SIU tries to keep rolling against Austin Peay on Tuesday in Carbondale.
Meet the Governors:
Since SIU last saw Austin Peay in 2021, they've fired Nate James and hired Corey Gipson from Northwestern State. Gipson was an assistant at Missouri State and brought with him a few of their players to Northwestern State and he's re-routed them this year to Austin Peay. In his one season at Northwestern State, Gipson turned around a #330 KenPom ranked 9-23 team and turned them into a #215 ranked 22-11 team.
The Governors have also made the jump from the Ohio Valley Conference to the Atlantic Sun since SIU last saw them. Austin Peay was picked 8th of 12 in the preseason coaches poll and 11th in the preseason media poll.
Austin Peay has 5 wins on the season, 3 of them coming against non D-1 opponents and the other 2 coming against #173 Murray State and #269 Sacramento State.
The Governors are 352nd in the country out of 362 D1 teams in minutes continuity from last season (3.8%). Jalen Ware is the only player on the roster that returned from last season. Austin Peay is 347th in the country in average height (75.8").
Austin Peay plays a really slow tempo on both offense and defense. The Governors are 323rd in the country in average possession length on the offensive end (18.9 seconds) and 340th in the country in average possession length on the defensive end (18.5 seconds). They're 320th in the country in adjusted tempo (averaging 65.6 possessions per game).
It's been a struggle for the Governors on the offensive end, they're 319th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (96.2), 347th in the country in effective field goal % (42.8%), 349th in the country in 2 point % (41.8%), and 280th in the country in 3 point % (30.0%). The Governors are also 355th in the country in assists per field goals made (36.6%).
On the defensive end, Austin Peay is really good at creating turnovers. They're 46th in the country in steal % (12.2%) and 38th in the country in turnover % (21.4%). The Governors are good at guarding 3 point shooters, they're 69th in the country in 3 point % against (30.1%) but they struggle at guarding 2's as they're 323rd in the country in 2 point % against (55.9%).
The leader in points, assists, rebounds, and steals for the Governors is 6-3 Senior DeMarcus Sharp averaging 19 PPG/7.6 RPG/5.1 APG/2.7 SPG. Sharp is playing for his 5th different school starting at Mobery Area Community College before heading to Colby Community College, Missouri State, Northwestern State, and finally Austin Peay. Last season, Sharp averaged 19.5 PPG, 5 RPG, and 5 APG and was named the Southland Conference Player of the Year. This season, Sharp eats up most of the possessions and shots for Austin Peay. Sharp is 6th in the country in % of minutes played (95.0%), 2nd in the country in % of possessions gone through him while on the court (37.5%), and 6th in the country in % of shots while on the court (37.8%). Sharp is 15th in the country in assist rate (39.8%), 47th in the country in steal % (4.5%), and 312nd in the country in defensive rebounding % (19.2%). Sharp was named to the All-Atlantic Sun team in preseason.
Another player that followed Gipson to Northwestern State and Austin Peay is 6-4 Senior Ja'Monta Black. Black started 75 of 90 games at Missouri State and was 7th place all time in 3 pointers made for the Bears. Black was fourth in D1 last season at Northwestern State for 3 pointers made (122). This season, Black is 242nd in the country in 3 point % (23-55, 41.8%), 176th in the country in effective field goal % (59.9%), and 263rd in the country in true shooting % (60.6%).
One of the best stories in college basketball comes from 6-6 Sophomore Hansel Emmanuel who lost one of his arms when he was 6 years old. Despite this, Emmanuel was rated a 3 star recruit out of high school and originally committed to Memphis before joining Gipson at Northwestern State. This season, Emmanuel is the team leader in blocks per game with 1.1 and is 32nd in the country in block % (10.1%). He's also 499th in the country in defensive rebounding % (17.1%).
Other players of note on this Austin Peay team include 6-8 Senior Sai Whitt. Whitt was a D2 transfer from Lincoln University of Missouri and is currently 58th in the country in offensive rebounding % (14.1%). 5-10 Quinnipiac transfer Dezi Jones was one of the players SIU recruited in the portal this offseason and he's currently 128th in the country in steal % (3.8%). 6-6 Senior Daniel Loos is the grandson of former Austin Peay head coach Dave Loos and is a transfer from D2 Christian Brothers. Loos is 70th in the country in steal % (4.2%), 177th in the country in offensive rebounding % (11.1%), and 293rd in the country in 2 point % (11-18, 61.1%).
Links:
Austin Peay Game Notes
If we don’t beat them by at least 20 I will be disappointed. Watched them play The Racer Scum last night, they were awful, Murray was more awful though.
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James Madison
If we don’t beat them by at least 20 I will be disappointed. Watched them play The Racer Scum last night, they were awful, Murray was more awful though.
Still amazed that they took down Bradley. I know Bradley has fallen off a cliff, but at that poin they were 6-0 and thought to be the class of the Valley with multiple good wins on the year. It was Murray's only win in their last 6 games.
I am also hoping for a double digit victory, one in which Miller starts playing better and shouldering the load off XJ. I still have hope as I've seen his potential. Anyway, it's been too long since we've last played, let's go !!!!
Clarksville, Tennessee is home to Austin Peay State University. They just experienced a horrific tornado yesterday, causing substantial damage with fatalities. I am not certain if the university sustained any damage. Positive thoughts are with those in Tennessee on this Sunday. Most certainly puts sports in perspective.
This should be a Rupert/Ebube game with the lack of size from Austin Peay. Will be interesting to see if Sharp plays or they're loading him up for a redshirt season.
I know redshirts most of the time are up to the player but in Sharp's place I would seriously think about it because he is behind in conditioning and probably needs to get stronger and hopefully Ferguson can come back this week witch would also help the depth
Ferguson coming back doesn’t help our serious lack of point guard depth. I believe Sharp plays as soon as physically able.
I wish we would copy Peay's court design at mid court.
They have the Governor logo inside the outline of Tennessee and it looks awesome.
I wish we would copy Peay's court design at mid court.
They have the Governor logo inside the outline of Tennessee and it looks awesome.
I don't think the outline of Tennessee would be appropriate for the Banterra Center. 😎
“True terror is waking up one morning and discovering your high school class is running the country.” —Kurt Vonnegut
I think the Saluki dog logo is perfect as it is. SOOO much better than the previous one.
Agree: the current logo is great.
If you wanted a "badass" fighting dog as your mascot, you should have gone to different school!
(Inflammatory political snark)
SIU is favored by 12 tomorrow, over/under is 128.5
Really hoping this gay against a (presumably) lesser opponent will help Miller and Ebube find some footing and build confidence.
(Inflammatory political snark)
