Murray State University Athletics
MSU Basketball To Play Exhibition Series In Toronto
7/6/2011 10:54:52 AM | Men's Basketball
New Murray State men's basketball coach Steve Prohm is taking the Racers to Toronto, Ontario (Aug. 4-9) for a set of three exhibition games, which mark his first as the Racers' head coach and the program's first foreign tour since 2005.
The first game for MSU is against Brock University (Aug. 5) at Bob Davie Gym in the Toronto suburb of St. Catherine. After an off day (Aug. 6), the Racers take on A-Game Hoops (Aug. 7), a senior select team in a game played in the city of Missisaauga at the Hershey Center. MSU's third exhibition contest (Aug. 8) is also at the Hershey Center against ABA Canada All-Stars, another senior select team.
“We're very excited about the trip and the chance to get an extra 10 days of practice,” Prohm said. “This trip will give our team the opportunity to grow and get to know one another.”
The Racers have an outstanding group of returners including, Ohio Valley Conference First Team selection Isaiah Canaan (Biloxi, Miss.). Canaan, a junior, was the 2010 OVC Freshman of the Year. Senior Ivan Aska (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) is also a former OVC Freshman of the Year in 2009. Other returners include, seniors Jewuan Long (Jackson, Tenn.) and Donte Poole (Las Vegas, Nev.) and juniors Ed Daniel (Birmingham, Ala.) and Brandon Garrett (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Not since the 2006-07 season have the Racers had such a large group of new players. Six new faces will wear the MSU uniform for the first time in the 2011-12 season. They include a pair of junior transfers in Latreze Mushatt (Saginaw, Mich.), who sat out last season with the Racers as a transfer from Missouri-Kansas City, and Stacy Wilson (Mullins, S.C.) from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. The others are freshmen including: Jaylen Bland (Reseda, Calif.), Zay Jackson (Hammond, La.), Harley Nussman (Pearland, Texas) and Tyler Rambo (Grandview, Mo.).
“Just getting everyone together so they can begin to gel as a team is important because it has been a long time since we've had this many new players,” Prohm said. “We've got to get acclimated to one another. The players need to get acclimated to their coaches.”
With a new coaching staff and a team with six newcomers, the Toronto trip comes at a good time for the Racers.
“Well that's two-fold,” Prohm said. “It's perfect in one sense that it gives us a chance to run practices in July and we'll have a good feel for what we have. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to evaluate our kids in a five-on-five setting until mid-September. On the flip side, it throws a lot more on our staff in the middle of the all important July recruiting period.”
The first practice for MSU is July 19. Per NCAA rules, the Racers can conduct 10 practices prior to their departure. The NCAA allows for a foreign trip for a school once every four years and student-athletes can participate only once in their collegiate careers. Games must be against teams outside the USA.
The games will be played using international rules which differ from the college game. International rules feature a larger lane and play is conducted in four 10-minute quarters and jump balls. The international game also uses a 24-second shot clock, different than the college 35-second clock. Players are also allowed to touch the ball on or above the rim cylinder.
The team will also get to do some sight-seeing on the trip north of the border including a day trip to Niagara Falls, N.Y.
The Toronto trip will be MSU's first since 2005 when they visited Ontario, Canada under head coach Mick Cronin.
