October 19, 2019,  Basketball  No comments

Herd Opens the Season against Glenville State

By Michael Morgan

The Thundering Herd begins the 2019-2020 season Oct. 29 at home against Glenville State in an exhibition game.

“We’re going to play hard. They’ll put on a show,” head coach Dan D’Antoni said about his team.

The Pioneers finished last season with a record of 11-17 (6-16 Mountain East Conference), and return their leading scorer, senior Phil Bledsoe, a former member of the Herd.

“I loved the opportunity I got while playing in Huntington, but I just felt a change of scenery would be best for me,” Bledsoe said. The senior averaged 19.9 points per game last season, and said he wants to lead them to a victory over Marshall in their exhibition game coming up.

Along with Bledsoe, Ot Elmore, an assistant coach for the pioneers, is also a former member of the Herd. Elmore returns in his second season on the staff and attempts to coach his team to victory against his Alma Mater.

Marshall finished last season 23-14 (11-7 Conference USA) overall, but lost two starters in Jon Elmore, the school’s all-time leading scorer, and C.J. Burks, the school’s fifth-leading scorer all-time.

The Herd defeated the Pioneers 113-108 in an exhibition game in the Cam Henderson Center last season, so this year’s matchup is expected to be close, Bledsoe said about facing his former team.

Marshall has two holes to fill in their starting lineup, losing Elmore and Burks, but Taevion Kinsey said he wants to try and make a difference in an increased role during the 2019-2020 season.

“I knew (Kinsey) was athletic, but I didn’t realize how smart he was. He surprised me with his fundamentals,” D’Antoni said.

When discussing the game against the Pioneers, Kinsey said, “I’ll just play the game that I know, use my minutes wisely when I get in the game, and use them to the fullest.”

Kinsey played in all 37 games last season, starting 13 of them and averaged 10.5 points and 4 rebounds per game.

Point guard Jarrod West, now a junior, is expected to improve on an inefficient 2018 season by coach D’Antoni.

“He plays like a senior. Whichever team he is on in practice usually wins. D’Antoni said. “Jarrod isn’t worried about anything last season, just focused on what’s ahead.”

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in the Cam Henderson Center. The Herd look to start the season with a win in what is essentially a foundation game, and to give fans an insight to what the 2019-2020 season has in store.