yet another run from our defense to steal a win here in Connecticut tonight," stated Bailey after the game. The Eagles kept extending the lead little by little through defensive spurts and pure hustle. Morehead State could not go wrong with Shaun Williams 14 points and 4 steals. Jamyron Steward (11 points, 2 steals), Brandon Callahan (11 points, 6 steals), and Ryan Allen (8 points, 7 steals, 4 rebounds) used their defensive prowess to get easy buckets in transition. The Eagles are currently on a 2 game winning streak.

Morehead State is now 4-1.
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Eagles Get 1st Home Loss

11/29 vs. Marshall

Final: 59-72

Tonight, the Morehead State faced Marshall at Johnson Arena. The Eagles, whose 2 game winning streak was snapped, had difficulty getting any type of offense going against a talented Marshall team. "Marshall just took it to us and played our own game better than us," explained Coach Bailey. Marshall's Earv Simmons powered his way to 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals. Maze Stallworth led the team with 12 points and 4 steals (4-8 3-point shooting) and Shaun Williams exited the game with a less than stellar 10 points and 5 assists effort. Williams said, "I just couldn't get anything going tonight and I take full blame for how we played because I know how much the guys feed off of me."

Morehead State falls to 4-2.
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Eagles Handle Western Illinois

12/2 @ Western Illinois

Final: 59-44

Shaun Williams owned the gym tonight as the Eagles cruised past their opponent. "It seemed like he could do no wrong," beamed Coach Bailey. Williams led the Eagles with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Freshman Maze Stallworth caught fire in the 2nd half scoring all 9 of his points on a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc. The Eagles bounce back after a disappointing showing against Marshall just days earlier.

Morehead State is now 5-2.
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Recruiting Woes for Bailey

12/3 Signing Period

What looked like a promising class for Coach Bailey turned out to be a bitter day. According to 2kprep.com analyst, Lawrence Thouin, Morehead State's #1 target signed his letter of intent elsewhere. Kentucky's Mr. Basketball, Maynard Rivera committed to play for MTSU. Along with Rivera, Coach Bailey's #7 recruit, Maushae Ireland, also signed with MTSU. Thouin stated, "Today was not a happy day for Coach Bailey. With Rivera and Ireland signing with MTSU, Bailey's top candidate (LeCory Bernard) to replace Shaun Williams signed with Ohio while his #2 candidate, Abe Wheless, has signed with Morehead State's rival, IPFW. It looks as if Bailey is targeting world recruit, Vitor Hipsher and Indiana native, Aly Webber. Small forwards Pierre Stehly, Roger Ma, and Ricardo Bigelow are still targets, but are not getting the same attention as Hipsher and Webber. With Morehead State's rebounding woe's, I can see Bailey is serious about recruiting post men." Thouin also listed two JUCO players in the mix.

According to Thouin, Bailey's new list consists of:

1. Aly Webber 6'10" 263lbs. (Fort Wayne, IN- #324 overall, #55 C) 3*
3. Vitor Hipsher 7'0" 255lbs. (Melbourne- #225 overall, #40 C) 3*
4. Pierre Stehly 6'9" 228lbs. (Chicago, IL- #146 overall, #35 SF) 3*
5. Prosper Snipes 6'10" 220lbs. (Savannah, GA- #276 overall, #50 C) 3*
6. Tamal Collins 6'10" 227lbs. (Lithuania-JUCO Sophomore) 3*
7. Maceo Ingle 6'11" 233lbs. (Charleston, WV- JUCO Sophomore) 3*
8. Roger Ma 6'10" 227lbs. (Chicago, IL- #470 overall, #101 SF) 2*
9. Ricardo Bigelow 6'7" 210lbs. (Lexington, KY- #732 overall, #167 SF) 2*

[soccerballer16]

NICE! im following

[CHOOPSWILDCAT]

You've done a great job at making this extremely realistic. I enjoy reading your posts.

[knox33]

Eagles Pound Govenors

12/7 vs. Austin Peay

Final: 78-45

The Eagles opened up conference play tonight against the Austin Peay Governors in Johnson Arena. The game started at a fast pace with the Eagles jumping out to an 11-0 run to begin the game. Coach Bailey explained, "Everything was falling for us tonight and the guys were filling in the passing lanes better than ever." Morehead State's defense was impressive to say the least by forcing 32 turnovers that includes 19 in the second half. Shaun Williams led the team with 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Maze Stallworth keeps impressing coaches with his stellar offensive exploits exiting the game with 15 points and 2 steals. Big man Ryan Allen powered his way to 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals while Nikola Stojakovic gave a rousing 10 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists performance. The Eagles win their second straight game after falling at home to Marshall. On a more serious note, senior Quentin Pryor has strained his achilles tendon and is projected to be out for atleast 3 weeks. Morehead State begins their OVC schedule 1-0.

Morehead State is now 6-2 (1-0).
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Morehead State Wins Again

12/9 vs. Murray State

Final: 60-39

Coach Bailey announced, "We are playing incredible basketball right now. Murray State is a great team that just got frustrated by our defense. If we can keep this up, there is no telling how good this team can be." While every player for Morehead State got in the game, Shaun Williams paced the Eagles with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals. Williams continues to put up OVC Player of the Year numbers. His strong performance helped relieve any type of run Murray State had in the 2nd half. Quentin Pryor sat in street clothes tonight as he cheered on his teammates from the bench. The loss of Pryor did not seem as detrimental as most thought with tonight's big win. Tonight's win gives Bailey his 2nd win in OVC play.

Morehead State is now 7-2 (2-0).
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Free Throws Seal Win For Eagles

12/18 @ Tennessee-Martin

Final: 77-69

Following their win in Martin, TN, Coach Bailey explained, "Both teams play very similar games and it was a dog fight throughout. Fortunately, the free throws went down for us in the end and not for them." Shaun Williams dominated the paint with a 25 points and 5 steals performance while shooting 10-12 from the charity strip. Ryan Allen followed with an impressive 12 points and 3 steals outing. Freshman big man Dan Penick is showing great progress by tallying 12 points in tonight's win. Bailey and Co. are a perfect 3-0 in OVC play so far this season.

Morehead State is now 8-2 (3-0).

[knox33]

Eagles Run Away With Win

12/20 @ Eastern Illinois

Final: 67-55

Freshman Maze Stallworth could not be stopped as he came off the bench and scorched Eastern Illinois for 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. His big play was complimented by senior sensation Shaun Williams' 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Starting point guard Brandon Callahan came up big in the final minutes with 9 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals. "Tonight we got a solid win on the road. This is the type of performance we need to build some confidence for our young players," beamed Coach Bailey after the game.

Morehead State is now 9-2 (4-0)
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Eagles Win Again

12/30 vs. Central Michigan

Final: 79-68

After going a perfect 4-0 in OVC play, Morehead State brings in non-conference Central Michigan in an exciting game at Johnson Arena. "Tonight was a good win with the exception of losing Ryan Allen. The trainers have confirmed it is a broken nose," explained Coach Bailey. In Quentin Pryor's first game back with a 12 points, 4 steals, and 3 rebounds, starting power forward Ryan Allen left with a broken nose. Despite losing Allen, Shaun Williams exited with 17 points and 3 rebounds while Jamyron Steward tallied 12 points and 3 steals. Filling in for Allen, Clinton Reisz used his 6'10" frame to power in 10 points and grab 4 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 10-2 (4-0)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Eagles Win Against Highly Favored Tigers

1/2 vs. Tennessee State

Final: 79-60

"Tonight was supposed to give us a measuring stick as to how we match up against the OVC elite and we came away from this game thinking are we this good or are they this bad?," stated a confused Coach Bailey. Tonight's blowout against the projected #1 team of the OVC came with several highlights from Shaun Williams (19 points, 3 rebounds). Starting at center, Clinton Reisz impressed everyone with a solid 10 points and 9 rebounds while the injured Ryan Allen came off the bench tonight with 10 points and 4 steals. This extends the Eagles winning streak to seven games.

Morehead State is now 11-2 (5-0).

[knox33]

TN Tech Hand Bailey First OVC Loss

1/6 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 70-80

Despite Shaun Williams 21 points and 3 rebounds, the Eagles could not get much of an offense going. "We struggled all night. This team can't keep relying on Shaun to carry us. We desperately need more of our veterans to step up," exclaimed a heated Coach Bailey. Freshman Vincent Crutcher was one of the few players to step up tonight with 10 points. Starting guard Cordaryl Ballard exited with 8 points. Golden Eagle point guard Eddie McCormich looked like a "jack of all trades" with his 12 points, 7 assists, and 5 steals.

Morehead State falls to 11-3 (5-1).
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Eagles Handle Rival Eastern Kentucky

1/11 @ Eastern Kentucky

Final: 65-52

"This is one of the biggest wins of my career. We came into a hostile, rival environment and we showed a lot of poise against a solid ball club," stated Coach Bailey. With every Eagle getting into the score book, Shaun Williams paced the team with a game high 18 points and 4 rebounds while Quentin Pryor tacked 8 points. Still injured Ryan Allen remains strong despite still coming off the bench with 8 points in tonight's big win. Coach Bailey and Co. are proving to be a force in the OVC and Bailey looks like the hottest coach in the OVC.

Morehead State is now 12-3 (6-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------UT-Martin Get Revenge

1/13 vs. Tennessee Martin

Final: 54-64

Freshman Skyhawk P.J. Chan played an excellent game with 12 points and 10 rebounds en route to a big win against the top team in the OVC. "We thought we were a good team, but this just shows us that you can't sleep on any team. The OVC has too many teams that are the same caliber as us and we overlooked the Skyhawks," explained Coach Bailey. Shaun Williams put up a lack luster 14 points and 4 rebounds while Cordaryl Ballard struggled for 8 points in tonight's loss.

Morehead State falls to 12-4 (6-2).

[knox33]

Eagle Bounce Back with Win

1/18 @ Samford

Final: 73-66

Shaun Williams bounced back with 18 points and 5 rebounds while freshman small forward Vincent Crutcher tallied 12 points. Ryan Allen does not let a broken nose hinder his play as he tallied 9 points and grabbed 3 rebounds. "They are a fast team," exclaimed Coach Bailey. "Samford is one of those teams you cannot sleep on because they can run with the best of them. We were fortunate enough to knock down free throws at crucial points in the game.

Morehead State is now 13-4 (7-2).
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Jacksonville State No Match for Eagles

1/20 @ Jacksonville State

Final: 74-52

Defense was the name of the game tonight as Morehead State dominated Jacksonville State. "I've stressed about defense the last couple of practices and the guys showed just how much work they've put into it," stated Coach Bailey. Shaun Williams lit his opponent up for 20 points and 5 rebounds. Jamyron Steward (10 points) and Ryan Allen (8 points, 3 rebounds) both had solid performances in tonight's win.

Morehead State is now 14-4 (8-2).
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OVC Standings

1. Morehead State 14-4 (8-2)
2. Southeast Missouri State 10-8 (8-3)
3. Samford 9-9 (6-4)
4. Tennessee Tech 8-8 (6-4)
5. Tennessee State 11-7 (5-4)
6. Tennessee-Martin 9-11 (5-6)
7. Austin Peay 8-7 (4-5)
8. Eastern Kentucky 8-8 (4-6)
9. Jacksonville State 6-10 (4-6)
10. Murray State 5-11 (3-7)
11. Eastern Illinois 5-15 (3-9)

Leaders

Points- Shaun Williams (Morehead State): 17.4 ppg
Rebounds- Wesley Burnett (Tennessee State): 9.0 rpg
Assists- Booker Whithers (Austin Peay): 7.0 apg
Steals- Cordaryl Ballard (Morehead State): 6.2 spg
Blocks- Clifton Waller (Austin Peay): 1.4 bpg

[knox33]

Recruiting News

According to 2kprep.com's Lawrence Thouin, Morehead State's head coach William Bailey has his sights locked on 3 targets. His #1 priority is Fort Wayne, IN's Aly Webber. The 6'10" 263lbs. center is wrecking havoc in the high school ranks. It seems as if this guy has fallen under the radar and Coach Bailey is just soaking it up. In a recent interview with Webber's high school coach, he revealed that Morehead State and East Tennessee State are in a dead heat for him.

Bailey's 2nd priority is Aussie big man, Vitor Hipsher. Hipsher is a native of Melbourne and one of Austrailia's better players. He has also fallen under the radar and has not gotten any offers from major colleges. Bailey noticed Hipsher in a pickup game while vacationing in Austrailia last summer.

Kentucky's own Ricardo Bigelow looks ready to sign with the Eagles, but has yet to show signs of consistency during his high school games and his defense seems suspect. Bailey is holding off on Bigelow with hopes set on landing one or both of his big men. If Webber or Hipsher decide to sign elsewhere, Bailey could find himself scrambling for lower level talent in the spring.

[knox33]

Eagles Escape in Overtime

1/25 vs. Southeast Missouri

Final: 77-69 (OT)

It seemed hopeless for the Eagles in the final minutes. With only 4 minutes remaining in the game, the Eagles found themselves down by 10 points. Enter Shaun Williams: Williams completely took control of the game by demanding the ball and powered his way to tying the game in the final minute with a pair of free throws. The Eagles commanding defense locked up OT as Williams led the team with a career high 39 points and 2 rebounds. Ryan Allen tallied 11 points and 2 rebounds while Brandon Callahan exited with 8 points and 11 steals.

Morehead State is now 15-4 (9-2).
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Eagles Frustrate Eastern Illinois

1/27 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 75-55

Shaun Williams led the team with 20 points and 4 rebounds and Quentin Pryor knocked down 11 points and 2 rebounds. Jamyron Steward helped the team with 8 points, 4 steals, and 2 assists. "Tonight was a great win and the guys used their defense to control the pace of the game," explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles extend their win streak to four games.

Morehead State is now 16-4 (10-2).
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Tennessee Tech Sweeps Series

1/29 @ Tennessee Tech

Final: 84-94

Junior point guard Nikola Stojakovic has been a steady back up to Brandon Callahan (7 points, 7 assists), but left the game tonight with a high ankle sprain and may be out for a month. Despite Shaun Williams 22 points and 3 rebounds, the Eagles struggled early and could not comeback from a double-digit deficit. The lead was cut to 5 points in the final minute, but the Golden Eagles knocked down key free throws to seal the win. Quentin Pryor left the game with 17 points and 10 steals while Maze Stallworth tallied 13 points in tonight's loss.

Morehead State falls to 16-5 (10-3).

[knox33]

Press Conference

In a press conference today, Coach Bailey was asked about his transition into the college game as well as how it feels to be one of the hottest college coaches today. "Well, the task at first seemed a little daunting, but the guys have made it easy for me. I inherited a talented group of guys that needed confidence and were hungry to win. The system we've ran seems to be a perfect fit for the guys individual talents and it has proven to be very positive for the team. I really can't take credit for what the guys do. They are an incredible group of players that have made my adjustment to the college ranks so much easier. Also, the coaching staff and I have been in hot pursuit on the recruiting trail and it has been a learning process everyday. We've lost some early and thats ok. I have a feeling we can build something special here.

When asked how it feels to be one of today's hottest coaches Bailey replied, "Its an honor to even be mentioned in that category. There are so many great coaches out there, especially in the OVC and I'm thrilled to even be considered. I try not to listen to whats being written about me because there will be good and bad. I just try to take it all in stride and hope this incredible ride doesn't end too soon."

[knox33]

Eagles Sweep In-State Rival

2/1 vs. Eastern Kentucky

Final: 67-59

"The Colonels came to play tonight," stated Coach Bailey. "They seemed to handle our pressure well the first half, but it was that small run in the second half that helped us over the hump and we overcame them with free throws in the end." Maze Stallworth put on a show for the homecrowd by lighting up the Colonels for 21 points and 3 rebounds. Shaun Williams gave another solid performance tonight with 18 points and 4 rebounds while big man Clinton Reisz exited with 8 points and 3 rebounds. The Eagles seemed to struggle as of late with their loss against Tennessee Tech and their weak performance tonight.

Morehead State is now 17-5 (11-3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win Close One

2/8 @ Southeast Missouri State

Final: 66-59

In their last meeting, Shaun Williams single-handedly took over the game en route to an overtime victory at Johnson Arena. Tonight, a more balanced attack by the Eagles landed them a win against a very good Southeast Missouri team. "Coach Edgar really keyed in on Shaun tonight and we struggled. The most surprising thing tonight was Maze and Vincent stepping up for us in key moments," stated Coach Bailey. Maze Stallworth keeps impressing as he steps in for injured Nikola Stojakovic as he nailed five three pointers for 15 points and 2 rebounds while freshman Vincent Crutcher really put his athleticism to use for 8 points and 3 assists. The future is looking bright for the Eagles.

Morehead State is now 18-5 (12-3).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murray State Takes Eagles to the Wire

2/10 @ Murray State

Final: 73-71

"Once again, Shaun stepped up for us again in crunch time. I don't know what we are going to do without him next season. Him and Quentin (Pryor) are the heart and soul of this team. Although Quentin doesn't fill up the stat books, he does all the intangibles that keep this team glued together," explained Coach Bailey. Williams had an outstanding 33 points and 3 rebounds with 12 of them coming in the final 3 minutes of the game. Maze Stallworth (8 points, 2 rebounds) and Vincent Crutcher (9 points, 2 rebounds) stepped up again when the team needed it the most. Clinton Reisz keeps his starting job secure with 8 points and 3 rebounds in the win.

Morehead State is now 19-5 (13-3).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Handle Jacksonville State

2/13 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 75-61

"We didn't take our foot off the gas pedal all night long," beamed Coach Bailey after his 14 point win and his fourth victory in a row. Shaun Williams keeps putting up Player of the Year numbers with 29 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Senior Quentin Pryor showed his shooting touch tonight by tallying 10 points and 2 rebounds. Maze Stallworth (9 points) and Vincent Crutcher (8 points, 5 rebounds) keep playing solid and making themselves leaders for the team. Clinton Reisz grabbed 11 rebounds while exiting with 6 points. The Eagles are looking to lock up the OVC title if they can win the final 3 games of the season. Coach Bailey celebrated his first 20 win season tonight. What an incredible accomplishment for him and this team who just a year ago finished 4-23 overall and 3-17 in OVC play under Kyle Macy. Most thought this would be a dismal season after the resignation of Donnie Tyndale, but this team with William Bailey at the helm has accomplished what no one expected.

Morehead State is now 20-5 (14-3).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey and Co. Make it 5 Straight

2/15 vs. Samford

Final: 73-49

Tonight the Bulldogs got bullied around by the Eagles of Morehead State during Senior Night. The Samford that got beat by 24 points tonight looked nothing like the team that lost by only 7 points less than a month ago. "They folded under the pressure. I'm glad we are getting more fans in the stands and thats making Johnson Arena one of the toughest places to play. The crowd added so much to the confidence of the guys tonight," stated Coach Bailey. With a commanding lead, Shaun Williams still powered in 12 points and 3 rebounds in limited action. Quentin Pryor (12 points, 2 assists), Maze Stallworth (12 points, 3 rebounds), and Ryan Allen (10 points, 4 steals) paced the Eagles tonight as everyone got plenty of playing time tonight. Big man Clinton Reisz had his best all-around performance of his career with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks in tonight's blowout win. Tonight was a great win for both Williams and Pryor in their final regular season game here at Johnson Arena in a Morehead State uniform. Bailey's boys face Austin Peay and Tennessee State in their final two games of the season. The Eagles blew both teams out by an average of 26 points.

Morehead State is now 21-5 (15-3).

[lawcutta]

Nice thread!

[knox33]

Nice thread!

I appreciate everyone thats following the thread! And for anyone who cares, I'm playing every game with 14 min. halves and MOP difficulty. I try to play everything as real as possible with the exception of the steals that I get in this game. If I apply any type of pressure on the defensive end (whether with a controlled player or a cpu player), I still wind up with a ton of steals a game. I've actually had to take my press off for most of the games to keep the scores from being a blowout.

[sublime8992]

If you wanna get rid of those steals where the ballhandler just like falls to the ground and loses the ball, try upping User and CPU ballhandling to 52-55, seems to get rid of it with point guards and shooting guards.

[knox33]

That only happens on the 360 version as far as I know. I'm playing on the PS2 version and it's pretty much exactly like 2k6. The problem I'm having is the computer passing the ball into the back of their teammate and my guys picking the pass off. Just the little things like that. I feel like I can't apply any pressure on the opposition without getting an unrealistic amount of steals for the game. My players are actually getting a lot of steals, but I just don't want to plug them into the reports because it's too unrealistic.

[knox33]

Eagles Clinch OVC Title

2/22 @ Tennessee State

Final: 67-53

"We knew it was going to be a hard game, but Maze Stallworth's run in the 2nd half helped us extend and hold our lead to seal the game," explained Coach Bailey. Stallworth shot a lackluster 4-13 from behind the arc, but his 9 points in four possessions helped give the Eagles a 13 point lead that the Tigers could not overcome. Stallworth ended the game with 16 points and 5 steals. Shaun Williams exited the game with a hard fought 13 points and 5 rebounds while Cordaryl Ballard tallied 10 points and 8 steals.

Morehead State is now 22-5 (16-3).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles End Regular Season With Win

2/24 @ Austin Peay

Final: 72-57

The Eagles put up a gutsy performance tonight at Austin Peay. Coach Bailey said, "Austin Peay did a great job of containing Shaun in the 1st half, but we adjusted our game plan and were able to pull out the win in the end." Williams scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half. He also grabbed 6 rebounds. Freshman Vincent Crutcher wowed the crowd with 2 highlight dunks and left the game with 10 points and 2 rebounds. Jamyron Steward (9 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) and Quentin Pryor (9 points, 3 rebounds) helped pace the Eagles in the first half to keep the score close. With this win, Coach Bailey and the Eagles end the regular season as the top team in the OVC and are a projected #10 seed in the NCAA Tournament according to 2K Sports Bracketology.

Morehead State is now 23-5 (17-3).
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OVC Final Standings

1. Morehead State 23-5 (17-3)
2. Southeast Missouri State 17-10 (15-5)
3. Tennessee Tech 16-10 (14-6)
4. Tennessee State 19-10 (13-7)
5. Tennessee-Martin 15-14 (11-9)
6. Austin Peay 14-12 (10-10)
7. Samford 13-15 (10-10)
8. Eastern Illinois 8-20 (6-14)
9. Eastern Kentucky 9-17 (5-15)
10. Jacksonville State 7-19 (5-15)
11. Murray State 6-20 (4-16)

Leaders

Points- Shaun Williams (Morehead State): 19.2 ppg
Rebounds- Wesley Burnett (Tennessee State): 10.1 rpg
Assists- Booker Whithers (Austin Peay): 7.0 apg
Steals- Brandon Callahan (Morehead State): 5.8 spg
Blocks- Clifton Waller (Austin Peay): 1.5 bpg

[knox33]

Press Conference

In his first season as the Morehead State head coach, Coach Bailey is entering the OVC Tournament as the top seed and is projected to make it to the NCAA Tournament in just his first try. "I'm absolutely thrilled about how well the team has performed. This is just a dream come true and we are playing our best basketball now." When asked how he is going to win the tournament and make it the the Big Dance, Bailey said, "We are just trying to take each game one at a time. I've told them that the regular season doesn't matter, if we lose tomorrow against Eastern Illinois we are done. That is the downside of playing in a smaller conference. We don't get at-large bids very often. The mid-major poll has us at #6, but that holds no value when it comes to getting into the tournament."

When asked what has been the difference between his first year as head coach and Billy Kennedy's first year at Murray going 6-20 (4-16). "Billy is a great coach and he was put into a tough situation where his players aren't responding as well as he would like. I know Bill and he's going to be ok in the years to come. He has a great basketball mind and he's an intense competitor. I was just blessed with a team that is hungry to win and has responded well to what I've come here to do. I really wouldn't be here without Shaun (Williams) and Quentin (Pryor). Shaun is the clear leader of the team and he's averaging close to 20 ppg. He is the top candidate for OVC Player of the Year in my opinion. Quentin does everything well. He can score, rebound, and pass. Just whatever you need from him he will get done. We are losing the heart and soul of this team and its going to take a lot to replace the shoes they're leaving."

[knox33]

Eagels Get Past First Round

2/27 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 75-44

"Tonight was not what we expected," said Coach Bailey. "I know we were playing at home, but we all thought the Panthers were going to give us a run for our money." The actual result was anything but competitive. The Eagles completely dismantled Eastern Illinois from start to finish. Shaun Williams put up 16 points, 8 steals, and 6 rebounds in limited action while the reserves got plenty of experience. Quentin Pryor showed his leadership with 10 points and 2 rebounds while Maze Stallworth tallied 12 points on a horrid shooting night. Morehead State is going to play Tennessee State in the second round.

Morehead State is now 24-5 (17-3).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Head to Championship

3/2 vs. Tennessee State

Final: 72-53

"Tonight was basically a home game for Tennessee State," explained Coach Bailey. I thought they would come at us a little harder tonight especially since we beat them last week. They did a good job of containing Shaun last week, but he really wanted to get going early on and thats exactly what he did." Tonight in Nashville, Shaun Williams continually found a way to score tonight and his 30 points and 7 rebounds made the difference in the game. Cordaryl Ballard also picked his shots wisely and was able to help the team with 8 points and 3 rebounds. Everyone got plenty of playing time tonight, but Williams dominant performance helped take the pressure off the rest of the players. The championship game will be held here in Nashville and the Morehead State Eagles will be facing the Samford Bulldogs for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Morehead State is now 25-5 (17-3).

[goDawgs1433]

nice man...I like this alot. Williams is a monster, he can do everything. good luck in the finals

[knox33]

Recruiting News

In season recruiting was officially over on 2/25 and according to 2kprep.com analyst, Lawrence Thouin, the Eagles of Morehead State look like they are in a favorable position for the spring. Thouin states, "Aly Webber has confirmed that Morehead State is his clear leader and looks to commit to the Eagles early in the spring signing period. He is absolutely ferocious on the glass and his offensive skills are only getting better. Webber also confirmed that Bailey and Assistant Coaches Frank and Bey relentlessly recruited him and never let up."

Thouin also stated that Melbourne product Vitor Hipsher is starting to warm up to Coach Bailey and Morehead, KY. "In a recent phone interview with Vitor he told me that he really likes Coach Bailey and the program, but he is very hesitant about leaving Austrailia and his family. Although there are no major programs looking at Hipsher, he is a very capable player and could have been a top 150 player if he were given the right exposure. Morehead State is his clear leader, but it may take him until the late signing period to be convinced to leave Austrailia for Morehead, KY."

Other news has Ricardo Bigelow having Furman as his leader because the Eagles were not pursuing him as heavily as he wanted. Also, prospect Prosper Snipes, a center out of Georgia is gaining a lot of attention from Morehead State. Thouin states, "With Hipsher unclear as to whether he will sign with the Eagles, Coach Bailey has put a late push toward Snipes. Snipes has Georgia Southern as his leader, but is giving serious consideration to Bailey with the success the Eagles have garnered this season."

[knox33]

Bailey and Co. Headed for the Big Dance

3/3 vs. Samford

Final: 63-56

"It's a little hard to take it all in right now," beamed Coach Bailey after the game. "I'm so proud of how these guys pulled together this season." Tonight was the Shaun Williams show as he took control of the game with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Maze Stallworth helped lead the attack with 8 points and Quentin Pryor had a solid performance with 7 points, 7 steals, and 2 assists. In just his first season, William Bailey has led this Eagles team to the top of the OVC and has earned a spot in the field of 65.

Morehead State is now 26-5 (17-3).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

Coach Bailey stated in today's press conference, "This has been our goal from day 1. The coaches and I did not know what this type of success looked like because none of us had ever been in this type of situation. What we did know was that if we all worked together toward one goal and try our best, we could not be disappointed in our results."

Earlier today the Morehead State Eagles were given a #9 seed in the St. Louis bracket and will play in Rupp Arena against #8 seed Iowa State in the first round. Bailey commented, "I'm really excited about the fact that we aren't playing very far from home. This is almost like a home game for us and I think the guys are ready for it." It is not too much of a stretch to believe that Coach Bailey can get past Iowa State, but if they do it will inevitably put them up against the defending National Champions Florida Gators in the second round at Rupp Arena.

[knox33]

Eagles Upset Cyclones

3/16 vs. #8 seed Iowa State

Final: 73-67

Tonight's first round matchup between Iowa State and Morehead State looked to be a classic in the making. Neither team could get much of an advantage throughout the game and the Eagles Shaun Williams struggled against his larger opponents. Williams used his 6'6" frame to power in 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Cordaryl Ballard stepped his game up tonight for 12 points and Clinton Reisz has continually improved his game since stepping into the starting lineup with 10 points and 2 rebounds. "We're living the dream right now, but we don't have long to celebrate because we've got a tough matchup ahead," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 27-5 (17-3).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defending Champs End Cinderella Run

3/18 vs. #1 seed Florida

Final: 69-76

An undersized Eagles team gave it all they had against the defending national champs. "We did everything we could do, but they were just a little more athletic, a little faster, and a little taller than us. I know this doesn't help the hurt we are all feeling or the fact that Shaun (Williams) and Quentin (Pryor) have just played their final game, but we showed we can play with the best in the nation tonight," commented Coach Bailey. Shaun Williams just could not get anything going tonight and shot a dismal 5-18 from the field and left the game with 13 points and 4 rebounds. True freshman Maze Stallworth played the game of his life as he poured in 24 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Most of his points came during crucial points in the game as he single-handedly kept the Eagles close. Jamyron Steward's play (11 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) helped the Eagles tie the game 36-36 at the half. Quentin Pryor and Shaun Williams, the leader of the team, combined for 6-29 shooting from the field. Coach Bailey and Morehead State's Cinderella season comes to an end tonight.

Morehead State ends the season 27-6 (17-3).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Awards

National Champions- Syracuse 28-11 (9-7)
National Coach of the Year- Jim Boeheim (Syracuse)
National Player of the Year- Earnest Chase (LSU)
2K Sports Player of the Year- Earnest Chase (LSU)

OVC Awards
OVC Conference Champions- Morehead State
OVC Tournament Champions- Morehead State
OVC Coach of the Year- Billy Kennedy (Murray State)
OVC Player of the Year- Shaun Williams (Morehead State)
OVC Freshman of the Year- Abdul Oneil (Southeast Missouri)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

Murray State's Billy Kennedy walked away with the OVC Coach of the Year award while going 6-20 (4-16) this season. The nation and the rest of the OVC is shocked as the worst team's coach gets the prestigious Coach of the Year award and the best team's coach gets the shaft. Bailey replied, "I'm not worried about those kind of accolades. It would have been an honor to get that award, but I'm sure the committee saw something in Coach Kennedy to honor him in that way. I'm more worried about getting back on the recruiting trail and signing impact players than winning this award."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morehead State 2006-2007 Season Recap

Record: 27-6 (17-3)
OVC Regular Season Champions
OVC Tournament Champions
OVC Player of the Year: Shaun Williams
1st Team All-OVC: Shaun Williams
Freshman All-OVC: Maze Stallworth, Vincent Crutcher
NCAA most steals: Brandon Callahan (5.7 spg)

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'4 185lbs. (Louisville, KY) 57 overall FR
SG #2 Quentin Pryor 6'4 170lbs. (Starkville, MS) 68 overall SR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 5'11 175 (Grand Rapids, MI) 56 overall RS-FR
PG #5 Nikola Stojakovic 6'2 200 (Serbia) 57 overall JR
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'1 180 (Owensboro, KY) 52 overall W-FR
PG #11 Brandon Callahan 6'0 155 (Pine Bluff, AR) 66 overall JR
PF #12 Andreas Coleman 6'6 190 (Decatur, IL) 55 overall RS-FR
SG #14 Jamyron Steward 6'3 185 (Columbus, GA) 60 overall JR
PF #15 Shaun Williams 6'6 216 (Union City, NJ) 72 overall SR
SG #21 Cordaryl Ballard 6'3 185 (Columbus, OH) 61 overall SO
PF #22 Ryan Allen 6'7 215 (Columbus, OH) 57 overall JR
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 205 (Louisville, KY) 60 overall FR
PF #41 Dan Penick 6'8 240 (Lexington, KY) 57 overall FR
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 305 (Richmond, KY) 46 overall W-FR
C #53 Clinton Reisz 6'10 235 (Owensboro, KY) 57 overall SO

Coaches
William Bailey: C overall (1st year)
Rene Bey: C- overall (1st year)
Duane Frank: C overall (1st year)

[knox33]

Recruiting News

4/9- First Day of Spring Signing

Today, Fort Wayne, IN native Aly Webber officially committed to Morehead State. Webber is known for his ability to rebound and defend. Although his body is not made for the Eagles fast paced game, he will make an immediate impact on the boards and will be a true presence on the inside next season. Coach Bailey commented, "A lot of people overlooked Aly, but we saw some qualities in him that could really help our team out. Everybody knows he can rebound, but with a little fine tuning, his offensive skills can rapidly develop."

A look at Coach Bailey's first official recruit:
Aly Webber 6'10" 263lbs. (Fort Wayne, IN- #324 overall, #55 C) 3*
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting News

5/13- Final Day of Spring Signing

With Prosper Snipes close to signing with Morehead State, Vitor Hipsher made a last minute call and told Coach Bailey he has decided to leave Melbourne for Morehead, KY. Snipes later commited to Georgia Southern today as Vitor Hipsher officially commited to the Eagles. Hipsher is a work in progress, but has a lot of upside. Coach Bailey states, "Vitor is a man among boys. It may take him a while to get adjusted to the college game, but he is going to be something special here. I knew it from the first time I saw him play. This kid could be the answer to Shaun Williams absence next season."

A look at Coach Bailey's final recruit:
Vitor Hipsher 7'0" 255lbs. (Melbourne- #225 overall, #40 C) 3*

Other News

2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin has an official list as to the juniors Coach Bailey and his assistants have been recruiting this season. Although he has high interest on many, he is going to see how they perform during the summer AAU circuit before he makes a decision on who he is targeting for his short list. The clear needs for the team will be a point guard, small forward, and another athletic big man. According to Thouin, Bailey has recruited the following all season:

PG Miles Cottrill 5'8 158 (Columbus, OH) 3*
PF Deke Jolly 6'8 228 (Chicago, IL) 3*
SG Albert Scott 6'8 178 (Detroit, MI) 3*
PG Alex Emerson 6'0 165 (Milwaukee, WI) 3*
SG Ralph St. Fort 6'8 182 (Nashville, TN) 3*
SG Anthony Stockman 6'6 194 (Baltimore, MD) 3*
SF Clifford Assel 6'7 210 (Memphis, TN) 3*
SF Maynard Estrada 6'6 204 (Memphis, TN) 3*
SF Jonathan Hipsher 6'7 210 (Philadelphia, PA) 3*
SF Mohamed Abukar Rohde 6'5 212 (Philadelphia, PA) 3*

[knox33]

2007-2008 Morehead State Roster

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'5 192 (Louisville, KY) 59 overall SO
PG #4 Cecil Brown 5'11 177 (Grand Rapids, MI) 57 overall FR
PG #5 Nikola Stojakovic 6'2 210 (Serbia) 58 overall SR
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'2 187 (Owensboro, KY) 54 overall W-SO
PG #11 Brandon Callahan 6'0 161 (Pine Bluff, AR) 68 overall SR
PF #12 Andreas Coleman 6'6 194 (Decatur, IL) 55 overall FR
SG #14 Jamyron Steward 6'3 185 (Columbus, GA) 62 overall SR
PF #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 268 (Melbourne) 67 overall FR
SG #21 Cordaryl Ballard 6'4 191 (Columbus, OH) 63 overall JR
PF #22 Ryan Allen 6'7 215 (Columbus, OH) 58 overall SR
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 211 (Louisville, KY) 63 overall SO
PF #41 Dan Penick 6'8 245 (Lexington, KY) 59 overall SO
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 320 (Richmond, KY) 48 overall W-SO
C #50 Aly Webber 6'11 263 (Fort Wayne, IN) 65 overall FR
C #53 Clinton Reisz 6'10 237 (Owensboro, KY) 60 overall JR

Coaches
William Bailey: C+ overall (2nd year)
Rene Bey: C- overall (2nd year)
Duane Frank: C overall (2nd year)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting Class

With the signing of Vitor Hipsher and Aly Webber, Coach Bailey's Eagles have landed the best recruiting class in the OVC. 2kprep.com has the Eagles as the #100 best recruiting class in the nation.

