Belmont, Vanderbilt, Lipscomb Players Named To Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Watch List

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Nick Muszynski and Liam Robbins. Photos: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics and Minnesota Athletics.

College basketball players from Nashville schools continue to get national recognition as Belmont’s Nick Muszynski and Vanderbilt’s Liam Robbins have both been named to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year watch list. Lipscomb’s Ahsan Asadullah was also one of the 20 players to be named to the list.

Muszynksi has been one of the Bruins best players over the past three years, helping lead the program to an NCAA Tournament win in 2019 and a conference tournament win in 2020. He became the first Belmont player of the program’s NCAA Division I era to earn first team all-conference honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Muszynski averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game on 59 percent shooting as a junior. The 6-11 center has 77 career double figure scoring games and is on pace to challenge Evan Bradds’ NCAA Division I era career scoring record (1,921 points). Muszynski was the second-fastest to 1,000 career points in Belmont’s NCAA Division I era and ranks as the program’s career blocked shot leader.

A 7-foot center, Robbins graduated from the University of Minnesota in business and marketing education this summer, and joins the Commodores after a breakout year with the Gophers and two seasons at Drake University. Robbins led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in the nation in blocks last season. He averaged 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks while shooting 44% and starting all 23 games he played. He also ranked 11th in the conference in rebounding and seventh in offensive rebounding. In two seasons at Drake, Robbins played in 64 games. He started all 34 games as a sophomore in 2019-20 and led the Bulldogs with 14.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. He set a school record with 99 blocks— the third most in Missouri Valley Conference history.

Asadullah was Lipscomb’s lead scorer, rebounder, assister and blocker averaging 14.1 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.4 apg and 16 blocks. He led the ASUN in total field goals made (165) and defensive rebounds (157). Asadullah is a two-time All-ASUN First Team and will be the key for the Bisons success this season.

In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award will be narrowed to 10 and then in late February to just five. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Mr. Abdul-Jabbar and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee where a winner will be selected.

SEC Fines University Of Tennessee After Fan Interruption During Ole Miss Game

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The Southeastern Conference has handed the University of Tennessee a financial penalty and must meet requirements set forth by the Commissioner following the interruption of its Oct. 16 football game with Ole Miss due to fans throwing debris on to the field. The Volunteers lost to the Rebels 35-28 in front of a sold out crowd at Neyland Stadium of about 100,000 fans.

The final minute of the Ole Miss-Tennessee football game was interrupted and delayed when some fans threw objects onto the playing field, interrupting the competitive opportunity for both teams, endangering contest participants, and prompting relocation of the University of Tennessee marching band and members of cheerleading squad, according to the statement from the SEC.

“The disruption of Saturday night’s game is unacceptable and cannot be repeated on any SEC campus,” says SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “Today’s actions are consistent with the oversight assigned by the membership to the SEC office, including the financial penalty and review of alcohol availability. We will use this opportunity to reemphasize to each SEC member the importance of providing a safe environment even with the intensity of competition that occurs every week. We will also reengage our membership in further review of the alcohol availability policy to consider additional measures for the sale and management of alcohol while providing the appropriate environment for collegiate competition.”

Under the sportsmanship, game management, and alcohol availability policies established by the Southeastern Conference, the University of Tennessee will:

  • Be assessed a financial penalty of $250,000, which will be deducted from the University’s share of SEC revenue distribution.
  • Be required to use all available resources, including security, stadium and television video, to identify individuals who threw objects on to the playing field or at the opposing team. All individuals identified as having been involved in disrupting the game shall be prohibited from attending Tennessee Athletics events for the remainder of the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.
  • Review and update its Athletics Department game management procedures and alcohol availability policies to prevent a recurrence of Saturday night’s disruption, which shall include an evaluation of agreed upon SEC Sportsmanship, Game Management and Alcohol policies to verify full compliance with existing standards.
  • Following completion of this review and prior to the University of Tennessee’s next home football game, the University shall provide a report to the Conference Office to summarize its efforts to identify and penalize offenders and its plan to enact policies to prevent future similar incidents while ensuring compliance with Conference standards.

Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White released a statement via Twitter regarding the SEC’s decision to fine and penalized the university. He emphasized the priority for the safety of the players and fans as well as apologized the Ole Miss football program.

The actions taken by the Conference are consistent with SEC Commissioner’s Regulations related to the availability of alcoholic beverages at athletics events which states, “If cans or plastic bottles are used as projectiles or otherwise cause game management issues, the institution is subject to an immediate fine and suspension of the alcohol sales privilege.”

The Conference is not suspending alcohol sales privileges for the University of Tennessee at this time but reserves the right to do so if other requirements outlined above are not met.

SEC Unveils Logo For Women’s Basketball Tournament To Be Hosted In Nashville

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The Southeastern Conference unveiled the logo for the 2022 Women’s Basketball Tournament which is set to be hosted at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena from March 2-6. This is the seventh trip to Nashville for the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, previously hosting the event in 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2018.

