Despite playing its best basketball of the season the final three weeks and winning four of their last six Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference games, Millsaps College finished the 2008-09 season 9-16 overall and narrowly missed out on the conference tournament because of a tie-breaker with Austin College.
Two years removed from a 28-4 record and Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, Millsaps will have to rally around the leadership of its three upperclassmen to get back to the conference tournament after missing out for the first time in the tournament's seven-year existence. Fortunately for the Majors, this year's tournament will be held on their home court for the first time ever.
Millsaps has done a nice job protecting the basketball the past two seasons, leading the conference in turnover margin in 2007-08 (+6.94) and ranking second last year with a +2.56 margin. Three-point shooting has also been the Majors' strength, shooting at just under 36 percent the last three years and owning the third longest streak in Division III with a make in 456 straight games. Those trends will have to continue in order for the Majors to get back over the .500 mark this year.
Millsaps' roster is very young, but talented, with SCAC experience. The Majors welcome back six lettermen, which includes three starters from a year ago, and add 16 freshmen and a junior college transfer.
Last season, eight of Millsaps' 16 losses were by four points or less, including three by two points on the final possession of the game. This year's schedule won't be any easier, but will see nine of the Majors' 16 league games in The Hangar Dome where they've gone 22-6 the last two seasons.
\#Tim Wise\# holds a career mark of 83-77 (.519) in six seasons as head coach. His past successes include five trips to the SCAC Tournament and a trip to the NCAA Tournament (Elite Eight) in 2007-08. Wise also made the NCAA Tournament as an assistant coach during the 2000-01 season.
The Backcourt:
The loss of two-year starter \#Chad Songy\# and three-year starter \#Chris Sanders\# to graduation delivered a huge blow to the Majors' backcourt, where they'll be without a true point guard returning for the first time this decade. Songy was a 41 percent 3-point shooter for his career and third all-time in assists, whereas Sanders averaged a career-best 12.6 ppg and 7.0 rpg his senior campaign and finished fifth all-time in steals. Add the loss of 6-foot-6 senior F \#Russell Booth\# who appeared in 102 career games, and Millsaps has just three players left from its SCAC Championship team two years ago.
Senior guards \#Blake Martinez\# and \#Cameron Varnado\# and junior forward \#Chris Ingle\# are all that is left from the Majors' national championship run and will have to do a bulk of the scoring to keep the Majors in the top of the pack. The trio combined for almost half of the Majors' 67.3 ppg last year (8th in the SCAC), with all three averaging career numbers in both the scoring and rebounding column.
Martinez had a breakout junior campaign, earning the start in all 25 games and averaging a career-best 15.2 ppg (7th in the SCAC). With at least one 3-pointer in 44 of his last 48 games played, there's no secret where his game shines. Not only did Martinez tie a single season record with 82 made 3-pointers, but 137 of his 177 career field goals made have come from beyond the arc at 38.1 percent.
From an athleticism standpoint, Varnado is one of the most talented players on the Majors' roster. He came on as a scorer late in the year starting 16 games, and will use his intensity defensively in shutting down the opposing team's top perimeter player.
The addition of junior college transfer LeeVarn "LV" Sumler from Hinds CC will provide a good battle at the vacated point guard position, where sophomore \#Brian Merkel\# and other freshmen will be competing for a starting spot. Also returning from last year's team is sophomore guard \#Jeff Brown\# who played in 10 games off the bench.
The Frontcourt:
Millsaps will be more of a high-low type of team this year with the addition of some great size in the post, not a perimeter team like they've been in the past. Although undersized in the post, Ingle has found a way to score by using his quickness, averaging a career-high 9.4 ppg and shooting a team-high 51 percent from the floor a year ago.
With the loss of the Majors' top rebounder in Sanders, Ingle will have to contribute more on the boards where Millsaps was 11th in the league in 2008-09. The Majors, however, did add a pair of 6-foot-7 forwards and a talented 6-foot-8 post in \#Brandon Center\# who will all undoubtedly help on the boards and hopefully provide strong defense.
Sophomore \#Ben Cooper\# who stands at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds and played in 23 games provides a solid threat from beyond the arc despite his size, connecting on 9 of 21 (42.9 percent) from downtown. He can also provide scoring in the post if needed.
The Schedule:
Millsaps will play 14 of its scheduled 25 regular season games in the friendly confines of The Hangar Dome, including the season's first two games against Belhaven College on Nov. 17 and Pensacola Christian on Nov. 20. The Majors will then hit the road for their next six games across six states, highlighted by a matchup with Division I Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 28.
A holiday tournament scheduled for Jan. 2 and 3 in Jackson opens a 7-game homestand -- the longest since 1997-98 -- in which the Majors will play three non-conference and four conference games, including a showdown with No. 21 Centre College on Jan. 15.
A Texas road swing on Feb. 5 and 7 at Southwestern and Trinity University will provide a huge road test before the Majors return to Jackson Feb. 13 in playing three of their final four games at home.
Millsaps will also host the 2009-10 SCAC Tournament, which will be held Feb. 26-28.
Follow Millsaps men's basketball all season long with play-by-play announcer Derrel Palmer by going to the home page and clicking on "Web Casts." The live video broadcast is free of charge courtesy of Millsaps and ATW Sportscast.
