JACKSON - The Millsaps Majors Men's Basketball program fell one game short of a conference postseason birth a season ago and look to turn things around in 2011-2012. The Majors are led by Head Coach Tim Wise who enters his ninth season. The team will rely heavily on the poise and experience of a veteran backcourt, as well as development from a young frontcourt, this season.
The Majors lost valuable experience last spring with the graduation of the program's lone senior L.V. Sumler, who led the team in rebounding, steals and minutes played. Sumler was also third on the team in points and second in assists. Despite this loss the Majors return tremendous experience especially in the backcourt where one senior starter in Brian Merkel and are joined by three talented veteran juniors in Nick Cortese, Taylor Meades and Tim White.
The backcourt will be key to the Majors success this season as the team will lean on the leadership, experience and talent of these upperclassmen. Cortese finished last season as the Majors leading scorer with 12.1 points per game, while also being second on the team totaling 34 steals, playing in 24 of the Majors 25 games. Alongside Cortese in the backcourt will be Merkel, the only returning player to have started all 25 games for the Majors a season ago. Merkel led the team last season with 74 total assists, 2.9 per game, and finished fourth in points with 7.4 per game. Taylor Meades, who led the team in number of three point shots made (51) and second on the team in points (11.0 per game), looks to expand his offensive role this season and will be a deep threat throughout the season. Another junior looking to help fill the void left in the scoring and rebounding department is Tim White. White was second on the team in rebounding a season ago with 3.5 rebounds per game, 88 total, and third with seven blocks. Sophomore Tully Gilligan also returns from the bench at point guard as he checks in for Merkel.
The frontcourt for the Majors is led by much more youth and less experience that the backcourt as pair of sophomores return to the team in Kyle Kinnear and Jayson Montgomery. The Majors do have some returning experience with senior forward Jeff Brown coming off the bench. Kinnear finished second on the team with nine blocks in limited minutes as a freshman.
The Majors welcome in 10 freshman this season who look to come in and make an impact for the team this season.
Millsaps was picked to finish fifth in the Eastern Division as they make the move from the Western Division. Check scacsports.com to see the complete press release.
The Majors will open the season on November 15th in Pensacola, Fla. against Pensacola Christian.