In celebration of the return of the tournament to Nashville, Adventure Science Center, AT&T Building, Bridgestone Arena and Nashville Grand Hyatt will light up in SEC blue and gold tonight. The Korean Veterans Bridge will be awash in SEC colors on Oct, 20 as reserved ticket books go on sale.

A reserved ticket book for the tournament is $130, containing seven tickets–one for each session–which allows one person to attend all 13 games. Tickets can be purchased at TicketMaster. Single session tickets will go on sale in February.

University Of Tennessee Vs. Ole Miss At Neyland Stadium Sells Out

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Neyland Stadium. Photo: Courtesy of the University of Tennessee Athletic Department.

The University of Tennessee Volunteers are set to take on No. 13 Ole Miss on Saturday (Oct. 16) in front of a sold out Neyland Stadium with over 100,000 fans. This game marks the program’s first sellout since its Georgia game in September of 2017.

Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White announced that Saturday’s contest will be a #CheckerNeyland game, showcasing Tennessee’s iconic checkerboard pattern through Neyland Stadium. The fan-driven initiative will be the fifth in program history and the first since 2017. Fans are encouraged to wear orange or white, depending on their seat location. To find out if your section is orange or white, click here.

The Saturday primetime showdown features the two fastest offenses in the Power Five. Ole Miss and Tennessee run 2.89 and 2.87 offensive plays per minute, respectively.

Head coach Josh Heupel‘s Volunteers (4-2, 2-1 SEC) are riding a two-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 107-44 during that stretch, including back-to-back 28-point first quarters for the first time in modern program history. Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1) enters the contest following a 52-51 shootout victory over then-No. 13 Arkansas last Saturday in Oxford.

The game will be aired on SEC Network and kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. CT. Gates to Neyland Stadium open at 5:30 p.m.

College Corner: OVC & Southland Conference, TSU Basketball, Lipscomb Hall Of Fame

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OVC And Southland Conference Announce Football Scheduling Alliance

The Ohio Valley Conference has made a football scheduling partnership with the Southland Conference. This alliance comes after Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky University, Austin Peay and Belmont announced its departure from the OVC.

This collaboration will see institutions from each conference fill non-conference dates in the next two years with a focus toward competitive balance and reasonable travel.  In addition to providing quality Division I FCS non-conference matchups, the alliance will allow increased visibility, exposure and branding for each Conference.

“Our Presidents, Chancellors and Athletic Directors have enthusiastically supported this alliance,” says OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “We are delighted to work together to promote one another and provide a quality student-athlete experience. This partnership strengthens not only both football leagues, but the FCS overall with quality non-conference matchups. Given the changing Division I landscape, this demonstrates ways that conferences can collaborate to support one another.”

“We greatly anticipate the possibilities of a beneficial partnership with the Ohio Valley Conference,” says Southland Commissioner Tom Burnett. “The Southland presidents and athletic directors have found this to be an exciting competitive opportunity with their OVC peers, and we all look forward to some outstanding and meaningful FCS crossover games during the next two seasons. We all appreciate the strong level of interest and cooperation between our two leagues.”

More specific details, including game matchups in 2022 and 2023, will be announced at a later date.

 

 

Tennessee State Drops 2021-22 Basketball Schedule

Tennessee State University (TSU) has dropped its schedule for the 2021-22 season, which will feature 13 home games and big ticket matches against Nebraska, Lipscomb and Georgia State. TSU opens its 41st basketball season against Alabama A&M in Huntsville on Nov. 9; followed by a neutral-site contest in Atlanta against MEAC Champion Norfolk State on Nov 13.

Fans will have an opportunity to see the Tigers at the Gentry Center play hometown rivals in the home-opener against NAIA member Fisk University in the Battle of Jefferson Street on Nov. 16. TSU is 20-3 all-time against Fisk and is riding a 12-game winning streak over the Bulldogs after a 99-65 victory on Nov. 18, 2019.

OVC kicks-off at the end of December versus Tennessee Tech on the 30th. The Gentry Center on Saturdays in January will welcome games against Southern Missouri (Jan. 8), defending OVC Champion Morehead State (Jan. 15), and Austin Peay (Jan. 22). The Tigers will flip-flop games in February with three of four games on Thursday evenings against Belmont (Feb. 3), Murray State (Feb. 10), and SIU-Edwardsville (Feb. 17). Senior day is slated for Saturday, Feb. 19 vs. Eastern Illinois.

 

 

Lipscomb Athletics Announces 2021 Hall Of Fame Class

Lipscomb University Athletics has announced the addition of four inductees into the department’s Hall of Fame.

The 2021 honorees are Ann Mullins (volleyball/2005-07), Alex Kelly Samuels (volleyball/2007-10), Jake Pease House (volleyball/2007-10) and Andy Lane (meritorious service/1984-2020).

Mullins, Samuels and House were all ASUN Volleyball Champions and have been inducted in the ASUN Hall of Fame for their success at Lipscomb and in the conference.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Saturday, Nov. 13 at noon in the George Shinn Event Center on the Lipscomb Campus. Tickets are $25 per person and tables of eight may be reserved for $200.

