KANSAS CITY - The Freed-Hardeman Lion basketball team appeared in the NAIA's preseason top 25 for the first time since 2002, coming in at No. 18 in the poll released on Monday, Oct. 26.
In 2002, the Lions came in at preseason No. 16. That season was the last time that FHU appeared in the top 25 until 2009, when the Lions climbed as high as No. 10 before finishing No. 15 in the final poll.
Freed-Hardeman is coming off one of its best seasons in school history, finishing 2008-09 with a 24-10 overall record and 13-3 conference record. The Lions qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in 11 years, where they lost to eventual national champion Rocky Mountain (Mont.) College in overtime in the first round.
FHU opens up the 2009-10 season on Friday, Oct. 30, against Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) College at 8:00 PM in the Sports Center.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
TEAMWORK BEGINS & ENDS WITH COMMUNICATION
Effective teamwork begins and ends with communication. The word, or course, means to convey a message. In order to communicate with your teammates, coworkers, or family, you must ask yourself and one another two critical questions:
How do we talk to one another?
How do we listen?
My team has one rule regarding communication: when you talk to one another, you look each other in the eye.
In our team’s prepation, there are three systems that I and my coaching staff try to instill. Of course, there is an offensive system and a defensive system consisting of basketball X’s and O’s, but there is also a communication system.
On our Duke Basketball teams, I never want to be the only communicator. In order for a message to get across, it must be echoed by every member of the group.
From “Beyond Basketball” by Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie Spatola
How do we talk to one another?
How do we listen?
My team has one rule regarding communication: when you talk to one another, you look each other in the eye.
In our team’s prepation, there are three systems that I and my coaching staff try to instill. Of course, there is an offensive system and a defensive system consisting of basketball X’s and O’s, but there is also a communication system.
On our Duke Basketball teams, I never want to be the only communicator. In order for a message to get across, it must be echoed by every member of the group.
From “Beyond Basketball” by Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie Spatola
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thought for the day 10/22
You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you're never as bad as they say when you lose. - Lou Holtz, Former College Football Coach
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Season Preview
HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman University Lions enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history in 2008-09. With two starters and a solid nucleus back on the floor for the upcoming season, Coach Jason Shelton and the Lions will look to make 2009-10 even better.
The Lions posted an overall record of 24-10 last season and a conference record of 13-3, the best in program history. They also advanced to the conference tournament finals for the first time in program history and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 1997.
The season ended with a pair of heartbreaking losses, to Union (Tenn.) in the conference finals and a one-point overtime loss to eventual national champion Rocky Mountain (Mont.) College in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. Shelton hopes those games could provide this year's team with additional motivation to make a deeper run in the postseason.
The two returning starters are one of the most potent one-two punches in the conference. Senior Zack Frey (6-8; Nashville, Tenn.) averaged 16.2 points per game and shot 55 percent from the field on his way to being named a 2nd Team NAIA All-American. As Frey gives the Lions a dominant inside presence, junior guard Jesse Moulton (6-4; Pleasant View, Tenn.) provides balance on the perimeter with his long-range shooting ability. Moulton came into his own last year, averaging 11.7 points per game while connecting on 90 3-pointers at a 44.8 percent clip.
Though only two starters return, seniors Kirtiss Brown (6-0; Antioch, Tenn.) and Logan Greer (6-9; Greenbrier, Tenn.) and junior Brian Pearson (6-3; Amory, Miss.) all averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season. Brown is a slasher with an amazing vertical that often produces crowd-pleasing dunks while Greer and Pearson both are threats to knock down shots from behind the arc.
The point guard spot will likely be shared by senior Cedric Austin (6-0; Harvest, Ala.) and sophomore Anthony Sampson (5-3; Jackson, Tenn.). Austin started 26 games there as a sophomore, averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. Both Austin and Sampson are very tough on-ball defenders, and Sampson has the ability to create for his teammates with his floor vision.
Newcomers will also be expected to play key roles for the Lions in the upcoming season with junior college transfer Ken Bingham (6-4; Selmer, Tenn.) set to make perhaps the biggest impact. Bingham comes to FHU after spending two seasons at Three Rivers CC. He averaged 10.6 points per game as a starter for a team that went 57-13 in his two seasons. Bingham's ability to score in multiple ways will add an important dimension to the Lions' offense.
Seven freshmen join Bingham in FHU's recruiting class. Jonathan Milewski (6-0; Memphis, Tenn.) and Michael Young (6-1; Franklin, Tenn.) will both look for time in the Freed-Hardeman backcourt. Milewski played in high school for Memphis-area legendary coach Terry Tippett, averaging 16.7 points per game and shooting 43 percent from 3-point range as a senior. Young was a three-year starter at Franklin HS, averaging 14.0 points per game as a senior, and can play both guard positions. DeAngelo Williams (6-3; Columbia, Tenn.) and Jonathan Williams (6-4; Clarksville, Tenn.) could see action at both guard and forward positions.