OVC Recruiting Classes
1. Morehead State
2. Tennessee State
3. Tennessee Tech
4. Samford
5. Eastern Illinois
6. Eastern Kentucky
7. Tennessee-Martin
8. Jacksonville State
9. Austin Peay
10. Murray State
11. Southeast Missouri
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting News

After a long summer, 2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin has given an official list of Coach Bailey's new recruits. Many players have played as well as expected while some have exceeded expectations and others have declined. Coach Bailey was spotted at IUPUI's 2K Sports Intermediate camp looking hard at Chicago power forward Deke Jolly and Nashville shooting guard Ralph St. Fort.

1. Deke Jolly 6'9 233 (Chicago, IL- #191 overall, #53 PF) 4*
2. Ralph St. Fort 6'4 187 (Nashville, TN- #234 overall, #42 SG) 3*
3. Clifford Assel 6'8 223 (Memphis, TN- #236 overall, #54 SF) 3*
4. Maynard Estrada 6''7 208 (Memphis, TN- #348 overall, #73 SF) 3*
5. Anthony Stockman 6'6 206 (Baltimore, MD- #354 overall, #61 SG) 3*
6. Mohamed Abukar Rohde 6'6 216 (Philadelphia, PA- #357 overall, #75 SF) 3*
7. Alex Emerson 6'0 170 (Milwaukee, WI- #366 overall, #82 PG) 3*
8. Albert Scott 6'4 189 (Detroit, MI- #373 overall, #65 SG) 3*
9. Jonathan Hipsher 6'8 216 (Philadelphia, PA- #500 overall, #105 SF) 3*
10. Miles Cottrill 5'9 166 (Columbus, OH- #552 overall, #135 PG) 2*

According to Thouin, the recruits that Bailey is going to offer early are Jolly, St. Fort, and Assel. He has been extremely impressed with the amount of talent these guys possess. Miles Cottrill was a lock for Coach Bailey, but after a lackluster summer and a drop to a 2* player, Bailey is looking at maybe another shooting guard or athletic big man.

[knox33]

Fresh Faces

With Coach Bailey's first season as head coach of the Eagles under his belt, he has a very tough task in trying to replicate last season's results. The Eagles gave the nation's best turn around from a 4-23 (3-17) performance the year before and a 27-6 (17-3) record last season. The Eagles lose OVC Player of the Year Shaun Williams, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, and they lose all-around player Quentin Pryor who could do just about anything on the floor.

Coach Bailey, Bey, and Frank did quite a job recruiting two very good players. Coach Bailey commented, "It was hard to convince a lot of the players to believe what we were trying to accomplish here because none of us have ever been in a situation like this and no recruit out there had any idea what kind of results we were going to put up last season. We targeted Aly and Vitor early on and we stayed on them and told them that with their help we could do some amazing things here at the University."

Vitor Hipsher took the serious approach to his role on the team this year by gaining 13 lbs. of pure muscle and donning Shaun Williams' #15 jersey this season. Hipsher specializes in blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. He has rough offensive skills that will only get better with time and plenty of potential to back it up. Vitor is Bailey's most touted recruit from this class as the #225 player in the nation and the #40 center according to 2kprep.com.

Aly Webber has stepped on campus an inch taller and much wiser. Webber was a highly touted sophomore, but his weight and work ethic was an issue his junior and senior years of high school. After falling far off the radar, Webber came into his senior year working much harder and caught the attention of some mid-major colleges. He is a tough competitor on the glass and will need some work on his offense. Aly is not much of an athlete, hence his potential is low, but he is a hard worker and will definitely help the Eagles for years to come. He was the #324 overall player in the nation and the #55 center according to 2kprep.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
Midnight Madness

10/29- Intrasquad game

Tonight's Midnight Madness was what everybody expected: spectacular. The Eagles new freshmen came into tonight's contest against each other. Vitor Hipsher came away getting the best of the matchup with 9 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks along with the win. Webber gave a rousing performance with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block in the loss. The Eagles sensational sophomore Maze Stallworth lit up his teammates 18 points while senior point guard Brandon Callahan tallied 8 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Vincent Crutcher gave the crowd 4 thunderous dunks as he literally dunked his way to 8 points and 3 rebounds. Although the score was 58-45, the game was very competitive and Johnson Arena was packed to the brim full of fans and media.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey's Boys Run Away with Win

11/16 vs. Air Force

Final: 67-45

"Because of Vitor and Aly, we wanted to slow the pace of the game down a little bit before we let loose so they would work into the flow of the game," explained Coach Bailey. The game was close up until the final 8 minutes of the 2nd half. Maze Stallworth did a superb job of choosing his shots wisely and came away with 13 points and 2 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher's debut was a solid performance with 12 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Aly Webber did not disappoint either with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 1 blocks while Cordaryl Ballard fired up the backcourt with 11 points in tonight's win.

Morehead State begins the season 1-0.

[nate23]

What settings are you playing on and are you using any sliders?

[knox33]

I'm playing 14 min halves on MOP. I used the default settings and have not adjusted any sliders along with the real players FT % on as well.

[knox33]

Eagles Look Good in Win

11/18 vs. Santa Clara

Final: 72-65

Tonight's game gave glimpses of how good this team can be. "We're not there yet, but we're working hard to get there," explained Coach Bailey. Solid play from Vincent Crutcher (14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals) led the way for the win. Both freshmen big men struggled early on, but came away with impressive performances as Aly Webber pounded in 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds while Vitor Hipsher tossed in 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Morehead State has tacked on 2 impressive wins early in the season, if the team can keep playing well, we may have a season resembling last year.

Morehead State is now 2-0.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rival IPFW Frustrate Eagles

11/20 vs. IPFW

Final: 59-67

The Mastodons, led by Darell Henry (20 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals), walked right into Johnson Arena and took over the game from the tip off. "Somebody is going to have to step up and be the go-to-guy on this team," commented Coach Bailey. "We can't rely on our freshmen to be our top scoring threats just yet. In time they will be our top options, but right now I need our upperclassmen to step their game up." Vitor Hipsher was hot early then cooled off when the Eagles needed him the most. He tallied 14 points but only 1 rebound the whole game. Jamyron Steward (13 points, 5 steals) and Vincent Crutcher (10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) were the other bright spots for the Eagles.

Morehead State falls to 2-1.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagle Fall in First Round of BP Classic

11/23 vs. Southern Illinois

Final: 76-81

"Our sense of urgency came with 45 seconds left in the game and we were down by 13. We scored 8 points in 45 seconds. If we had that sense of urgency all game we would be headed into the 2nd round of this tournament," vented Coach Bailey. Instead the Eagles drop two straight and find themselves at .500. Vitor Hipsher provided some offense with d14 points, but had a disappointing 3 rebounds in the loss. Jamyron Steward may find himself in the starting lineup if he keep putting up numbers like tonight (13 points, 2 rebounds). Aly Webber (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks) and Maze Stallworth (11 points, 3 assists) both had solid games while Brandon Callahan left with 10 points, 3 steals, and 2 assists, but it would not be enough to get past the Salukis.

Morehead State is now 2-2.
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Press Conference

After two stunning defeats, Coach Bailey comments on what his team needs to do in order to get over their slump. "We've been relying on Vitor and Aly to be what Shaun Williams was for us last year. They are freshmen and they are not ready to take on that responsibility this early in the year. If we aren't relying on them, we are relying on Maze and Jamyron to shoot the lights out from the perimeter. No one really wants to step up in crunch time and the ones who try to make a lot of mistakes trying to force shots that aren't there. We are showing our youth right now. It was a little easier to mask it last year with Shaun and Quentin on the floor, but we don't have any players of that caliber yet. We need to get some urgency about us and play defense the way we did last year. We are slowly developing Vitor and Aly and guys like Vincent and Maze always provide a spark for us. We've been working hard this past week and hopefully it shows against MTSU tomorrow."

[knox33]

Eagles Back on Track with Win

11/28 @ MTSU

Final: 76-56

After two straight losses, the Eagles of Morehead State vented their frustrations out on MTSU tonight. "Everything we've stressed in practice, we performed to near perfection tonight," beamed Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher is showing his potential with 19 points, 6 rebound, and 3 blocks. Maze Stallworth exited with 14 points, 4 steals and 2 rebounds while Vincent Crutcher had another impressive all-around game with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Aly Webber showed improvement tonight with 8 points and 4 rebounds. MTSU freshman sensation Maynard Rivera, who turned down offers from Morehead State, exited the game with 4 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.

Morehead State is now 3-2.
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Eagles Dismantle Rival Colonels

12/1 vs. Eastern Kentucky

Final: 69-55

Tonight the Eagles opened up early conference play as they dominated their in-state rival. Vitor Hipsher gave his best all-around performance so far with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 blocks. Cordaryl Ball had a 12 points and 2 rebounds performance while both Jamyron Steward (9 points, 2 steals) and Maze Stallworth (9 points, 2 rebounds) helped lead the team past their rival with their solid play tonight. "We really had a good defensive effort tonight and shut down their fast break and inside game. It was truly a team effort tonight," beamed Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 4-2 (1-0).
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Eagles Sign Two Early This Week

On the first day of the early signing period, Coach Bailey already inked two players. Deke Jolly out of Chicago, IL is Bailey's top recruit so far as he is ranked #191 overall and #53 power forward. His is also Bailey's first 4* prospect to sign with him. Joining Jolly is Memphis, TN native Clifford Assel. Assel was rated #236 overall and #54 small forward according to 2kprep.com. Both Jolly and Assel bring size and athleticism to the team. Deke (6'9, 233lbs.) is a wide body that can flat out bring it on the offense side of the court. He is not very fast, but his basketball IQ makes up for it. Assel (6'8, 223lbs.) is an athletic freak with impressive leaping ability and high skills. With 5 days left in the signing period, Bailey looks to sign guard Ralph St. Fort out of Nashville and either point guard Alex Emerson or Miles Cottrill with his final scholarship.
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Eagles Blast Butler

12/4 @ Butler

Final: 78-58

Butler did not stand a chance tonight as the Eagles clearly outplayed them in every aspect of the game. Freshman Vitor Hipsher led the team with 14 points and 8 rebounds while Maze Stallworth tallied 13 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Sophomore Vincent Crutcher keeps playing superb basketball with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. He is beginning to be the Eagles best all-around player. Brandon Callahan led the team early with an impressive 10 points and 4 assists. "We didn't give Butler a chance to get things going. Our interior defense was superb, but they were knocking down the 3's throughout the game. Our guards adjusted and we had smooth sailing the rest of the night," commented Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 5-2 (1-0).

[knox33]

#23 Alabama Hand Eagles 3rd Loss

12/7 @ #23 Alabama

Final: 48-67

"We hung in there with them until the final 10 minutes of the game. Then their athleticism really took over," explained Coach Bailey. The effort of the whole team kept the game within 5 points at half-time, but the foul trouble of freshman Vitor Hipsher (6 points, 2 rebounds) added to the woes of the Eagles. Only Maze Stallworth (9 points, 2 rebounds), Cordaryl Ballard (8 points, 3 steals) and Aly Webber (8 points, 3 rebounds) gave any type of offense. Webber stepped up his game despite Hipsher's foul trouble, but was just too slow to get by any of his defenders. The Eagles take on Austin Peay in Clarkesville for their next game.

Morehead State falls to 5-3 (1-0).
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Governors Give Eagles Close Call

12/13 @ Austin Peay

Final: 81-76

The Eagles lack of a go-to-guy showed significantly in tonight's close win tonight. "Maze stepped up his game tonight coming off the bench and looks to be one of the team's best leaders so far," stated Coach Bailey. Maze ended the game with 15 points and 3 rebounds. Nikola Stojakovic used his large frame to post up his smaller defenders for 10 points, 5 steals and 3 assists while Jamyron Steward exited with 11 points. The Eagles big freshmen Aly Webber (9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Vitor Hipsher (7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks) both had solid performances tonight and are showing some overall improvement in their games.

Morehead State is now 6-3 (2-0)
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Press Conference

In today's press conference, Coach Bailey explained how well his freshman duo are coming along. "They are going through a lot of adjustments so far this season. Aly is coming along just fine as Vitor's backup. His offensive skills look a little more polished than Vitor's at this point as well and may find himself starting if he keeps progressing. Many don't understand that Vitor has only been in the U.S. for less than 5 months and he's still adjusting to a lot. His game isn't developing as quick as we wanted it to, but he's coming along almost as fast as we had expected. Both of them need to work on their quickness because they are getting scored on by smaller and quicker opponents. Hopefully, further into the season they will have made enough adjustments to take over game with their defense."

[knox33]

Bailey Gets Another Win

12/15 @ Murray State

Final: 72-68

Vitor Hipsher proved to be an offensive threat by finishing the game with 15 points, but he failed to grab one rebound all game. Coach Bailey explained, “He just wasn’t getting the right position down low and he’s going to have to start working harder down there because that’s where we need him the most.” Maze Stallworth proved to be a force on offense by pouring in 16 points and 2 rebounds. Aly Webber (9 points, 6 rebounds) and Vincent Crutcher (7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) are becoming more and more consistent with their solid performances.

Morehead State is now 7-3 (3-0).
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Eagles Sweak by Tigers

12/25 vs. Tennessee State

Final: 70-64

“Tonight was an impressive win for us,” explained Coach Bailey. “We were down early and fought back for a solid win.” Vitor Hipsher exerted himself more on the glass tonight by grabbing 6 rebounds along with his 16 points. Maze Stallworth shot dismal 4-12 all from behind the arc for 13 points and 2 rebounds while Aly Webber keeps playing with solid consistency by tacking 10 points and 6 rebounds. The Eagles improve to 4-0 in OVC play and are establishing themselves as the best team in the OVC for a second straight year.

Morehead State is now 8-3 (4-0).
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Eagles Get Job Done in OT

12/27 vs. Southeast Missouri

Final: 90-84 (OT)

For the second straight season, the Eagles and the Red Hawks needed an overtime period to decide a winner. Tonight was the same as last year as the Eagles stole a win at Johnson Arena from Coach Edgar. Once again, freshman big man Vitor Hipsher dominated the offensive side of the ball, but has struggled on the glass by tallying 22 points and only 2 rebounds. Senior Ryan Allen (12 points, 3 assists) played his best game of the season and Brandon Callahan had a career night by scoring 10 points along with a career best 11 assists to go with his 7 steals. “Brandon showed his leadership tonight and he proved to be the difference in overtime,” explained Coach Bailey. Vincent Crutcher helped lead the 2nd half attack by scoring all 12 of his points in that half.

Morehead State is now 9-3 (5-0).
----------------------------------------------------
Eagles Outplay Rival Eastern Kentucky

1/8 @ Eastern Kentucky

Final: 74-65

“Everyone played solid and more importantly, we played together in an always important rival game,” explained Coach Bailey. Aly Webber helped lead the pack with 11 points and 5 rebounds while Vitor Hipsher put up 12 points and grabbed 3 rebounds. Jamyron Steward made the difference by scoring 6 of his 11 in the final 2 minutes while Maze Stallworth added 10 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds tonight. The game was close throughout until Steward nailed back to back 3 pointers. That run helped the Eagles clinch a lead that they would not lose. The Eagles keep their winning streak alive at 5 in a row.

Morehead State is now 10-3 (6-0).

[knox33]

Defense Keeps Winning Streak Alive

1/10 @ Samford

Final: 54-47

Tonight’s game between the Eagles and the Bulldogs is starting to become a bitter rivalry. The last time these two teams met, the Eagles ended up winning by 7 points in the OVC Tournament and headed to Lexington, KY for the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament. Tonight, no love was lost as these two teams gave it their all and played some of the year’s best defense in the process. Vitor Hipsher’s consistency has been in question throughout this season, but tonight the big man had one of his better games as an Eagle by posting 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks during tonight’s win. Vincent Crutcher provided 10 points and 3 steals while senior Nikola Stojakovic added 7 points in the win. The winning streak continues to 6 straight.

Morehead State is now 11-3 (7-0).
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Bailey and Co. Fall to Jacksonville State

1/14 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 74-76

With the time winding down and the score tied at 74, Brandon Callahan started running the final play to either win the game or send it into overtime. With 8 seconds left on the clock, he passed the ball out on the wing, but it was stolen and the Gamec.ocks ran all the way down court to score the winning lay up as time expired. Despite the loss, Vitor Hipsher impressed the home crowd with 22 points and 7 rebounds. His counterpart Aly Webber scored 10 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and swatted away 2 shots while Maze Stallworth added 11 points in tonight’s loss. This loss snaps the Eagles 6 game winning streak.

Morehead State falls to 11-4 (7-1).
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Eagles Win Another OT Thriller

1/22 @ Tennessee-Martin

Final: 76-74 (OT)

Tonight marks the 2nd overtime victory the Eagles have posted this season. The Eagles traveled to West Tennessee tonight to play the Skyhawks and withstood everything the opposition could throw at them. The star of tonight’s contest was none other than sophomore sensation Maze Stallworth. He poured in 21 points and a pair of key 3-pointers en route to tonight’s win. Vitor Hipsher (13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals) and Aly Webber (8 points, 5 rebounds) played solid basketball tonight and their smart plays played a key role in tonight’s win. Coach Bailey explained, “I’m happy with the team’s play tonight. We showed a lot of heart and maturity by coming here and getting a key road win. Our goal all along was to show everybody that last year wasn’t a fluke that we are going to be ready to play every night. We might not win every game, but our opponents better bring their “A” game because we are going to bring it every night.”

Morehead State is now 12-4 (8-1).
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Eagles Blowout Panthers

1/26 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 75-52

Jamyron Steward started early and did not cool off as he lit up the Panthers for 16 points, 5 steals, and 2 rebounds. Maze Stallworth struggled from the field, but came away with 10 points, 5 steals, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Brandon Callahan had an impressive night tonight with 16 points and 2 rebounds. “It was all guard play tonight,” stated Coach Bailey. “The guards really dominated the game tonight because I challenged them to help relieve the offensive pressure on the post players. Maze usually helps relieve that pressure, but I really wanted Jamyron and Brandon to step up tonight and they proved they could shoot with the best of them.”

Morehead State is now 13-4 (9-1).

[knox33]

OVC Standings

1. Morehead State 13-4 (9-1)
2. Southeast Missouri 12-6 (7-3)
3. Tennessee State 10-7 (7-3)
4. Jacksonville State 8-9 (7-4)
5. Austin Peay 9-7 (6-4)
6. Tennessee Tech 7-9 (4-6)
7. Eastern Kentucky 7-13 (4-8)
8. Samford 6-12 (3-6)
9. Tennessee-Martin 4-11 (3-6)
10. Murray State 7-11 (3-7)
11. Eastern Illinois 7-13 (3-8)

Leaders

Points- Randall Rost (Tennessee State): 18.0 ppg
Rebounds- Ross Dobbins (Tennessee State): 9.4 rpg
Assists- Booker Whithers (Austin Peay): 6.7 apg
Steals- Brandon Callahan (Morehead State): 4.8 spg
Blocks- Clifton Waller (Austin Peay): 2.0 bpg
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Eagles Steal Win in OT

1/29 @ Tennessee Tech

Final: 95-89 (OT)

Vitor Hipsher’s play was the difference maker in overtime tonight. Hipsher tied career highs in points, rebounds, and blocks as he gave a rousing 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks performance in tonight’s win. Vincent Crutcher provided solid playwith 19 points while Aly Webber added 14 points, 3 rebounds and 1 block. Maze Stallworth has been the most consistent player for the Eagles with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals tonight. “We were down for the majority of the game and I told the guys that if we kept playing consistent and got stops here and there then we would be playing for a win in the end. Now I’m not confessing that I’m a prophet of some sorts, but I know my boys and I know what they are capable of. Tonight was our night and we seem to play a little harder in overtime and I’m glad we came out of here with a win,” explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 14-4 (10-1).
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Eagles Get Revenge on Jacksonville

2/2 @ Jacksonville State

Final: 73-66

In their last meeting, Jacksonville State handed the Eagles their only conference loss of the season. Tonight, Coach Bailey and the team headed South to Jacksonville and they had a bone to pick. Maze Stallworth absolutely lit up his opponent by scoring 17 points in the first half, but Jacksonville adjusted and absolutely shut down Maze in the 2nd half. Vitor Hipsher picked up the scoring load with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Senior big man Ryan allen added 10 points and 3 rebounds in tonight’s win. “After beating us on a last second play, we really wanted to come out and kick the doors wide open. Maze really helped and we were up by 15 at the half. Although we struggled in the end, I’m still glad we are getting solid wins on the road,” explained Coach Bailey. This is the Eagles 4th straight win.

Morehead State is now 15-4 (11-1).
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Eagles Fall to Red Hawks

2/4 @ Southeast Missouri

Final: 66-71

“We knew tonight was going to be a tough game, but we just came out flat and played from behind all night long. We made one final push, but it just wasn’t enough. Their free throw shooting really sealed our fate’s because they made their and we didn’t. It’s as simple as that,” explained Coach Bailey. After two solid games, Vitor Hipsher seemed lost all game long as he struggled for 12 points and 2 rebounds. Senior Ryan Allen put the scoring on his shoulderes as he powered in 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Aly Webber added 10 points and 3 rebounds in tonight’s loss. The Eagles guard play was almost non-existent tonight as none of them could get any type of offense or defense going.

Morehead State falls to 15-5 (11-2).

[knox33]

Eagles Take Out Frustrations on UT-Martin

2/7 vs. Tennessee-Martin

Final: 63-44

“After losing our last game, we wanted to come out strong and get a win to build our confidence back up and that’s exactly what we did,” commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher seemed to be finding his game in the 2nd half as his 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks helped spurt a run that the Eagles took full advantage of. Aly Webber is becoming one of the most consistent players for the Eagles as he added 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Maze Stallworth’s 9 points all came from behind the arc as his team strolled to victory.

Morehead State is now 16-5 (12-2).
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Recruiting News

After already signing big man Deke Jolly and versatile Clifford Assel, Coach Bailey and the rest of the staff have set their sights on Ralph St. Fort and Alex Emerson according to 2kprep.com’s Lawrence Thouin. Thouin stated, “Coach Bailey sent Assistant Coach Duane Frank to scout Emerson’s games as well as Miles Cottrill’s games and was extremely impressed by Alex’s athleticism and ability to control the game and be a good floor leader.” Thouin also commented that both St. Fort and Emerson have given verbal commitments to the Eagles and are planning to sign their letter of intent in the spring signing period.
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Eagles Fall to the Tigers

2/9 @ Tennessee State

Final: 74-80

“Tonight was a tough loss because we felt like we had control of the game up until the final 2 minutes then we just lost our focus,” sighed Coach Bailey. The Eagles squandered a 15 point lead and ended up losing by 6 points. Vitor Hipsher was nowhere to be found tonight as he could not get into any kind of rhythm on both sides of the ball. Aly Webber powered in 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds while Jamyron Steward added 10 points. Cordaryl Ballard (9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) and Maze Stallworth (9 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds) did their best to make a comeback possible, but came up short. Tennessee State’s Randall Rost lit up the Eagles for 19 points. He is on his way to becoming the OVC Player of the Year with the type of season he is having. His teammate Ross Dobbins had an even more impressive 19 points and 16 rebounds in their comeback win against the top team in the OVC.

Morehead State falls to 16-6 (12-3).
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Press Conference

In today’s press conference, Coach Bailey stated, “Right now we are just doing everything we can think of to light a fire under Vitor. He seemed to be improving and becoming the player we need him to be, but after last night’s performance, I just don’t know what is going to work. I understand he’s a freshman, but somewhere inside him a switch needs to be turned on. The coaching staff and I are questioning whether Aly should start next week’s game against Austin Peay, but we are going to let practice decide this. Aly’s been playing with the type of consistency we need him to play at as a backup. His development is ahead of schedule and we are hoping Vitor will begin to step up in this stage of the season.”

[knox33]

Hipsher Shines in Win

2/14 vs. Austin Peay

Final: 94-64

“The switch has officially been turned on,” exclaimed Coach Bailey. Last week’s press conference concerning freshman Vitor Hipsher’s development seemed to light a fire inside him. Tonight he completely controlled the game and played like a man among boys as he thundered in 20 points and grabbed a career high 17 rebounds. Senior Brandon Callahan had a surprising good offensive night with 18 points while Maze Stallworth poured in 17 points. Vincent Crutcher was the Eagles’ “Mr. Do-It-All” as he tallied 12 points, 6 steals, and 5 rebounds in tonight’s blowout win. After the game Hipsher commented, “I knew I wasn’t playing to the best of my abilities and Coach Bailey and Aly helped me realize that. I had been focusing on scoring and blocking shots and not letting the game just come to me. And now I think I’m realizing where I went wrong.”

Morehead State is now 17-6 (13-3).
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Eagles on a Roll

2/16 vs. Murray State

Final: 85-58

In another blowout win, the Eagles are playing their best basketball so far this season and they are coming together as the season is coming to a close. “I’m excited about the direction we are headed. This is where I wanted us to be at this point in the season and we are really beginning to gel at the best time of the season,” explained Coach Bailey. Surprisingly after Vitor Hipsher’s career night just two days earlier, Aly Webber also had a career night as he led the team with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Hipsher did not disappoint either while adding 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Junior Cordaryl Ballard tallied 11 points, 4 steals, and 2 assists in tonight’s blowout victory against the Racers.

Morehead State is now 18-6 (14-3).
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Eagles Get 3rd Straight Blowout

2/20 vs. Samford

Final: 80-49

“This type of result comes when the team plays together and lets the game come to them,” stated Coach Bailey after his team rolled over the Bulldogs. Vitor Hipsher continues to play like a man possessed as he scored 15 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and swatted 2 shots. Brandon Callahan has been turning up the heat by his impressive performances as of late. Tonight he ended the game with 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. Maze Stallworth gave a solid 15 points and 2 rebounds as the Eagles chalked up another huge win.

Morehead State is now 19-6 (15-3).
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Eagles Lose Big on Senior Night

2/28 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 65-87

“We thought we were good,” stated a heated Coach Bailey. “Just because we won 3 games by a lot doesn’t mean the next game is going to have the same result. We just got outplayed tonight and we let down ourselves, the seniors, and the fans.” Tonight seniors Brandon Callahan, Ryan Allen, Jamyron Steward, and Nikola Stojakovic took the floor for the final time at Johnson arena. What was supposed to be another quality win turned out to be anything but that. The Eagles were outplayed most of the game and looked out of sync during crunch time. Vitor Hipsher, still playing like a man possessed, exited the game with 14 points and 16 rebounds while Vincent Crutcher tallied 13 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

Morehead State falls to 19-7 (15-4).
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Eagles Clinch OVC Title with Win

3/1 @ Eastern Illinois

Final: 59-46

“I’m proud of the way we bounced back and got the win. We knew we lost an opportunity to clinch the OVC title on Senior Night and we wanted to fulfill our goal of winning the OVC again and I just can’t explain how proud I am of them,” gushed Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher looked like the OVC Player of the Year with his 12 points and 12 rebounds, but it seems that his impressive efforts are going to be too little too late. Aly Webber has also upped his performance as of late with his 11 points and 7 rebounds. Maze Stallworth shot the lights out tonight as he exited the game with 16 points and 4 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 20-7 (16-4).
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OVC Final Standings

1. Morehead State 20-7 (16-4)
2. Southeast Missouri 20-8 (15-5)
3. Tennessee State 18-9 (15-5)
4. Austin Peay 14-12 (11-9)
5. Tennessee Tech 14-12 (11-9)
6. Jacksonville State 10-16 (9-11)
7. Murray State 13-15 (9-11)
8. Samford 10-19 (7-13)
9. Eastern Kentucky 9-19 (6-14)
10. Tennessee-Martin 7-19 (6-14)
11. Eastern Illinois 9-20 (5-15)

Leaders

Points- Randall Rost (Tennessee State): 17.4 ppg
Rebounds- Ross Dobbins (Tennessee State): 10.0 rpg
Assists- Mezhron Vitelli (Southeast Missouri): 7.4 apg
Steals- Ryan Allen (Morehead State): 4.3 spg
Blocks- Clifton Waller (Austin Peay); Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 1.8 bpg
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Press Conference

Coach Bailey commented in today’s press conference, “I think the field is wide open. You can’t look at the standings and say this team or that team is going to win it all. That type of thinking doesn’t hold water because the standings mean absolutely nothing and there is no telling who will win. I do know that us and Southeast Missouri State is projected to be in the finals, but you never know. Hopefully we will be there, but we’re just taking each game one at a time and hopefully we will be there in the end.”

[knox33]

Eagles Soar Past Bulldogs

3/4 vs. Samford

Final: 55-37

"Vincent really stepped up in the 2nd half. They were all over Vitor and Vincent kept finding the open shot," explained Coach Bailey. Sophomore Vincent Crutcher exited the game with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Although Vitor Hipsher was limited offensively with 10 points, he grabbed a game high 16 rebounds and 3 blocks. Cordaryl Ballard made some key defensive stops with his 5 steals, but also added 8 points. With this win, the Eagles will face Tennessee Tech in the 2nd round. The Golden Eagles handed Coach Bailey his worst loss of the season by defeating them 87-65 on the Eagles Senior night.

Morehead State is now 21-7 (16-4).
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Eagles Take Win in Overtime

3/7 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 91-84 (OT)

Two of the last 3 meetings between these two teams have been settled by way of overtime. Tonight sophomore Maze Stallworth exited the game with a game high 20 points and 3 steals. He drained his final trey to tie the game at the buzzer to send it into overtime. From that point on, Vitor Hipsher took over the extra period with his 13 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks. Aly Webber also stepped up his game with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals while senior Brandon Callahan tallied 12 points, 4 steals and 2 assists. The Eagles will play the OVC championship game against Jacksonville State. The two teams split the series this season and tomorrow should be a good game.

Morehead State is now 22-7 (16-4).
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Tired Eagles Win OVC Tournament

3/8 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 54-52

The game looked as if it were heading into overtime. With the clock winding down and the game tied at 52 a piece, Brandon Callahan fired a 15 footer off a screen. As the shot clanged off the iron, senior Ryan Allen came out of nowhere and tipped the ball in as time expired. His game-winning tip in was his only points for the contest as he exited with 2 points and 3 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher battled foul trouble all game long and left with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Vincent Crutcher added 10 points and 2 rebounds in tonight's win. With this win, the Eagles are heading to the NCAA Tournament.

Morehead State is now 23-7 (16-4).
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Press Conference

Today, the Morehead State Eagles were given the #11 seed and will face the #6 seed University of Manhattan in Tampa, Florida. Coach Bailey explained, "We are happy with the seeding we received and we feel that we have a good chance against Manhattan. They are a very talented team with a lot of height and speed. They play much like us and it is going to be a great game."

[knox33]

Eagles Fall to Jaspers in 1st Round

3/20 vs. #6 seed Manhattan

Final: 62-69

"We had a good run and we just came up short tonight. Manhattan played a great game and we're the better team tonight," stated Coach Bailey. In tonigh'ts loss, Vitor Hipsher played another solid game with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 blocks. Maze Stallworth tallied 8 points and 2 rebounds while Vincent Crutcher added 8 points. Aly Webber, who was not able to get much of an offense going, exited with 6 points and 10 rebounds.

Morehead State ends the season 23-8 (16-4).
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National Awards

National Champions- Georgia Tech 29-10 (10-6)
National Coach of the Year- Paul Hewitt (Georgia Tech)
National Player of the Year- Winsome Lett (Duke)
2K Sports Player of the Year- Winsome Lett (Duke)

OVC Awards
OVC Conference Champions- Morehead State
OVC Tournament Champions- Morehead State
OVC Coach of the Year- Jimmy Tillette (Samford)
OVC Player of the Year- Randall Rost (Tennessee State)
OVC Freshman of the Year- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State)
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Press Conference

For the 2nd year in a row, Morehead State's head coach William Bailey has led his team to both OVC conference and tournament championships. Also, for the 2nd year in a row, the cards did not fall Coach Bailey's way for OVC Coach of the Year again. Last year, Murray State's Billy Kennedy walked away with the award after leading his team to a last place finish in the OVC and a 6-20 (4-16) record. This year, Jimmy Tillette led his Samford Bulldogs to an 8th place OVC finish and a 10-19 (7-13) overall record. Coach Bailey explained, "Once again, let me remind everyone that I would have loved to recieve this award, but I'm happy for Coach Tillette and maybe I'll have the chance to get it next year."
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Morehead State 2007-2008 Season Recap

Record: 23-8 (16-4)
OVC Regular Season Champions
OVC Tournament Champions
OVC Freshman of the Year: Vitor Hipsher
1st Team All-OVC: Vitor Hipsher
2nd Team All-OVC: Aly Webber
Freshman All-OVC: Vitor Hipsher
NCAA most steals: Brandon Callahan (4.2 spg)

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'5 192 (Louisville, KY) 60 overall SO
PG #4 Cecil Brown 5'11 177 (Grand Rapids, MI) 58 overall FR
PG #5 Nikola Stojakovic 6'2 210 (Serbia) 59 overall SR
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'2 187 (Owensboro, KY) 54 overall W-SO
PG #11 Brandon Callahan 6'0 161 (Pine Bluff, AR) 70 overall SR
PF #12 Andreas Coleman 6'6 194 (Decatur, IL) 56 overall FR
SG #14 Jamyron Steward 6'3 185 (Columbus, GA) 63 overall SR
PF #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 268 (Melbourne) 68 overall FR
SG #21 Cordaryl Ballard 6'4 191 (Columbus, OH) 64 overall JR
PF #22 Ryan Allen 6'7 215 (Columbus, OH) 60 overall SR
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 211 (Louisville, KY) 64 overall SO
PF #41 Dan Penick 6'8 245 (Lexington, KY) 60 overall SO
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 320 (Richmond, KY) 49 overall W-SO
C #50 Aly Webber 6'11 263 (Fort Wayne, IN) 66 overall FR
C #53 Clinton Reisz 6'10 237 (Owensboro, KY) 61 overall JR

Coaches
William Bailey: C+ overall (2nd year)
Rene Bey: C- overall (2nd year)
Duane Frank: C overall (2nd year)

[knox33]

Off-season News

After posting a record of 50-14 (33-7), it is no surprise Morehead State head coach William Bailey has been offered bigger and better money by other colleges. Bailey is on many candidate lists at several colleges. Two mid-major colleges in particular have offered Bailey the head position at their respective institutions. Santa Clara, a member of the WAC and Indiana State, a member of the MVC have officially offered Bailey the head coaching position. Also, small colleges such as American, Liberty, Southern Utah, Jacksonville State, Morgan State, and Grambling State have contacted Bailey for the head coaching positions at their institutions as well.
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Press Conference

Coach Bailey has made an announcement at today's press conference. "After much consideration, me and my family have made a decision concerning the job offers that were made to me. Santa Clara, CA is a great place and so is Terre Haute, IN. I have contacted Santa Clara and have declined their offer. I love the South and Indiana is an ideal place to recruit and it has a great basketball tradition as well. In regards to the Indiana State offer, I have......declined their offer as well. I think I need to stick around here at Morehead for now and that is why I'm returning as the head basketball coach."

