Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Game #10 - East Tennessee State







After Christmas break, the Catamounts will remain on the road to tip-off Southern Conference basketball action in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Cats and Bucs will face off in Freedom Hall for the 80th overall basketball game between the two schools 





When: Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at 7 pm
Where:   Freedom Hall, Johnson City, TN 
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-announcers:   Gary Ayers, play by play - Daniel Hooper, color
TV/video:  ESPN+ 
-announcers:  Mike Gallagher & Bruce Tranbarger   
Official Athletic SiteETSUBucs
ETSU Fan Message BoardBuccaneer Nation

The Series: In a series that started in 1947, the Cats are 24-55 and have lost the last 11 straight games to the Bucs, last beating the Bucs in 2015 in Asheville. That win broke a 15 game losing streak against ETSU. 

Bucs' record last season (2019-20): 30-4 overall, 16-2  conf., 16-1 home, 11-3 away, 3-0 neutral
Bucs' record this season (2020-21): 4-4 overall, 3-1 home, 0-1 away, 1-2 neutral

Game Notes:    Western Carolina       -     ETSU   

Head CoachJason Shay
Jason Shay's Record at ETSU:    4-4  /  1st season

Key Returners: Vonnie Patterson
Key Losses: Patrick Good, Isaiah Tisdale, Jeromy Rodriguez, Lucas N'Guessan, Tray Boyd III, Joe Hugley
Key Newcomers: Ledarrius Brewer (SEMO), Ty Brewer (SELA), Silas Adheke (Northern Kentucky), David Sloan (Kansas State), Serrel Smith Jr.  (Maryland)

The ETSU men’s basketball team was picked to finish third in the SoCon preseason polls.  Brothers Ledarrius and Ty Brewer landed spots on the Preseason All-Conference Team despite not playing in a league game. 

The 2020-21 Buc roster has a much different look as ETSU lost all five starters and return only three players that saw minutes from last year’s championship squad – Vonnie Patterson, Charlie Weber, and Jordan Coffin.  Overall, the Bucs lost 95% of their scoring, 89% of their rebounding and 90% of their minutes from last season’s team who became the fourth squad in SoCon history to win 30 games in a season.  

Where did they go?  ETSU graduated five of their top eight leading scorers in Tray Boyd III (13.6 ppg), Isaiah Tisdale (9.2), Jeromy Rodriguez (9.1) and Lucas N’Guessan (8.9). Guard Bo Hodges (12.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.5 apg) transferred to Butler and guard Daivien Williamson (10.4 ppg, 2.6 apg) transferred to Wake Forest with Coach Forbes and his staff.  Patrick Good decided to opt-out in late September. 

Jason Shay moved from assistant to head coach after Steve Forbes was named head coach at Wake Forest.  Despite all the changes, the cupboard is not bare for Coach Shay. He brought in four NCAA Division I transfers, Silas Adheke (Northern Kentucky), Ledarrius Brewer (Southeast Missouri State), Ty Brewer (Southeastern Louisiana), and Serrel Smith (Maryland) have combined to play in 230 games (109 starts), totaling 1,687 points, 817 rebounds, 168 assists, 143 steals and 75 blocks.  Ledarrius, sat out the 2019-20 season, while Ty transferred this past April after playing his first two years at Southeastern Louisiana. The Brewer duo combined for 1,542 points, 637 rebounds, 138 assists, 131 steals, and 65 blocks in 131 games at the Division I level.    

While the Bucs got off to a shaky start, losing 3 of the first 4 games, they then put up wins in the next three starts but fell to Alabama on Tuesday night. The Cats have not won in Johnson City since February 24, 1996.  

WCU Probable Starters:




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