In the frontcourt, James Haddix (6-9; Franklin, Tenn.) and Kyle Teichmann (6-6; Brentwood, Tenn.) will both be expected to provide key minutes. Teichmann averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds per game as a senior and finished his career as his school's second-leading all-time scorer. Daniel Gravatt (6-7; Memphis, Tenn.) is another newcomer who has a lot of potential to develop his game at the college level. Gravatt averaged 20.6 points per game as a senior while playing at Central Baptist School.
The Lions posted an overall record of 24-10 last season and a conference record of 13-3, the best in program history. They also advanced to the conference tournament finals for the first time in program history and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 1997.
The season ended with a pair of heartbreaking losses, to Union (Tenn.) in the conference finals and a one-point overtime loss to eventual national champion Rocky Mountain (Mont.) College in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament. Shelton hopes those games could provide this year's team with additional motivation to make a deeper run in the postseason.
The two returning starters are one of the most potent one-two punches in the conference. Senior Zack Frey (6-8; Nashville, Tenn.) averaged 16.2 points per game and shot 55 percent from the field on his way to being named a 2nd Team NAIA All-American. As Frey gives the Lions a dominant inside presence, junior guard Jesse Moulton (6-4; Pleasant View, Tenn.) provides balance on the perimeter with his long-range shooting ability. Moulton came into his own last year, averaging 11.7 points per game while connecting on 90 3-pointers at a 44.8 percent clip.
Though only two starters return, seniors Kirtiss Brown (6-0; Antioch, Tenn.) and Logan Greer (6-9; Greenbrier, Tenn.) and junior Brian Pearson (6-3; Amory, Miss.) all averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season. Brown is a slasher with an amazing vertical that often produces crowd-pleasing dunks while Greer and Pearson both are threats to knock down shots from behind the arc.
The point guard spot will likely be shared by senior Cedric Austin (6-0; Harvest, Ala.) and sophomore Anthony Sampson (5-3; Jackson, Tenn.). Austin started 26 games there as a sophomore, averaging 7.3 points and 2.9 assists per game. Both Austin and Sampson are very tough on-ball defenders, and Sampson has the ability to create for his teammates with his floor vision.
Newcomers will also be expected to play key roles for the Lions in the upcoming season with junior college transfer Ken Bingham (6-4; Selmer, Tenn.) set to make perhaps the biggest impact. Bingham comes to FHU after spending two seasons at Three Rivers CC. He averaged 10.6 points per game as a starter for a team that went 57-13 in his two seasons. Bingham's ability to score in multiple ways will add an important dimension to the Lions' offense.
Seven freshmen join Bingham in FHU's recruiting class. Jonathan Milewski (6-0; Memphis, Tenn.) and Michael Young (6-1; Franklin, Tenn.) will both look for time in the Freed-Hardeman backcourt. Milewski played in high school for Memphis-area legendary coach Terry Tippett, averaging 16.7 points per game and shooting 43 percent from 3-point range as a senior. Young was a three-year starter at Franklin HS, averaging 14.0 points per game as a senior, and can play both guard positions. DeAngelo Williams (6-3; Columbia, Tenn.) and Jonathan Williams (6-4; Clarksville, Tenn.) could see action at both guard and forward positions.
In the frontcourt, James Haddix (6-9; Franklin, Tenn.) and Kyle Teichmann (6-6; Brentwood, Tenn.) will both be expected to provide key minutes. Teichmann averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds per game as a senior and finished his career as his school's second-leading all-time scorer. Daniel Gravatt (6-7; Memphis, Tenn.) is another newcomer who has a lot of potential to develop his game at the college level. Gravatt averaged 20.6 points per game as a senior while playing at Central Baptist School.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thought for the day 10/16
Opportunities often go unrecognized because they are disguised as hard work.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thought for the day 10/13
There is a choice you have to make in everything you do, and you must always keep in mind, the choice you make makes you. - John Wooden
Tomorrow (October 14th) is Coach Wooden's 99th birthday. There is a website set up for people to go and send him a birthday wish. I encourage everyone to go to it and send him a note. The website is www.happybirthdaycoachwooden.com.
Tomorrow (October 14th) is Coach Wooden's 99th birthday. There is a website set up for people to go and send him a birthday wish. I encourage everyone to go to it and send him a note. The website is www.happybirthdaycoachwooden.com.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Thought for the day 10/5
Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness that cannot wither. - 1 Corinthians 9:25
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