Also, after two successful seasons, Coach Bailey also announced that both Assistant Coaches Rene Bey and Duane Frank have decided to part ways with the University. Coach Bey has accepted an NCAA Division II head coaching position and Coach Frank resigned due to health issues. Coach Bailey explained, "Coach Frank explained to me that his health has been deteriorating and that he would be stepping down from his position after the season ended. Coach Bey had been in contact with a committee concerning the head coaching position for the last week so I've anticipated both of their resignations. I've been in contact with several candidates and I've have chosen their replacements."

Coach Bailey announced, "Let me introduce to you Coach Damien Robbins. Coach Robbins has been a head coach in the lower ranks amassing a record of 891 wins and only 364 losses at the Division II level. He has also won 3 championships in his time there. He is a good recruiter and will bring a lot to the team. Next, let me introduce you to Coach Jay Massey. Coach Massey was also a former head coach and has amassed a record of 280 wins and 173 losses. He is an excellent scout and will also bring a lot to the team. Both coaches have already met with the players and are excited to get on the recruiting trail and help bring some of the best talent to Morehead State University." Coach Robbins (56 years old) and Coach Massey (40 years old) bring a lot of experience and wisdom to an Eagles team that has established itself as the top program in the OVC.

In other news, sophomore Dan Penick (Lexington, KY) and freshman Andreas Coleman (Decatur, IL) have both decided to leave the team. Coach Bailey explained, "Dan wasn't getting the playing time he got his freshman year and Andreas was a reserve for most of the season. Both of these players just weren't happy with the amount of playing time they were getting and I only wish both of them the best in the future. They gave me their best and I hope they find the right place to play." With Penick and Coleman off the roster, Bailey has inherited two more scholarships for next season.
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Recruiting News

4/7- First Day of Spring Signing

Today, as expected, Ralph St. Fort of Nashville, TN and Alex Emerson of Milwaukee, WI both sign their letters of intent to play for Coach Bailey. St. Fort is a great athlete with a solid jump shot. He's got size and speed for his position as well as a knack for defense. Alex Emerson is the ideal type point guard for Coach Bailey's system. He is quick and has a good handle on the ball. He passes with precision and can shoot well within the arc. Both players are good enough to play early and help out the team.

A look at Coach Bailey's final recruits:
Ralph St. Fort 6'4 187lbs. (Nashville, TN- #234 overall, #42 SG) 3*
Alex Emerson 6'0 170lbs. (Milwaukee, WI- #366 overall, #82 PG) 3*

According to 2kprep.com analyst, Lawrence Thouin, Coach Bailey has been hot on the trail of certain juniors all season long. He has been in constant contact with these players in hopes of signing them.

O.J. Doss 6'8 222 (Lexington, KY) C 4*
Clint Herber 6'8 203 (Nashville, TN) SF 4*
Juan Webb 7'2 235 (Memphis, TN) C 4*
Tyree Wood 6'5 189 (Cameroon) SF 4*
Chevon Webb 6'10 208 (Orlando, FL) PF 3*
J.P. Petway 6'7 199 (Brooklyn, NY) PF 3*

[knox33]

2008-2009 Morehead State Roster

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'6 200 (Louisville, KY) 62 overall JR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6'0 182 (Grand Rapids, MI) 60 overall SO
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6'0 170 (Milwaukee, WI) 67 overall FR
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6'5 193 (Nashville, TN) 66 overall FR
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'3 187 (Owensboro, KY) 55 overall JR
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 279 (Melbourne) 69 overall SO
SG #21 Cordaryl Ballard 6'4 195 (Columbus, OH) 66 overall SR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6'9 225 (Memphis, TN) 64 overall FR
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 211 (Louisville, KY) 67 overall JR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6'9 240 (Chicago, IL) 68 overall FR
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 320 (Richmond, KY) 49 overall JR
C #50 Aly Webber 7'0 268 (Fort Wayne, IN) 66 overall SO
C #53 Clinton Reisz 6'10 237 (Owensboro, KY) 63 overall SR

Coaches
William Bailey: B- overall (3rd year)
Damien Robbins: C+ overall (1st year)
Jay Massey: C+ overall (1st year)
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Recruiting Class

By signing Deke Jolly, Clifford Assel, Ralph St. Fort, and Alex Emerson, the Eagles have landed the best recruiting class in the OVC for the 2nd straight year and the #64 recruiting class in the nation according to 2kprep.com.

OVC Recruiting Classes
1. Morehead State
2. Austin Peay
3. Tennessee Tech
4. Tennessee State
5. Tennessee-Martin
6. Southeast Missouri
7. Jacksonville State
8. Eastern Illinois
9. Samford
10. Eastern Kentucky
11. Murray State
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Recruiting News

After this summer, 2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin has given an update on the recruits Coach Bailey and staff have been contacting. The Eagles top priority player, O.J. Doss of Lexington, did not have a good summer of basketball and dropped from 4*'s to a 3* player. Nashville native Clint Herber soared through the summer and was bumped up to a 5* player. The rest of the players played up to their abilities and here is the list of Coach Bailey's recruits according to priority.

1. Clint Herber 6'9 205 (Nashville, TN- #56 overall, #17 SF) 5*
2. Juan Webb 7'3 240 (Memphis, TN- #115 overall, #11 C) 4*
3. Chevon Modica 6'10 212 (Orlando, FL- #184 overall, #45 PF) 3*
4. O.J. Doss 6'9 229 (Lexington, KY- #237 overall, #27 C) 3*

According to Thouin, each player has extremely high interest and each have stated they will sign somewhere in the fall signing period. Even with the decline in play by O.J. Doss, Bailey is still heavily pursuing him and it would not be a stretch for Bailey to offer all four of these recruits and redshirt one of them in the fall.
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Fresh Faces

After the loss of four seniors and the departure of two underclassmen, the Morehead State Eagles have a much different look than a year ago. Not only has there been a change in the players, there has also been a change in the coaching staff. Coach Bailey announced Coaches Robbins and Massey as his new assistants and they may help take the Eagles to a new level with their ability to recruit and scout. Despite this coaching change, the team is poised to make a 3rd run to the top of the OVC. Helping them along the way are the Eagles four new freshmen.

Deke Jolly of Chicago, IL (#191 overall, #53 PF) is the best player Coach Bailey has recruited. He is solid in all facets of his game and can change a game by doing the small things. He will do what is needed of him whether it be scoring, rebounding, screening, or defending. He is an extremely unselfish player that will surely find himself in the starting lineup by season's end.

Ralph St. Fort, a Nashville, TN native was a great prospect for the Eagles (#234 overall, #42 SG). He is a great athlete with great potential. He has a solid jumper and may be the Eagles best defender as a freshman. He has been known to change the game through his tenacious defense and will be looked upon for exactly that this season.

Memphis, TN native Clifford Assel is probably the best all-around player for the Eagles. He is a great athlete that has the height and skills to play the post but has a good enough handle to play a guard position. His quickness makes him elusive on both ends of the floor. His defense makes him a mismatch for almost any player.

Alex Emerson from Milwaukee, WI (#366 overall, #82 PG) is the typical point guard for Coach Bailey's system. He is quick as lightning. He can pass with precision and he can handle the ball with confidence. He will push the ball and can create off the dribble. He has a solid jumper, but his 3 point shot is inconsistent. He will be the backup to redshirt sophomore Cecil Brown, but you better believe he will be ready to take the position if Brown does not perform well early.
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Midnight Madness

Intra-squad Game

There is only one word to describe the Eagles new freshmen and that is...amazing! The level of talent they possess is almost equal to their upperclassmen teammates. "Deke (Jolly) is as solid as they come. He rebounded well and he consistently knocked down the mid-range jumper. Alex (Emerson) has been working on his 3 point shot and it showed tonight as well. Ralph (St. Fort) and Cliff (Assel) are just about as good of athletes that this league is going to see. My staff and I are extremely happy how well all of them have adjusted so far and we are looking forward to their contributions this season," explained Coach Bailey. Both teams matched up well tonight and the game was filled with long range bombs and thunderous dunks. Vitor Hipsher took over the game with only 2 minutes remaining and turned his teams 5 point lead into a 12 point lead. He left the game with 15 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Ralph St. Fort impressed everyone with 12 points and 3 steals. Alex Emerson nailed 3 treys tonight and exited the game with 10 points and 4 assists. Maze Stallworth led all scorers with 18 points. Deke Jolly performed solid with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. This season the Eagles and a new and improved Coach Bailey and staff are looking to win their 3rd straight OVC Championship and NCAA berth.

[knox33]

Eagles Fall Hard in Season Opener

11/10 @ Tennessee-Chattanooga

Final: 66-80

"We just looked like we weren't prepared tonight," commented Coach Bailey. The Eagles could not hit the broad side of a barn tonight by shooting a horrid 24% from the field. Vitor Hipsher continued where he left off last season by dominating the boards by grabbing 9 rebounds and scoring 19 points. Freshman Ralph St. Fort came off the bench tonight with 12 points and Aly Webber tallied 6 points and 5 rebounds. Redshirt sophomore Cecil Brown started tonight's game and was the top candidate to replace graduated Brandon Callahan, but had a horrid night with 6 turnovers and will likely see freshman Alex Emerson starting the next game. The Mocs of UTC ran straight through the Eagles and made them wish they never stepped foot in McKenzie Arena.

Morehead State begins their season 0-1.
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Eagles Bounce Back with Win

11/14 vs. Colorado State

Final: 68-48

Vitor Hipsher led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed a game high 14 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. "We had high hopes for this season and losing to UTC really shot our confidence down. The guys showed a lot of determination by a good showing tonight," explained Coach Bailey. Aly Webber scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in tonight's win while Vincent Crutcher tallied 12 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Colorado State came out flat and never regained ground as the Eagles relentlessly poured on the pressure.

Morehead State is now 1-1.
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Eagles Win Again

11/16 vs. Portland

Final: 60-48

Vitor Hipsher recorded his 2nd double-double of the year by scoring 13 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and swatting 3 shots. Freshman Alex, who is now starting in the place of Cecil Brown, scored a career high 11 points, 5 steals and 2 assists. Senior Cordaryl Ballard tallied 10 points while freshman Deke Jolly exited the game with 6 points and 6 rebounds. "It's always nice to have a good showing at home. The team looks like they are coming together and everybody is starting to find their roles even this early in the season," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 2-1.
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Eagles Dismantle Utah Valley State

11/18 vs. Utah Valley State

Final: 75-57

"I can't say enough about the improved play of Vitor (Hipsher). He's really showing what he's made of and I think he's is showing that he is one of the premiere centers in the nation," commented Coach Bailey. Hipsher led all scorers with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Freshman Deke Jolly gave a solid 12 points and 4 rebounds while Alex Emerson nailed three 3-pointers and exited the game with 9 points and 2 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 3-1.

[knox33]

Eagles Win Round 1 of BP Classic

11/21 vs. Illinois State

Final: 67-60

"Illinois State is a good ball club that really gave us some problems throughout the game, but we were able to adjust and get the win," said Coach Bailey. Freshman point guard Alex Emerson had a career night with 15 points, 3 steals, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Vitor Hipsher led the way with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks while freshman Ralph St. Fort came off the bench for 12 points. Bailey and the Eagles will square off against mid-major power Fresno State in the 2nd round of the BP Top of the World Classic.

Morehead State is now 4-1.
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Bailey and Co. Blowout Fresno State

11/22 vs. Fresno State

Final: 86-47

Tonight's game was supposed to be a measuring stick for the Eagles, but instead it turned out to be a blowout. "They just weren't hitting anything. It's not like we were pressing the whole game. We played aggressive half-court defense and we knocked down our shots. They just couldn't get anything going," commented Coach Bailey. The Bulldogs only scored 12 points in the first half. The Eagles were led by Vitor Hipsher and their freshmen talent. Hipsher scored a game high 16 points and 12 rebounds. As for the freshmen, Deke Jolly tallied 14 points and Ralph St. Fort scored 13 points. Alex Emerson exited the game with 10 points and 2 assists. The Eagles will face Rhode Island in the championship game tomorrow night.

Morehead State is now 5-1.
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Eagles Win BP Classic

11/23 vs. Rhode Island

Final: 63-44

Freshman Ralph St. Fort led the attack with his 16 points and 4 steals. Vitor Hipsher, who was heavily guarded all night, left with 10 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Freshman Clifford Assel sparked a 13-0 run with his 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Tonight notes Coach William Bailey's first ever non-conference tournament championship. "It feels great to win this tournament because our guys were upset in the first round of last years BP Classic. This was one of our goals when we found out that we had been invited back here this season," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 6-1.

[knox33]

Free Throws Seal the Game

11/26 @ Florida Atlantic

Final: 75-68

"I think we did a great job hitting our free throws and crashing the boards tonight. Those were the keys to our win," beamed Coach Bailey. The Eagles went a perfect 6-6 from the line in the final minute of the game to close out the win. Vitor Hipsher, who battled foul trouble all game, exited with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Freshman Ralph St. Fort tallied 14 points and 2 assists while junior sharp shooter Maze Stallworth scored 14 points and grabbed 2 rebounds. The Eagles have won 7 straight after losing their opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga.

Morehead State is now 7-1.
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Eagles Open OVC with 40 Point Win

11/29 vs. Eastern Kentucky

Final: 86-46

Tonight was Coach Bailey's largest victory to date and his best against a rival opponent. Vitor Hipsher led the attack with his 18 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks. Freshman Deke Jolly impressed the home crowd by tallying 18 points and 2 rebounds. Ralph St. Fort also had a solid performance with 10 points and 3 steals. Senior Vincent Crutcher had a good all-around performance with 6 points, 6 steals, and 5 rebounds while Clifford Assel tallied 4 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. The Colonels found themselves in the same predicament as Fresno State in the BP Classic. They came out flat and ended the game flat.

Morehead State is now 8-1 (1-0).
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Recruiting News

11/30- Fall Signing Period

Tonight was a special day for Coach William Bailey and his Morehead State Eagles. He has signed his best recruiting class ever and will likely put his Eagles on the national map. Clint Herber, a Nashville, TN native and a former teammate of current Eagle Ralph St. Fort, is the 56th best player in the nation and the #17 best small forward according to 2kprep.com. He is Coach Bailey's first ever 5* recruit. Along with Herber is Memphis, TN native Juan Webb. Webb is a massive 7'3 240lbs. and is one of the best centers in the nation. "He has a lot of speed for a man as big as he is," commented 2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin. Orlando, FL native Chevon Modica has a similar game to Webb's and will likely cause a lot of grief to opponents with their size and incredible speed. Bailey's final recruit is hometown hero O.J. Doss. He is from nearby Lexington, KY and will likely be redshirted and transformed into a power forward. Bailey expressed, "He has the size and skills that we need for a power forward and may dominate that position in the OVC.

A look at Coach Bailey's recruits:
1. Clint Herber 6'9 205 (Nashville, TN- #56 overall, #17 SF) 5*
2. Juan Webb 7'3 240 (Memphis, TN- #115 overall, #11 C) 4*
3. Chevon Modica 6'10 212 (Orlando, FL- #184 overall, #45 PF) 3*
4. O.J. Doss 6'9 229 (Lexington, KY- #237 overall, #27 C) 3*

According to Lawrence Thouin, Coach Bailey is hot on the heels of some of the best juniors around Morehead, KY. Here is a list of juniors being recruited by Coaches Bailey, Robbins, and Massey for next year.

PG Nile Slattery 6'1 165 (Durhan, NC) 4*
PG Bud Stehly 6'0 170 (Milwaukee, WI) 4*
PG Hakeen Blizzard 5'9 156 (Cincinnati, OH) 4*
PG Stalin Benson 6'4 176 (Memphis, TN) 4*
SG Kudus Hobbs 6'5 207 (Nashville, TN) 4*
SF Olli Prillman 6'4 192 (Venezuela) 3*
PG Reece Holt 6'1 162 (Chicago, IL) 3*
SG Odartey Wolfe 6'1 181 (Indianapolis, IN) 3*

[lawcutta]

Good post!

C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 279 sounds like a beast. You should be in shape for your next season with your incoming Frosh. On paper I think you will have a shot at a NC with in your next two seasons.

[knox33]

Good post!

C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 279 sounds like a beast. You should be in shape for your next season with your incoming Frosh. On paper I think you will have a shot at a NC with in your next two seasons.

Thanks. I agree that my boy is a beast. He could probably average about 30ppg, but I play a more uptempo style and it's hard for him to get down the court quickly. He gets a lot of points off of put backs. With that said, I might have a good shot at a NC with this team.

[lawcutta]

Thanks. I agree that my boy is a beast. He could probably average about 30ppg, but I play a more uptempo style and it's hard for him to get down the court quickly. He gets a lot of points off of put backs. With that said, I might have a good shot at a NC with this team.

Yeah, if you can defend, take care of the ball, and knock down the long ball.

[knox33]

We can defend with the best of them. We do a decent job of taking care of the ball (normally finish with less turnovers than the opponent) and we are somewhat spotty on the 3-ball. But if we get hot we can't miss!

[knox33]

Eagles Squeak by Wright State

12/2 @ Wright State

Final: 64-62

The Eagles may have temporarily overlooked Wright State, but when the Eagles found themselves down by 8 points at the half, Coach Bailey lit a fire underneath his team and they battled a very good team down to the wire. Senior Cordaryl Ballard took the eventual game winning shot with 3 seconds remaining. He exited the game with 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Vitor Hipsher 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks while Vincent Crutcher had a solid 12 points and 2 rebounds. Freshman Deke Jolly exited the game with 8 points and 5 rebounds. This is the Eagles 9th straight win.

Morehead State is now 9-1 (1-0).
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Powerhouse Kentucky Falls to Morehead State in OT

12/5 @ Kentucky

Final: 75-67 (OT)

Tubby Smith must be scratching his head after tonight's debacle. The powerful Kentucky Wildcats fell victim to the small up-and-coming Morehead State Eagles tonight in Rupp Arena. Although the Eagles have dominated the OVC the past two years and have made it to the NCAA Tournament in those two years, they still have not gained national recognition. Tonight, the nation has taken notice of the Eagles for the rest of the season. Down by three points, it looked as if the Eagles would win this game in regulation, but Kentucky managed to hit a 25 foot three point shot as time expired. Overtime had the team playing together and firing on all cylinders as Vitor Hipsher tallied 13 points, 8 rebound and 3 blocks while freshman Alex Emerson scored 13 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals while leading the way to the amazing win. Maze Stallworth proved to be a vital part in the win by hitting 3 of his 4 three pointers in overtime. He had 12 points and 5 rebounds in tonight's win. Freshmen Deke Jolly (10 points, 3 rebounds) and Ralph St. Fort (10 points) both played solid for the Eagles.

Morehead State is now 10-1 (1-0).
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Press Conference

"I just can't believe the effort the team gave last night. This will be one win that I will never forget. Although we celebrated it all night last night, today is a new day and you better believe that we were right back in the gym getting ready for conference play next week," beamed Coach Bailey. "I can tell this team is going to be special because everybody is finding their roles and it starts with my seniors. Cordaryl Ballard and Clinton Reisz are the epitomy of team players and although Cordaryl can flat out light it up, he is content with helping his teammates get into the flow of the game. The same can be said for Clinton. These guys are carrying this team with their leadership even if they aren't filling up the stat books. After last night's win in Rupp Arena, we believe that we can compete with anybody on the national stage and we are going to carry this momentum into conference play."

[knox33]

Eagles Win Close Game

12/11 @ Murray State

Final: 69-64

Vitor Hipsher dominated the game by scoring 16 points, ripping down 14 rebounds and blocking 2 shots. Deke Jolly had a solid performance tonight with 14 points and 3 rebounds. Maze Stallworth was a perfect 3-3 from three point range and finished the game with 9 points while Clifford Assel used his athletic ability to get 9 points and 3 rebounds. The Eagles are on an incredible 11 game winning streak.

Morehead State is now 11-1 (2-0).
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Bailey and Co. Nab Another Win

12/13 @ Eastern Illinois

Final: 68-43

Although Vitor Hipsher (14 points, 6 rebounds, 6 blocks) did not have the type of night that has been typical of him as of late, the Eagles did not need it as they cruised by the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. The Eagles freshman are proving their worth with every game as Ralph St. Fort tallied 11 points, Alex Emerson scored 9 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, and Deke Jolly exited with 8 points and 5 rebounds. "It was definitely a team effort tonight. Our balanced scoring attack and aggressive half-court defense really frustrated the Panthers," commented Coach Bailey. The Eagles winning streak continues at 12 games.

Morehead State is now 12-1 (3-0).
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Eagles Soar with 13th Straight Win

12/23 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 76-64

"We knew we needed to grab an early lead on them because they have a solid squad this year. Once we were able to get a couple of good runs going, we let our defense do the rest," explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher found himself back on track with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Freshman Alex Emerson is showing why he is the starting point guard by tallying 16 points, 3 steals and 2 assists. Freshmen Clifford Assel (11 points) and Deke Jolly (9 points, 3 rebounds) gave a nice offensive spark in the final minutes of the game to get the win. Big man Aly Webber played solid tonight wiht 8 points and 4 rebounds. This notes the 13th straight victory for Coach Bailey and the Eagles.

Morehead State is now 13-1 (4-0).
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Eagles Dominate Red Hawks

12/25 vs. Southeast Missouri

Final: 61-49

Vitor Hipsher looked unstoppable tonight by scoring 17 points, grabbing 14 rebounds and blocking 2 shots in tonight's victory. "He's a special player. He's adjusted so well from a year ago and he's got such a firm grasp on the game," beamed Coach Bailey. Freshmen Deke Jolly left the game with 9 points and 4 rebounds while Clifford Assel performed solid tonight with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Tonight's win keeps the Eagles winning streak alive at 14 games and counting.

Morehead State is now 14-1 (5-0).
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Top 25 News

For the first time ever, Coach Bailey and the Morehead State Eagles find themselves in the national spotlight grabbing #21 in the Top 25 Media Poll. "It's a great honor and I'm excited what this type of exposure is going to do for our program. The University, the players and the fans are extremely excited and we are setting the bar high," explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles are playing at a level that the OVC has not seen in a long time.

[knox33]

Defense Get Eagles the Win

1/6 #21 @ Eastern Kentucky

Final: 66-59

The bitter rivalry between the Colonels and the Eagles showed no signs of love lost tonight. The Colonels attempted to stop the Eagles win-streak, but came up short in the end. Vitor Hipsher led the Eagles with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks. Deke Jolly (10 points, 6 rebounds) and Alex Emerson (14 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds) both had solid performances tonight to ensure the win streak would continue. "Rivalries like this one is good for both programs and the game of college basketball. It doesn't matter the level of skill on either team, we are both going to bring out 'A' games when we play each other," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 15-1 (6-0).
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Eagles Extend Streak to 16 Games

1/8 #21 @ Jacksonville State

Final: 68-57

Once again, Vitor Hipsher came up big tonight with 19 points and 7 rebounds. His consistent play may not only earn him OVC Player of the Year honors, but maybe National Player of the Year honors. Deke Jolly is playing more like a veteran with his 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Ralph St. Fort has been turning his game up lately with a 11 points and 2 steals performance in tonight's win. The win streak is at an incredible 16 games and counting.

Morehead State is now 16-1 (7-0).
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Top 25 News

Morehead State has now captured the #18 spot in the Top 25 Media Poll. Not only have the Eagles landed inside the Top 20 of the Media Poll, they also are sitting on top of the Mid-major Poll. As the wins keep piling up, there is no telling how high the Eagles can fly up the polls.
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Tough Play Gets Win

1/12 #18 vs. Tennessee-Martin

Final: 74-64

"The difference in the game tonight was Vitor," said Coach Bailey confidently after the game. The young sophomore took over in the final 5 minutes of the game and stormed out of Johnson Arena with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. Freshman Deke Jolly looked impressive with a solid 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks while Ralph St. Fort played solid tonight with 11 points and 2 steals. The Eagles have extended the longest winning streak in the history of Morehead State basketball with 17 games and counting.

Morehead State is now 17-1 (8-0).

[knox33]

Top 25 News

With their 17th consecutive win, the Morehead State Eages drop into the #13 slot in the Top 25 Media Poll. "It's amazing how well the team is playing together. I just can't get over how Vitor Hipsher is leading this team like a veteran and how well each player knows what their role is on this team," explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles are closing the gap on the Top 10 and could land inside there if they can keep up their winning ways.
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Free Throws Win Nail-Biter

1/20 #13 @ Austin Peay

Final: 68-60

The lift the Eagles got from junior Maze Stallworth (8 points) in the 2nd half helped give the Eagles the lead inside the 2 minute mark. Freshman Alex Emerson (12 points, 2 assists) looked like a seasoned veteran by calmly hitting 4-4 free throws to seal the game in favor of the Eagles. Vitor Hipsher lead the team with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks while young Clifford Assel had a impressive 8 points and 3 steals in tonight's victory. The Eagles keep the streak alive with 18 straight wins. They will play Samford in their next game.

Morehead State is now 18-1 (9-0).
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Eagles Win Tough Game

1/24 #13 vs. Samford

Final: 62-57

"Samford is showing that they are one of the better teams in the OVC and that gave us a good game tonight," explained Coach Bailey. The game was closer than expected as the Bulldogs hounded every shot. Vitor Hipsher was a mad man on the glass with 11 rebounds. He also tallied 14 points and 3 blocks. Ralph St. Fort was the only other player in double figures tonight with 11 points and an impressive 5 rebounds. St. Fort's play at the end of the game helped the Eagles capture their 19th straight win.

Morehead State is now 19-1 (10-0).
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Top 25 News and Press Conference

"This is some of the best team basketball I have ever seen ANY team play," beamed Coach Bailey. "No one cares who scores the most and everyone is just out on the floor to win the game." The Eagles are sitting at the top of the OVC standings half way through the season with a perfect 10-0. They have also jumped up 2 spots in the Media Poll to #11 in the nation. "This type of national recognition could start swaying major recruits our way," explained Coach Bailey concerning the Eagles new found exposure. "We are excited about how well this season is going and the type of chemistry this particular team has. I don't know if I'll ever have another team with this type of chemistry."
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OVC Standings

1. Morehead State 19-1 (10-0)
2. Tennessee Tech 12-5 (7-3)
3. Samford 10-10 (6-5)
4. Tennessee State 8-8 (6-4)
5. Southeast Missouri 10-8 (5-5)
6. Murray State 9-7 (5-5)
7. Eastern Kentucky 9-11 (5-7)
8. Austin Peay 7-8 (4-5)
9. Tennessee-Martin 7-10 (4-7)
10. Jacksonville State 5-12 (3-6)
11. Eastern Illinois 6-12 (1-9)

Leaders

Points- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 16.0 ppg
Rebounds- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 11.0 rpg
Assists- Othello Callans (Eastern Illinois): 6.7 apg
Steals- Cordaryl Ballard (Morehead State): 4.5 spg
Blocks- Clifton Waller (Austin Peay): 2.9 bpg

[Dzyne]

Whuts good?...this is a great post...it makes me want to start my own, where do you find the time and patience to play and report so much. Are you simulating at all. My favorite player on your team is definately Maze...the name has a nice ring to it. I have been following him since his freshman year. He has always been consistent. Keep it up...this definately makes me want to pull my game out and play it...you got any tips...I see you have improved each year....also ...with all the talk on here about not recieving any major offers how has it been for you.....why did you stay another year

[knox33]

I appreciate the props. I actually don't have a lot of time to play and post now. I posted the majority of this on my winter break, but I'm hitting the books again. I'll still be posting, but it'll be about every other day. I'm not simulating any games and I'm playing on MOP. I also like Maze because he's instant offense. He can be a streaky shooter sometimes, but when he gets hot he doesn't miss. Concerning getting better each year...well, if I wanted I could win every game by about 30 points. I wouldn't matter if I was playing on Starter or MOP. But that would involve pressing the whole game and dunking everytime down. I like to keep it more realistic and if I lose then I lose. I like staying with the smaller conference teams because you have to work at recruiting and it's harder to win so it's a challenge. I stayed at Morehead because I had a really good freshman class coming in too.

[knox33]

Eagles Blow Out Tigers

1/27 #11 @ Tennessee State

Final: 74-45

Nashville, TN native Ralph St. Fort used tonight's game against the Tigers of Tennessee State as a homecoming game for him. Many of his family, friends, and former high school teammates were in attendance tonight in his first game back in his hometown. St. Fort looked less like a freshman and more like a budding star as he wowed the crowd with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 6 steals while coming off the bench to senior Cordaryl Ballard. Vitor Hipsher did not look too shabby either by tallying 10 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks while junior Vincent Crutcher added 9 points and 2 rebounds in tonight's blowout win. The Tigers are a perfect 11-0 in OVC play and have won a staggering 20 games in a row.

Morehead State is now 20-1 (11-0).
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Mighty Morehead's Win Streak Snapped Tonight

1/31 #11 @ Tennessee-Martin

Final: 73-80

"We are all disappointed," commented Coach Bailey. "We knew coming here tonight would be a tough game. UT-Martin is always a tough game for us and tonight they were the bettere team." The Eagles impressive 20 game winning streak was snapped tonight with their loss to the Skyhawks. Despite the loss, freshman Deke Jolly did his best to make a late run with his 19 points and 3 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher played solid tonight with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks while junior sharp-shooter Maze Stallworth came away with 12 points and 2 steals. The Eagles played sloppy from start to finish and was still with arm's reach of a win. Tonight's loss marks the Eagles first conference loss of the seaso. "We will look at the tapes tomorrow and just take tonight as a lesson learned."

Morehead State falls to 20-2 (11-1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 25 News

Despite their loss to Tennessee-Martin, the Eagles remain unmoved at the #11 spot in the Media Poll. The Eagles next game is against a solid Southeast Missouri team that sits in the middle of the OVC pack.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Bounce Back with Huge Win

2/2 #11 @ Southeast Missouri

Final: 82-56

After their win streak was snapped just 2 days ago, the Morehead State Eagles showed the nation that they could play better and they are for real. The Eagles' stiffling defense looked impeccable as the continually frustrated their opponents and shut down their inside game. Vitor Hipsher led his team with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Freshman Alex Emerson was lights out from the field with 14 points and 2 assists while Deke Jolly (12 points, 3 rebounds) and Ralph St. Fort (11 points) put up solid games for the Eagles.

Morehead State is now 21-2 (12-1).

[knox33]

Bailey and Co. Man-handle Governors

2/5 #11 vs. Austin Peay

Final: 67-42

“I think the guys did a great job controlling the tempo of the game and shutting down their post play,” explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher led the way with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks while his freshman teammates helped with the scoring load. Ralph St. Fort pitched in a solid 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists while Deke Jolly added 10 points and 2 rebounds. Clifford Assel found his way in the mix of things with 10 points and 2 rebounds as well.

Morehead State is now 22-2 (13-1).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

In today’s press conference, Coach Bailey commented on the development of his highly touted freshmen. “Words can’t describe how much they impress me. They continue to work hard in practice and their improvement shows. We didn't expect to have to rely on them so much, but after Dan Penick and Andreas Coleman transferred out, we had no choice. I think Alex has come a long way and is so much better than what anyone thought he would be at this juncture of his career. He’s did a great job running the team and he’s a capable scorer. Deke is such a complimentary player to Vitor. He’s got such a complete game for a big man. He can dish the rock, consistently knock down 15 footers and is developing his inside game every day. I can’t say enough about Ralph and Cliff. Ralph plays a lot like Maze in that he can put up points in a hurry. His defense and athleticism is his biggest asset and he’s learning how his play can make the difference down the stretch. Clifford is our most versatile player, but also one of the most unselfish. He just wants to win. At small forward, he has a lot of height on him, but he is built well enough to play the 4 for us. He might not fill up a stat book, but he does the little things well and he continues to improve daily on his ball-handling and defense.” Aside from Vitor Hipsher and Maze Stallworth, these freshmen have found themselves playing crucial roles for the Eagles and are helping with the scoring load. Ralph, Deke, and Alex are all scoring just under 10 points per game while Cliff is just under 7 points per game.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win in 27-9 Run in OT

2/7 #11 @ Tennessee Tech

Final: 102-84 (OT)

Tonight’s battle between the Morehead State and Tennessee Tech will go down as one of the most intense, yet surprising battles all year. Tech looked like they might hand the Eagles their 2nd conference loss of the year, but the Eagles found a way to push the game into overtime. During overtime, the game was all about junior Maze Stallworth. Stallworth recorded 5 three pointers in overtime which resulted in an impressive 27-9 run to finish the game. Stallworth’s hot shooting resulted in 21 points for the night. Vitor Hipsher had an impressive 17 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks while freshman Ralph St. Fort provided many highlights with 15 points and 3 rebounds. Both Aly Webber and Clifford Assel ended the game with 10 points and 5 rebounds a piece while Deke Jolly helped carry the load down low with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in tonight’s win.

Morehead State is now 23-2 (14-1).
----------------------------------------------------------------
Top 25 News

For the first time ever, the Morehead State Eagles and Coach William Bailey find themselves in the Top 10. The Eagles land in the #7 spot in today’s new Media Poll.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Clinch OVC, Win Nail-biter

2/12 #7 vs. Murray State

Final: 71-70

Just days after landing inside the nation’s Top 10, the #7 Eagles looked like they would not be staying there long. “We just got outplayed up until the final 5 minutes of the game and we’re fortunate to walk away with a win,” said Coach Bailey. The Eagles looked frustrated throughout the game as shots were not falling and things just were not going their way. Deke Jolly helped spark the run that would eventually give them the lead. He finished with 15 points and 2 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher saved the day tonight with the game-winning tip-in at the buzzer off of Cordaryl Ballard’s jump shot. Hipsher’s efforts earned him 19 points and 7 rebounds. With this win, the Eagles have just clinched the OVC Title with four regular season games remaining.

Morehead State is now 24-2 (15-1).

[knox33]

Eagles Get Big Win

2/14 #7 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 61-44

Tonight’s game was decided in the paint. The Eagles big men continually frustrated the Panthers all night long and provided the spark on both offense and defense to help them pull away with the win. “Every game is crucial,” commented Coach Bailey. “What I mean to say is that there is no gimme games here in the OVC because anybody can drop a game if they aren’t prepared.” Coach Bailey helped his players get prepared for this game, especially Vitor Hipsher and Deke Jolly. Hipsher tallied 14 points and grabbed a game high 11 rebounds while Jolly added 10 points and a career best 8 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 25-2 (16-1).
---------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get 44 Point Win

2/18 #7 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 74-30

“Let me start by saying that Jacksonville State is a good team, but I don’t know of any team that can win against a team that had a great shooting night like we did,” explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles’ shots just kept falling all game long which turned out to be Coach Bailey’s largest margin of victory. Vitor Hipsher led all scorers with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Deke Jolly added 10 points and 5 rebounds while Maze Stallworth provided 10 points of his own. Ralph St. Forth (9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) and Clifford Assel (8 points, 4 rebounds) both had a solid performance coming off the bench tonight.

Morehead State is now 26-2 (17-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Win on Senior Night

2/26 #7 vs. Tennessee State

Final: 61-49

Tonight’s “Senior Night” game against the Tigers of Tennessee State was more exciting than what the score reveals. After honoring seniors Clinton Reisz and Cordaryl Ballard, the Eagles got right down to business, but the Tigers were not backing down. “It was all about defense tonight,” commented Coach Bailey. With the score knotted at 45 points a piece, the Eagles began a late run with just 2 minutes remaining in the game. After pulling ahead by 6 points, the Tigers late-game fouling sent the Eagles to the line where they sealed the win with key free throws. Vitor Hipsher, who battled foul trouble all game and eventually fouled out with 3 minutes remaining tallied 14 points, 3 blocks and a season-low 4 rebounds. Freshmen Ralph St. Fort (14 points, 3 assists) and Alex Emerson (9 points) both had solid performances in tonight’s Senior Night win. Tonight’s win also ties Coach Bailey’s best win record since his first year with 27 wins.

