November 12, 1998
November 12, 1998
| In the 1998-99 season, the Appalachian
State men’s basketball team looks to show Davidson and the rest of the
conference who is the king of the mountain this season, along with doing
something they haven’t done since 1979: go to the NCAA tournament.
The Mountaineers (21-8, 13-2) fell one win short of putting on their dancing shoes last March, after a 62-66 defeat at the hands of Davidson. This season, the foe will still be Davidson, but another challenge will be felt by newcomer, College of Charleston. Appalachian is looking to repeat as North Division champions, and this year, to do it alone. Last season, Davidson tied the Mountaineers for the top spot. This year’s edition of the Mountaineers will be a little different with the loss of two starters and three other players. The top two scorers, Kareem Livingston (12.4 points per game) and Tige Darner (11.8 ppg) are gone. Also departed is Clint Crosston. Terrence Tyler and T.J. McFadden have withdrawn from Appalachian, as well. Who is back for ASU and another run at the Southern Conference Championship?The floor leader, Tyson Patterson, returns for his junior year after leading the Mountaineers in assists with 159. Patterson also averaged 10 points a contest last season. Patterson is the only Mountaineer in history to record over 100 assists in two seasons. Two senior starters are returning, including the highest scoring returnee, Marshall Phillips (11.3 ppg). Phillips was the team leader in rebounds with 7.4 each time out. “Marshall is driven to succeed. He has a tremendous heart and hates losing,” said Peterson. Canadian sensation Blair Adderley brings his 7.3 ppg back for another season. The fifth leading scorer was also the top shooter from the charity stripe last season. Adderley also added four assists per contest last season. The tallest player in Mountaineer history, 7’1” senior Josh Grover, is back to patrol the paint. Grover will get the call at center this season. Senior Ian Adams also returns for the Mountaineers. The injury bug has already bit Adams this season, as he has broken his wrist. He didn’t appear in the Mountaineers’ exhibition games. Matt McMahon (6’0”) will look to contribute more than his 5.3 ppg of last season. Junior Seneca Fritts and redshirt freshman Mike Coffey are back to add to an already deep bench for the Mountaineers. Appalachian’s defense was vastly improved last season, and Peterson expects the defense to be “pretty good” this year. The Mountaineers’ major problem was with Davidson.
ASU lost all three meetings against Davidson. One huge step Appalachian
will have to make this season, if they will be able to play past the Southern |
 Cedrick Holmes, a junior college transfer, leads this year’s newcomers. The 6’6”, 200-pound forward averaged 18.3 points and 10.7 boards last season at Okaloosa-Walton Junior College. His size and ability will help ASU in the rebounding department. Holmes will likely be a starter for the Mountaineers this season. Shawn Alexander was named North Carolina Co-Player of the Year last season for T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville. Alexander will probably see immediate action in the back court. Jonathan Butler comes to Appalachian from North Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem. Butler is a perfect fit to back up Patterson at point guard. Andrew Davis will add more depth to the Mountaineer front court. A couple of sophomores wrap up the new faces at Appalachian: Micah Hill and Roderick Stevenson will bring more depth to the Mountaineer bench. Appalachian’s non-conference schedule is going to be a challenge. ASU opens the season with a trip to Coach Peterson’s alma mater, North Carolina, on Friday. The Mountaineers will also visit Minnesota, East Carolina, and Georgia Tech. ASU will host two big non-conference matches against Georgia and Wisconsin-Green Bay. |