Haven’t checked in for a while, seeing as not much is happening, but there is a little bit of stuff to update you one…

Basketball: The Tribe is still actively recruiting. Ben O’Donnell, a point guard from the Tampa area, has cut his list down to W&M and East Tennesee State. From the article, it looks like we are the current favorite…

“They want a point guard,” O’Donnell said. “I liked the campus more (than ETU’s) and it’d be a really good situation (playing-wise) for me.”

Also, the Tribe is going after an Arkansas transfer, Sean McCurdy. In his sophomore year, McCurdy played in 30 of the Razorbacks games this season, and had some nice assist/turnover ratio. He is also talking to Richmond(who just had a player transfer), Wofford, and Colgate. Both would seem to be good gets, but we have to take into account the fact that McCurdy would have to sit out a year.

This also has implications on the Tribes roster situation for next season. If we were to get both, it would definitely be a sign someone is transferring, and it would probably be a guard. If we only end up with one, it could either be a transfer or more likely McFadden will not have a scholarship this season and will have to earn it back this year.

An update on some players that have signed, Marcus Kitts is looking better and better, an average of 15 ppg in a recent tournament, including scoring 17 points with 11 rebounds in a game against rival Apex in the championship game. For a peak of his game, here is a video hosted by trianglehoops.net. Here are a couple of his box scores, and a link to him on the All-Tournament team. Also, check out this video of Valeriu Lazarescu winning another dunk contest.

Football: Spring practice has started, and I’ve got a couple updates. First of all, Derek Cox will be keeping a blog, which can be found at that link all season. RJ Archer will get a shot at quarterback this spring, along with now #11 Jake Phillips and Mike Potts. I’d be much happier if Archer stayed at receiver, however, we still have one of our best pass-catchers in that scenario.

The running back situation is also up in the air, as DeBrian Holmes is missing the entire spring with an ankle injury which opens up an opportunity for Tony Viola and speedster Courtland Marriner. Josh Rutter is also being held out of Spring practice, and TJ O’Neill will move back to linebacker.

Very excited about the upcoming football season, and hopefully I will get the opportunity to do some player interviews this at the start of pre-season practice(August) just like last year.

Baseball: The final note of his post, Tribe Baseball has emerged as one of the CAA’s top teams. They are currently second in the CAA, a game behind Old Dominion, with a 8-4 CAA record and a 16-13 overall record, and has a double-header against Wagner Saturday plus the series’ third game on Sunday. Wagner is currently 4-11 and the Tribe should roll in this series.

The reason the Tribe has gotten off to such a hot start has to do with veteran hitting and suprising freshman starters. The Tribe’s top hitter has been Greg Sexton, who got a walk-off double vs. a strong VMI team Wednesday night and has an OPS of 1.174, with 6 homers and 34 RBI’s. Senior second baseman Brent McWhorter has also been great, winning a CAA POW award on top of a 1.074 OPS. JuCo transfer Tim Park has been a very good lead-off man, and while he is not the typical player for that spot, his OPS is 1.077 and he was key to the VMI comeback. Finally, Robbie Nickle has a 1.038 OPS and 5 homers.

I’ll try to post about baseball post-every series, as Tribe baseball this year is really exciting!

Go Tribe!