Morehead State is now 27-2 (18-1).
----------------------------------------------------------
Bailey Wins Career Best 28 Games

2/28 #7 @ Samford

Final: 65-44

Vitor Hipsher bounced back from a poor performance on Senior Night with 14 points and 10 rebounds in tonight’s road win against Samford. Deke Jolly (13 points, 1 rebound) provided a spark on the offensive end along with Clifford Assel (9 points). Freshman point guard Alex Emerson had a solid performance tonight with 12 points, 4 assists and 4 steals in tonight’s victory. “We have shown a lot of heart this season and the team chemistry has made the difference in a lot of close wins this year. We’re just hoping to keep the ball rolling and take this momentum into the conference tournament,” explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 28-2 (19-1).

[knox33]

OVC Final Standings

1. Morehead State 28-2 (19-1)
2. Tennessee Tech 19-8 (14-6)
3. Samford 16-13 (12-8)
4. Austin Peay 14-12 (11-9)
5. Southeast Missouri 15-13 (10-10)
6. Tennessee State 12-14 (10-10)
7. Tennessee-Martin 13-13 (10-10)
8. Jacksonville State 9-19 (7-13)
9. Murray State 11-15 (7-13)
10. Eastern Illinois 10-18 (5-15)
11. Eastern Kentucky 9-19 (5-15)

Leaders

Points- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 15.5 ppg
Rebounds- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 10.3 rpg
Assists- Othello Callans (Eastern Illinois): 6.8 apg
Steals- Cordaryl Ballard (Morehead State): 4.8 spg
Blocks- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 2.6 bpg
------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win Convincingly and Advance

3/3 #7 vs. Murray

Final: 67-45

Vitor Hipsher dominated tonight’s opening round game with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks. “He’s been our anchor all year long and he didn’t disappoint tonight,” explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles talented freshmen helped lead the team to victory tonight as Alex Emerson tallied 9 points and 3 assists and Clifford Assel provided 8 points and 3 rebounds. Deke Jolly had a solid performance tonight with 8 pionts and 4 rebounds in tonight’s victory. With this win, the Eagles advance to the 2nd round of the OVC Tournament to face Austin Peay who beat Southeast Missouri earlier tonight.

Morehead State is now 29-2 (19-1).
--------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Squeak By Governors

3/6 #7 vs. Austin Peay

Final: 54-49

Tonight was an instant classic. Both the Eagles and the Governors would not back down tonight as each waged their own war against the other. The defense was impeccable on both ends of the floor with senior center Clifton Waller leading the way for the Governors and Vitor Hipsher for the Eagles. These two literally shut each other down, but Hipsher ended up getting the best of Waller by tallying 12 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and swatting an impressive 5 shots. Clifford Assel stepped up his game with 10 points and 5 rebounds while Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 5 steals) and Deke Jolly (8 points, 6 rebounds) also had solid performances tonight.

Morehead State is now 30-2 (19-1).
-----------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win 3rd Consecutive OVC Title

3/7 #7 vs. Samford

Final: 54-44

For the 2nd time in 3 years, the Morehead State Eagles and the Samford Bulldogs square off in the OVC Championship game. With the Eagles winning it two years in a row, it would not be much different tonight. “They tried to slow us down and did a good job of that, but we were consistent on the glass and our 2nd chance opportunities. That’s what really made the difference in this game,” commented Coach Bailey who is having the best coaching season of his young career. Vitor Hipsher led the attack with 11 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocks while freshmen Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 3 steals) and Deke Jolly (8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) both had solid performances tonight in the championship victory.

Morehead State is now 31-2 (19-1).

[PETE EDWARD ROSE]

WHEW!!!, and I thought I was a geek!? WTF?!?! this is by far the funniest thing I've ever laid my eyes on!!! WTF?WTF?lol!!!!111

[vikingfan1]

WHEW!!!, and I thought I was a geek!? WTF?!?! this is by far the funniest thing I've ever laid my eyes on!!! WTF?WTF?lol!!!!111


Give the guy some credit, im sure it took him awhile to do all this.

[DeRRtyTree11]

does someone know where a list of all the points are for points you can get in legacy mode to eventually get everything to an A+ in coaching?
such as signing a 5 star recruit
getting in the top 25
beating the #1 ranked team
etc
?

[andrizzle1515]

this is great work..ive been following from the begininng

[CoachJackson]

It's my favorite CH2K7 legacy so far. Keep up the good work!

[knox33]

WHEW!!!, and I thought I was a geek!? WTF?!?! this is by far the funniest thing I've ever laid my eyes on!!! WTF?WTF?lol!!!!111

I understand everyone isn't going to be a fan of what I do and everyone has their own opinions. Apparently, this guy doesn't appreciate the this, but thank you to all who follow and appreciate this thread. I genuinely enjoy your feedback and your willingness to take the time out and read my legacy journey. There's more to come.

[PETE EDWARD ROSE]

KNOX my bad dude! I love you man Im sorry I know that was wrong to say I just needed a good laugh, you have actully inspired me to start doing the same thing!!!sorry for being rude I love you man!!

[knox33]

KNOX my bad dude! I love you man Im sorry I know that was wrong to say I just needed a good laugh, you have actully inspired me to start doing the same thing!!!sorry for being rude I love you man!!


Not a problem at all. I'm glad your thinking about starting one of your own. I appreciate your "turn around" and I look forward to reading your own legacy.

[knox33]

Final Top 10

1. North Carolina 26-6
2. Connecticut 25-7
3. Duke 24-8
4. Utah 33-2
5. UCLA 26-7
6. Michigan 25-6
7. NC State 26-8
8. Morehead State 31-2
9. Texas 22-9
10. Boston College 21-9
------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

Today was a great day for Coach Bailey and the Eagles. After finishing the regular season with a 31-2 record and ranked #8 in the nation, the NCAA committee rewarded the team with a #2 seed in the Memphis Regional of the NCAA Tournament. This is Morehead State’s best seed ever in the tournament. “I know a lot of people don’t think we deserve such a high seed because of our schedule, but I think our win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena really helped us get this seed. I’m extremely proud of this team and I know the fans want us to win some games in this tournament,” explained Coach Bailey.
-----------------------------------------------------
Eagles Easily Advance to Round of 32

3/20 vs. #15 seed Texas-Arlington

Final: 80-58

“We were extremely nervous about this game,” explained Coach Bailey. “We knew there were high expectations for us, but we also knew we were voted most likely to be upset in the first round. I’m just glad we played our game and didn’t let all of the media attention get to us.” Vitor Hipsher played his game tonight by recording a double-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 2 assists. Ralph St. Fort (13 points, 4 steals) and Deke Jolly (13 points, 5 rebounds) both had solid performances tonight. Junior Vincent Crutcher added 10 points and 2 rebounds while big man Aly Webber (6 points, 6 rebounds) and Clifford Assel (8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) gave the team a spark off the bench. The Eagles advance to the Round of 32 and will square off against #7 seed Providence Friars.

Morehead State is now 32-2 (19-1).
------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Come Back and Win Big

3/22 vs. #7 seed Providence

Final: 75-56

The Friars came out with guns blazing and found themselves up by 15 points early in the game. “At that point, I called a timeout and tried to settle the guys down. A lot of people don’t remember that we are a very young team and rely on a lot of freshmen and sophomores. Once we settled down, we let our defense do the work and we ended up coming back and winning by 19 points,” said Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher gave an impressive 16 points and 13 rebounds while Aly Webber provided 10 points and 8 rebounds. Deke Jolly had a good game tonight with 10 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. Junior Maze Stallworth (10 points, 2 rebounds) and Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 5 steals) both came off the bench and helped the team battle back for the win. The Eagles advance to the Sweet 16 with this win and will battle the #3 seed Boston College Eagles.

Morehead State is now 33-2 (19-1).

[knox33]

Bailey and Co. Get Solid Win Tonight

3/27 vs. #3 seed Boston College

Final: 73-61

Coach Bailey looked like he had everything under control as his team calmly defeated a better Boston College team. “We knew we could match up at every position except for the small forward spot. Vincent (Crutcher) only stands at 6’4 and their small forward stands at 6’11 248 lbs. I honestly thought he was their center, but he is such a great talent. I thought our defense on him was crucial in this game,” declared Coach Bailey who with this win advances to the Elite 8. Vitor Hipsher continually demanded the ball tonight and scored a season best 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. Ralph St. Fort came off the bench and provided 12 points and 2 steals. This is the Eagles first time ever in the Elite 8 and will face powerhouse Texas (#4 seed) in Memphis for a spot in the Final Four.

Morehead State is now 34-2 (19-1).
-----------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win in Memphis Miracle

3/29 vs. #4 seed Texas

Final: 72-70

Tonight notes the greatest comeback ever by a team in the NCAA Tournament. What looked like the Eagles final game in their quest for a title became one of the greatest wins ever witnessed. The Texas Longhorns was no doubt the better team tonight. Leading the game by 12 points with only 35 seconds remaining, Coach Barnes thought this game was in the bag. Was he ever wrong. Coach Bailey called a timeout and came back onto the court showing a full-court 1-2-2 press along with sharp shooters Ralph St. Fort and Maze Stallworth out on the floor. “Well, thirty-five seconds is a long time and I felt that we could atleast make it respectable. What I didn’t expect was for us to get 4 steals and for Maze to hit 4 three-pointers in a row,” exclaimed Coach Bailey. But that is exactly what had happened. The Longhorns carelessly inbounded the ball with expectations of getting fouled and going to the charity stripe, but Deke Jolly was able to get his hands on the passes and dished the ball to an open Maze Stallworth. With just 2 seconds remaining and the score tied at 70, Ralph St. Fort made the incredible happen. As Texas tried to throw the ball in, he stepped in front of his defender, stole the ball and shot a fade away 15 footer to win the game as the buzzer sounded. The Eagles won the game despite Vitor Hipsher dislocating his finger and leaving the game early in the first half. He ended the game with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. The heroes of the game were Maze Stallworth (13 points) and Ralph St. Fort (15 points, 3 rebounds). Tonight in Memphis, TN, no one will ever forget what will forever be remembered as “The Memphis Miracle.”

Morehead State is now 35-2 (19-1).
-------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

For the first time ever, the Morehead State Eagles find themselves in the Final Four. “It’s an incredible feeling, but we aren’t just happy to be here. We feel like we legitimately have a shot at winning the whole thing,” announced Coach Bailey. “The guys are playing so well together and we’ve certainly got a lot of luck on our side as well. I know a lot of people thought we should have lost against Providence in the 2nd round and especially Texas in the Elite 8, but we are proving everyone wrong. It doesn’t matter how we got here, what matters is that we ARE here and we are here to win. Even though we are a #2 seed, many people still believe we are a Cinderella Story because we are in a small conference.” With the Eagles leader Vitor Hipsher injured with a dislocated finger, the Eagles are going to have to come up with more answers against a tough #7 seed Syracuse team. Coach Bailey has noted that Hipsher will play despite his finger, but hopefully his game is not affected too much by it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Eagles Run Ends Tonight

4/4 vs. #7 seed Syracuse

Final: 73-81

“We had a great run and I’m disappointed to have it end tonight, but I am so proud of my players and the effort they have given me all year long. What they have accomplished is incredible and this will go down as one of the most remembered runs in NCAA history,” commented a tearful Coach Bailey. Even with a dislocated finger, Vitor Hipsher showed what heart was all about by scoring 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Deke Jolly (11 points, 3 rebounds) and Alex Emerson (11 points, 3 assists, 3 steals) both had solid performances tonight despite the loss.

Morehead State ends the season 35-3 (19-1).
------------------------------------------------------------------
NCAA Tournament Championship

The Kentucky Wildcats squared off against the Syracuse Orangemen for the NCAA Championship. The Wildcat’s dynasty return to prominence once again as they defeated the Orangemen for the title. Earlier in the year, the Morehead State Eagles defeated the eventual champion Wildcats in Rupp arenawith a 75-67 overtime win.
------------------------------------------------------------------
National Awards

National Champions- Kentucky 25-15 (8-8)
National Coach of the Year- Ben Howland (UCLA)
National Player of the Year- Romain Werch (Georgia Tech)
2K Sports Player of the Year- Romain Werch (Georgia Tech)

OVC Awards

OVC Conference Champions- Morehead State
OVC Tournament Champions- Morehead State
OVC Coach of the Year- William Bailey (Morehead State)
OVC Player of the Year- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State)
OVC Freshman of the Year- D’or Collier (Jacksonville State)

[knox33]

Press Conference

For the first time in 3 years, Morehead State coach William Bailey has finally received the award that has been due him, the OVC Coach of the Year Award. After controversy that he should have won it the last two years, the OVC committee could not give it to anyone else after the Eagles impressive run into the tournament. Many thought that he should have been the National Coach of the Year, but UCLA’s Ben Howland received that honor. “I’m glad this wait is over. The past two years doesn’t matter now because I’m glad I got this award by coaching this team,” commented Coach Bailey.
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Morehead State 2008-2009 Season Recap

Record: 35-3 (19-1)
OVC Regular Season Champions
OVC Tournament Champions
BP Top of the World Classic Champions
OVC Coach of the Year: William Bailey
OVC Player of the Year: Vitor Hipsher
1st Team All-OVC: Vitor Hipsher
Freshman All-OVC: Deke Jolly, Ralph St. Fort, Alex Emerson
NCAA most steals: Cordaryl Ballard (4.8 spg)

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'6 200 (Louisville, KY) 62 overall JR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6'0 182 (Grand Rapids, MI) 60 overall SO
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6'0 170 (Milwaukee, WI) 67 overall FR
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6'5 193 (Nashville, TN) 66 overall FR
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'3 187 (Owensboro, KY) 55 overall JR
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 279 (Melbourne) 69 overall SO
SG #21 Cordaryl Ballard 6'4 195 (Columbus, OH) 66 overall SR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6'9 225 (Memphis, TN) 64 overall FR
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 211 (Louisville, KY) 67 overall JR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6'9 240 (Chicago, IL) 68 overall FR
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 320 (Richmond, KY) 49 overall JR
C #50 Aly Webber 7'0 268 (Fort Wayne, IN) 66 overall SO
C #53 Clinton Reisz 6'10 237 (Owensboro, KY) 63 overall SR

Coaches
William Bailey: B- overall (3rd year)
Damien Robbins: C+ overall (1st year)
Jay Massey: C+ overall (1st year)

[knox33]

Off-season News

After speculation that Coach Bailey was leaving the Eagles, he put the fans worries to rest. “I will be remaining in Morehead, KY for next season,” announced Coach Bailey. After being passed over for the Syracuse, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Houston and St. Bonaventure jobs, Coach Bailey declined offers from Hawaii, Troy, Western Michigan, Louisiana Tech, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, College of Charleston, and IPFW to name a few. Not long after declining these offers to remain in Morehead, Coach Bailey’s assistants Damien Robbins and Jay Massey ended up leaving the team for head coaching positions. Coach Robbins is headed for College of Charleston as their new head coach while Coach Massey took the head coaching position at Morehead’s rival IPFW. Coach Bailey commented, “I understand the position they were in. They came to Morehead to further their careers and after this past year’s success I figured offers would be flooding in for them. I really wish I had both of them for another year because this coaching staff put a lot of effort into helping this team come together and recruiting some of the best talent. I wish them the best and hope to see them on the court sometime in the future.”
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Press Conference

With the departure of Assistant Coaches Damien Robbins and Jay Massey, Coach Bailey has been interviewing candidates to fill their positions. Coach Bailey announced, “After interviewing many candidates, I am pleased to announce our two new assistants. Let me introduce to you Coach Elmore Gibbs. Coach Gibbs is an excellent recruiter and a good scout. His primary job will be to help me bring in some of the best talent here to Morehead, KY. Next, let me introduce to you Coach J.D. Foye. Coach Foye has a solid offensive and defensive mindset. He will help us out on the X’s and O’s of our game. Both of our new coaches bring solid strengths to our team and will help us reach new heights next season."
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Recruiting News

2kprep.com’s Lawrence Thouin has reported that after signing his best freshman class in Morehead State history, Coach Bailey and his staff will be looking for a backcourt with their scholarships next season. Here is a list of recruits Bailey and his new staff are contacting and watching over the summer. Bailey and his former staff recruited these players throughout the Eagles memorable season and according to Thouin, the new coaching staff will probably have their pick because the high interest each recruit has in the program.

PG Nile Slattery 6'1 165 (Durhan, NC) 4*
PG Bud Stehly 6'0 170 (Milwaukee, WI) 4*
PG Hakeen Blizzard 5'9 156 (Cincinnati, OH) 4*
PG Stalin Benson 6'4 176 (Memphis, TN) 4*
SG Kudus Hobbs 6'5 207 (Nashville, TN) 4*
SF Olli Prillman 6'4 192 (Venezuela) 3*
PG Reece Holt 6'1 162 (Chicago, IL) 3*
SG Odartey Wolfe 6'1 181 (Indianapolis, IN) 3*

[knox33]

2009-2010 Morehead State Roster

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'6 200 (Louisville, KY) 65 overall SR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6'1 186 (Grand Rapids, MI) 63 overall JR
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6'0 173 (Milwaukee, WI) 69 overall SO
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6'5 193 (Nashville, TN) 69 overall SO
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'3 193 (Owensboro, KY) 57 overall W-SR
PF #12 Chevon Modica 6'10 218 (Orlando, FL) 69 overall FR
C #13 Juan Webb 7'3 252 (Memphis, TN) 69 overall RS-FR
SF #14 Clint Herber 6'9 211 (Nashville, TN) 71 overall FR
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 279 (Melbourne) 72 overall JR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6'10 232 (Memphis, TN) 67 overall SO
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 213 (Louisville, KY) 72 overall SR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6'10 245 (Chicago, IL) 71 overall SO
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 323 (Richmond, KY) 51 overall W-SR
C #50 Aly Webber 7'0 276 (Fort Wayne, IN) 68 overall JR
C #53 O.J. Doss 6'10 240 (Lexington, KY) 68 overall RS-FR

Coaches
William Bailey: B overall (4th year)
Elmore Gibbs: C+ overall (1st year)
J.D. Foye: C+ overall (1st year)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting Class

By signing Clint Herber, Chevon Modica, Juan Webb and O.J. Doss, the EAgles have landed the best recruiting class in the OVC for the 3rd straight year and the #34 recruiting class in the nation according to 2kprep.com.

OVC Recruiting Classes
1. Morehead State
2. Austin Peay
3. Tennessee-Martin
4. Jacksonville State
5. Tennessee State
6. Tennessee Tech
7. Samford
8. Murray State
9. Eastern Illinois
10. Eastern Kentucky
11. Southeast Missouri

[knox33]

Recruiting News

What a difference summer basketball makes. With 2K camps over, 2kprep.com has officially announced the 2009-2010 senior rankings. Coach Bailey and his new staff were seen at the 2K Sports Elite camp scouting their future stars. According to 2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin, Morehead State's Coach Bailey, Gibbs and Foye have narrowed their prospect list down to four players. Of these four players, only two will have a chance to play for the Eagles. This is going to be one of the toughest decisions this coaching staff may ever make concerning the future of their program because each of these players have declared Morehead State as their clear leader and they all want to play for Coach Bailey. Not only that, but they are all very similar in their styles of play. Coach Bailey has stated that he wanted to recruit a backcourt, but it looks like he intends to convert a point guard into a combo guard because all his prospects are point guards.

1. Bud Stehly 6'1 172 (Milwaukee, WI- #107 overall, #20 PG) 4*
2. Nile Slattery 6'2 167 (Durham, NC- #109 overall, #21 PG) 4*
3. Hakeem Blizzard 5'10 162 (Cincinnati, OH- #111 overall, #23 PG) 4*
4. Stalin Benson 6'5 180 (Memphis, TN- #161 overall, #31 PG) 4*

As far as their games are concerned, Thouin stated, "Stehly is deadly from the arc and is fast enough to keep up with other guards. He may be undersized to play the 2 spot, but he has a high basketball IQ. Slattery is your typical point guard. He has a nice handle and has enough speed to keep up with other guards. He has a solid jumper inside the arc, but is spotty from 3point range. Blizzard is the fastest prospect on the list. He keeps the rock secure and has excellent court vision. He also can knock down the three with consistency. Benson is Bailey's best prospect as a combo guard with his size. Benson is solid through and through. He is consistent from inside and outside, but there is nothing about his game that stands out. As far as potential is concerned, Benson and Slattery would be nice pickups for the Eagles, but it is based on current skills, I would have to say Stehly and Blizzard should be picked. This would be a tough decision for anybody, but I'm sure Bailey and his staff are happy they are in a position to make this type of decision."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresh Faces

The Eagles lost the NCAA's top steals leader in Cordaryl Ballard. He was a true floor leader and will be greatly missed. Also departing was big man Clinton Reisz. He was not the most athletic player on the roster, but he showed leadership by doing the little things well and knowing his role on the team. The Eagles are not only filling the roles of these graduating seniors, but also of the two big men that left the team last fall (Dan Penick, Andreas Coleman). The Eagles welcome two new assistant coaches in Elmore Gibbs and J.D. Foye. With Coach Gibbs tackling recruiting and scout and Coach Foye being more hands on with offense and defense, it is still unclear how the team will respond to the new changes. As for the new faces on the floor, the Coach Bailey is welcoming four big assets to the team.

Clint Herber (pronounced "hair-bear") of Nashville, TN (#56 overall, #17 SF) brings so much to the team. His skill set is a combination of Deke Jolly and Clifford Assel. Clint is the best player ever recruited by Coach Bailey or Morehead State. He has a smooth stroke from the outside and can knock down the three ball which is something Assel cannot do. He has a knack for scoring and has an athletic build. Although he will not be asked to carry a heavy scoring load for the team, he can do it all and has an unselfish personality that will fit well in this team that has "no superstars."

Big man Juan Webb out of Memphis, TN (#115 overall, #11 C) is the tallest player ever recruited by Bailey as he stands 7'3". According to Coach Bailey, Juan will be redshirted this year because he may not find much playing time against upperclassmen Vitor Hipsher and Aly Webber. Bailey commented, "Juan and I have discussed his situation many times and we both feel that it would be best for him to redshirt this year, learn the system and have atleast 3 years to dominate his position. He is a dominant post player on offense and defense. Given his size, he can rebound with the best of them and he is deceptively quick considering his size.

Chevon Modica hails from Orlando, FL (#184 overall, #45 PF) and was one of the biggest sleepers according to Coach Bailey. Modica is an excellent post player with exceptional foot work. He has a solid outside shot and can run the court with speed. What makes him special is that he is a defensive specialist. He will likely be Deke Jolly's backup, but may split that time with either Clint Herber or Clifford Assel. Chevon brings a lot of defensive intensity and rebounding to this team and may have a break out season this year.

O.J. Doss is the hometown favorite from Lexington, KY (##237 overall, #27 C). He is a capable big man that will red-shirt and be converted into more of a power forward type player. Although his stock dropped the summer before his senior year, he is just as good as Juan Webb and Chevon Modica. He is a great post player and has a solid all-around game. According to Bailey, "O.J. is ready to play and a lot of the hometown fans expected him to contribute right away, but O.J. felt that it would be in his best interest to red-shirt with Juan and fine tune his game this season.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Midnight Madness

Intrasquad Game

Tonight's midnight madness game was filled with a lot of dunks, blocks and steals. Many would say this was a sloppy game, but most of them would say this was pure entertainment. Instead of a competitive, hard-nosed game, tonight was more about alley-oop dunks, fade away bombs and ankle-breaking moves. It was more reminiscent of a high school all-american game, but according to Coach Bailey he did not mind. "This was for the fans. I don't want these guys going full-speed and end up hurting themselves before the season actually starts. I gave them freedom within reason and we saw an awesome exploit of athletic ability from these guys. Vitor Hipsher played his solid game with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Maze Stallworth bombed in 18 points. Ralph St. Fort scored 13 points and recorded 4 steals. Deke Jolly had an impressive 10 points and 6 rebounds. The Eagles new player impressed the crowds. Clint Herber led his team with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Juan Webb (9 points, 4 rebounds) and Chevon Modica (6 points, 6 rebounds) both had solid performances tonight. O.J. Doss got an appreciative standing ovation from the home crowd and tallied 7 points and 4 rebounds. Coach Bailey commented, "we have a lot of weapons this year and this is going to be a scary team to matchup against when the season starts."

[knox33]

Press Conference

This year's outlook for the Morehead State Eagles is very positive. Coach Bailey commented, "This is by far the strongest team I have ever assembled. We are very capable in every position and we are a year more mature after our best season ever. The guys are excited to get back on the court and they all have put in a lot of work for this season. We are focused and we know what it takes to be successful this season." When asked about the team's leadership and their big man Vitor Hipsher, Coach Bailey had this to say, "Vitor is an incredible player. It is going to a little harder for him this season because people are going to start gunning for him and he may find double and even triple teams this year. I don't expect him to have the same numbers as last year because other teams are going to start keying in on him and he hopefully won't have to do as much. With the development of Ralph St. Fort and Deke Jolly and the additions of the new freshman especially Clint Herber, Vitor won't have to be relied on so heavily. I think this is going to be a more team-oriented team this year than in year's past and I think Vitor is okay with that because a lot of the pressure is off of him. The staff and I also feel that our game is starting to change from pounding it down low or shooting the three to intense defense and fast break points."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Sweet Revenge

11/9 @ Tennessee-Chattanooga

Final: 82-66

Just one year after the Mocs beat the Eagles in their season opener, the Eagles returned the favor this season. This game was lop-sided from the get-go as the Eagles vicious defense and height proved too much for the home team. Vitor Hipsher dominated the paint against the undersized Mocs as he tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. Freshman Clint Herber made his debut in impressive fashion with 13 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Senior Maze Stallworth (11 points) and Sophomore Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 2 assists) split time tonight and both were able to find their shooting touch in tonight's win. Coach Bailey said, "We knew what we needed to do tonight to win and we executed it to perfection tonight."

Morehead State begins the season 1-0.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagle Win Home Opener

11/13 vs. Utah

Final: 67-59

Last season, Utah sat on top of the Media and Coaches Poll for the majority of the season and earned a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. This was an early test for the Eagles and the home crowd definitely helped out in the final minutes as the Eagles were able to pull away off of key free throws. Vitor Hipsher struggled on the boards most of the night but was able to grab 6 rebounds to go with his 16 points. Senior Maze Stallworth connected on 4 3-pointers to end with 12 points and 3 steals while freshman Clint Herber had a solid game with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists. "He's proving that he is a solid contributor to the team and he is so versatile," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 2-0.
----------------------------------------------------------
Powerhouse Zags Lose Big

11/15 vs. Gonzaga

Final: 87-57

Tonight's anticipated matchup between the Eagles and the Zags turned out to be a blowout as the Eagles took a commanding lead early in the 2nd half and the Zags were unable to come back. Senior sharp shooter Maze Stallworth absolutely lit up the Zags all night long by nailing 6 3-pointers as he ended up with 22 points for the night. "He was just on fire. Some of the shots he took were questionable, but as long as he's hitting them, I'm keeping my mouth closed," explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher did not have a bad night as he tallied 17 points and 9 rebounds. Sophomore Ralph St. Fort looked poised for a break out year with his 16 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in tonight's blowout victory.

Morehead State is now 3-0.

[sublime8992]

Nice legacy knox, I'm tempted to start my own, but you don't get many people following here.

[lawcutta]

I had to drop in and let you know you are doing a good job with your legacy. I enjoy following William Bailey and company. I'm also a big fan of Vitor Hipsher . Lol

[Lofton Is Ballin]

i must admit...i like yours alot...its the best legacy thread ive seen

[knox33]

Nice legacy knox, I'm tempted to start my own, but you don't get many people following here.

People follow, but many just read and don't post. I hope you do start one of your own though.

[knox33]

I had to drop in and let you know you are doing a good job with your legacy. I enjoy following William Bailey and company. I'm also a big fan of Vitor Hipsher . Lol

Thanks, I'm glad you following. Hipsher is the man...he's definitely the anchor of the team.

[knox33]

i must admit...i like yours alot...its the best legacy thread ive seen


I appreciate the comments. By the way, Lofton is a baller man. Just gotta get that ankle healthy and get him back on the floor.

[knox33]

Eagles Crush Indiana State in BP Classic

11/20 vs Indiana State

Final: 82-54

"Tonight was a good game because we got to rest our starters and let some of the 2nd team and freshmen some minutes," commented Coach Bailey. The defending BP Top of the World Classic champions easily advances out of the first round and will matchup against mid-major powerhouse Nevada. Clint Herber
scored an impressive 17 points and he showed a lot of athleticism tonight. Senior Maze Stallworth matched Herber's score with 17 points of his own along with 4 steals. Deke Jolly had a solid 10 points and 5 rebounds while junior big man Vitor Hipsher ended with 8 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in limited minutes tonight.

Morehead State is now 4-0.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nevada No Match For Eagles

11/21 vs. Nevada

Final: 86-65

The Eagles looked flawless tonight as they picked up their 5 straight victory this season against mighty Nevada. "We have a lot of weapons on this team and this team is so unselfish. This team's chemistry is so high and that says a lot about the type of athletes we have on this team," commented Coach Bailey. Clinter Herber led all scorers tonight with 15 points while Maze Stallworth connected for 14 points. Ralph St. Fort pitched in a solid 11 points and 6 steals and Deke Jolly powered in 10 points and 3 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher saw limited action tonight with 8 points, 5 blocks and 4 rebounds in tonight's blowout win. The Eagles advance to the tournament's championship game for the 2nd year in a row and will square off against the MEAC's Norfolk State who have made a surprising run to the championship game.

Morehead State is now 5-0.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Repeat as BP Top of the World Classic Champs

11/22 vs. Norfolk State

Final: 103-55

Tonight's championship game did not look like a championship caliber game. The Spartans were just outmatched on paper and on the court. "We came out the aggressors tonight and it showed by the final score. I don't think they were comfortable all night along and they couldn't get into a rhythm," explained Coach Bailey. Maze Stallworth was named the tournament's MVP with an impressive 22 points and 4 steals. He averaged over 17 ppg. Ralph St. Fort did not disappoint with an array of moves by tallying 19 points and 3 steals. Vitor Hipsher had his best game of the tournament with 18 points, 9 rebounds and a career high 8 blocks while Deke Jolly has showed much improvement with his 14 points and 8 rebounds. For the 2nd year in a row, the Morehead State Eagles take the BP Top of the World Classic Tournament by storm. They will return home and square off against IPFW.

Morehead State is now 6-0.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

The last time Morehead State faced their rival IPFW, Vitor Hipsher was only a freshman. The Eagles dropped that game 59-67. Tomorrow, the Eagles will face their rival once again, but now the Mastodon's head coach is the Eagles' former assistant Jay Massey. Massey helped the Eagles to their best record in school history (35-3) along with a Final Four run. "Jay's a great coach. He proved that last year by helping us make the Final Four. He and Damien were so influential on this team last year and I'm sincerely glad they both landed head coaching gigs," commented Coach Bailey. Jay Massey landed the job at IPFW and former Eagles' assistant Damien Robbins took the College of Charlston job. The Eagles play the Mastodons tomorrow night and will play Damien Robbins and the Cougars just 3 days later. Most believed Coach Bailey was angry with both Massey and Robbins for leaving him after just one year. Although Bailey did well scrambling for replacements, many believed Bailey severed ties with the two after their departures. Coach Bailey commented, "I wish them only the best. I appreciate all the hard work they put in with us last year and it will be exciting to see them on the other side of the court this week."

[lawcutta]

Beat him bad! Lol

[guckin1989]

Yeah this is an amazing thread. I just bought the game and i am trying to use army. But never works. I get into simulating too much. But hopefully i can get better at the whole recruiting thing. Keep up the fantastic job and hope to see more posts soon.

[knox33]

Eagles Tame Mastodons

11/21 vs. IPFW

Final: 89-55

Tonight, the Eagles of Morehead State squared off against the Mastodons of IPFW. For the first time, former assistant coach Jay Massey tangled with his former mentor William Bailey. There was a cordial handshake before the game, but that was the only nice thing about it. The Eagles literally ran them off the court. "The guys were focused and the crowd was into it," explained Coach Bailey. Maze Stallworth and Clint Herber lit up the night with 16 points and 4 steals a piece. Deke Jolly gave another impressive outing with 14 points and 7 rebounds while Ralph St. Fort tallied 11 points and 5 steals. Big man Vitor Hipsher logged in 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in limited action with tonight's blowout.

The Eagles are now 7-0.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey Embarrasses Robbins

11/25 @ College of Charleston

Final: 86-60

Two nights after Coach Bailey trounced former assistant Jay Massey, his team man-handled former assistant Damien Robbin's College of Charleston team. The Cougars did not have a fighting chance with the type of night Vitor Hiper was having. Hipsher dominated the game with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Sophomore point guard Alex Emerson had a good game with 15 points, 3 assists and 3 stelas while Maze Stallworth poured in 4 3-pointers for 12 points and 6 steals. Freshman Clint Herber had a good all-around performance with10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. "I did not expect the guys to come out with the type of intensity they had at the beginning of the game, but I'm glad they did. This is a special team and we are only going to get better," commented Coach Bailey.

The Eagles are now 8-0.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win Conference Opener

11/28 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 95-76

"We are about as focused as any team in the country," said Coach Bailey. "The type of chemistry and confidence we have shows up on the scoreboard." Vitor Hipsher led the team tonight wtih his 2nd double-double of the season with his 17 points and 11 rebounds. Alex Emerson once again had another great shooting night with 17 points, 7 steals and 3 assists while freshman Clint Herber tallied 12 points and 4 rebounds. Maze Stallworth also had a solid performance tonight with 11 points and 2 steals. Coach Bailey and the Eagles have started the season with a perfect 9-0 record.

The Eagles are now 9-0.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting News

11/29- Signing Day

With only two scholarships for this season, Coach Bailey and his new staff have been sitting on a recruiting dilemma with the controversy about whether the staff should take Nile Slattery and Stalin Benson or Bud Stehly and Hakeem Blizzard. Coach Bailey commented, "It came down to whether we wanted guys who were ready in their positions or guys who had the better potential to grow into their positions. We thought long and hard about who to bring in and we made a decision about a week ago." The Eagles offered Hakeem Blizzard and Bud Stehly. Earlier today, both Blizzard and Stehly sent their letter of intent to Morehead State. "We are extremely happy they chose our program. We've got big expectations about these two guys and their personalities are just as good as their games and that says a lot," explained Coach Bailey.

A look at Coach Bailey's recruits:
1. Bud Stehly 6'1 172 (Milwaukee, WI- #107 overall, #20 PG) 4*
2. Hakeem blizzard 5'10 162 (Cincinnati, OH- #111 overall, #23 PG) 4*

According to Lawrence Thouin, Coach Bailey is looking to land his best recruiting class ever for next season. "He's looking at some All-American candidates and they are very interested in what Coach Bailey has to offer," stated Thouin.

SF Matt Toussaint 6'7 215 (High Point, NC) 5*
C Donald See 6'11 234 (Chicago, IL) 4*
C Rawle Guerrero 6'9 203 (Milwaukee, WI) 4*
SG Florentino Hale 6'4 189 (Atlanta, GA) 4*
PF Jerald Ricks 6'10 255 (Indianapolis, IN) 4*
SG Pervis Copeland 6'5 202 (Augusta, GA) 4*

[knox33]

Beat him bad! Lol

Oh we crushed both of them!

[knox33]

Yeah this is an amazing thread. I just bought the game and i am trying to use army. But never works. I get into simulating too much. But hopefully i can get better at the whole recruiting thing. Keep up the fantastic job and hope to see more posts soon.