Rick Byrd Named 2022 John R. Wooden Award ‘Legends Of Coaching’ Recipient

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Rick Byrd. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Former Belmont men’s basketball head coach Rick Byrd has been named recipient of the 2022 John R. Wooden Award Legends of Coaching honor. The award will be presented along with the Wooden Award Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year in April 2022.

This marks the latest honor for Byrd, who has also been inducted in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, NAIA Hall of Fame, Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame, Atlantic Sun Conference Hall of Fame, and will be formally enshrined into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame this November in Kansas City.

“There is no coach in the history of the game of basketball that embodied excellence, integrity and humility like John Wooden,” says Byrd. “As a young man, I was certainly influenced by his remarkable coaching success, but even more so by his personal character and Christian commitment. The examples he set have stayed with me throughout my coaching career and personal life. I am overwhelmed and grateful to be named the recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award for 2022.”

Byrd, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction candidate, led Belmont to national prominence in both NCAA Division I and NAIA. He ranks 12th all-time among NCAA Division I head coaches and retired with 805 career victories.

The Knoxville, Tennessee, native led Belmont to eight NCAA Tournament appearances (2006-2008, 2011-2013, 2015, 2019) and 17 conference championships (10 regular season, seven tournament) in his final 14 years, sporting notable victories over the likes of North Carolina, UCLA, Marquette, Cincinnati, Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Stanford, Butler and Temple, among others.

First handed out in 1999, Wooden Award Legends of Coaching distinction is regarded as the highest honor in collegiate coaching. Former recipients comprise a veritable who’s who in the history of college basketball, including Mike Krzyzewski, Pat Summitt, Geno Auriemma and inaugural recipient Dean Smith.

Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment Partners With Austin Peay

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Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment is partnering with Austin Peay University Athletics to serve as the exclusive third-party ticket, premium and sponsorship sales agency for APSU-hosted varsity sporting events.

“Since the very early stages of SS&E’s formation, it has been our goal to pursue partnerships that will allow us to offer our services in such a way that organizations and events throughout Middle Tennessee are able to elevate their communities and promote economic development, just as the Predators, Bridgestone Arena and the Ford Ice Centers have done in Greater Nashville,” says Nashville Predators and SS&E President and CEO Sean Henry. “Through this exciting partnership with Austin Peay State University Athletics, we are thrilled to assist in furthering the growth of not only Austin Peay as a force in the collegiate athletics space, but also the growth of Clarksville, Tenn., as a vibrant city with a thriving economy.”

SS&E will manage sales endeavors for the APSU Governors’ football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball games, and other similar events. Additionally, SS&E will be responsible for premium sales and other guest experiences, including suites, patron enhancements, parking, hospitality areas, plaza activations and concession sales. SS&E will also be charged with the responsibility of providing marketing and promotional support for social media, website, email or other marketing advertisements and media placements.

“Forging this partnership with SS&E is an exciting and innovative step for Austin Peay and its athletics department,” says Austin Peay State University President Mike Licari. “As this relationship grows and evolves, I believe we will improve our market presence and penetration, and increase the visibility of the Austin Peay brand. SS&E continues to be a great team to work with and I am particularly proud of Gerald Harrison and his team for their leadership and vision. I am excited that Smashville supports Stacheville.”

SS&E recently executed a multi-year naming rights agreement on behalf of the Montgomery County Event Center in Clarksville, Tennessee, with F&M Bank. The venue, which is now known as F&M Bank Arena, will serve as the home of Austin Peay State University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. The venue is scheduled to open during the 2022-23 season under SS&E management.

NCAA To Brand Women’s Basketball Tournament As ‘March Madness’

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The NCAA has announced the The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship will now use March Madness marketing and branding beginning with the 2022 tournament.

This comes after a recommendation from a comprehensive external review of gender equity issues in connection with NCAA championships, including issues that arose during the 2021 Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

“Women’s basketball has grown tremendously over the past several years, and we remain focused on our priority of enhancing and growing the game,” says Lynn Holzman, vice president of women’s basketball. “The brand recognition that March Madness carries will broaden marketing opportunities as we continue that work to elevate the women’s basketball championship.”

Members of the Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee released the gender equity report on Aug. 3, expressing their desire for substantial changes. The committee unanimously supported women’s basketball adding the March Madness brand and sees this decision as one of the first steps to achieving greater equity between the women’s and men’s championships.

“This is just the start when it comes to improving gender equity in the way the two Division I basketball championships are conducted,” says Lisa Campos, chair of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee and director of athletics at the University of Texas at San Antonio. “Adding the March Madness trademark to the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship will enhance the development and public perception of the sport, and the oversight committee looks forward to its work to address other recommendations through the governance structure to continue those efforts.”

The 2022 NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Championship culminates with the Women’s Final Four from April 1-3 in Minneapolis. Details of how the March Madness brand will be incorporated into the Division I women’s basketball tournament are still being developed.