W&M vs. JMU

Men’s Basketball-2 W&M wins gives the Tribe 2 points.
Men’s Cross Country-The Tribe won the CAA Championship, giving them another point.
Football-JMU beat the Tribe in H’Burg, they get 2.
Baseball-W&M won 2/3 in Harrisonburg, giving the Tribe the full point. If they meet in the CAA Tournament the results can be adjusted.
Golf-TBD
Men’s Gymnastics-The Tribe won at Kaplan on 2/17, giving them the point.
Men’s Soccer-The 2 teams tied in Harrisonburg, so each team gets .5.
Men’s Swimming and Diving-JMU gets half a point for beating W&M earlier in the season, and this weekends CAA Tourney will determine the second. JMU finishes off the point in the tourney.
Men’s Tennis-W&M won the first meeting, getting half a point, but the CAA Tourney will determine the other.
Men’s Track and Field-TBD
Women’s Basketball-JMU gets 2 points
Women’s Cross Country-W&M won the CAA, giving them the point.
Field Hockey-JMU beat the Tribe and gets the point.
Women’s Golf-TBD
Women’s Gymnastics-W&M beat JMU in the first match-up, and has the initial half point. The Tribe went on to win the second match-up, completing the sweep.
Women’s Lax-TBD
Women’s Soccer-The Tribe beat JMU in Williamsburg, earning another point.
Women’s Swimming and Diving-W&M beat JMU in Williamsburg, but the CAA Tournament will determine the second half point. W&M wins the CAA and gets the second half.
Women’s Tennis-TBD
Women’s Track and Field-TBD
Women’s Volleyball-JMU won in Harrisonburg, but W&M pulled the upset at W&M, giving each team half of a point.

CURRENT STANDINGS–10-6.5, W&M

Remaining points-Women’s Track and Field(1), Women’s Tennis(1), Women’s Lax(1), Women’s Golf(1), Men’s Track and Field(1), Men’s Tennis(.5), Men’s Golf(1).

Scout.com is reporting that Mississippi guard, John Sexton, has verbally commited to W&M.

Article

Sexton, the Daily Journal’s 2006 Player of the Year and a preseason all-state selection, is being recruited by the College of Charleston, William and Mary, Air Force, Brown and Nicholls State.Ole Miss and Mississippi State have not shown an interest in his player, said Baldwin, who noted that Sexton has a 3.97 GPA and scored 29 on his ACT.

“It’s disappointing,” Baldwin said of Sexton’s snub in Mississippi. “I don’t have a clue.”

Sexton believes the main reason he hasn’t gotten a strong Division I-A look is because he didn’t play AAU during the summer.

“I played (high school) baseball in the spring, so I was way behind,” he said. “I wasn’t in shape and ready to play basketball.”

Sexton said he favors the College of Charleston, coached by former Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins, and William and Mary. Both have made offers. He hasn’t ruled out Air Force, but noted he wasn’t sure about the tough military lifestyle that goes with a career in a service academy.

More

John Sexton had 41 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds and 3 steals but West Union fell to Middleton (Tenn.) 80-77 in overtime. The Eagles are 18-8.

Sexton, a 6-2 guard with a grade point average near 4.0 and a 29 on the ACT, has College of Charleston and William and Mary atop a list that also includes the Air Force Academy and Brown. Against Middleton, Sexton showed his wide range of offensive skills, knocking down jump shots, driving the baseline for layups and making one clever pass after another.

Another article, regarding the commitment

I’ll still have more up later, but it’s shaping up to be another good recruiting class. It is uncertain if we are finished, depending on whether Matt McFadden gets a scholarship or not, but Dematha HS’ Jeff Peterson is a possibility if we aren’t done.

Wow.

The Tribe played a terrible game today, barely hanging within striking distance. With a minute left, GSU had a 7-point lead and W&M had the ball. Nathan Mann for 3. Good.

After a GSU foul shot, Nathan Mann for 3. Good.

25 seconds left on the clock, and the Tribe fouls with 14 seconds left. No good.

Adam Payton drives to the hole, lays it in, and gets fouled. Good. Tribe up by 1 with 4.7 seconds left.

Leonard Mendez takes it down court, loses control, shoots it up from 30 feet. Good.

While one of the most heart-breaking games I have ever seen, it was also the best game I have ever witnessed. GSU couldn’t miss from 3, going 11/19 with 3 from Mendez and 4 from Ryan McBride.

Adam Payton didn’t want it to be his last game, scoring 19 and going 8/12 from the floor, along with 6 rebounds. Laimis Kisielius added 13 points, Mann had 12, and Alex Smith had 10 more.

While they lose Payton, I think the Tribe will be improved next year. If Sumner can step in and be even comparable to Payton, W&M could compete for a top 5 seed.

Congrats AP!