Thanks. Good luck with Army. Your first year will usually be your worst recruiting year by far because you can only recruit your seniors during their senior year. World recruits will take all season to land, but they are usually your best bet to get somebody decent. I would go no higher than 4* recruits, but no lower than 3* recruits during that first year. After that, keep recruiting guys during their junior years because it will definitely pay off when they become seniors.

[guckin1989]

OO ok
I started over with Dartmouth.
And i didn't get any 3* recruits
I just cant keep in the race the comp is just too fast and steals all my prospects. but i went 14-14 so hopefully this year they will see that my team is getting better.

[Lofton Is Ballin]

did you see the game saturday Knox?...we obliterated them

[knox33]

Vandy was talking a lot of smack after that last sec. tip last game. Even with lofton's sub par ankle, we still rocked 'em by almost 30. Kentucky's gonna be a good game though.

[andrizzle1515]

what day do you recruit on?

[Bugsy23]

nice job i like this.

[knox33]

what day do you recruit on?

I'm on the PS2 so I phone everyone on Mondays and email them Tuesday through Saturday. If I can visit, scout, or invite a recruit to campus, I usually do that at the beginning of the week unless it is the week of the fall signing period. I usually wait to do the visits on the last day to raise my stock up over an opposing school.

[knox33]

nice job i like this.

Glad you appreciate the work.

[knox33]

Eagles Rock Cleveland State

12/1 @ Cleveland State

Final: 91-67

Ralph St. Fort was absolutely on fire tonight as he continually torched his opponent and left with 24 points, 7 steals, and 4 assists. Freshman Clint Herber came away with an impressive 15 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals while big man Vitor Hipsher powered in 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Senior Maze Stallworth lit up the arc with 14 points and 4 steals. “Tonight was the epitome of team basketball. It seemed like everyone got their touches and the hoop was as big as the Grand Canyon,” commented Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 10-0 (1-0).
---------------------------------------------
Eagles Win Close One

12/4 @ LSU

Final: 79-72

“Any time you come into a hostile environment like LSU, you’ve got to come prepared for anything,” explained Coach Bailey. There was no doubt about it tonight, Bailey and Co. came prepared as they knocked off SEC power LSU. Vitor Hipsher gave his 3rd double-double of the season with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks while Sophomore Deke Jolly gave an impressive 16 points and 5 rebounds. Maze Stallworth showed his shooting touch with 14 points and 5 steals while Clint Herber gave an all-around performance with 12 points, 4 steals, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 11-0 (1-0).
------------------------------------------------
Top 25 News

For the first time this season, the Morehead State Eagles picked up where they left off last season by cracking the Top 25 Polls again. After impressive wins over Utah, Gonzaga, and LSU, the Eagles find themselves in the #19 slot in both the AP and Coaches Poll while sitting on top of the Mid-Major Poll. “It doesn’t surprise me that we are in the Top 25 Polls because we’ve made a commitment to be a perennial Top 25 program and hopefully we will keep contending with the best for years to come,” said Coach Bailey.
------------------------------------------------------
Mighty Eagles Fall Hard

12/10 @ Tennessee-Martin

Final: 68-76

“They came ready to play and we didn’t. We thought because we cracked the Top 25 that we were a good team. We haven’t arrived yet and we’ve got to come ready to play every night. We have a big target on our back and I don’t think the guys understand that yet,” explained a heated Coach Bailey. In their loss, Maze Stallworth tried his best to keep the Eagles in the game with his incredible 26 points and 2 assists. Vitor Hipsher was double-teamed every time he touched the ball and came away with a less than impressive 10 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Morehead State falls to 11-1 (1-1).

[andrizzle1515]

tough loss, im anticipating a champion ship though for this year

[guckin1989]

Yeah man tough loss
good stuff though
Hopefully you do well
I finally drafted a 5 star recruit in his sophmore year now.
I just can't get through first round of the tournament =[
In like my 16th season with dartmouth which there is no challenge in the confrence.
Think i should move to a new school?
Cuz i don't get offers from any good schools.
So i think i might just play.
Also i think might help if i played more games. Once i start simmin i can't stop =[
But this is good stuff man can't wait to see how your season progresses

[knox33]

tough loss, im anticipating a champion ship though for this year

Yeah I don't know what happened. We couldn't hit anything and every time I dumped the ball down low, I couldn't even post up before I got ripped. It was definitely one of those games that you knew there was nothing you could do to win...actually, I could have started pressing the rest of the game, but I didn't want to "cheat" like that b/c I could have easily won the game doing that. Hopefully, we'll get it done the rest of the year.

[knox33]

Yeah man tough loss
good stuff though
Hopefully you do well
I finally drafted a 5 star recruit in his sophmore year now.
I just can't get through first round of the tournament =[
In like my 16th season with dartmouth which there is no challenge in the confrence.
Think i should move to a new school?
Cuz i don't get offers from any good schools.
So i think i might just play.
Also i think might help if i played more games. Once i start simmin i can't stop =[
But this is good stuff man can't wait to see how your season progresses

Clint Herber was my first 5* player. I got him my 4th year. The only reason why I'm still at Morehead is because I just have no desire to move up yet. Even though my conference schedule has subpar competition (I might lose 1 or 2 games though), it is still somewhat of a challenge for me. Recruiting is more of a challenge because you're never at the top of any very good player's lists. When you're at a power school, you already have plenty of great players looking at your school. In a smaller setting, you have to go out and really recruit hard. Nothing comes easy. I get offers from Mid-major and Major schools, but I just don't want to move up yet because it will start getting too easy. Another thing is that I play every game. Sometimes I wish I simmed some games, but I like to play all of them. Anyway, I appreciate the following and hopefully the Eagles can close out the season in good fashion. Good luck in your legacy too.

[knox33]

Eagles Bounce Back

12/12 @ Eastern Kentucky

Final: 89-69

In another heated rivalry game, the Eagles took it to the Colonels in a huge win after their loss against Tennessee-Martin. “We wanted to make a statement that we were for real and that we aren’t going to be beaten easily,” commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher gave one of this season’s best performances with his 20 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks while freshman Clint Herber came away with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Ralph St. Fort tallied 15 points and 3 rebounds and senior Maze Stallworth lit it up with 11 points. Sophomore point guard Alex Emerson had a big night as well with his 10 points and 5 steals.

Morehead State is now 12-1 (2-1).
------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 25 News

Even after losing to Tennessee-Martin earlier in the week, the Morehead State Eagles bounced back and won at rival Eastern Kentucky. The loss did not hurt them in the polls as the Eagles jumped from #19 to #13 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. The Eagles did not move from the top of the Mid-Major Poll.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
State Rocks Governors

12/22 vs. Austin Peay

Final: 91-54

Ralph St. Fort had a big game tonight with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Maze Stallworth also poured in 18 points while Deke Jolly stepped up his game (14 points, 7 rebounds) when big man Vitor Hipsher saw limited action (8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) in tonight’s blowout. Clint Herber tallied 12 points, 3 steals, and 2 assists in the win. “We came in focused and we are a tough team to beat here in Johnson Arena,” commented Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 13-1 (3-1).
-------------------------------------------------------
Bailey Leads Eagles to another Win

12/24 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 79-60

“Tonight was nice just to let some of the other players get into the game. The past two games have been big wins and we’ve just been letting some of the other guys get some minutes that they normally don’t get,” said Coach Bailey. Freshman Clint Herber dazzled the home crowd with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals while teammate Ralph St. Fort tallied 15 points and 5 assists. Vitor Hipsher (14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Maze Stallworth (12 points, 3 steals) both had solid performances tonight as the Eagles rolled over Tennessee Tech.

Morehead State is now 14-1 (4-1).

[guckin1989]

Nice game
I started a new Legacy with Texas State
Doing much better i got a solid team now. like 80 overall in 5th season
All losing season tho.
IMa stick witht hem cuz texas is a great place to recruit.
Well gl with your nex game

[knox33]

Nice game
I started a new Legacy with Texas State
Doing much better i got a solid team now. like 80 overall in 5th season
All losing season tho.
IMa stick witht hem cuz texas is a great place to recruit.
Well gl with your nex game

Looks like things are looking up for your program.

[knox33]

Top 10 News

1. Duke 12-0
2. Texas 12-1
3. Kentucky 12-1
4. Washington 10-2
5. Alabama 11-2
6. Tennessee 12-2
7. Villanova 9-2
8. Maryland 11-3
9. Morehead State 14-1
10. Florida 10-3

For the first time this season, the Morehead State Eagles cracked the Top 10. “I’m really proud of this team. Last year, we had a lot of leadership out of Cordaryl Ballard and Clinton Reisz and we also had a different coaching staff. I wasn’t sure whether this team could capture the same type of team mentality that last year’s team had, but they’ve surprised me with how well they have come together. We’ve really grown up a lot this season and we’ve got a lot more growing to do, but we will just keep playing consistent and finding ways to win,” explained Coach Bailey.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Defense Gets Win

1/5 @ Jacksonville State

Final: 75-65

“Defense definitely got us the win down the stretch. Jacksonville State is a good team and this is a tough place to play. We definitely got away with one tonight,” said Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher paced the team with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 blocks while Ralph St. Fort came away with 14 points and 5 steals. Freshman Clint Herber talled 11 points in tonight’s win.

Morehead State is now 15-1 (5-1).
------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey Wins 100th Victory

1/7 @ Tennessee State

Final: 81-53

Tonight, Coach William Bailey won his 100th victory here in Nashville, TN against the Tennessee State Tigers. “It’s a great accomplishment that I would never have been able to do without the talented players that I’ve been surrounded with ever since I’ve stepped foot on campus at Morehead State. The teams that I’ve coached here at Morehead have been hungry to win and they’ve been receptive to what the coaching staff has tried to implement in the program,” explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher had another impressive double-double with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. Ralph St. Fort (18 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds) and Clint Herber (16 points, 4 rebounds) both played in front of their hometown crowd and did not disappoint their family and friends with solid games. Senior sharp-shooter Maze Stallworth came away with 10 points in tonight’s historical win.

Morehead State is now 16-1 (6-1).

[guckin1989]

Nice top 10
In that 5th season i broke the top 25 for one weak i was pretty happy right now im 5 in mid major 6th season with a 7-3 record.
Ralph is a great player
Can't wait for the next game

[knox33]

Nice top 10
In that 5th season i broke the top 25 for one weak i was pretty happy right now im 5 in mid major 6th season with a 7-3 record.
Ralph is a great player
Can't wait for the next game

Yeah, hopefully we can become a perennial Top 10 team.

[knox33]

Eagles Win Again

1/11 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 70-55

“We had another great defensive night and we played together to get this win. Our younger players are getting a lot of good experience when we have games like this one,” said Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher had an impressive 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks in limited action while Maze Stallworth knocked down 4 3-pointers for 12 points. Ralph St. Fort tallied 1 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds in tonight’s win.

Morehead State is now 17-1 (7-1).
---------------------------------------------------------
Free Throws Seals Deal

1/19 @ Southeast Missouri

Final: 75-70

“The Red Hawks were preseason picked 2nd in the OVC behind us and they’ve had a rough start, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good team. There are playing well now and their power forward Abdul Oneil is playing like an OVC Player of the Year candidate. We did a good job on him and we were able to hit our free throws to come away with a big road win,” commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher made his case for Player of the Year with his 24 points, 13 rebounds and 1 block. Maze Stallworth had 12 points. dClint Herber also tallied 12 points and 4 rebounds and Deke Jolly powered in a solid 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

Morehead State is now 18-1 (8-1).
----------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win Big

1/23 vs. Murray State

Final: 76-56

Tonight’s match up between the Eagles and the Racers turned out to be a blowout for the home crowd Eagles. “We controlled the tempo of the game and we really had some mismatch problems for them with out man-to-man defense,” said Coach Bailey. Maze Stallworth was lights out tonight with 19 points. Ralph St. Fort (12 points, 3 steals) and Clint Herber (11 points) both had solid performances tonight. Both big men Deke Jolly (10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) and Vitor Hipsher (9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks) both had good games in limited action tonight.

Morehead State is now 19-1 (9-1).
-----------------------------------------------------------
OVC Standings

1. Morehead State 19-1 (9-1)
2. Tennessee Tech 12-6 (8-2)
3. Jacksonville State 8-10 (7-3)
4. Southeast Missouri 9-7 (6-4)
5. Austin Peay 8-9 (5-5)
6. Samford 7-9 (5-5)
7. Tennessee State 7-11 (5-5)
8. Murray State 8-11 (4-6)
9. Tennessee-Martin 6-10 (4-6)
10. Eastern Illinois 3-13 (3-7)
11. Eastern Kentucky 4-14 (2-8)

Leaders

Points- Abdul Oneil (Southeast Missouri): 17.9 ppg
Rebounds- Abdul Oneil (Southeast Missouri): 8.6 rpg
Assists- Dee Clancy (Austin Peay): 5.0 apg
Steals- Alex Emerson (Morehead State): 4.2 spg
Blocks- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 2.7 bpg

[knox33]

Eagles Pull Ahead Late for Win

1/26 @ Samford

Final: 69-62

“Tonight was a proverbial roller-coaster ride. Samford and Coach Tillette did a great job at defending us. They are always a tough team to play especially at their place and we are fortunate to come out with a win,” commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher led all scorers with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks while senior Maze Stallworth recorded 11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Nashville duo Clint Herber (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) and Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 3 rebounds) both had solid games in tonight’s thrilling win.

Morehead State is now 20-1 (10-1).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Commanding Win

1/30 @ Eastern Illinois

Final: 64-40

Tonight’s game between the Panthers and the Eagles was a very lopsided contest as the Eagles controlled the tempo of the game early on and never trailed. Ralph St. Fort led his team to victory with 14 points and 3 steals. Big man Vitor Hipsher tallied 12 points and 7 rebounds while Clint Herber exited the game with 11 points. “We’ve got some solid performances out of the guys, but we need more consistency out of the other players to make a run like we did last year,” said Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 21-1 (11-1).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Late Runs Gets Win

2/1 @ Tennessee Tech

Final: 73-63

“We aren’t playing the way we know how to play. When you add that to the fact that people are getting better at defending our style of play, you’ve got a major problem on your hand,” explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher recorded another double-double tonight with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks while Maze Stallworth shot the lights out with 17 points and 5 three point field goals. The Eagles defense and hot shooting helped them pull away for the win.

Morehead State is now 22-1 (12-1).
-----------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

Ohio Valley Conference powerhouse Morehead State has been having some shooting woes as teams are playing them more competitively as the season wears on. Coach Bailey explained, “I’ve said it before, we have some consistent players, but we need more out of our players. I think we’ve become complacent with just winning, but is winning enough? I don’t think it is. If you don’t come to play hard and play your best, I don’t think your win means as much. We’ve got guys just kind of breezing through conference play, but the conference teams are playing us much better and playing mediocre isn’t going to cut it when you’re playing top level competition in the NCAA Tournament. We definitely aren’t above being beaten. We’ve gotten beat by UT-Martin already and who says we aren’t going to get beat again. Hopefully, we can pick up our poor play and ride some momentum into the Conference tournament.”
---------------------------------------------------------
Stallworth’s Hits Game Winner

2/4 vs. Southeast Missouri

Final: 68-67

The Eagles and the Red Hawks needed a buzzer beater to announce a winner in tonight’s contest. Coach Bailey explained, “Coach Edgar and his ball club played a heck of a game and my hats off to them. They played extremely well down the stretch and we found ourselves down by 2 points with 7.3 seconds to play. Vitor had been doing a great job in the final 2 minutes and I figured that they would double down on him immediately. Maze said that he could hit the shot because he had the hot hand throughout the game and the team agreed to go for the win IF Vitor got doubled on the post. Everything happened as we expected and Vitor immediately found Maze in the corner for the wide open 3. We played our hearts out tonight and Southeast Missouri is just that good of a team.” The heroics of Stallworth helped him tally 20 points and 4 rebounds while Vitor Hipsher added 14 points and 5 rebounds. Freshman Clint Herber played one of his best games and came through for his team with 16points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 23-1 (13-1).
---------------------------------------------------------------
Governors Hot Shooting Proves Too Much For Eagles

2/6 @ Austin Peay

Final: 64-78

After the Eagles come from behind win with Maze Stallworth’s three-pointer, the Eagles were not as fortunate tonight in Clarksville, TN. This marks Coach Loos’ first victory against the Eagles under William Bailey. Coach Bailey remarks, “We didn’t come ready to play. We turned the ball over too many times down the stretch and we forced shots when we had a chance to take the lead late in the game. We had to start fouling and they were steady at the line. We deserved to lose this game.” Even with the hot shooting of Maze Stallworth (20 points, 4 steals), the Eagles could not make up the difference. Clint Herber gave another impressive performance with 17 points and 3 rebounds, but Vitor Hipsher had a sub part game with only 10 points and 3 rebounds.

Morehead State falls to 23-2 (13-2).

[guckin1989]

Good stuff man keep it up.
I finally won the final four with Texas State.
I just draft in state player snow and it works. Team is rated 92 in like my 17th season WOOO
7' 4 center that dominates...
but im excited for your next post man. Looks like toruny is coming up soon gl man

[knox33]

Good stuff man keep it up.
I finally won the final four with Texas State.
I just draft in state player snow and it works. Team is rated 92 in like my 17th season WOOO
7' 4 center that dominates...
but im excited for your next post man. Looks like toruny is coming up soon gl man


Thanks man. It takes a lot of luck and good play to get into the Final Four or the Championship. Kentucky isn't the hot bed for talent for the Eagles, but I'm finding pretty good regional talent though. Good luck with Texas State.

[knox33]

Eagles Avenge Loss

2/11 vs. Tennessee-Martin

Final: 78-56

In their first meeting, the Eagles lost a close contest to the Skyhawks. In their last game, the Eagles also lost the battle to Austin Peay in Clarksville. Now back at home, everyone knew that the Eagles were up for a big win and a big win was what they got. “We were happy to be playing infront of the home crowd and they really fueled our fire early on,” commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher (19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks) had a great game, but left early in the 2nd half due to a sprained toe. Maze Stallworth tallied 14 points while Ralph St. Fort added 13 points, 3 steals and 2 assists. Freshman Clint Herber had another solid performance with 10 points and 2 rebounds. This is his 3rd straight game with double-digits.

Morehead State is now 24-2 (14-2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 10 News

Despite losing to Austin Peay earlier in the week, the Morehead State Eagles moved up to #7 in the polls after defeating Tennessee-Martin last night. “It surprised me to see us up in the polls after being in the #9 spot for so long. I just figured we’d drop to #15 or so,” explained Coach Bailey.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Blowout Colonels

2/13 vs. Eastern Kentucky

Final: 85-50

It was not much of a game tonight as the Eagles rolled over the Colonels in Johnson Arena. “These rival games are always important games to us. We are starting to play a little better and that is how we were able to win by 35 points tonight,” commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher recorded a double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks) despite a sprained toe. Maze Stallworth added 23 points, 2 assists and 2 steals to lead all scorers in tonight’s win. Deke Jolly had one of his best games of the year with 12 points and 5 rebounds.

Morehead State is now 25-2 (15-2).
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey and Co. Get another Big Win

2/17 vs. Tennessee State

Final: 70-46

“We were able to control the tempo early on and it just took the wind out of the Tiger’s sail,” explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher had a huge game tonight in limited minutes with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 7 blocks. The bench players were able to log in a good amount of minutes and get some well deserved experience out on the floor in tonight’s blowout. Hipsher remarked, “It’s always good to get a big lead like the one we had tonight so we can get some of the less experienced players on the floor and contribute. This adds to their confidence and we are going to need them more and more as we play tough competition down the road.”

Morehead State is now 26-2 (16-2).

[guckin1989]

Hipsher is a man beast.
Gl on your next game(s)
And thanks

[knox33]

Hipsher is a man beast.
Gl on your next game(s)
And thanks

Yeah, Hipsher is a beast on both sides of the floor. Appreciate the comments.

[knox33]

Stallworth Nails Game Winner on Senior Night

2/25 vs. Samford

Final: 62-61

In their first contest, the Bulldogs gave the Eagles a run for their money. Tonight on Senior Night, the Eagles seemed to be looking over their opponent and Samford took full advantage of that. The Eagles trailed all night long and by as much as 13 points. Vitor Hipsher started taking the game over in the late stages of the game and tied the game with a hook shot with 26 seconds to play in regulation. Coach Bailey said, “we battled all the way back and we knew that they were looking for the last shot. We were able to steal their inbounds pass and we had Alex down the floor. When Deke tried to make the long pass it was intercepted and they were able to get the easy layup off of our mistake. I should have called a time-out, but we thought we could hit Alex down the floor. With only 8 seconds left, it looked like another situation like the Southeast Missouri game. We ran the same play drawn for that game winner and it worked to perfection. They doubled down on Vitor and he hit Maze in the corner for the game winning 3.” Senior Maze Stallworth ended tonight’s contest with 15 points and 3 steals while Vitor Hipsher added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Morehead State is now 27-2 (17-2).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Close Out Regular Season with Win

2//27 @ Murray State

Final: 62-57

“The score makes the game look closer than what it really was,” explained Coach Bailey. “We were in control the whole game and they had a late run to cut it to 5 with our bench players in the game.” Maze Stallworth hit 4 three’s and left the game with 12 points and 2 steals. Clint Herber added 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals while Vitor Hipsher tallied 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 blocks in tonight’s win. The Eagles win the OVC Regular Season Championship and head into the OVC Tournament as the #1 seed.

Morehead State is now 28-2 (18-2).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 10 News

The Eagles stayed put at the #7 slot in the final Top 10 Poll of the season. They remained #7 in both the Media and Coaches Polls and did not move off the top of the Mid-Major Poll.

1. Duke 23-5
2. Arizona 23-5
3. Villanova 21-5
4. Alabama 21-7
5. Oklahoma State 23-5
6. Florida 20-8
7. Morehead State 28-2
8. Arkansas 21-7
9. Kentucky 20-7
10. Georgetown 22-7
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Final OVC Standings

1. Morehead State 28-2 (18-2)
2. Austin Peay 16-11 (13-7)
3. Tennessee Tech 17-11 (13-7)
4. Jacksonville State 13-15 (12-8)
5. Southeast Missouri 14-12 (11-9)
6. Samford 11-15 (9-11)
7. Tennessee State 11-17 (9-11)
8. Eastern Kentucky 9-19 (7-13)
9. Eastern Illnios 6-20 (6-14)
10. Murray State 10-19 (6-14)
11. Tennessee-Martin 8-18 (6-14)

Leaders

Points- Abdul Oneil (Southeast Missouri): 16.7 ppg
Rebounds- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 8.3 rpg
Assists- Dee Clancy (Austin Peay): 5.0 apg
Steals- Alex Emerson (Morehead State): 4.1 spg
Blocks- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 3.0 bpg

[lawcutta]

I'm still tuned in!

The funny thing is:

I was in Nashville last week and guess what college basketball team was staying in the same hotel, Morehead State!

They got that *** handed to them by Tennessee State by the way. LOL

[knox33]

Eagles Edge Out Colonels

3/2 vs. Eastern Kentucky

Final: 61-56

For the first time in 4 years, the Eastern Kentucky Colonels have advanced to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Eagles got their ticket punched when the Morehead State Eagles defeated the Murray State Racers in the last game of the regular season. Tonight, the Colonels almost got past the first round by giving the Eagles a run for their money. Coach Bailey explained, “They came out ready to play us and they did a terrific job. This was the best that they have ever played our squad and I’m glad we came out with a win.” Freshman Clint Herber led the team to victory tonight by tallying 13 points and 3 steals while Maze Stallworth nailed 4 three-pointers for 12 points and 5 steals. Big man Vitor Hipsher struggled tonight for only 9 points and 4 rebounds. The Eagles advance to the semi-finals of the OVC Tournament for the 5th year in a row. The Eagles are looking to win their 4th consecutive OVC Tournament Championship.

Morehead State is now 29-2 (18-2).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacksonville State Upset Morehead in 2nd Round

3/5 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 57-61

In one of the most surprising victories this season, the Jacksonville State Gamec.ocks have defeated the Morehead State Eagles in the 2nd round of the OVC Tournament. “We are pretty disappointed by our efforts. Winning 3 OVC Tournaments was such a hard feat to do and we knew that winning a 4th was going to be even harder. No one really stepped up when Vitor was double and even triple teamed. We didn’t get good ball movement the whole game and we forced a lot of unnecessary shots. In the end, they were able to hit their free throws and we couldn’t put the ball in the hole,” explained a disappointed Coach Bailey. Ralph St. Fort tried his best to get the momentum shifting the Eagles way with a 14 points and 3 rebounds performance. Maze Stallworth just could not put the ball through the net in the final 3 minutes of the game, but exited with 14 points and 2 steals. Big man Vitor Hipsher gave a huge effort, but was only able to give a 10 points and 12 rebounds performance in tonight’s heart-breaking loss. The Jacksonville State Gamec.ocks have advanced to the OVC Championship Game for the 2nd time in 3 years and will face the Austin Peay Governors.

Morehead State falls to 29-3 (18-2).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OVC News

In convincing fashion, the Austin Peay Governors beat the Jacksonville State Gamec.ocks for the OVC Tournament Championship and are heading to the Big Dance. Usually only one team from the Ohio Valley Conference advances to the NCAA Tournament, but with the high RPI rating and a Top 10 finish in the Media and Coaches Polls, the Morehead State Eagles look to get the nod from the Selection Committee this coming Sunday.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Selection Sunday

Although the Morehead State Eagles did not win their conference tournament, the Selection Committee found their schedule worthy of a #5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles finished the regular season 28-2 (18-2) and were the OVC Regular Season Champions. They advanced to the 2nd round of the OVC Tournament, but finished the season ranked #7 in the Media and Coaches Polls and were #1 in the Mid-Major Poll for most of the season. “I’m very proud of the guys and the hard work they’ve put into this season. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this year, but I think we are poised to make a long run into the NCAA Tournament,” explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles will square off against the #12 seeded in-state opponent Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the San Antonio Regional starting in New Orleans, LA.

[knox33]

I'm still tuned in!

The funny thing is:

I was in Nashville last week and guess what college basketball team was staying in the same hotel, Morehead State!

They got that *** handed to them by Tennessee State by the way. LOL

I bet that was interesting. Yeah, there's no doubt Morehead would want to have as much success in their season as they are in my legacy. They aren't that great this year. Appreciate the comments.

[elprez98]

Wow..Aye Knox..did you expect J-ville to compete...what happened?

[knox33]

Wow..Aye Knox..did you expect J-ville to compete...what happened?

It was one of those games when everything just went wrong. I was missing wide open shots and bunny lay-ups. I botched dunks and couldn't rebound to save my life. Even with all of that, I was still in the game. I couldn't post up because when I put my defender on my hip I got ripped almost automatically. When I tried making easy passes, my guys threw lobs and they were picked off. I tried to apply pressure defense but they were hitting their shots in the end. It was just one of those unfortunate computer wins that I couldn't help. I hate it, but what can you do. Just looking forward to the tourney and hopefully we can make a run.

[Out of the Fire]

Looks like the comittee punished you pretty good for not winning the conference tournament. Still not a bad seed though. I suppose it could have been worse.

[knox33]

Eagles Easily Advance to 2nd Round

3/19 vs. #12 seed Western Kentucky

Final: 95-64

“This was one of the best team performances of the whole year. We really pulled it all together tonight against a good opponent. We played great defense and hit our open shots,” commented Coach Bailey. Ralph St. Fort paced the Eagles with an impressive 16 points and 5 steals while Vitor Hipsher tallied 15 points and 4 blocks, but was only able to grab 4 rebounds. Freshman Clint Herber (14 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds) and Deke Jolly (12 points) both gave solid performances tonight. Also, Maze Stallworth added 11 points and freshman Chevon Modica had a career high 10 pionts, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. The Eagles will play a very good Louisville squad in the 2nd round. The #4 seeded Cardinals will be a very tough match up for the Eagles.

Morehead State is now 30-3 (18-2).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Season Ends in 2nd Round

3/21 vs. #4 seed Louisville

Final: 53-74

After demolishing one in-state opponent in the 1st round, the Morehead State Eagles equally got crushed by an in-state opponent in the 2nd round. “We were simply outmatched and outplayed by a great ball club,” stated Coach Bailey. “Coach Pitino has those guys firing on all cylinders and they literally ran us out of the gym tonight. They beat us in every aspect of the game and played our game better than we could. In my opinion, Louisville is the best team in the nation. If they play the rest of the tourney the same way they played us tonight, you might as well go ahead and hand them the trophy.” The Eagles dreams of advancing to another Final Four this season ended tonight in a 2nd round loss. Senior Maze Stallworth ended his career as an Eagle tonight with 17 points and 2 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher added 13 pionts, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in tonight’s loss. The Eagles had a horrid shooting night by going 7-38 from three point range (18%) and shooting 22-80 (27%) from the field the entire game.

Morehead State ends their season 30-4 (18-2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NCAA News

The state of Kentucky faired well in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Morehead State Eagles, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, the Kentucky Wildcats, and the Louisville Cardinals all made it to the field of 64. But this year’s championship game would be decided by two Kentucky teams as well. The defending champion Kentucky Wildcats made it back to the championship game this year and squared off against the Louisville Cardinals. As Coach Bailey predicted, the Cardinals rolled over the defending champs with a 90-63 score to take home the NCAA Championship.

[knox33]

Looks like the comittee punished you pretty good for not winning the conference tournament. Still not a bad seed though. I suppose it could have been worse.


Yeah, I was definitely punished for not winning my tourney because I had to play #4 seed Louisville in the second round. Now my boys are pretty good team, but Louisville was like a 93 overall team. Every position was filled with an 84 overall or higher player and they dominated every aspect of the game. This was like the Jacksonville game x's 10. Don't know how they were a #4 seed because they were the best team in the tournament. Needless to say, Louisville actually ended up being the best team in the tournament by winning it all. Too bad I won't have Maze next year, but hopefully next season will be a little better.

[vikingfan1]

Great season! Tough break against Louisville, someday you will beat them though.

[guckin1989]

someday? He will beat them next season. Keep it up man its really a pleasure to read.

[knox33]

National Awards

National Champions- Louisville 28-13 (9-7)
National Coach of the Year- Rick Pitino (Louisville)
National Player of the Year- Kenell Halsch (Washington)
2K Sports Player of the Year- Kenell Halsch (Washington)

OVC Awards

OVC Conference Champions- Morehead State
OVC Tournament Champions- Austin Peay
OVC Coach of the Year- William Bailey (Morehead State)
OVC Player of the Year- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State)
OVC Freshman of the Year- Ka’Ron Gaines (Austin Peay)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morehead Senior News

Coach Bailey commented, “This senior class was the first class that I inherited here at Morehead and I have had the privilege to coach these young men and watch them grow into great players. They will be sorely missed next season and we wish them the best in the future.”

Maze Stallworth amassed 1,384 points in his career at Morehead State and led the team in scoring this year with 14.5 ppg. Maze had a career average of 10.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, and 2.4 spg. He led the nation with 3-point field goals made with 132 and finished his career as Morehead’s All-time leading 3-Point shooter with 314 made 3-point field goals.

Vincent Crutcher amassed 731 points in his career at Morehead State and although he was not known for his scoring, he was the glue that kept the team together. He did all the intangibles that made the team great. Vincent had a career average of 5.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, and 3.6 spg.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morehead State 2009-2010 Season Recap

Record: 30-4 (18-2)
OVC Regular Season Champions
BP Top of the World Classic Champions
OVC Coach of the Year: William Bailey
OVC Player of the Year: Vitor Hipsher
1st Team All-OVC: Vitor Hipsher
Freshman All-OVC: Clint Herber, Chevon Modica
NCAA most steals: Alex Emerson (4.0 spg)

Roster
SG #1 Maze Stallworth 6'6 200 (Louisville, KY) 65 overall SR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6'1 186 (Grand Rapids, MI) 63 overall JR
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6'0 173 (Milwaukee, WI) 69 overall SO
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6'5 193 (Nashville, TN) 69 overall SO
PG #10 Chase Denson 6'3 193 (Owensboro, KY) 57 overall W-SR
PF #12 Chevon Modica 6'10 218 (Orlando, FL) 69 overall FR
C #13 Juan Webb 7'3 252 (Memphis, TN) 69 overall RS-FR
SF #14 Clint Herber 6'9 211 (Nashville, TN) 71 overall FR
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7'0 279 (Melbourne) 72 overall JR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6'10 232 (Memphis, TN) 67 overall SO
SF #34 Vincent Crutcher 6'4 213 (Louisville, KY) 72 overall SR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6'10 245 (Chicago, IL) 71 overall SO
C #45 Bill Davis 6'10 323 (Richmond, KY) 51 overall W-SR
C #50 Aly Webber 7'0 276 (Fort Wayne, IN) 68 overall JR
C #53 O.J. Doss 6'10 240 (Lexington, KY) 68 overall RS-FR

Coaches
William Bailey: B overall (4th year)
Elmore Gibbs: C+ overall (1st year)
J.D. Foye: C+ overall (1st year)

[knox33]

Great season! Tough break against Louisville, someday you will beat them though.

Thanks. Louisville took me for a curve because I didn't expect a team of that caliber to be a #4 seed. Someday's you get the breaks and somedays you don't. Fortunately last season, I got enough lucky breaks to reach the Final Four. I'm sure the Eagles and Louisville will meet again...you'll just have to see how well we do next time.

[knox33]

someday? He will beat them next season. Keep it up man its really a pleasure to read.

Appreciate the comments. Yeah, hopefully I'll get a chance at them again. They are going to be good next year too because some of their juniors didn't enter the draft. Thanks for following and hopefully we'll make a better run at the 'Ship next season.

[Lofton Is Ballin]

GO VOLS!!!!!

[24bauer]

Hey William how many games per season do you actually play? Have you had any luck getting 5 star recruits to sign with you?

[samoka10]

do you play the games or coach them???? i think coaching makes it more fun a realistic because you have to call plays, find players who play well together, find a point guard who will distribute the ball, you have recruit players with high offensive awareness who will take good shots, coaching allows to really see how good your players are......i coach 15min halves on mop in my legacy

[Lofton Is Ballin]

i think he plays ALL of his games...and GO VOLS!!!

[B-LOCK17]

This is a very great thread... Congrats on your success

[knox33]

Off-season News

After ending the season at New Orleans, LA in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, it was no surprise that William Bailey’s coaching abilities caught the eye of the city of New Orleans. The coaching carousel had openings at Duke, Maryland, Wisconsin and Northwestern. Coach Bailey had been looked over for all of those openings, but he did get offered the head coaching position from a major conference. New Orleans own Conference-USA team, Tulane officially offered Bailey the head coaching position there. Not only did Tulane offer Bailey, but the Sun-Belt Conference’s University of New Orleans also offered Bailey. Among the other Mid-major offers were Utah State (WAC), Miami-OH (Mid-American), and Buffalo (Mid-American). Bailey was also the leading candidate for all small conferences as well. Bailey eventually turned down all offers and has decided to remain in Morehead, KY for another season.

In other news, the Maryland head coaching position was filled by none other than Austin Peay’s Coach Loos. Loos is coming off one of his best seasons as the Governors head man by posting a 16-11 (13-7) record, a #2 finish in the OVC regular season and an OVC Tournament Championship. His team lost in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament to the eventual champion Louisville Cardinals. Austin Peay’s #1 candidate for the position was Coach Bailey, but after Bailey turned down the offer, Austin Peay’s selection committee offered Assistant Coach Elmore Gibbs the position and he immediately took the job. Coach Bailey replied, “I’m very happy for Coach Gibbs. He did a great job here at Morehead and I know that he’ll do a great job with Austin Peay. It will be exciting coaching against him during the regular season next year. He’s a heck of a recruiter and I know that we are going to be going after several of the same prospects next season.”

