November 23 Emerald Coast Classic Notebook

Upcoming Schedule For Participating Teams

(All times listed are central)

Friday, Nov. 24
Tennessee Tech vs. Omaha, 11 a.m.
Maryland Eastern Shore vs. Jackson State, 1:30 p.m.
New Mexico vs. TCU, 6 p.m.
St. Bonaventure vs. Maryland, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25
Loser of Jackson St./Md. Eastern Shore vs. Loser of Tenn. Tech/Omaha, 10 a.m.
Winner of Jackson St./Md. Eastern Shore vs. Winner of Tenn. Tech/Omaha, 12:30 p..m.
Loser of N. Mexico/TCU vs. Loser of St. Bonaventure/Maryland, 3 p.m.
Winner of N. Mexico/TCU vs. Winner of St. Bonaventure/Maryland, 6 p.m.

FRESHMAN DAY-TO-DAY ON INJURY: Maryland freshman guard Darryl Morsell suffered a slight hamstring strain during the Terps’ 76-45 win against Jackson State Nov. 20 and is considered day-to-day, according to Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon.

Morsell got hurt about halfway through the first half. Morsell stole the ball from Jackson State senior guard Charles Taylor Jr. and started a fast break the other way. But Morsell had to pull up with his hamstring tugging at him, and then committed a foul that halted play. He tried to limp off the court but instead sat down next to the scorer’s table and waited for attention.

Morsell was helped to the end of the Terps’ bench, where he stayed for a few minutes before eventually limping to the locker room while favoring his right leg. Morsell came out of the locker room for the second half but stayed on the bench.

“I was worried; I was concerned because he’s a tough kid,” Turgeon said. “He’ll twist an ankle and just tighten the strings up and keep playing, so I was a little concerned. He told me at halftime he wanted to play. I don’t know if he could have, but he said he wanted to. Four days will help, but he’s pretty important to us. We’ve got to get him back.”

TCU FINALLY GETTING RESPECT IN BIG 12: TCU fans ought to remember the year 2017.

That’s when their basketball team was picked higher in a preseason poll than their football team.

The Big 12 Conference coaches predicted Jamie Dixon’s basketball team to finish third in the upcoming season. This summer, Gary Patterson’s football team was tabbed fifth by the writers.

Asked for his reaction at Big 12 Media Day, Dixon could only shake his head and smile.

“Gary was giving me a hard time at some points, but I think he’s getting the last laugh right now,” he said. “They’re fourth in the country. I would like to be the guy that goes from 6-7 to 7-0 that quickly.”

TIME FOR IDENTITY CHANGE?: While that much-hyped “run and stun” style of play — full-court pressure, lots of 3-pointers and wearing out opponents — the UNM Lobos basketball team vowed would be its identity under first-year head coach Paul Weir has looked rather pedestrian the past two games, it’s not going away.

Nor does the UNM coaching staff or players believe it should. It’s how they’ve recruited players — both for the current and future rosters — and it’s pretty much all they’ve practiced so far. It’s what they believe in.

It is, for better or worse, this team’s identity.

But is it physically sustainable? After all, to play that style every night, not just once in a while like the opponents face, Lobo practices often look more like a cross between football with all the physicality and track with all the running.

It can take its toll on the Lobos every bit as much as it is intended to take its toll on the opposition.

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