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The Appalachian’s 2013

APP STATE BASKETBALL PREVIEW INSIDE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAM

PREVIEWS AND MORE

HOW ARE THE

COACHES PREPARING FOR THIS SEASON?

ELITE PLAYERS WHO WILL LEAD APP STATE TO VICTORY?

How is this season shaping up for the

MOUNTAINEERS?

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Men’s Basketball Last Year’s Record: 15-16 (10-8 SoCon)

he Appalachian State men’s basketball team looks to continue improving their efforts in their final run in the Southern Conference. With a young but experienced core consisting of only two seniors and three eligible juniors and fourth-year head coach Jason Capel at the helm, the Mountaineers are a strong contender in the SoCon and a definite contender for the championship. A late surge last year will hopefully carry momentum over into the 201314 season and fans will get to see the team that took Davidson to the buzzer in the semi-finals of the SoCon tournament last year for 29 games. Cover photo of Tevin Baskin (right) courtesy of Maggie Hobson.

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Schedule: 11/8 at N.C. State 98-77 Loss 11/12 CAMPBELL 8:00 p.m. 11/16 at Cincinnati 2:00 p.m. 11/19 LEES-MCRAE 7:00 p.m. 11/22 at North Carolina Central 7:00 p.m. 11/29 at University of Georgia 5:00 p.m. 12/4 NORTH GREENVILLE 7:00 p.m. 12/8 CHARLOTTE 2:00 p.m. 12/15 at Winthrop University 2:00 p.m. 12/18 at Presbyterian University 7:00 p.m. 12/21 MILLIGAN 2:00 p.m. 12/30 BLUEFIELD COLLEGE 7:00 p.m. 2014 1/2 at Duquesne 7:00 p.m. * 1/6 at Elon 7:00 p.m. * 1/9 UNCG 7:00 p.m. * 1/11 at Davidson 7:00 p.m. * 1/16 CHATTANOOGA 7:00 p.m. * 1/18 GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2:00 p.m. * 1/23 at The Citadel 7:00 p.m. * 1/30 at UNCG 7:00 p.m. * 2/1 ELON 2:00 p.m. * 2/6 THE CITADEL 7:00 p.m. * 2/8 at Western Carolina 2:00 p.m. * 2/13 SAMFORD 7:00 p.m. * 2/15 WOFFORD 4:30 p.m. * 2/20 WESTERN CAROLINA 7:00 p.m. * 2/22 at Furman 2:00 p.m. * 2/27 at Samford 8:00 p.m. * 3/1 at Chattanooga 7:00 p.m. 3/7 - 3/10 SoCon Tournament at Asheville, N.C. TBA Bold Games Are Home Games * Conference Games

KEY PLAYERS: MEN’S

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

MIKE NEAL

MICHAEL OBACHA

TAB HAMILTON

“

We’re practicing a lot harder than we were last year. We’re going a lot harder and we prepare better before the games like, in the locker room we’re all sitting around talking about the game and we’re watching a lot more film and a lot of concentration. It’s all mental to help us prepare for the game.

Personal Info

Year: Junior Height: 6’2” Position: Guard

Last Season

PPG: 8.8 RPG: 3.2 APG: 3.6 FG%: .377

Everybody starts the season with the aspiration to win, and we are doing the same thing. We’re going to get out there and play to win. Sometimes the games aren’t going to go smoothly, but we just have to fight through and dig out some wins. We are really looking forward to opening day.

Personal Info

Last Season

Year: Sophomore PPG: 5.3 Height: 6’8” RPG: 4.6 Position: Forward APG: 0.4 FG%: .377

We came up short last year against Davidson, as you know, second round, our preparation is to come from where we started with Davidson and pick it up and keep rolling. We want to win the whole thing this year and just make memories – be the best we can be.

Personal Info

Year: Junior Height: 6’3” Position: Guard

Last Season

PPG: 9.2 RPG: 2.1 APG: 1.1 FG%: .409

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Women’s Basketball Last Year’s Record: 20 - 11 (13 - 7 SoCon)

espite losing five players to graduation, the women’s basketball team finds itself with an abundance of talent in their young players. Many new faces will take the court as fans watch the next generation of women’s basketball at Appalachian find their identity. The start may be rocky for the Mountaineers, however, watch for a possible moment for them to click together, find their stride and take the Southern Conference by surprise in their final season before entering the Sun Belt Conference. The era of rebuilding for App State is in full effect, but they should still be able to have a pretty successful year after they’ve worked out any kinks in their non-conference games.