Also, University of California-Irvine officially offered Coach Bailey the head coaching position at there, but Bailey declined the offer. Not long afterward, UC-Irvine officially offered Assistant Coach J.D. Foye the job and he accepted it. Coach Bailey commented, “Coach Foye is inheriting a very good team in UC-Irvine. With that type of talent and Coach Foye’s ability as an X’s and O’s coach, they will be a very dangerous team next season. Both of our Athletic Directors are seeing if we can arrange a game next season. I think our teams are very evenly matched and it would be a good game. Hopefully, we can work something out. I’m very excited for Coach Foye and wish him the best.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

For the 2nd season in a row, the Morehead State Eagles are without assistant coaches. Last season, Damien Robbins took the College of Charleston job and Jay Massey headed to rival IPFW. This season, Elmore Gibbs took the Austin Peay’s job and will regularly face the Eagles. J.D. Foye is making quite a journey and has taken the UC-Irvine position. Morehead State’s selection committee and Coach Bailey have been interviewing dozens of candidates for the job and have finally reached a conclusion. Coach Bailey announced, "Let me introduce you to Coach Kevin Bromley. Coach Bromley is the former coach of the University of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA. Coach Bromley is known as a good scout and recruiter. He is bringing a lot of credibility with him to our program." Coach Bailey joked, "The Big West Conference took Coach Foye away from us and we took Coach Bromley away from them." Next, Coach Bailey announced, "Please let me introduce you to Coach Henry Cantrell. Coach Cantrell is known for his high offensive IQ and he is a solid teacher. He will be more of our 'hands on' coach and will add a new dimension to our offense. The University and I are proud to have these men on our staff and they will use their abilities as coaches to help us make this program one of the best in the nation."
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2010-2011 Morehead State Roster

Roster
PG #3 Hakeem Blizzard 5’10 167 (Cincinnati, OH) 73 overall FR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6’1 188 (Grand Rapids, MI) 66 overall SR
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6’0 180 (Milwaukee, WI) 72 overall JR
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6’5 195 (Nashville, TN) 73 overall JR
PG #10 Bud Stehly 6’1 174 (Milwaukee, WI) 72 overall FR
PF #12 Chevon Modica 6’11 218 (Orlando, FL) 72 overall SO
C #13 Juan Webb 7’4 255 (Memphis, TN) 70 overall FR
SF #14 Clint Herber 6’10 222 (Nashville, TN) 74 overall SO
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7’0 296 (Melbourne) 75 overall SR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6’10 234 (Memphis, TN) 70 overall JR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6’10 255 (Chicago, IL) 74 overall JR
C #50 Aly Webber 7’0 287 (Fort Wayne, IN) 70 overall SR
C #53 O.J. Doss 6’10 242 (Lexington, KY) 68 overall FR

Coaches
William Bailey: B overall (5th year)
Kevin Bromley: B- overall (1st year)
Henry Cantrell: B- overall (1st year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting Class

With the recent addition of guards Hakeem Blizzard and Bud Stehly, the Morehead State Eagles have once again landed the best recruiting class in the OVC for the 4th straight year and the #54 recruiting class in the nation according to 2kprep.com.

OVC Recruiting Classes
1. Morehead State
2. Southeast Missouri
3. Tennessee State
4. Tennessee-Martin
5. Jacksonville State
6. Eastern Illinois
7. Murray State
8. Austin Peay
9. Samford
10. Eastern Kentucky
11. Tennessee Tech

Not only have the Eagles pulled in the top recruiting class, they are also heavily favored to win the OVC this year.

[knox33]

Hey William how many games per season do you actually play? Have you had any luck getting 5 star recruits to sign with you?

I play every single game in all my seasons. Currently, I have only one 5* player on my squad and that is Clint Herber. The next season, I did not recruit any 5* players because there were 4 guards that were high 4* players that fit exactly what I needed in just about every category. So I landed them. In this new season, I have plenty of 5* players to choose from and we'll just have to see who I get. BUT I really don't put much stock into the star ratings because I have had 3* and 4* players that project just as well as some 5* players. My new freshman, Hakeem Blizzard was a high 4* prospect, but ended up being one of my best players. Oh yeah, by the way, my name is not actually William Bailey. In every season that I do a legacy with, I always take my former basketball coaches names and use a mix of their names in my game. So William was one of my coaches first names and Bailey was another coaches last name.

[knox33]

do you play the games or coach them???? i think coaching makes it more fun a realistic because you have to call plays, find players who play well together, find a point guard who will distribute the ball, you have recruit players with high offensive awareness who will take good shots, coaching allows to really see how good your players are......i coach 15min halves on mop in my legacy

I do play all the games. I would probably like to coach a full legacy sometime, but I like to control of the game flow. I am seriously considering trying it though. BUT the way I play is as close to simming as I can possibly get. Sometimes I will sim through a season just to see how well my team would perform and go back and play the games. When I do that, my big guy Vitor Hipsher averages about 18 ppg, 10 rpg and 2.5 bpg. He averages less than that in my legacy though because I like to move the ball around and find a good shot. I play 14 minute halves on MOP.

[knox33]

i think he plays ALL of his games...and GO VOLS!!!

You are correct and yes...GO VOLS!!!

[knox33]

This is a very great thread... Congrats on your success

Thanks for the comment. I appreciate you following. Keep following because I have a monster class coming in.

[knox33]

Recruiting News

Coach Bailey and his new staff of Coach Bromley and Coach Cantrell were spotted in New Jersey at the 2K Sports Elite Camp. With only 3 scholarships for this season, 2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin has stated that the trio has a quite large prospect list for this season. Coach Bailey and his new assistants have been phoning and emailing these prospects throughout the summer and have been to the 2K Elite Camp to evaluate their play. With the departure of Vitor Hipsher, Aly Webber and Cecil Brown after this season, Coach Bailey may take one big man, a combo forward and a shooting guard.

1. Jermaine Hooks 7’1 215 (Cincinnati, OH- #17 overall, #3 C) 5* All-American, Mr. Basketball
2. Donald See 6’11 246 (Chicago, IL- #32 overall, #5 C) 5* Mr. Basketball
3. Matt Toussaint 6’7 224 (High Point, NC- #38 overall, #16 SF) 5*
4. Rawle Guerrero 6’9 215 (Milwaukee, WI- #51 overall, #11 C) 4* Mr. Basketball
5. Florentino Hale 6’5 191 (Atlanta, GA- #53 overall, #9 SG) 4* Mr. Basketball
6. Haim Santee 6’4 176 (Augusta, GA- #77 overall, #11 SG) 4*
7. Jerald Ricks 6’10 263 (Indianapolis, IN- #111 overall, #25 PF) 4*
8. Pervis Copeland 6’6 204 (Augusta, GA- #181 overall, #32 SG) 4*
9. Kerry Rothbart 6’1 167 (Lexington, KY- #510 overall, #90 SG) 3*

Thouin stated, “With the 3 scholarships, I have heard that Matt Toussaint and Florentino Hale are locks for the Eagles. Toussaint is an explosive small forward that has a solid mid-range game and is a great athlete. His potential is very high and he has named Morehead State his favorite over Georgia Tech. Hale looks like the 2nd coming of Maze Stallworth. He has the size and if he is hot from 3, he can’t be stopped. But when the kid is off, you better just sit him down because he has the mind set that it the shot will fall eventually if he keeps shooting. Hale has named Morehead State as a tie for the top spot along with Florida State. The biggest decision for Coach Bailey and his new staff is which big man will they pursue. Jermaine Hooks, the former teammate of current Eagle Hakeem Blizzard, is a freak athlete that has the kind of all-around game that is the perfect fit for Coach Bailey’s system. He is a Parade All-American and can do it all, but there are a lot of teams out for his services especially the University of Kentucky. Donald See hails from Chicago and plays for current Eagle Deke Jolly’s old high school. See’s game mirrors that of Hooks, but has not garnered the same type of attention. Rawle Guerrero is another great fit for the Eagles. He has a similar game to both Hooks and See, but he is a little unpolished for the 5 position. He is a former teammate of current Eagles’ Alex Emerson and Bud Stehly out of Milwaukee. Jerald Ricks is the lone power forward on the list. He is a wide body at 263 lbs, but he carries his weight just fine. He is a solid prospect that is in the same mold of Deke Jolly. All of these big men with the exception of Ricks has a connection with the Eagles’ program through their high schools. The problem the coaching staff is facing is if they pursue one big man, they will eventually lose out on the rest and if the big man they pursue does not choose the program, they are at a loss. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds during the next several weeks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fresh Faces

The Eagles lost their leading scorer from a year ago in Maze Stallworth and they also lose the unselfish leader in Vincent Crutcher. Although these players are irreplaceable, the Eagles did a fine job at recruiting new players to make up some of the difference. Enter Hakeem Blizzard and Bud Stehly. The Eagles also welcome new assistant coaches Kevin Bromley and Henry Cantrell. For the last two previous years, the every assistant coach has accepted a head coaching position, but Bromley and Cantrell say they have no plans to leave Morehead just yet.

Bud Stehly (pronounced “stell-lee”) of Milwaukee, WI (#107 overall, #20 PG) is a 4* prospect according to 2kprep.com. He is the former high school teammate of Alex Emerson and they have teamed up once again at Morehead. When he played with Alex, he played shooting guard, but when Alex left for Morehead, Stehly assumed the point guard role for his team. He will once again be called upon to play the shooting guard position although he only stands 6’1. He is not known as a 3-point specialist, but he has a knack for hitting the open trey. He is a solid defender with great ball-handling skills. Once Stehly gets hot from behind the arc, he is virtually unstoppable. His services will be needed this season as the Eagles are trying to make up for the scoring of Maze Stallworth.

Hakeem Blizzard out of Cincinnati, OH (#111 overall, #23 PG) is also a 4* prospect according to 2kprep.com. He is a great point guard and will be fight for an immediate starting position with Alex Emerson. Blizzard has a smooth handle and is one of the quickest players to ever play at Morehead. His speed alone makes him deadly on both ends of the floor. He will immediately be the best 3 point shooter on the team as a freshman and it would not surprise anyone if he assumes the starting point guard position with the slower, more erratic Alex Emerson as a backup. Although he is only 5’10, he plays much bigger than he is and will most likely be the best freshman in the OVC this season.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-night Madness

Intra-squad Game

The intra-squad game had the new faces and the redshirts (along with Clifford Assel) against last season’s starting 5 (along with Clint Herber). It was not even a contest. Last year’s team with the addition of Clint Herber absolutely demolished the Eagles freshmen and last season’s redshirts. Vitor Hipsher (17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks) had a commanding game against Juan Webb (8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks). Hakeem Blizzard (13 points, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover) looked impressive, but could not lead his team to victory. Clint Herber (12 points, 4 rebounds) and Ralph St. Fort (15 points, 3 steals) both looked impressive early on. Deke Jolly (10 points, 5 rebounds) and Chevon Modica (7 points, 4 rebounds) squared off against each other. Other notable performances were Bud Stehly (9 points) and Alex Emerson (6 points, 4 assists). Coach Bailey commented, “We look better than what we did at the end of last season. These guys are hungry to get back on the floor and they were disappointed with the loss against Louisville. I think it will take a little while for us to get used to the new line-up, but I expect great things out of this team.

[Balla98]

I been following from the beginning, this legacy is the best by far.

[lawcutta]

I been following from the beginning, this legacy is the best by far.

This is my favorite career legacy ever posted on these boards.

[knox33]

Hipsher’s Block Seals Win

11/10 @ UC-Irvine

Final: 62-60

Tonight’s matchup between the Anteaters and the Eagles will be one to remember and was the most exciting season opener in a long time. Coach Bailey commented, “I knew coming into this game that Coach Foye had a very talented team and that he knew what our team could do. In the first half, he almost knew exactly what we were going to do before we did it. He really frustrated our players, but we adjusted and kept the game close and needed a huge block from Vitor to get the win.” The Eagles were down by 6 with 1:30 left to play. Freshman point guard Hakeem Blizzard started tonight’s game, but did not show his true skill until the final minute and a half of the game. Blizzard (6 points, 7 steals, 3 assists, 2 rebounds)made key buckets and defensive stops to tie the game in the final stages. Vitor Hipsher added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks. He was the only Eagle to get into double figures tonight. He also came up big by nailing a hook shot to give the Eagles the lead with 13 seconds remaining. When the Anteaters tried to tie the game at the buzzer, Hipsher came from the low block and swatted the shot away for the win.

Morehead State begins the season 1-0.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Late Run Helps Eagles Pull Away

11/12 vs. Air Force

Final: 74-58

In the Eagles first home game this season, it seemed as if a win looked bleak. Air Force was considerably better in all 5 positions and their superior athleticism gave them the lead heading into half-time. With 4 minutes remaining in the game, the Eagles got a big boost from Ralph St. Fort (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) as he continually drove to the bucket for big lay ups. Vitor Hipsher struggled from the field tonight, but was able to tally 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. “Tonight was a huge team effort,” explained Coach Bailey. “Everyone just played together and we strung up a 12-0 run in the final 4 minutes to come away with a big win for our home opener.” Clint Herber (9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists) and Deke Jolly (9 points, 4 rebounds) both had solid games down the stretch to help the Eagles get the big win against a very good Air Force team.

Morehead State is now 2-0.
---------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Squak by Pepperdine

11/14 vs. Pepperdine

Final: 78-74

"We really struggled coming out of the gate tonight," explained Coach Bailey. "Part of the reason why we struggled so badly is because Vitor (6 points, 5 rebounds) struggled all night long, but the rest of the team stepped up and came through for us when it really counted." Freshman Bud Stehly proved he could knock down the trey tonight when he did it 5 times for 15 points. Ralph St. Fort came away with 12 points while Deke Jolly stepped up his game for 11 points and 6 rebounds. Junior Clifford Assel worked hard coming off the bench and tallied 10 points and 2 rebounds. Coach Bailey and the Eagles will be heading to the BP Top of the World Classic to capture their 3rd straight Tournament Championship.

Morehead State is now 3-0.

[knox33]

I been following from the beginning, this legacy is the best by far.

I really appreciate the love and I thank you for following.

[knox33]

This is my favorite career legacy ever posted on these boards.

Thats means a lot to me considering how there are a lot of great legacies on this board. I'm glad people are following and appreciate the work.

[ron410]

This is my favorite career legacy ever posted on these boards.

i agree great gameplay details and realistic keep up good work

[guckin1989]

Good wins.. Can't wait for the updates.

[B-LOCK]

Hey Knox, Im starting my own legacy who should I pick?
and Yeah Great Wins!!!

[B-LOCK]

This is my favorite career legacy ever posted on these boards.


I agree this legacy is GREAT!!!

[allman27]

Great job with the posts! This is the first ting i go to when i come to this site. But which system are you playing with?

[knox33]

Eagles Crush Illinois State

11/19 vs. Illinois State

Final: 75-48

"Tonight was a complete team effort. We came in with confidence and it seemed like we could do no wrong," commented Coach Bailey. The difference maker in this game tonight was senior Vitor Hipsher who bounced back after a less than stellar game against Pepperdine. He controlled the flow of the game on both ends of the floor and finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds to record his first double-double of the season. Clint Herber was intrumental in tonight's win by contributing 12 points and 2 assists. The Eagles will square off against Hawaii in the semi-finals of the tournament and many believe this is the true championship because they are the best two teams in the tournament.

Morehead State is now 4-0.
----------------------------------------------------
Hawaii Stuns the Eagles

11/20 vs. Hawaii

Final: 68-77

"We couldn't capitalize in the final 2 minutes of the game. Normally, the final minutes of the game are where we excell, but tonight we made some major mistakes down the stretch. We turned the ball over and we forced some bad shots. I give full credit to Hawaii because they got it done tonight and deserved to win this game. They were able to hit their free throws when it counted and we struggled," remarked Coach Bailey after the Eagles tough loss. Vitor Hipsher was limited on offense, but was able to dominate the glass as he left the game with 9 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Clifford Assel stepped up his game tonight as he led the team in scoring with 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Clint Herber tallied 10 points in tonight's loss, but it just was not enough for a win tonight. The Eagles run as the BP Classic Champions ended tonight and Hawaii will play Morgan State for the tournament title.

Morehead State falls to 4-1.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
BP Top of the World Classic Update

As many predicted, the winner of the Morhead State and Hawaii game would run the table on the tournament. Hawaii easily defeated Morgan State to become the new BP Top of the World Classic Champions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

After the Eagles loss to Hawaii, Coach Bailey scheduled a press conference about the recent woes of the Eagles. "We've got to get Vitor back on track. Somewhere along the way, he's lost his intensity and he's really struggling. I've talked to him and this is not the way he wanted to begin his final season at Morehead and he understands he needs to do better. Coach Cantrell is doing everything he can to incorporate him more into this new offense and we have assured Vitor that it is just going to take some time to get used to. One major piece of the puzzle that we are missing is a player that can come off the bench and give us a spark. We have Hakeem, Ralph, Clint, Deke, and Vitor starting for us and our starters are playing well together. Last year we had Maze coming off the bench and lighting it up for us, but now we have to fill that role with somebody. Alex is doing well as the back up point guard and he's seeing more looks to score. Clifford is finding his niche into the system and it seems to be working well for him. Chevon and Aly are both doing well again this year as they did last year, but no one is truly stepping up like Maze did. We saw flashes of it from Bud (Stehly), but he is only a freshman and it isn't his natural position. He's a natural point guard that can really shoot the 3. Hakeem is the same way and I think a big part of the success we are going to have is incorporating both of them more into the offense. We are a veteran team and we have a lot of experience with the exception of Hakeem running the show for us this year. We are working hard and I think we will be fine if we keep executing our offense and getting better on defense," explained Coach Bailey.

[knox33]

i agree great gameplay details and realistic keep up good work

I appreciate that...I try to play as realistic as possible and give as brief, but accurate details of how the game went.

[knox33]

Good wins.. Can't wait for the updates.


Thanks...I got plenty of updates coming. Just got to find the time to get it all together and post it up here.

[knox33]

Hey Knox, Im starting my own legacy who should I pick?
and Yeah Great Wins!!!

Thanks for following. I hope you plan on posting your legacy on the board. When your choosing a school, it really depends on if you want to build a career legacy or start out with an open legacy. I prefer to build a program up, but that may not be your cup of tea. It just depends on what you want and when you figure that out then choose your best option.

[knox33]

Great job with the posts! This is the first ting i go to when i come to this site. But which system are you playing with?

Thanks for taking the time to follow this legacy. It is greatly appreciated. I am currently playing with the PS2 version. I was seriously considering getting the 360 just for this particular game, but when I read all of the complaints about it I figured I'd wait for the improvements for 2K8. So I'm still playing the old gen. Hopefully, they will make the game better and get it out on time. I've pretty much given up hope for the PS3 because by the time they release 2K7 it will be time for 2K8 to come out.

[jjredick4]

this is like by far the best legacy i've ever read...it makez me wanna start my own...but i can't i don't have my ps2...but i'll be gettin' it soon...hopefully

[B-LOCK]

Thanks for following. I hope you plan on posting your legacy on the board. When your choosing a school, it really depends on if you want to build a career legacy or start out with an open legacy. I prefer to build a program up, but that may not be your cup of tea. It just depends on what you want and when you figure that out then choose your best option.


Hey man, thanks for the advice ive decided to start out with Northern Colorado and hope to start a thread on the board, Ill keep ya updated!!

[samoka10]

do you make up these post game wrap ups yourself or where do you find them in your legacy?

[knox33]

Eagles Bounce Back with a Huge Win

11/22 vs. North Dakota State

Final: 64-40

"Tonight was a huge win for us. Everyone stepped up and got the job done. We were really disappointed after we lost to Hawaii, but we had a team meeting and we've focused more on game preparation and it has paid off," commented Coach Bailey. Clint Herber was the team's leader tonight with 16 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Vitor Hipsher bounced back tonight with an impressive 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 blocks while Ralph St. Fort tallied 11 points, 5 steals, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. The Eagles did a better job executing their offense tonight and were patient for the open shot. Their defense was most impressive tonight as they played strict man defense and completely shut down the opponent's offense.

Morehead State is now 5-1.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bailey and Co. Win Again

11/24 @ Georgia Southern

Final: 74-59

In a long anticipated matchup, Vitor Hipsher and Prosper Snipes went head to head tonight in a tough contest. Prosper Snipes was a former recruit of Coach Bailey and Snipes almost became Bailey's top recruit his first season at Morehead. In the last week of the Spring siging period, Snipes was waiting for Bailey to offer him, but Hipsher phoned Bailey and accepted the scholarship leaving Snipes out to dry. Georgia Southern was more than happy to pick up Snipes. Prosper has been the Southern Conference's Player of the Year the past two seasons and is looking for his 3rd this season by averaging over 18ppg and 7rpg. Tonight was a different story. Hipsher won the game and the individual battle in convincing fashion. He tallied 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks while Prosper Snipes had a bad game with only 4 points and 5 rebounds. Clint Herber tallied 15 points and 6 rebounds while Deke Jolly added 10 points and 3 rebounds. Freshman Juan Webb had the best game of his career with 10 points and 2 rebounds. Coach Bailey commented, "Prosper is a great player. He's had a lot of success here at Georgia Southern and I'm sure he would'n't have had it any other way. I told him that I wished we could have had another scholarship, but everything worked out great for both Vitor and Prosper and they both have had great careers at their respective institutions."

Morehead State is now 6-1.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Huge Win in Conference Opener

11/27 vs. Murray State

Final: 91-45

The Eagles opened the conference schedule up with a bang tonight as they totally demolished the Racers. "Johnson Arena is such a tough place to play and our crowd is so electric," explained Coach Bailey. The crowd played a factor in the win, but the crowd did not make any defensive stops or make any key baskets. Clint Herber was the main culprit in tonight's thrashing as he tallied 20 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Vitor Hipsher made a big contribution with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks giving him his 2nd double-double of the season. Freshman point guard Hakeem Blizzard had an impressive night tonight as he scored 7 points and dished out a career-high 7 assists.

Morehead State is now 7-1 (1-0).
---------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting News

11/28- Sigining Day

Today's signing day was huge for Coach Bailey and the Eagle faithful. According to 2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin, "This is the best recruiting class Morehead State has ever brought in. These new additions will make a huge impact next season as Vitor Hipsher, Aly Webber, and Cecil Brown will be graduating. I think Coach Bailey and his new staff did a great job filling in the positions they need for next season. They only had 3 scholarships to give and they went after the biggest names they possibly could and they recruited them harder than anybody. I'm extremely impressed with Coach Bailey. He's consistently brought in some of the best talent in the nation. Most power conferences wish they had a coach that would recruit talent like this and I'm definitely surprised he's still in Morehead." Coach Bailey explained, "We are losing Vitor and Aly and I think Donald is a great fit for this program and he knew it. Matt and Florentino have really looked forward to today and gave us their verbal commitment early on in the season. These guys are extremely talented and I know we are happy to have them on the team."

These new recruits have chosen the Eagles over some major programs. Donald chose the Eagles over Duke. Matt picked them over Georgia Tech and Florentino chose Morehead over Florida State. Many thought Jermaine Hooks was going to sign with Morehead, but the All-American center (#17 overall, #3 center) signed with Michigan State. When it was apparent that Jermaine would sign with Michigan State, Coach Bailey pulled the scholarship and immediately called Donald See who was in a power struggle between Morehead and Duke. Although Duke had not offered him yet, Coach Bailey thought he would go ahead and see if we could pull this guy away from the Blue Devils. Big man Rawle Guerrero wanted to sign with the Eagles and was patiently waiting to be offered a scholarship. Northwestern is #2 on his list, but immediately moved to the top after Donald chose the Eagles earlier today. Also, Jerald Ricks was left out of the loop too. He was ready to sign with the Eagles, but is heavily looking at Indiana University. Coach Bailey explained, "Donald was the better fit of the players that were left on the board. Donald's game was the better fit for our program and he has a more polished game. I wish the other recruits the best at which ever school they choose."

A look at Coach Bailey's recruits:
1. Donald See 6'11 246 (Chicago, IL- #32 overall, #5 C) 5* Illinois Mr. Basketball
2. Matt Toussaint 6'7 224 (High Point, NC- #38 overall, #16 SF) 5*
3. Florentino Hale 6'5 191 (Atlanta, GA- #53 overall, #9 SG) 4* Mr. Basketball

With this season wrapped up, Lawrence Thouin stated that Coach Bailey's work is not done. He is already looking at some of the best talent for next year's class.

[knox33]

this is like by far the best legacy i've ever read...it makez me wanna start my own...but i can't i don't have my ps2...but i'll be gettin' it soon...hopefully


I appreciate the comment and I hope you do start a legacy of your own on here.

[knox33]

do you make up these post game wrap ups yourself or where do you find them in your legacy?

I make up all of my post game wrap ups myself. On the old 2K6 game, there used to be a place where they would do post game wrap ups, but they did away with them on this year's PS2 version.

[dj_morton]

Great Dynasty! You seem to recruit great players at a small school, I've had a lot of trouble with that. Any tips?

[knox33]

Great Dynasty! You seem to recruit great players at a small school, I've had a lot of trouble with that. Any tips?

I always start early on juniors. Most of the time, I start out with "high" 4* juniors and usually by the time they reach their senior years they have reached 5* status. Anything can happen over the course of the end of the recruiting period and the beginning of next season. Sometimes guys jump all the way to All-American status and sometimes players fall down to 3* recruits. I make sure my list is large and I only target 1 or 2 "high profile" players (regional All-Americans). I figure I can atleast try. This past time, I tried to land Jermain Hooks who was like #17 in the nation and an All-American. I was #2 on his list, but I couldn't pull him away from Michigan State so I got my next great candidate in Donald See and he just barely missed the All-American team. So sometimes the ball rolls your way and sometimes it doesn't. I just make sure I leave many options open and recruit just about every day.

[knox33]

Recruiting News

2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin has released the names of the juniors on Coach Bailey's list for next season. Coach Bailey will have to replace the likes of Ralph St. Fort, Deke Jolly, Alex Emerson and Clifford Assel. "With 4 scholarships, the Eagles may have another monster recruiting class coming in and I would not doubt Coach Bailey to bring in another one. He's got a proven recruiting track record and he is getting better at it every season," explained Thouin. Some of the names on this list are being recruited by the likes of Louisville, Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke. Apparently, Coach Bailey believes he can recruit well against these big names.

C Damir Domercant 6'10 230 (Nashville, TN) 5*
SG Brennan Byrd 6'4 163 (Akron, OH) 5*
SG Petie Starkey 6'3 172 (Nashville, TN) 5*
PF Marques Miller 6'7 210 (Bahamas) 4*
SG Stetson Meyer 6'4 173 (Melbourne) 4*
SG Sherman Moore 6'2 173 (Rock Hill, SC) 4*
SF Terrance Cornette 6'10 242 (Melbourne) 4*
PF Berry Ruffin 6'7 194 (Memphis, TN) 4*
C Lavelle Hollis 6'11 246 (Columbus, OH) 4*
C Spencer Erickson 7'1 217 (Cincinnati, OH) 4*
PF Shantay Quick 6'9 241 (Norfolk, VA) 4*
C Latece Bigelow 6'11 220 (St. Paul, MN) 4*
PFVaidotas Sterley 6'8 222 (Toronto, ON) 4*
SF Todor Cook 6'6 199 (Montenegro) 4*

Damir Domercant is easily the best big man in the country in the junior class and is being widely pursued. Petie Starkey is one of the best shooters in the country and considered by many the best shooting guard in the junior class. Coach Bailey is looking hard at Marques Miller (Bahamas), Stetson Meyer (Melbourne), and Terrance Cornette (Melbourne) who are all world recruits. Vitor Hipsher was Bailey's only world recruit from Melbourne and now it looks like he may have the edge in the recruiting pipeline there. Berry Ruffin out of Memphis, TN is not projected to be a high profile recruit and is undersized as a power forward, but he looks to have a solid all around game and may be high on the Eagles target list. With plenty of solid talent to choose from, it looks like Coach Bailey may get the pick of the litter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Edge Out Wright State

11/30 @ Wright State

Final: 61-48

Although the Eagles were able to edge out Wright State, they did have a scare. Clint Herber exited the game with 5 points after injuring his knee early in the game. Along with the injury of Herber, the Eagles star player Vitor Hipsher struggled throughout the game and tallied only 8 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block. The difference maker in the game was junior shooting guard Ralph St. Fort with his 11 points in crucial moments of the game. "What happened to Clint was unfortunate, but the trainers said that he would need to rest it for atleast a week because there wasn't any serious damage done. It will be ultimately up to Clint whether he plays against Alabama later this week," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 8-1 (1-0).
------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Man-Handled

12/3 @ #19 Alabama

Final: 54-68

"This game wasn't even close. We were down 45-26 at half-time and managed to make it respectable in the end. We got outrebounded 12-47 and we got in foul trouble early. On top of all of that, Clint (Herber) tried to contribute, but was more of a liability tonight," commented a dishearted Coach Bailey after his team was defeated by the #19 team in the nation. Vitor Hipsher was the only Eagle to score in double digits. He ended up with 12 points but was only able to grab 1 rebound. On a more impressive note, he held his own on the defensive block with 3 blocks. The team will try to bounce back after a very disappointing loss and will play Samford in the second game of conference play.

Morehead State is now 8-2 (1-0).

[dj_morton]

Cool thanks for the tip.

[guckin1989]

Ouch tough loss. I get out rebounded like that alot. But still pull thru. You will win next game keep up the greatness. =P

[knox33]

Eagles Destroy Bulldogs

12/9 @ Samford

Final: 80-49

Tonight's matchup might as well have been a no contest because it looked like the Eagles were using the Bulldogs as a practice squad tonight. In limited time, Vitor Hipsher was able to tally 15 points and 2 blocks, but is still struggling on the glass with only 4 rebounds. Clint Herber paced the Eagles with 17 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds while Ralph St. Fort added 11 points and 3 assists. "The loss against Alabama was tough. We haven't played anybody of that caliber all season and they proved they had better athletes. But tonight, we consistently found the open man and when we couldn't, Clint and Ralph created opportunities for themselves and their teammates," explained Coach Bailey.

Morehead State is now 9-2 (2-0).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Big Win

12/11 @ Eastern Illinois

Final: 79-36

"Once again, we were able to use our athleticism and defense to our advantage and they weren't able to get back into any kind of rhythm," commented Coach Bailey. The Eagles dominated from start to finish and was led with a strong performance by Vitor Hipsher. Hipsher tallied 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Clint Herber keeps bringing consistent play with 13 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds while junior Ralph St. Fort ended the game with 11 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds as well. The Eagles pick up their 3rd Ohio Valley Conference victory and their average margin of victory so far has been 40 points.

Morehead State is now 10-2 (3-0).
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Top 25 News

For the first time this season, the Morehead State Eagles have cracked the Top 25 Polls. The Eagles landed in the #24 spot in the Media Poll. "What the team has stated from the first of the season was that they wanted to be a known Top 25 program and I think they are proving that. This is a great accomplishment for us as a team and the University as well. I understand landing in the Top 25 doesn't mean you're better than any other team outside of it, but it does give us some added exposure for recruiting and some extra confidence for the team," explained Coach Bailey.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Avenge Last Year's Loss

12/21 vs. Jacksonville State

Final: 83-63

The last time these two teams squared off was in last season's OVC Tournament semi-finals and the Gamec.ocks upset the highly favored Eagles 61-57. This season, the Eagles have a bone to pick with Jacksonville State and wanted to make a statement this season. "There is no doubt that Jacksonville State is talented because they've played us better than any other OVC team has this year. We were a little worried when Vitor got into foul trouble, but Clint was there to pick up the load for us," said Coach Baily. Clint Herber did pick up the scoring load tonight as he ended the game with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Freshman point guard Hakeem Blizzard looked impressive tonight as he lit up the arc for 15 points and 2 rebounds. Big man Vitor Hipsher battled foul trouble early on, but was still able to log in a double-double for 13 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Morehead State is now 11-2 (4-0).

[knox33]

Cool thanks for the tip.


your welcome

[knox33]

Ouch tough loss. I get out rebounded like that alot. But still pull thru. You will win next game keep up the greatness. =P

Yeah, I do get out-rebounded sometimes, but I keep it close a lot too. I can win most of the games that I get out-rebounded in, but this was one of the exceptions. The computer was just nailing everything and grabbing every rebound in sight. We'll bounce back though.

[dj_morton]

Off-season News

After ending the season at New Orleans, LA in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament, it was no surprise that William Bailey’s coaching abilities caught the eye of the city of New Orleans. The coaching carousel had openings at Duke, Maryland, Wisconsin and Northwestern. Coach Bailey had been looked over for all of those openings, but he did get offered the head coaching position from a major conference. New Orleans own Conference-USA team, Tulane officially offered Bailey the head coaching position there. Not only did Tulane offer Bailey, but the Sun-Belt Conference’s University of New Orleans also offered Bailey. Among the other Mid-major offers were Utah State (WAC), Miami-OH (Mid-American), and Buffalo (Mid-American). Bailey was also the leading candidate for all small conferences as well. Bailey eventually turned down all offers and has decided to remain in Morehead, KY for another season.

In other news, the Maryland head coaching position was filled by none other than Austin Peay’s Coach Loos. Loos is coming off one of his best seasons as the Governors head man by posting a 16-11 (13-7) record, a #2 finish in the OVC regular season and an OVC Tournament Championship. His team lost in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament to the eventual champion Louisville Cardinals. Austin Peay’s #1 candidate for the position was Coach Bailey, but after Bailey turned down the offer, Austin Peay’s selection committee offered Assistant Coach Elmore Gibbs the position and he immediately took the job. Coach Bailey replied, “I’m very happy for Coach Gibbs. He did a great job here at Morehead and I know that he’ll do a great job with Austin Peay. It will be exciting coaching against him during the regular season next year. He’s a heck of a recruiter and I know that we are going to be going after several of the same prospects next season.”

Also, University of California-Irvine officially offered Coach Bailey the head coaching position at there, but Bailey declined the offer. Not long afterward, UC-Irvine officially offered Assistant Coach J.D. Foye the job and he accepted it. Coach Bailey commented, “Coach Foye is inheriting a very good team in UC-Irvine. With that type of talent and Coach Foye’s ability as an X’s and O’s coach, they will be a very dangerous team next season. Both of our Athletic Directors are seeing if we can arrange a game next season. I think our teams are very evenly matched and it would be a good game. Hopefully, we can work something out. I’m very excited for Coach Foye and wish him the best.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

For the 2nd season in a row, the Morehead State Eagles are without assistant coaches. Last season, Damien Robbins took the College of Charleston job and Jay Massey headed to rival IPFW. This season, Elmore Gibbs took the Austin Peay’s job and will regularly face the Eagles. J.D. Foye is making quite a journey and has taken the UC-Irvine position. Morehead State’s selection committee and Coach Bailey have been interviewing dozens of candidates for the job and have finally reached a conclusion. Coach Bailey announced, "Let me introduce you to Coach Kevin Bromley. Coach Bromley is the former coach of the University of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA. Coach Bromley is known as a good scout and recruiter. He is bringing a lot of credibility with him to our program." Coach Bailey joked, "The Big West Conference took Coach Foye away from us and we took Coach Bromley away from them." Next, Coach Bailey announced, "Please let me introduce you to Coach Henry Cantrell. Coach Cantrell is known for his high offensive IQ and he is a solid teacher. He will be more of our 'hands on' coach and will add a new dimension to our offense. The University and I are proud to have these men on our staff and they will use their abilities as coaches to help us make this program one of the best in the nation."
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2010-2011 Morehead State Roster

Roster
PG #3 Hakeem Blizzard 5’10 167 (Cincinnati, OH) 73 overall FR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6’1 188 (Grand Rapids, MI) 66 overall SR
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6’0 180 (Milwaukee, WI) 72 overall JR
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6’5 195 (Nashville, TN) 73 overall JR
PG #10 Bud Stehly 6’1 174 (Milwaukee, WI) 72 overall FR
PF #12 Chevon Modica 6’11 218 (Orlando, FL) 72 overall SO
C #13 Juan Webb 7’4 255 (Memphis, TN) 70 overall FR
SF #14 Clint Herber 6’10 222 (Nashville, TN) 74 overall SO
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7’0 296 (Melbourne) 75 overall SR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6’10 234 (Memphis, TN) 70 overall JR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6’10 255 (Chicago, IL) 74 overall JR
C #50 Aly Webber 7’0 287 (Fort Wayne, IN) 70 overall SR
C #53 O.J. Doss 6’10 242 (Lexington, KY) 68 overall FR

Coaches
William Bailey: B overall (5th year)
Kevin Bromley: B- overall (1st year)
Henry Cantrell: B- overall (1st year)
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Recruiting Class

With the recent addition of guards Hakeem Blizzard and Bud Stehly, the Morehead State Eagles have once again landed the best recruiting class in the OVC for the 4th straight year and the #54 recruiting class in the nation according to 2kprep.com.

OVC Recruiting Classes
1. Morehead State
2. Southeast Missouri
3. Tennessee State
4. Tennessee-Martin
5. Jacksonville State
6. Eastern Illinois
7. Murray State
8. Austin Peay
9. Samford
10. Eastern Kentucky
11. Tennessee Tech

Not only have the Eagles pulled in the top recruiting class, they are also heavily favored to win the OVC this year.

Where are you seeing the recruiting class rank at??

[knox33]

The recruiting class comes up after you finish with spring recruiting and it asks if you want to go to next season. It will give you a list of schools and how many All-Americans, Mr. Basketball Players, 5*, ect each team recruited. This is the recruiting class rank. I get my stats from counting down the slots. It is a pain b/c there isn't any numbers beside them, but that is where I get my recruiting class rank. Once you see your team at the top of the list, that means you got the #1 recruiting class and you'll get another point toward your coach.

[jjredick4]

i get out reboundin in a lot of my games, but i'm still able to pull it out(sometimes...most times)

[dj_morton]

The recruiting class comes up after you finish with spring recruiting and it asks if you want to go to next season. It will give you a list of schools and how many All-Americans, Mr. Basketball Players, 5*, ect each team recruited. This is the recruiting class rank. I get my stats from counting down the slots. It is a pain b/c there isn't any numbers beside them, but that is where I get my recruiting class rank. Once you see your team at the top of the list, that means you got the #1 recruiting class and you'll get another point toward your coach.


okay great thanks..thats what I thought it was..you were just listing the classes for your conf so i thought there was something i was missing..

[guckin1989]

Rofl. Wheres the updates?!

[knox33]

Bailey and Co. Pick Up 4th Straight Win

12/23 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 82-61

Tonight, the Eagles struggled early on with Tennessee Tech, but was eventually able to get a run going and never looked back. Coach Bailey commented, "Vitor (Hipsher) hasn't played with that type of intensity in a long time. It didn't matter who was guarding him, he continually found a way to score and get position for rebounds. This is by far his most impressive game this season." Hipsher did impress many with his 28 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. Clint Herber (14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) had an good all-around game while Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 3 rebound, 2 assists) is starting to show his consistency this season.

Morehead State is now 12-2 (5-0).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 25 News

After two impressive wins, the Morehead State Eagles have been bumped up an impressive 8 spots in the polls to snag the #16 spot in the Media Poll. The Coaches Poll did not really show them a lot of love as they landed in the #22 spot, but they trail only Nevada in the Mid-Major Poll with the #2 slot.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

Morehead State head coach William Bailey commented on former assistant Elmore Gibbs' success at Austin Peay. Gibbs' Governors just beat #13 Alabama earlier in the week. This is the same Alabama team that rocked the Eagles earlier in the season. "I'm happy for Elmore. If anybody should know how good of a coach Elmore is it should be me. There is a reason why I asked him to come on staff last season. He is a heckuva coach! I'm glad his team is doing so well and I'm sure it will be a media frenzy when we square off against each other later in the season. He knows every single detail of our game and his style is exactly the same as mine so it should be entertaining because he's got a very good team with Dee Clancy and last season's OVC Freshman of the Year Ka'Ron Gaines," explained Coach Bailey.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murray State Loses Big

1/4 @ Murray State

Final: 84-65

Coach Billy Kennedy had his hands full tonight with the Eagles as they just could not find a way to score in the 2nd half. Coach Kennedy commented, "They are a great team. What more can you say? I mean, they've proven themselves to be the best team in the OVC and any team in this league is going to have to play at their best to give them a good game. Our problem tonight was that we didn't play our best game." Freshman Bud Stehly proved he is a shooter by scoring 15 points in tonight's contest. Vitor Hipsher followed that performance with 14 points, 3 rebounds and 4 blocks while Deke Jolly added 12 points and 4 rebounds. The Nashville, TN duo of Clint Herber (10 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds) and Ralph St. Fort (10 points, 2 rebounds) both sparked the Eagles 1st half run and the Racers could not come back.

Morehead State is now 13-2 (6-0).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Tennessee State Falls to Eagles

1/6 @ Tennessee State

Final: 65-57

The OVC's preseason #1 (Morehead State) and #2 (Tennessee State) teams squared off tonight in a battle for bragging rights. The Tigers started off the game hot and only trailed by 6 points at the half, but they cooled off significantly during the 2nd half. Coach Bailey said, "They were killing us on fast break points and we had to make the necessary adjustments to get the win. It is always hard to get wins on the road and I'm glad we got it done in the 2nd half tonight." Vitor Hipsher had a nice game tonight with 17 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Nashville, TN duo of Clint Herber (14 points) and Ralph St. Fort (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) both played well infront of friends and family back in their hometown tonight.

Morehead State is now 14-2 (7-0).

[knox33]

i get out reboundin in a lot of my games, but i'm still able to pull it out(sometimes...most times)

I don't get out-rebounded very often because I have a particularly tall team and the conference play is extremely week. It's usually pretty close during my non-conference schedule, but on some nights I just get dominated on the boards and there's really nothing I can do about it. I usually win as you can see from my record, but there are days when there is absolutely nothing you can do to win the game.

[GeorgiaTechFan4Life]

What season are you in?

[knox33]

What season are you in?


This is my 5th season at Morehead St.

[ron410]

This is my 5th season at Morehead St.

its good you sticking with them some people would have went to a bigger school after the season

[knox33]

its good you sticking with them some people would have went to a bigger school after the season


Yeah, I've been offered plenty of Mid-Major jobs and I'm thinking the Power conferences will come knocking on my door after this year. I'm pretty sure the Connecticut, North Carolina, and Duke jobs are going to come open in the next season or two, but I'm not sure I'm ready to leave Morehead. I'm finally recruiting the type of players that I want. I look for specific players to play specific roles and I just landed a monster class and I've got a good feeling about next season's recruits too. I don't think I'll ever head to just any Mid-Major or Power conference. I have only one specific small conference team that I would jump to and rebuild. I have only one (that I can think of) Mid-Major team that I would jump to and only one Power conference school that I would leave for so I may be in Morehead for a while.

[lawcutta]

Yeah, it's hard to leave after you have built up a name and start getting the players you want. I went through the same thing with my UMBC legacy. I had a great team but I wanted to play in a better conference.

[guckin1989]

I want to play in a better conf as well. But 16 years at Texas State and 3 championships in the last 4 years. I just love my team way too much. Since i live in Maine i thought about coaching UMaine but they didn't offer me back when my team was bad. But anyways nice wins man and keep up the good work.

[knox33]

Top 15 News

For the first time this season, the Morehead State Eagles have landed inside the Top 15 as the nab the #14 slot in the Media Poll. The Coaches Poll moved them up to the #18 spot and they have took over the top spot in the Mid-Major poll. The Eagles also have the #15 RPI in the nation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Get Scare

1/10 vs. Tennessee-Martin

Final: 69-59

Tennessee-Martin has had the most success against the Eagles in the William Bailey era and tonight it looked as if they may upset the Eagles once again. "They came to Johnson Arena to play. I kept reminding the guys in the locker room, just because we are nationally ranked doesn't mean the rest of these teams are just gonna roll over and let us win. We have a huge target on our backs and we have to bring it every night because they are gonna bring their 'A' game," explained Coach Bailey. Clint Herber took over the game late with 18 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Vitor Hipsher struggled tonight with only 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Morehead State is now 15-2 (8-0).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Romp Redhawks

1/18 @ Southeast Missouri

Final: 92-54

The Eagles could have ran all night. Luckily, for Coach Scott Edgar the clock ran out of time. "We have been working extremely hard on getting up and down the floor. Coach Cantrell has brought a different look to our offense and it has made us a more effective and dangerous team," commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher had a dominating performance tonight with his 26 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Ralph St. Fort did not have a shabby game as he tore it up for a season high of 19 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Clint Herber gave a rousing all-around performance with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks while Alex Emerson added 13 points.

Morehead State is now 16-2 (9-0).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win Bragging Rights

1/22 vs. Eastern Kentucky

Final: 70-47

Tonight was all about bragging rights as these two in-state rivals battled it out. Eastern Kentucky has not beaten Coach Bailey yet and tonight was no different. "We were able to get out on the fast break and dump it down low to Vitor. The game plan was simple. When they doubled Vitor, we kicked it out and it was very effective tonight," explained Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher led all scorers with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks while freshman Bud Stehly added 13 points. Ralph St. Fort tallied 11 points, 3 steals and 2 rebounds while Clint Herber ended up with 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

Morehead State is now 17-2 (10-0).

[GeorgiaTechFan4Life]

I expect you to move up even more after those 3 wins.

[knox33]

Top 10 News

Morehead State broke into the Top 10 today as the #10 team in the Media Poll. The Eagles take the #14 slot in the Coaches Poll and still sit on top of the Mid-Major Poll.
1. Louisville (16-1)
2. UCLA (17-1)
3. North Carolina State (17-2)
4. Oklahoma State (16-2)
5. Alabama (14-2)
6. Wisconsin (17-2)
7. Illinois (18-3)
8. Kentucky (15-4)
9. Marquette (16-4)
10. Morehead State (17-2)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVC Standings

1. Morehead State 17-2 (10-0)
2. Austin Peay 10-6 (7-3)
3. Tennessee State 12-6 (6-3)
4. Jacksonville State 11-6 (6-4)
5. Eastern Illinois 8-10 (5-5)
6. Eastern Kentucky 7-13 (5-6)
7. Tennessee-Martin 8-9 (5-6)
8. Tennessee Tech 6-12 (4-6)
9. Samford 5-11 (3-7)
10. Murray State 5-15 (3-9)
11. Southeast Missouri 3-12 (2-7)

Leaders

Points- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 15.1 ppg
Rebounds- A.J. Frederick (Jacksonville State): 7.5 rpg
Assists- J.P. Vianney (Southeast Missouri): 6.0 apg
Steals- Hakeem Blizzard (Morehead State): 6.1 spg
Blocks- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 2.6 bpg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OVC Player of the Year Candidates

1. Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 15.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 3.1 spg, 2.6 spg
2. Clint Herber (Morehead State): 12.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 3.7 spg, 0.6 bpg
3. Lloyd Haigler (Tennessee-Martin): 12.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.6 bpg
4. Linton Jeffers (Tennessee State): 10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 2.3 bpg
5. A.J. Frederick (Jacksonville State): 10.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.4 spg, 1.9 bpg

OVC Freshman of the Year Candidates
1. B.J. Woodard (Jacksonville State): 7.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.5 bpg
2. Jeb Haynes (Southeast Missouri): 7.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.5 spg, 0.3 bpg
3. Butch Couisnard (Murray State): 6.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.3 bpg
4. Dainmon Guinn (Austin Peay): 5.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.4 bpg
5. Hakeem Blizzard (Morehead State): 4.7 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 6.1 spg, 0.0 bpg

[knox33]

I expect you to move up even more after those 3 wins.


Yeah, I did and hopefully I can move up even more throughout the season.

[knox33]

Yeah, it's hard to leave after you have built up a name and start getting the players you want. I went through the same thing with my UMBC legacy. I had a great team but I wanted to play in a better conference.

Yeah, my conference is pretty mediocre to say the least and I know I'm pretty much guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament too. I would like to play in a better conference, but I'll only go to another conference until I get offered the jobs that I really want.

[GateGamer]

I just started following your dynasty and your playing Final Four worthy. Your writing is just as good as your games because you know the basic rules of grammar (I can't read any dynasty's that have writing like 'i am doing a of marehead state?'). If you could go undefeated in conference play you could pick out a two seed. I think you can do that and win a championship.

[vols21]

I agree. The game summaries are great. The tips/insights along the way make it not only enjoyable, but also informative. What makes it realistic is that you actually lose along the way, even to teams you should not have lost to; you haven't won 4 national titles already, etc. You've been my inspiration and helped me get a good start with the game. So much so, that I hope to meet Coach Bailey at one of the sports banquets some year. ;-)



What could have been an interesting concept is to do like the EA football game, and have a bigger conference ask you to join them. Then you could keep the same school and team, yet still move up in competition.

[knox33]

Eagles Win Thriller

1/25 @ Austin Peay

Final: 74-68

Tonight was the much anticipated matchup between the Morehead State Eagles and the Austin Peay Governors. Although the Governors were picked 3rd in the OVC, they have taken the #2 slot and are the biggest contender to the title other than Morehead State. Coach Bailey commented, "I think I aged 10 years in this one game. Elmore Gibbs had his team firing on all cylinders tonight and it was very exciting. We knew it was going to be a dog fight and we stuck it out there till the end and got a big win." No one team got more than an 8 point lead all game long. In the end, the Eagles were able to make key defensive stops and hit their free throws in the end. Clint Herber paced the Eagles with a big game (18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals) while senior Vitor Hipsher tallied 14 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block.

Morehead State is now 18-2 (11-0).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win 11th Straight

1/29 @ Tennessee-Martin

Final: 67-57

The difference between the Skyhawks and the Eagles was one person, Vitor Hipsher. "He was incredible for us tonight. In my opinion, he is the most underrated big man in all of Division I basketball. I saw something special in him when he was a high schooler and he's proved me right. I'm no prophet, but I do know that Vitor Hipsher is one of the best big men in the country," explained coach Bailey. Hipsher had another dominating performance with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks while Clint Herber added 14 points, 3 rebounds and 3 huge blocks en route to tonight's win.

Morehead State is now 19-2 (12-0).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win on Last Second Layup

1/31 @ Tennessee Tech

Final: 77-75

With only 45 seconds left remaining in the game, the score was 75-73 in favor of the Eagles. The game went back and forth all night with no one able to get much of a lead on the other. The Golden Eagles were able to get an easy layup with only 26 seconds remaining in the game and tie the game up at 75-75. Freshman Hakeem Blizzard was going to run down the clock and find a last second shot. With seconds remaining, Vitor Hipsher gave Blizzard a high ball screen and rolled to the bucket. The Golden Eagles did not pick up Hipsher rolling toward the basket, but Blizzard found him for the game winning lay-up with only 2.3 seconds remaining. After a failed half-court attempt, the Eagles were able to pick up their 20th win this season and their 12th straight.

Morehead State is now 20-2 (13-0).
-----------------------------------------------
Press Conference

After last night's close call against Tennessee Tech, the question was asked "Are the Eagles vulnerable?" Coach Bailey answered the question. "Yes, we are vulnerable. As much as we would like to think otherwise, we are. Teams are beginning to play us better and we just aren't hitting the shots we normally hit. Our defense is sometimes a little suspect, but I think if we can keep going strong we may be able to go undefeated in conference play. I know that we have 7 games left, but we have beat every team left on the schedule and we are very capable of going undefeated." After 3 straight away games, the Eagles next game is at home against last place team, Southeast Missouri.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Fall on Last Second Play

2/3 vs. Southeast Missouri

Final: 73-74

Vitor Hipsher stood at the free throw line with his team leading 73-71. All he had to do was hit one free throw to atleast force the Redhawks to shoot a three-pointer to tie the game. But after he missed his free throw, the Redhawks had the ball with 12 seconds to play. Coach Bailey said, "We thought they would go for the tie and try to send it into overtime and we were confident that our defense could stop them, but they went for the win and they got it." Freshman shooting guard Jeb Haynes (19 points) hit the game winning 3-pointer over 5'11 Hakeem Blizzard as time ran out. Bud Stehly looked like he would be the hero of the night with his 17 points, but it came short in the end. Vitor Hipsher struggled with 13 points and 6 rebounds while Clint Herber added 14 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. Ralph St. Fort tallied 10 points and 3 rebounds in tonight's loss.

Morehead State falls to 20-3 (13-1).

[knox33]

I just started following your dynasty and your playing Final Four worthy. Your writing is just as good as your games because you know the basic rules of grammar (I can't read any dynasty's that have writing like 'i am doing a of marehead state?'). If you could go undefeated in conference play you could pick out a two seed. I think you can do that and win a championship.

I appreciate you following. I try to use good grammar because if people can't understand what I'm writing then there is no reason in posting all of this stuff. I would have agreed with you about picking up a #2 seed, but I think I just lost that opportunity with my loss against the worst team in the OVC. But we're picking things back up and trying to finish strong.

[knox33]

I agree. The game summaries are great. The tips/insights along the way make it not only enjoyable, but also informative. What makes it realistic is that you actually lose along the way, even to teams you should not have lost to; you haven't won 4 national titles already, etc. You've been my inspiration and helped me get a good start with the game. So much so, that I hope to meet Coach Bailey at one of the sports banquets some year. ;-)



What could have been an interesting concept is to do like the EA football game, and have a bigger conference ask you to join them. Then you could keep the same school and team, yet still move up in competition.

Thanks. I play sim every game and sometimes that equates a loss...much like the one I just suffered which was absolutely ridiculous. I'm hoping to make a good run at the Final Four this year and I appreciate the following. I'm following yours too.

[vols21]

what a tough week!! Your players had to be mentally if not physically drained after the Austin Peay and especially the TN Tech games. They were ripe for a letdown and upset. You see it happen every year. I'm sure they can bounce back.....as they say, maybe the loss will wake them up and they realize they are not unbeatable. Now they'll start playing their best ball. Since a good chance at a top 4 seed (not much difference in a 2 vs a 3 seed if it comes to that).

[knox33]

Eagles Bounce Back

2/5 @ Jacksonville State

Final: 82-59

The wrath of the Eagles were on the Gamec.ocks tonight as they completely dominated the game. "We were a little worried early on when Vitor got in foul trouble and eventually fouled out early in the 2nd half. I told the guys that someone needed to step up since Vitor was in foul trouble and it happened to be Clint (Herber)," said Coach Bailey. Hipsher fouled out with only 4 points and 4 rebounds. Clint Herber stepped his game up tonight with 22 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists while Ralph St. Fort added 15 points and 2 assists. The game was not close from the beginning till the end even after Hipsher fouled out of the game. The Eagles bounced back after a tough loss to last place Southeast Missouri.

Morehead State is now 21-3 (14-1).
------------------------------------------------------
Top 15 News

After falling to Southeast Missouri, the Eagles bounced back against Jacksonville State, but they could not stop falling in the polls. The Eagles drop to #14 in the Media Poll. "The Redhawks made a great play at the buzzer and my hats off to them. We didn't do what we needed to do and what we did do wasn't done well. When you get that combination, you can almost chalk up a loss every time," commented Coach Bailey.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Late Run Lifts Eagles

2/10 vs. Samford

Final: 67-61

"This was a battle down low. We just weren't hitting our outside shots and that affected us a lot. If it wasn't for the big plays of Vitor (Hipsher) and Clint (Herber), we might have stared down another loss," explained Coach Bailey. The Bulldogs played tough defense tonight and did a great job of doubling down low and defending the 3-ball. Vitor Hipsher battled all night long and was able to tally 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 big blocks. Hakeem Blizzard was the only outside shooter for the Eagles all game long with his 13 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds while Clint Herber came up big in the final minutes with 11 points, 3 steals and 2 assists.

Morehead State is now 22-3 (15-1).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Soar Past Panthers

2/12 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 74-38

Tonight's game was dominated by the presence of Vitor Hipsher. Hipsher's presence affected every aspect of the game tonight and he made himself known on both ends of the floor. "This wasn't the bestgame that he's ever had, but it ranks up there. There are so many little things that he did tonight that hindered Eastern Illinois' offense that a stat book doesn't see and he is the reason why we won so convincingly today," explained Coach Bailey. Hipsher led all scorers with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Nashville duoboth had exceptional games as Clint Herber added 13 points and 2 assists while Ralph St. Fort exited with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals.

Morehead State is now 23-3 (16-1).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top 10 News

Morehead State gets lifted to the #10 spot in the Media Polls. The Coaches Poll put them in the #13 slot and they still sit on top of the Mid-Major Poll. The Eagles also moved up in the RPI standings at #13. "We are extremely happy to land inside the Top 10. We know this team is something special and we look forward to finishing strong," explained Coach Bailey.

[knox33]

what a tough week!! Your players had to be mentally if not physically drained after the Austin Peay and especially the TN Tech games. They were ripe for a letdown and upset. You see it happen every year. I'm sure they can bounce back.....as they say, maybe the loss will wake them up and they realize they are not unbeatable. Now they'll start playing their best ball. Since a good chance at a top 4 seed (not much difference in a 2 vs a 3 seed if it comes to that).


Yeah, it seemed like we were poised for a letdown. We narrowly escaped the previous games and we just couldn't shoot the ball well. Things are turning around and we're rolling now.

[knox33]

Eagles Slaughter State

2/16 vs. Tennessee State

Final: 88-30

"Tonight was such a great team performance. Our starters completely dominated tonight and we are riding our momentum as far as we can," commented Coach Bailey. Clint Herber showed why he was one of the most versatile players in the nation today with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. He could not be stopped down low or on the perimeter. Ralph St. Fort's jumper was dead on tonight with 17 points and 3 assists while Deke Jolly added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block. Vitor Hipsher also had a solid game tonight with his 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Eagles will square off against Austin Peay for Senior Night in their next game.

Morehead State is now 24-3 (17-1).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hipsher Shines on Senior Night

2/24 vs. Austin Peay

Final: 66-55

This was a great matchup between the two best teams in the OVC. The Eagles barely escaped by 6 points in their first meeting and tonight was just as exciting. Vitor Hipsher struggled on the glass, but was an absolute beast on the offensive post. "My teammates knew I had the advantage down low tonight and my hook was falling so they got me the ball. Austin Peay's a great team and they've got a great coach. I'm glad I could end my playing career here in Johnson Arena with a win and we are looking forward to closing out the season against Eastern Kentucky," said Hipsher after the game. Vitor tallied 20 points and 4 rebounds while Clint Herber gave another solid performance with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Morehead State is now 25-3 (18-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Sweep In-State Rival

2/26 @ Eastern Kentucky

Final: 76-45

"People don't realize how talented Clint (Herber) is. The opposing teams are all focusing on Vitor (Hipsher) and they should, but they just haven't found a way to stop Clint," commented Coach Bailey. In another dominating performance, the Eagles looked like a well-oiled machine the way they man-handled the Colonels. Herber scored 20 points, 3 blocks and 2 assists while freshman point guard Hakeem Blizzard added 10 points, 6 assists and 6 steals. Vitor Hipsher had a good game tonight with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Eagles finish the season as the regular season champions and are looking to rebound from last year's semi-final loss in the OVC Tournament.

Morehead State is now 26-3 (19-1).

[24bauer]

How many games a year do you play?

[vols21]

I'll be curious to see what kind of offers you get after the season (especially if you do not win the national title). you'll have been there over 4 years with good post-season success. It's been just a theory, but wondering why some guys who win lots of titles at the smaller schools don't get good offers (like to a power conference) and thinking it could be because of the titles. Nothing left to prove at the next level. The power conf. team is looking for a coach who has done all he can with the talent at hand, having moderate success, etc. Being there over time, showing he can recruit talent each year and all that.

so with that said, it'll be interesting to see if you ge a good offer - whether you accept it or not.

[knox33]

How many games a year do you play?

All of them.

[knox33]

I'll be curious to see what kind of offers you get after the season (especially if you do not win the national title). you'll have been there over 4 years with good post-season success. It's been just a theory, but wondering why some guys who win lots of titles at the smaller schools don't get good offers (like to a power conference) and thinking it could be because of the titles. Nothing left to prove at the next level. The power conf. team is looking for a coach who has done all he can with the talent at hand, having moderate success, etc. Being there over time, showing he can recruit talent each year and all that.

so with that said, it'll be interesting to see if you ge a good offer - whether you accept it or not.

I'm pretty sure I'll get offered a couple of good power conference jobs. I know I could win a championship every year if I didn't play sim, but I like the challenge and I know I can recruit good enough talent at the small schools and win a championship playing sim. Stay tuned and see what becomes of the rest of the season.

[knox33]

OVC Final Standings

1. Morehead State 26-3 (19-1)
2. Austin Peay 17-10 (13-7)
3. Tennessee State 19-11 (13-7)
4. Tennessee Tech 14-15 (11-9)
5. Eastern Illinois 14-15 (10-10)
6. Jacksonville State 15-13 (10-10)
7. Tennessee-Martin 13-14 (10-10)
8. Samford 11-15 (9-11)
9. Eastern Kentucky 10-19 (8-12)
10. Murray State 6-22 (4-16)
11. Southeast Missouri 4-22 (3-17)

Leaders

Points- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 15.4 ppg
Rebounds- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 7.3 rpg
Assists- J.P. Vianney (Southeast Missouri): 5.5 apg
Steals- Hakeem Blizzard (Morehead State): 5.9 spg
Blocks- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 2.4 bpg
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OVC Player of the Year Candidates

1. Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State): 15.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 0.9 apg, 3.0 spg, 2.4 spg
2. Lloyd Haigler (Tennessee-Martin): 12.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.8 spg, 1.5 bpg
3. Linton Jeffers (Tennessee State): 11.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.3 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.2 bpg
4. Ka'Ron Gaines (Austin Peay): 10.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.7 spg, 1.4 bpg
5. Aris Prillman (Tennessee Tech): 10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.4 spg, 0.9 bpg

OVC Freshman of the Year Candidates

1. B.J. Woodard (Jacksonville State): 6.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.4 bpg
2. Hakeem Blizzard (Morehead State): 5.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 3.9 apg, 5.9 spg, 0.0 bpg
3. Butch Couisnard (Murray State): 6.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.3 bpg
4. Jeb Haynes (Southeast Missouri): 7.6 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.5 bpg
5. Allan Morris (Tennessee-Martin): 5.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.6 bpg

[knox33]

Eagles Take Care of Business in 1st Round

3/1 vs. Samford

Final: 77-54

The Bulldogs stood no chance against the Eagles tonight. "We came out with a swagger and we have one mission. That mission is to recapture the OVC Tournament Title. We were definitely disappointed last year and we all know what we have to do and we did it tonight," explained Coach Bailey. From the opening tip, Clint Herber controlled the tempo of the game. He finished with 16 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. Vitor Hipsher was the man of the night with one of the best all-around performances this conference has seen in a long time. Hipsher tallied 14 points, 9 rebounds and 8 blocks. "I can't say enough about the mentality and physicality of Vitor Hipsher. He is showing why he has been the OVC Player of the Year the past 2 years," commented Coach Bailey after tonight's win.

Morehead State is now 27-3 (19-1).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hipsher Goes Down, Eagles Still Win

3/4 vs. Tennessee Tech

Final: 94-67

The Eagles had a scare tonight with Vitor Hipsher going down in the very first play of the game. Hipsher dislocated his finger on his shooting hand, but was able to come back in the 2nd half. Although he was in obvious pain, he still tallied 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 points. "Vitor showed a lot of heart tonight by dislocating his finger and coming back in the 2nd half to finish with a double-double. That is what champions are made of," explalined Coach Bailey. Clint Herber paced the Eagles in the 1st half and finished the game with 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks while Ralph St. Fort added 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Chevon Modica (15 points, 2 rebounds) and Deke Jolly (12 points, 8 rebounds) stepped up their games significantly while Hipsher was out of the game and Bud Stehly showed his shooting touch late in the game with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. The Eastern Illinois Panthers upset the #2 seeded Austin Peay Govenors setting up a championship game between the Eagles and the Panthers for the right to go to the NCAA Tournament.

Morehead State is now 28-3 (19-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Win OVC Tournament

3/5 vs. Eastern Illinois

Final: 71-62

For the 4th time in 5 years, the Morehead State Eagles have captured the OVC Tournament Title, but they did not win this game easily. In their first two meetings, the Eagles swept the series by an average of almost 40 points. Tonight, the Panthers played like they were the 2nd best team in the OVC and would not go down easily. "Eastern Illinois' defense was just incredible tonight. They did a great job of congesting the lane and forcing us to shoot outside," commented Coach Bailey. Vitor Hipsher struggled tonight with only 11 points and 5 rebounds. Clint Herber (11 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds) and Ralph St. Fort (10 points) did not have spectacular games, but were able to contribute when it really counted. The spark the got the Eagles over the hump for good was by freshman Bud Stehly. Stehly was able to nail 4 three-pointers in the final 4 minutes of the game and ended with 13 points.

Morehead State is now 29-3 (19-1).
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Final Top 10

1. Louisville (28-3)
2. Wisconsin (27-6)
3. Illinois (27-6)
4. North Carolina State (24-7)
5. Maryland (26-7)
6. Nevada (26-5)
7. Oklahoma State (26-7)
8. UCLA (23-8)
9. Alabama (23-8)
10. Morehead State (29-3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selection Sunday

The Morehead State Eagles, who finished 29-3 in the regular season and 19-1 in conference play, was given a #4 seed by the Selection Committee in the Charlotte Regional. "We are always happy to get a solid seed in the NCAA Tournament. Two years ago, we got a #2 seed and made it all the way to the Final Four. This year, I think we have a great shot at winning it all, but our only focus now is against Princeton (#13 seed). They did a good job in the Ivy League and we are trying to get some film on them already," explained Coach Bailey. The Eagles are expected to advance to the 2nd round and play against in-state team Western Kentucky (5 seed). If the Eagles can beat the Hilltoppers, it will set up a meeting against the #1 seeded defending champions Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16.

[elprez98]

The Eagles are expected to advance to the 2nd round and play against in-state team Western Kentucky (5 seed). If the Eagles can beat the Hilltoppers, it will set up a meeting against the #1 seeded defending champions Louisville Cardinals in the Sweet 16.

I don't know Coach Bailey, a lot of looking ahead?

[knox33]

I don't know Coach Bailey, a lot of looking ahead?

You know I got caught up in all this march madness stuff. I took a look at my bracket and I couldn't believe I had them again. I'm definitely taking it one game at a time, but I know who's waiting for me IF I advance.

[elprez98]

You know I got caught up in all this march madness stuff. I took a look at my bracket and I couldn't believe I had them again. I'm definitely taking it one game at a time, but I know who's waiting for me IF I advance.

You gonna play these tonight? I'm looking forward to seeing how far you go this year.

[knox33]

You gonna play these tonight? I'm looking forward to seeing how far you go this year.

I got a little bit of free time on my hands so I don't know if I'll finish up tonight, but hopefully I won't have an early exit.

[vikingfan1]

Good Luck in your tourney games!!!

[knox33]

Eagles Blast Princeton

3/18 vs. #13 seed Princeton

Final: 94-36

"Princeton is known for slowing down the tempo and working the ball around for back-door cuts. We knew that we had to force them to play an uptempo style of basketball. We continually frustrated them with our defense and they just couldn't keep up with us," commented Coach Bailey. The difference maker in tonight's game was Clint Herber. The sophomore was a complete beast with 25 points and 4 rebounds. Vitor Hipsher ended the game with a double-double. He tallied 16 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks while Ralph St. Fort added 13 points and 3 steals. The Eagles will not square off against Western Kentucky in the next round because the #5 seeded team was upset by #12 seeded VCU.

Morehead State is now 30-3 (19-1).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Barely Edge Out Rams

3/20 vs. #12 seed VCU

Final: 80-75

In another scare, big man Vitor Hipsher reinjured the finger he dislocated in the OVC Tournament, but was still able to play. Hipsher made the difference tonight with 24 points and 6 rebounds in tonight's win. The big man left the game early, but returned after senior Aly Webber bruised his sternum and had to leave the game. "It was unfortunate that both our big men got injured in this game. This was by far one of the better teams that we have faced this year. They matched us in every position and deserved more than a #12 seed," commented Coach Baily. Clint Herber proved to be the hero tonight by nailing two key free throws in the final 15 seconds to make it a two possession game and the Rams could not overcome the deficit. Herber finished the game with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. The Eagles long anticipated matchup against the defending champion Louisville Cardinals will have to wait for another year as the Arkansas Razorbacks (#9 seed) upset the defending champions in the 2nd Round and will be facing the Eagles in the Sweet Sixteen.

Morehead State is now 31-3 (19-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Romp Hogs

3/25 vs. #9 seed Arkansas

Final: 84-66

In one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, the Arkansas Razorbacks were heavily favored to beat the Eagles after beating the defending champion Louisville Cardinals in the second round. Coach Bailey said, "We knew that even though we were seeded higher, Arkansas was favored to win the game. This just fueled our fire and we came out hot and we never let up." Despite his injured finger, Vitor Hipsher was dominant on both sides of the floor with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 7 huge blocks for the Eagles. Clint Herber was able to tally 12 points and 3 rebounds while Ralph St. Fort added 11 points and 3 assists. The Razorbacks tried their best to get something going on the offensive side of the ball, but were afraid to dump it down low after Vitor Hipsher swatted just about everything away. When they could not hit their outside shots, they were completely confused and looked as if they gave up. The Eagles will square off against #3 seeded Oklahoma State in the Elite 8.

Morehead State is now 32-3 (19-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

Coach Bailey explained his team's run in the NCAA Tournament, "We are doing very well right now and we are peaking at the right time in the season. My guys were really ready to play Louisville, but once they were eliminated by Arkansas and we were able to beat Arkansas, we really think we can play with anybody in the country. Oklahoma State is a great team and they are going to be a tough matchup for us, but we know we can play with them and it will be a good game." The road to the Final Four looks great without Louisville in the picture.

[knox33]

Good Luck in your tourney games!!!

Thanks. I appreciate the support.

[knox33]

Eagles Dominate Cowboys

3/27 vs. #3 seed Oklahoma State

Final: 78-63

Coach Bailey said, "Both teams didn't play particularly well tonight and it wasn't a pretty game. We struggled in the paint and on the perimeter and we were fortunate enough to have them struggle too. Our big break came in the 2nd half when Vitor (Hipsher) started hitting his hook shot. That is what sparked our run in the final 8 minutes of the game." Hipsher added 16 points and 6 rebounds while Clint Herber tallied 11 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior Clifford Assel turned up his game tonight with 10 points and 2 rebounds. He proved to be a tough matchup for the Cowboys when Clint was on the bench. The Eagles shocked the nation by man-handling the #3 seeded Cowboys and will now be playing in the Final Four against #3 seeded Pepperdine.