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Schedule: 11/8 at Vanderbilt 96-53 Loss 11/12 ETSU 5:30 p.m. 11/15 LEES-MCRAE 6:00 p.m. 11/19 at Gardner-Webb 7:00 p.m. 11/26 WESTERN CAROLINA 6:00 p.m. * 12/4 at North Carolina A&T 6:00 p.m. Lady Griz Classic 12/6 Idaho at Missoula, Mont. 7:30 p.m. 12/7 UC-Irvine at Missoula, Mont. TBA 12/16 at Radford 7:00 p.m. 12/20 at Ohio State 7:00 p.m. 12/31 at UNC Wilmington 7:00 p.m. 2014 1/4 at Furman 1:00 p.m. * 1/6 Wofford 6:00 p.m. * 1/11 SAMFORD 2:00 p.m. * 1/13 CHATTANOOGA 6:00 p.m. * 1/17 at Elon 7:00 p.m. * 1/19 at UNCG 2:00 p.m. * 1/25 DAVIDSON 2:00 p.m. * 1/27 GEORGIA SOUTHERN 6:00 p.m. * 2/1 WOFFORD 4:30 p.m. * 2/3 FURMAN (Oasis) 6:00 p.m. * 2/8 at Chattanooga 2:00 p.m. * 2/10 at Samford 8:00 p.m. * 2/15 UNCG (Senior Day) 1:30 p.m. * 2/17 ELON (Play 4Kay) 6:00 p.m. * 2/22 at Georgia Southern 4:30 p.m. * 2/24 at Davidson 7:00 p.m. * 3/1 at Western Carolina 2:00 p.m. * 3/7 - 3/10 SoCon Tournament at Asheville, N.C. TBA Bolded Games Are Home Games * Conference Games

KEY PLAYERS: WOMEN’S

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

FARRAHN WOOD

MARYAH SYDNOR

BRIA HUFFMAN

“

Our big thing is we are the next generation. We are young and we have a ton of energy. It’s all about just starting fresh and being something different. We are young, and with all these new people, I think we’ll have some good chemistry.

Personal Info

Last Season

Year: Sophomore PPG: 2.1 Height: 5’8” RPG: 0.6 Position: Guard APG: 0.6 FG%: .275

I know it’s going to be new and everyone is going to underestimate us, think we’re the underdogs, which is even better. It’s exciting for us. We know what we have. We know we’re young, athletic and what we are working with. We are just ready to put it all together and get going.

Personal Info

Last Season

Year: Junior PPG: 14.8 Height: 6’1” RPG: 6.2 Position: Forward APG: 1.4 FG%: .499

I am looking forward to watching us grow and coming together as a team and clicking. We have tons of energy. Our goal for this season is to get better as a team. We don’t want to take any steps backward.

Personal Info

Last Season

Year: Sophomore PPG: 2.4 Height: 5’10” RPG: 0.8 Position: G/F APG: 0.5 FG%: .341

COACHES

“

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

JASON CAPEL

I’m excited about this season. As our last year in the Southern Conference, every game means so much, there are no divisions. I’m excited about this team. We are a close team, a talented team. I think we’re a good team.

DARCIE VINCENT

STATS -Sixth season at App State -Graduated from Duquesne University in 1992. -Four consecutive 20-plus-win seasons. -Two SoCon regular season titles. -Coached the Mountaineers to 104-59 regular season record overall and 68-32 in the SoCon. -Second App State coach to earn SoCon Coach of the Year honor, in both ‘09’-10’ and 10’-11’

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

“

Our kids just try hard. That’s the thing about young kids. Everything is brand new to them. Sometimes when you have something brand new, you might have a hesitant group, well we’re very fortunate in we have five young kids, five freshmen, coming in who welcome every new day. These kids handle their business so well.

STATS -Fourth season at App State -From Fayetteville, N.C. -Graduated from the University of North Carolina in 2002. -Overall, he’s led the Mountaineers to a 44-50 record and 27-27 in SoCon games. -Was youngest head coach in NCAA Division I when hired.