Morehead State is now 33-3 (19-1).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

In today's press conference, Coach Bailey commented on his team's Final Four game against Pepperdine. The Eagles played Pepperdine in their 3rd game of the season and beat them 78-74. "Pepperdine is no doubt a great team. If you're still playing this time during the season, you have a very strong team and any team is able to win on any given night. This is the second time we've been to the Final Four in 3 years and we already know we can play with Pepperdine. During that game, Vitor didn't play his best basketball and hopefully we can get him going against them this time around. Of course, they are a much different team than at the beginning of the season and they are much better and so are we. This is going to be a great game and we are looking forward to it."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Escape with Win and head to Championship Game

4/2 vs. #3 seed Pepperdine

Final: 68-57

With both teams struggling early on, it was Pepperdine who was the aggressor in the first half. The second half was a different story as the Eagles came out with a big 12-0 run to start the half. "We knew we had to get our heads back into the game after a poor first half. Since our perimeter game wasn't falling we knew we had to get Vitor (Hipsher) into the mix. Once he started hitting that short hook shot it got the momentum swinging our way and we were able to start making some plays," explained Coach Bailey. Hipsher finished the game leading all scorers with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Nashville duo of Clint Herber and Ralph St. Fort helped spark a late run that sent the game out of reach for the Waves. Herber tallied 15 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds while St. Fort added 10 points and 3 assists. The Eagles will be facing the Kansas Jayhawks in the championship game of the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks are led by All-American shooting guard Kibwe Devance. He has already had a solid tournament and will look to cap it off with a championship.

Morehead State is now 34-3 (19-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kansas Jayhawks Win It All

4/4 vs. #6 seed Kansas

Final: 81-85

The Kansas Jayhawks came out of the gate absolutely on fire. Kansas jumped out on an early lead by playing aggressive defense and an uptempo offense. The big difference was the rebounding category. The Jayhawks outrebounded the Eagles 41-26 and outscored Morehead State 36-16 on fast break points. At one point early in the first half, the Eagles were down by as many as 20 points. Ralph St. Fort (15 points, 3 rebounds) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer of the first half to cut the lead to 17 points. At the half, Kansas led 47-30. In the second half, things started to turn around for the Eagles. They were sparked by Deke Jolly (12 points, 3 rebounds) and cut the lead to single digits, but it would not last long. The Jayhawks proved to be too much for the Eagles. Despite scoring 13 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, Vitor Hipsher just could not spark his team to get on a late run and they eventually fell. The Jayhawks were led by All-American Kibwe Devance. The shooting guard tallied 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals to lead his team to a National Championship.

Morehead State finish the season 34-4 (19-1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

After their tough loss to Kansas in the championship game, Coach Bailey talked about his how his team played and his future at Morehead State. "We came out flat. I knew it would catch up to us. We came out flat in the last three games and no matter what we did, we just couldn't get things going early on. We've been relying on runs in the 2nd half, but that wasn't the case tonight. We did have a good run in the final minutes of the game, but when we resorted to fouling they hit their free throws. The guys played their hearts out and showed a lot of heart tonight after being down by as many as 20 points. My heart goes out to my seniors. Vitor Hipsher, Aly Webber and Cecil Brown have been faithful to this program. They believed in me and what I was trying to do with this program and they gave me their all. Those guys are irreplaceable and we are all going to miss them. I hate it for them and I know they are all very disappointed in the showing that we had tonight. I told the guys to keep their heads up high because they showed the nation that we can play with the best and they have nothing to be ashamed about."

When asked about his status as the head coach at Morehead, Coach Bailey said this, "I don't even want to talk about that right now. It is hard enough that we just lost one of the most important games in Morehead State's history. I realize there will be some universities that are going to contact me this summer and there is going to be a time for that, but right now is not the right time." There are positions opening up around the country and William Bailey will definitely be on all of their short lists. Bailey dodged the question about whether he would be back next season and he did not give a definite answer if he will return or is going to consider other offers.

[Melo15AI3Nuggets]

nice i just started following. u play every game?n what is ur ranking comin into the new season?n does ur team get 2 recruit top 5* players?

[vikingfan1]

Tough loss to Kansas, that sucks!! I hope you stay at Morehead State at least for one more year and try to get back to the Championship game and win it!! I played Flordia St. today in the National Championship game and I was down by as much as 16 points in the second half and somehow rallied back to win. I wish you luck next season and will be following!

[samoka10]

tough loss to kansas.....are u gonna leave morehead state? could u post the job offers u get?

[vols21]

great tourney run and great career -both by you and your senior class.
it seems like I grew up watching Vitor Hipsher. I can imagine a tearful farewell as he took off the Morehead St jersy for the last time (also for Webber and Brown, but Vitor has been the face of the program, carrying the team many nights). There is a great nucleus of players at the program and I'd expect them to be back next year -- especially if you stick around 1 more year. Like everyone, I'm expecting you to get some lucrative offers -- maybe just not the one you're wanting just yet. Coach Pearl's nightmare right now is if you go to UK to replace Tubby. ;-)

[elprez98]

Good run. I say stay with Morehead!!!!!

[knox33]

National Awards

National Champions- Kansas 27-11 (9-7)
National Coach of the Year- Bill Self (Kansas)
National Player of the Year- Holland Locklier (Illinois)
2K Sports Player of the Year- Johnathen Parker (LSU)

OVC Awards

OVC Conference Champions- Morehead State
OVC Tournament Champions- Morehead State
OVC Coach of the Year- William Bailey (Morehead State)
OVC Player of the Year- Vitor Hipsher (Morehead State)
OVC Freshman of the Year- Hakeem Blizzard (Morehead State)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morehead Senior News

A teary eyed Coach Bailey commented, "This senior class holds a very special place in my heart. This was the first class that I ever recruited. They gave me a chance and believed in the type of program that we were trying to build here at Morehead State. This group of guys were the foundation of the success that we have started and they are going to be missed."

Vitor Hipsher (7'0 296) was ranked as the #225 senior out of high school and the #40 center in his class. The Austrailian born Hipsher is the most celebrated player in Morehead State history to date. He was voted the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008 and made the All-OVC Freshman Team that year as well. He made All-OVC First Team in all four years of his career and was voted the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Vitor's career averages are: 14.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.9 spg, and 2.5 bpg. He led the OVC in blocks all four years. He led the OVC in rebounds three years and scoring two years. Hipsher is the only player in Morehead State history to amass over 2000 points, 1100 rebounds and 350 blocks in his four-year career. He ended his career with 2091 points, 1163 rebounds, 88 assists, 415 steals and 354 blocks. He currently did not get drafted to the NBA, but he did however sign with the Melbourne Tigers of the NBL in his homeland of Austrailia.

Aly Webber (7'0 287) was ranked as the #324 senior out of high school and the #55 center in his class. Webber hails from Fort Wayne, IN and has had somewhat of a quite career at Morehead State. He did get voted on the All-OVC Second Team his freshman year and that was his best year at Morehead State. He has been one of the most consistent, solid and unselfish players at Morehead. He has been dependable throughout his career and did not mind being a backup. Aly's career averages are: 4.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 1.9 spg. He amassed 572 points, 498 rebounds, 261 steals, 129 blocks and 53 assists in his four-year career.

Cecil Brown (6'1 188) was unranked coming out of high school. He was one of Coach Donnie Tyndale's recruits. He redshirted his freshman year in 2006-2007 and had a small stint as the starting point guard his next year. Cecil was the backup point guard most of his career, but has been a solid contributor. Cecil's career averages are: 1.0 ppg, 1.5 apg, and 3.1 spg. He amassed 83 points, 253 steals, 127 assists, and 43 rebounds in his five-year career.
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Morehead State 2010-2011 Season Recap

Record: 34-4 (19-1)
OVC Regular Season Champions
OVC Coach of the Year: William Bailey
OVC Player of the Year: Vitor Hipsher
OVC Freshman of the Year: Hakeem Blizzard
1st Team All-OVC: Vitor Hipsher, Clint Herber, and Hakeem Blizzard
2nd Team All-OVC: Ralph St. Fort
Freshman All-OVC: Hakeem Blizzard
NCAA most steals: Hakeem Blizzard (6.4 spg)

Roster
PG #3 Hakeem Blizzard 5’10 167 (Cincinnati, OH) 76 overall FR
PG #4 Cecil Brown 6’1 188 (Grand Rapids, MI) 67 overall SR
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6’0 180 (Milwaukee, WI) 74 overall JR
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6’5 195 (Nashville, TN) 74 overall JR
PG #10 Bud Stehly 6’1 174 (Milwaukee, WI) 73 overall FR
PF #12 Chevon Modica 6’11 218 (Orlando, FL) 72 overall SO
C #13 Juan Webb 7’4 255 (Memphis, TN) 72 overall FR
SF #14 Clint Herber 6’10 222 (Nashville, TN) 76 overall SO
C #15 Vitor Hipsher 7’0 296 (Melbourne) 77 overall SR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6’10 234 (Memphis, TN) 71 overall JR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6’10 255 (Chicago, IL) 77 overall JR
C #50 Aly Webber 7’0 287 (Fort Wayne, IN) 70 overall SR
C #53 O.J. Doss 6’10 242 (Lexington, KY) 69 overall FR

Coaches
William Bailey: B overall (5th year)
Kevin Bromley: B- overall (1st year)
Henry Cantrell: B- overall (1st year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Off-Season News

After being in the Final Four two times in the last 3 years, Coach William Bailey is on top of every University's short list in need of a head coach. It was no surprise that the Power Conference teams would be calling his name for visits and contract offers. There were three major players for the services of Coach Bailey. Texas Tech, who had an awful year in the Big 12, was the first to contact Bailey. The next team was the ACC's Florida State. The final suitor was the Big 10's abismal Northwestern. Several Mid-Major schools contacted Coach Bailey. Those in the mix were: San Diego State (Mountain West), Houston (C-USA), Ball State (Mid-American), Fairfield (Metro Atlantic), Youngstown (Horizon) and Evansville (Mississippi Valley). Athletic director Brian Hutchinson has given all of these universities permission to talk with Coach Bailey and is patiently awaiting whether or not Bailey will bail out on Morehead State after their much recent success.

2kprep.com analyst Lawrence Thouin reports, "I think Coach Bailey has proved everything he can on this stage. He is a proven winner and recruiter. All of these programs are going to be able to pay top dollar for his services and you will likely see schools trying to outbid each other to get him. But it isn't about the money for Coach Bailey. It is going to be hard for him to leave a program that he has basically built from the ground up. I know Brian Hutchinson cannot pay the amount of money Texas Tech, Florida State or Northwestern can pay. All three of these power teams are great situations for Bailey although they haven't garnered the same type of success that Morehead State has. Texas is a hot-bed for recruiting and Bailey could assemble a Final Four team just from the talent out of Texas. Florida is a great place to recruit as well and he can build that program back up just through recruiting the state of Florida hard. Northwestern would love to have Bailey because he has proven that he can recruit some of the best talent out of the state of Illinois. One thing we've learned about William Bailey is that he knows how to build a program and that he has proved he can recruit and coach his way to the top. As far as I know, there is no one that has any inside information on this situation and anyone's guess is as good as mine. It will be a surprise whether or not Bailey stays or which program he will choose."

[knox33]

nice i just started following. u play every game?n what is ur ranking comin into the new season?n does ur team get 2 recruit top 5* players?

Thanks for following and to answer your questions:
1. I do play every game
2. We will all have to wait and see
3. Yes, I do get to recruit some of the best 5* players, but you have to pick and choose who you set your sights on. I signed the #32, #38 and #53 players in the nation. It was a great recruiting season, but I'm in on some of the best players in the nation this coming season.

[knox33]

Tough loss to Kansas, that sucks!! I hope you stay at Morehead State at least for one more year and try to get back to the Championship game and win it!! I played Flordia St. today in the National Championship game and I was down by as much as 16 points in the second half and somehow rallied back to win. I wish you luck next season and will be following!

Yeah, it was a very tough loss. I'm thinking about whether or not I should stay and am weighing the options. Nice job on your comeback win in the championship game. Good luck to your team as well.

[knox33]

tough loss to kansas.....are u gonna leave morehead state? could u post the job offers u get?

Thanks for following. I don't know if I'll leave yet, but the offers are posted.

[knox33]

great tourney run and great career -both by you and your senior class.
it seems like I grew up watching Vitor Hipsher. I can imagine a tearful farewell as he took off the Morehead St jersy for the last time (also for Webber and Brown, but Vitor has been the face of the program, carrying the team many nights). There is a great nucleus of players at the program and I'd expect them to be back next year -- especially if you stick around 1 more year. Like everyone, I'm expecting you to get some lucrative offers -- maybe just not the one you're wanting just yet. Coach Pearl's nightmare right now is if you go to UK to replace Tubby. ;-)

Thanks, I appreciate the comments. It's gonna be hard to come back after my best player is leaving, but I know what I've got coming back and I know what the other programs have to offer (with returning players). That's pretty funny. I don't even think Bailey would take the UK job with all the expectations and pressure.

[knox33]

Good run. I say stay with Morehead!!!!!

We will see. It will be hard to leave if I do, but the potential of all of those programs looks pretty enticing too.

[LiAu41]

Hey knox! I just wanted to let you know that I have been following your legacy. You really are doing an awesome job at Morehead. I can't wait to see if you stay or go. Keep up the great work!

[vols21]

gonna be a tough decision if you decide to opt for "greener pastures"

assuming you have nothing left to prove at the mid-major level, a Houston or San Diego could be interesting (smaller schools in a big state - they also play in good "in between" conferences with a few really good teams - Utah, BYU, UNLV, Col. State (as ElPrez will attest to) in the MWC.....Memphis, UAB, etc in the Conf. USA). I think either of these would just be a stepping stone to a ready built power team where a coach retires.
the power conferences would be the ultimate goal - Texas Tech would look to be the easiest to turn around. Fla St would be the most interesting since you'd get to compete against UNC and Duke, etc.
Northwestern would be the wildcard...not an abundance of local talent as you'd find in Texas, Florida or California. You might have to scramble more to bring in top-flight recruits (which is half the fun). I've found the Big 10 teams the easiest of the powers to win against though (different in every legacy, I'm sure). All 3 offer interesting challenges and each have their own rewards as well. It'll be interesting to see what decision you make and how it all plays out.

[Mizzoutiger]

Hey Coach,

Me and my buddys are big time Morehead fans. We really appreciate what you have done for the program and we would like to continue to appreciate it! If you left we would all be REALLY disapointed. Course, when a group of ol country boys like us get "disapointed" there 's no telling just what we might do - if you catch my drift.

So I sure hope you deciede to stay. I think it would be a very "healthy" decision for the program and also for YOU.

Wishing you the best as you continue your fine career at Morehead:

Billy Bob and friends at the cornerbar - where "your freinds" are always closer than you can imagine.

[skarface2k1]

knox33 you have a great program going here.i like the way your legacey reads and the stats you provide.I look to keep my post on my own legacey going on here like yours.I went thru the same thing you are going thru.Thinking if it is better to go or stay.Which team will be the better fit for me and my style of play.I picked Wisconsin from all the other schools that offered(Vill,Az,Depaul,Boston College,and North carolina)just to name a few of them.Wisconsin was a good fit because they had alot of upperclassmen so my players that i would bring in could play right away. i looked for a program i could rebuild with the type of players i wanted.now i am playing with players sim to the ones i had at Santa clara and WIU.Good luck with what you decide to do.remmeber we are all following so keep us posted.

[skarface2k1]

PS coach bailey don't forget to check my legacey out(Coach Sanders) wisconsin my stats will be up tommorrow.I just learned about this site so i couldn't put my early years up,but my wisconsin years will be posted.

[knox33]

Press Conference

After days of negotiation talks with Texas Tech, Florida State and Northwestern, Coach William Bailey has an announcement to make. "As many of you know, I have been officially offered head coaching positions by Texas Tech, Florida State and Northwestern among others. I have talked to my athletic director Brian Hutchinson, my family and my players and have reached a decision. I have been here at Morehead State for five wonderful years and I have never been disappointed. What we have been able to do here in Morehead, KY is somehthing that I'm not sure could be duplicated. Lightening can strike twice in the same place, but the odds are great. The fans, the players and the Univsersity have been great to me and my family. I know all of you have been waiting to see what my decision will be and that is why I am pleased to inform you all that I will be remaining in Morehead, KY for next season. I feel that there is still work left to be done here and we have a great incoming class of freshmen heading here to the University. Next season is going to be another exciting year here and we all feel that the program is on the right track. I talked to all of the programs and their athletic directors and I listened to what they had to say and what they had to offer. What they offered was great, but I love this place and these players and I am glad to be here for next season."

In other news, assistant coaches Kevin Bromley and Henry Cantrell have both bolted from the University for head coaching positions. Coach Bromley, who was the former head coach of Cal-Poly, has headed back to the West Coast and will be the new head coach of Pacific University. Coach Bailey said, "I am very happy for Kevin. He was an instrumental part of the program this past year and I know he has been itching to get back to being a head coach. We both knew he was ready for it and I wish him the best."

Coach Henry Cantrell left the program after just one season at Morehead State and has announced his new position as the head coach of Georgia Southern. "I was surprised that Henry left. We sat down and talked about it and we both felt like he did everything we needed him to do here at the University. I'm sure he is going to make a great head coach and I wish him the very best," explained Coach Bailey.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Additions

At today's press conference, Coach Bailey announced his new assistants for this coming season. "I am pleased to announce our new assistant coaches. After taking several resumes and interviewing many different candidates, the seach committee and I have decided on Jarrid Boyce and Rashaun Dalgarn. Coach Boyce is 39 years old and is a great recruiter and teacher. He will definitely help us on the offensive side of the ball as well and we are very happy to have him. Coach Dalgarn is a veteran of the game at 61 years of age. He understands the game well and is a solid scout. He is also a solid recruiter as well and will help us on the X's and O's of the game. We brought in some fresh blood and some veteran blood and they have already meshed well with the players. We are extremely happy to have both of these great coaches and we look forward to having more success here at Morehead State University.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011-2012 Morehead State Roster

Roster
PG #3 Hakeem Blizzard 5’10 175 (Cincinnati, OH) 78 overall SO
PG #6 Alex Emerson 6’0 184 (Milwaukee, WI) 75 overall SR
SG #8 Ralph St. Fort 6’5 195 (Nashville, TN) 75 overall SR
PG #10 Bud Stehly 6’2 183 (Milwaukee, WI) 75 overall SO
PF #12 Chevon Modica 7'0 225 (Orlando, FL) 74 overall JR
C #13 Juan Webb 7’5 263 (Memphis, TN) 73 overall SO
SF #14 Clint Herber 6’10 226 (Nashville, TN) 78 overall JR
SG #25 Florentino Hale 6'5 199 (Atlanta, GA) 74 overall FR
SF #31 Clifford Assel 6’10 239 (Memphis, TN) 72 overall SR
SF #32 Matt Toussaint 6'8 226 (High Point, NC) 73 overall FR
PF #44 Deke Jolly 6’10 260 (Chicago, IL) 78 overall SR
C #53 O.J. Doss 6’10 242 (Lexington, KY) 68 overall SO
C #54 Donald See 6'11 246 (Chicago, IL) 75 overall FR

Coaches
William Bailey: B overall (6th year)
Jarrid Boyce: B- overall (1st year)
Rashaun Dalgarn: C+ overall (1st year)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recruiting Class

Coach Bailey out did himself this season by bringing in the #17 recruiting class in the nation. He added monster Donald See from Chicago, IL to fill in the gap down low and Matt Toussaint (5*) to be the most versatile incoming player. Florentino Hale is a sharp shooter out of Atlanta, GA. He will be asked to fill it up from downtown.

OVC Recruiting Classes
1. Morehead State
2. Tennessee Tech
3. Samford
4. Eastern Kentucky
5. Jacksonville State
6. Tennessee-Martin
7. Tennessee State
8. Southeast Missouri
9. Austin Peay
10. Murray State
11. Eastern Illinois

[knox33]

Hey knox! I just wanted to let you know that I have been following your legacy. You really are doing an awesome job at Morehead. I can't wait to see if you stay or go. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for following. I appreciate the comments.

[knox33]

gonna be a tough decision if you decide to opt for "greener pastures"

assuming you have nothing left to prove at the mid-major level, a Houston or San Diego could be interesting (smaller schools in a big state - they also play in good "in between" conferences with a few really good teams - Utah, BYU, UNLV, Col. State (as ElPrez will attest to) in the MWC.....Memphis, UAB, etc in the Conf. USA). I think either of these would just be a stepping stone to a ready built power team where a coach retires.
the power conferences would be the ultimate goal - Texas Tech would look to be the easiest to turn around. Fla St would be the most interesting since you'd get to compete against UNC and Duke, etc.
Northwestern would be the wildcard...not an abundance of local talent as you'd find in Texas, Florida or California. You might have to scramble more to bring in top-flight recruits (which is half the fun). I've found the Big 10 teams the easiest of the powers to win against though (different in every legacy, I'm sure). All 3 offer interesting challenges and each have their own rewards as well. It'll be interesting to see what decision you make and how it all plays out.

It was a difficult decision. I thought that I had only a couple of jobs that I would leave for, but they were all pretty enticing. In the end, I chose to stay because of my seniors and Don See, Matt Toussaint, and Florentino Hale. When I played with these guys in the 2K Elite camp, I couldn't believe how good they were in regards to how I play the game. They are going to be very nice additions to a stacked club.

[knox33]

Hey Coach,

Me and my buddys are big time Morehead fans. We really appreciate what you have done for the program and we would like to continue to appreciate it! If you left we would all be REALLY disapointed. Course, when a group of ol country boys like us get "disapointed" there 's no telling just what we might do - if you catch my drift.

So I sure hope you decide to stay. I think it would be a very "healthy" decision for the program and also for YOU.

Wishing you the best as you continue your fine career at Morehead:

Billy Bob and friends at the cornerbar - where "your freinds" are always closer than you can imagine.

Hey "Friends,"

Just wanted you to know that I plan on coming back to Morehead. It was a tough decision, but thanks for the "encouragement." I know how you and the guys are always rooting for the Eagles and I appreciate it. I threw in some free tickets to our home opener and hope to see you guys there.

-Coach Bailey

[knox33]

PS coach bailey don't forget to check my legacey out(Coach Sanders) wisconsin my stats will be up tommorrow.I just learned about this site so i couldn't put my early years up,but my wisconsin years will be posted.

Appreciate the comments and will be following your thread as well.

[LiAu41]

Good choice to stay at Morehead! You guys are going all the way this year, I can feel it.

[GeorgiaTechFan4Life]

All of those power conference teams that offered their head coaching spots weren't all that great, so you made the right decision to stay. If I were you I wouldn't leave Morhead State until some huge schools like Duke and UNC and all of those power schools in Power Conferences.

[vols21]

staying put gives you a golden opportunity to bring home the national title next year (or at least be in contention again). jumping ship would have meant a few years of rebuilding as you've already done there. Staying will also help you improve as a coach a bit more, and be even more prepared when the next, even better, offer comes along. We're expecting great things from Morehead State again this year!!

[chestnutz6]

hey great job. I've only read the first page and was lookin at the recruits list, and nothin against you but theres no way a lithuanian guy would be named tamal collins. I'm lithuanian myself and you'd be able to tell if the guy was lithuanian or not just by his name.

[skarface2k1]

congrads on staying at your program.The team will play hard every game for you now.Knowing what you gave up for them.When i read the new brief today i was shocked i thought for sure you were out.Texas tech seem like they were comming after you very hard.
Hey,something i found out in my early years.If you play tough teams during the year when the ncaa comes around your team is better .I play all ranked teams in the non-conf games.

[vols21]

I think your "friends" have a chapter in Nebraska. They let a certain coach know that his family might be better off if he stayed put instead of running off to Arkansas. and sure enough, he decided he might be better off spending a few more years there. :-)

[bonbon3131012]

Hey I just joined these forums to tell you about how impressed and appreciative I am with this detailed Legacy. I love how realistic the results are. keep up the good work :)

[dj_morton]

Stay at Morehead St!

[knox33]

Recruiting News

Coach Bailey and his new assistants were spotted at the 2K Sports Elite Camp this summer scoping out the most sought after recruits in the nation. According to Lawrence Thouin of 2kprep.com, Bailey has his eye on the nation's #1 big man in Damir Domercant. Domercant is a preseason All-American and is high on many team's lists such as Kentucky, Louisville and Duke. Petie Starkey is another preseason All-American and is the nation's #1 shooting guard. Bailey has narrowed his list down to the best of the best and is looking to pull out at least a couple of top recruits out of this year's class with his 4 scholarships.

1. Damir Domercant 6'11 232 (Nashville, TN- #6 overall, #1 C) 5* All-American, Mr. Basketball- He is one of the best players in America. A true big man that can run the floor, shoot the jumper, and is a great athlete with no weaknesses. He is is a definite lottery pick in the NBA.
2. Petie Starkey 6'3 174 (Nashville, TN- #16 overall, #1 SG) 5* All-American- He can shoot the lights out on any given night. He really impressed us at the 2K Elite Camp with his quickness and jumper. He is a combo guard that can put up big numbers on offense or find the open man.
3. Stetson Meyer 6'4 173 (Melbourne- #23 overall, #3 SG) 5*- He is a personal friend of Vitor Hipsher and is an excellent athlete that can shoot the lights out.
4. Terrance Cornette 6'11 249 (Melbourne- #27 overall, #15 SF) 5*- He is a personal friend of Vitor Hipsher. He is a little slow for a SF, but is a great overall athlete.
5. Brennan Byrd 6'4 165 (Akron, OH- #40 overall, #8 SG) 5* Mr. Basketball- He is a shooter and is very quick for his position.
6. Sherman Moore 6'3 176 (Rock Hill, SC- #50 overall, #10 SG) 5* Mr. Basketball- He is a shooter that can handle the ball well.
7. Marques Miller 6'7 223 (Bahamas- #55 overall, #8 PF) 5*- He is an undersized PF that is a rebounding machine. His athleticism makes up for his height.
8. Berry Ruffin 6'7 198 (Memphis, TN- #77 overall, #13 PF) 4*- He is an underrated PF. He really impressed us at the 2K Elite Camp and can knock down the jumper in the paint.

Thouin stated, "In my opinion, Damir Domercant is Kentucky bound. They have been on the top of his list since his junior year. Petie is Louisville bound and Morehead is near the top of his list, but I don't see them stealing him away. These two Nashville teammates would like to continue to play together, but they may be playing against each other next year. I see the Melbourne boys heading to Morehead. Vitor Hipsher is already feeding Bailey some top recruits. Bailey was really impressed with Berry Ruffin and I think he takes him as well because Morehead is at the top of his list. Also, world recruit Marques Miller has the Eagles at the top of his list so I see him heading to Morehead as well.
--------------------------------------------------------
Fresh Faces

After losing their most celebrated player in the history of the University, Morehead State and Coach Bailey did a fine job of reloading for this season. Coach Bailey explained, "We are really going to miss Vitor Hipsher. He was a great player for us and he continues to impress people at the next level as he's playing for his hometown team the Melbourne Tigers in the NBL. But I think we softened the blow by signing Donald See, Matt Toussaint and Florentino Hale."

Donald See of Chicago, IL (#32 overall, #5 C) is a 5* prospect that just missed out on All-American honors. He is definitely one of the best big men in this year's freshman class and is going to be looked on to contribute early. He is a former teammate of current Eagle Deke Jolly. As a senior in high school, Jolly helped mentor Donald and that greatly affected his decision to sign with Morehead State. He fits in perfectly with the Eagles style of play. He is definitely unselfish and may land himself in the starting lineup early. He can do it all and has very big shoes to fill, but he is confident that he will live up to his expectations.

Matt Toussaint hails from High Point, NC (#38 overall, #16 SF). He is a 5* prospect that is an athletic freak. Coach Bailey and Matt talked about redshirting this year, but Bailey believed that he is just too good to redshirt and expects him to contribute immediately. He is a player that is fast enough to play SG, but big enough to bang down low. He will be battling junior Clint Herber and senior Clifford Assel for playing time at the SF position, but with his versatility he can find minutes at different positions.

Florentino Hale of Atlanta, GA (#53 overall, #9 SG) is a 4* prospect that has a 5* game. This kid can flat out bring it from behind the arc. He is known as a streaky shooter, but when he is hot he cannot miss. He looks like Maze Stallworth reincarnated. He is a true shooting guard that can handle the ball if needed, but is more of a shooter than slasher. He will likely back up senior Ralph St. Fort, but will battle sophomore Bud Stehly for time as the backup. He will not redshirt this season and is expected to contribute this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Press Conference

After the Eagles tough championship run last season, many analysts were saying that the Eagles did not play enough good competition in their non-conference and especially their conference schedule. The Eagles were beaten by Hawaii in the BP Top of the World Classic and were dominated by Alabama. Other than those two losses, Morehead State did not play very tough competition. With the new addition of Jarrid Boyce and Rashaun Dalgarn, Coach Bailey and his athletic director Brian Hutchinson have scheduled the Eagles toughest non-conference schedule in the history of their program. Coach Bailey said, "We have a lot of senior leadership this season and some great young talent this year so we want to make sure that we are battle tested early on. This is definitely going to help us during our conference play and also will help our young players get some experience against some of the best players in the nation.

The Eagles may take some bumps this season as they have scheduled four major away games. The Eagles will play at preseason ranked #2 Kentucky, #13 Louisville, #16 LSU and mid-major powerhouse Gonzaga. The coaching staff has also scheduled Memphis and #8 Michigan State at home this year.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid-Night Madness

"This is probably the best overall team I have ever coached. You saw how athletic we are this year and we are going to be a tough match-up for anybody this year," explained Coach Bailey. The story of the night were the seniors. Deke Jolly was every so steady with 8 points and 8 rebounds while Ralph St. Fort 15 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Alex Emerson led all players in assists with 9 and Clifford Assel tallied 7 points and 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Junior Clint Herber proved himself to be a leader on this team as he poured in 19 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. New-comers Don See (12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks), Matt Toussaint (7 points, 3 assists) and Florentino Hale (12 points, 2 steals) all proved they could be contributors this season. Big man Juan Webb (7'5 263) is an absolute wall in the paint as he swatted 6 shots tonight and Hakeem Blizzard has improved significantly with 11 points, 8 assists and 7 steals. This is a stacked team that can score at all 5 positions and have very capable players that can come off the bench and play valuable minutes.

[knox33]

Good choice to stay at Morehead! You guys are going all the way this year, I can feel it.

I hope so.

[knox33]

All of those power conference teams that offered their head coaching spots weren't all that great, so you made the right decision to stay. If I were you I wouldn't leave Morhead State until some huge schools like Duke and UNC and all of those power schools in Power Conferences.

I think I'm in good standing with the remaining players and my new incoming freshmen to be a threat to win it all.

[knox33]

staying put gives you a golden opportunity to bring home the national title next year (or at least be in contention again). jumping ship would have meant a few years of rebuilding as you've already done there. Staying will also help you improve as a coach a bit more, and be even more prepared when the next, even better, offer comes along. We're expecting great things from Morehead State again this year!!

I expecting a lot out of them too. I'm not really opposed to rebuilding a program because I like the challenge. There are only a couple of teams that I would like to rebuild for my own personal reasons, but I'm taking it just one season at a time with Morehead State. Who knows what other offers will come my way next season.

[knox33]

hey great job. I've only read the first page and was lookin at the recruits list, and nothin against you but theres no way a lithuanian guy would be named tamal collins. I'm lithuanian myself and you'd be able to tell if the guy was lithuanian or not just by his name.


Thanks for following. As you know I don't control the names that are being generated, but there is always discrepancies like that. That's funny that you spotted that because when I saw it (as I do in every season), I just say to myself that those guys are actually Americans that are missionaries to that country or something to that extent. There are guys with hispanic names from european countries and so on and so forth so I just laugh at it and keep going.

[knox33]

congrads on staying at your program.The team will play hard every game for you now.Knowing what you gave up for them.When i read the new brief today i was shocked i thought for sure you were out.Texas tech seem like they were comming after you very hard.
Hey,something i found out in my early years.If you play tough teams during the year when the ncaa comes around your team is better .I play all ranked teams in the non-conf games.


Thanks for the comments. I did up the ante for my boys in the schedule. Usually I just let the AD (computer generator) pick my schedule and go from there, but I wanted more challenges in my non-conference schedule since I usually breeze through the OVC. Hopefully, the non-conference schedule will prepare my boys for later on in the year.

[knox33]

I think your "friends" have a chapter in Nebraska. They let a certain coach know that his family might be better off if he stayed put instead of running off to Arkansas. and sure enough, he decided he might be better off spending a few more years there. :-)

That's what I thought too. Can't believe that he actually held the press conference and said all that was said then left. I think he got more than just a "friendly" letter.

[knox33]

Hey I just joined these forums to tell you about how impressed and appreciative I am with this detailed Legacy. I love how realistic the results are. keep up the good work :)

I appreciate the kind comments.

[knox33]

Stay at Morehead St!

Already a done deal. Coach B signed the contract and will be there atleast one more year at Morehead.

[vols21]

questions for you now that you've built Morehead State up:

when the Asst coaches hiring menu comes up at the end of the season, do you get better quality coaches to hire?? (I had C+ coaches only at WIU, but instantly got B coaches at TCU)

have you noticed if you get additional recruiting points to use year over year?
(do they increase as the team's caliber and reputation does?)

have you had any luck signing a big school to play at your gym?
(for instance I can get Florida State now, but not Duke)

[knox33]

Eagles Look Impressive with Win

11/7 vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga

Final: 95-71

All-American high-school seniors Damir Domercant and Petie Starkey were on an official visit to the Morehead State campus for tonight's game against Tennessee-Chattanooga. They came away impressed as the Eagles dominated the Mocs from start to finish with a fast pace offense and solid half-court defense. "We were able to cause some turnovers in the paint and were able to convert in transition. That's were we thrive," explained Coach Bailey. Clint Herber looked like a man on fire tonight as he poured in 25 points and 8 rebounds. True freshman Donald See had a good game with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks while Ralph St. Fort added 13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Senior Deke Jolly (11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists) and true freshman Matt Toussaint (10 points, 4 rebounds) both looked solid in their performances tonight.

Morehead State begins their season 1-0.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Morehead Mauls Memphis

11/9 vs. Memphis

Final: 85-69

Memphis is a usual powerhouse, but got dominated tonight in all facets of the game. "We were able to move the ball around and get all of our players involved in the game. We were able to give them a couple of different looks and we were able to confuse them tonight," commented Coach Bailey. Clint Herber gave another solid performance tonight with 15 points and 3 rebounds while freshman Donald See gave his most impressive performance tonight with his first career double-double as an Eagle with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Hakeem Blizzard tallied 11 points, 5 assists and 2 rebounds in tonight's win.

Morehead State is now 2-0.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Eagles Fall to #2 Kentucky

11/12 @ #2 Kentucky

Final: 82-87

The game was close throughout and it looked as if the Eagles were going to pull the upset by beating the Wildcats on the home floor for the 2nd time in 3 years. "We kept it close down to the wire, but we couldn't get the production out of our best player (Clint Herber). We were able to get some of our other guys involved, but we really needed a go to guy. Hakeem stepped up in the end, but it wasn't enough when they started nailing their free throws down the stretch," explained Coach Bailey. Hakeem Blizzard started getting hot near the end of the game and he ended up with 15 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. Donald See (10 points, 7 rebounds) and Clint Herber (10 points, 2 rebounds) both played solid tonight, but it just was not enough against the #2 ranked team in the nation in the Kentucky Wildcats.

Morehead State falls to 2-1.
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Eagles Lose Big in Back-to-Back Loss

11/15 @ #13 Louisville

Final: 68-92

"Louisville's got our number. We just couldn't get anything going tonight and they hit everything they threw up. They are a better team than we are and it showed tonight. When you get out-rebounded 47-26 and your team shoots 28-86 (33%), you are expected to get blown out," commented Coach Bailey. For the first time since the 2007-2008 season, the Eagles have lost back-to-back games. Junior Clint Herber tallied 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals as true freshman Florentino Hale heated up from beyond the arc for 15 points all on 3-pointers. Sophomore Juan Webb gave one of his best performances of his career with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Eagles will try to bounce back as they travel to Washington for the BP Top of the World Classic and will square off against Drake.

Morehead State falls to 2-2.