Gameday Central – Vanderbilt
DETROIT (12/1/2015) -- The University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team will look to steal the college basketball headlines as the Titans invade Nashville, Tennessee, to face No. 19/16 Vanderbilt on Wednesday, Dec. 2.
Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. (EST) at Memorial Gymnasium. Fans can follow all the action with a live video feed on the SEC Network Plus (available on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App with the appropriate subscription) or listen to the Voice of the Titans
Dan Leach on an online audio stream on 97.1 (available online or on your phone with the Tunein or Radio.com APP). Live stats will also be available.
The Titans are coming off a tough loss at Oral Roberts, where Detroit made a furious late rally in dropping the road contest, 100-95. Senior
Carlton Brundidge led four Detroit Cagers in double figures with a career-high 23 points as the shorthanded Titans nearly erased a 16-point second-half deficit.
This is the first career meeting between the two schools and one of the few road trips Detroit has in the next six weeks as the Titans play nine of their next 11 at home, with one of those road games just a short drive away at Eastern Michigan.
DETROIT VS. VANDERBILTThis is the first career meeting between Detroit and Vanderbilt.
The last time that the Titans made a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, was in 2009 when the red, white and blue traveled to Tennessee State for an ESPN BracketBusters contest.
ABOUT THE COMMODORESVanderbilt is nationally ranked at No. 16 by the AP and No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll as the Commodores are 5-1 on the year. Vandy won five in a row until finishing runner-up at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational with a 70-63 loss to No. 5/5 Kansas.
Wade Baldwin IV leads the team in scoring at 13.5 points per game, shooting over 50.0 percent from the field.
Damian Jones tops the team on the boards at 7.2 per game, while adding 12.3 ppg., and Luke Kornet is tallying 11.2 ppg., and 6.2 rpg.
Vanderbilt is averaging 83.0 points and letting up only 60.7.
Kevin Stallings is in his 17th year as head coach of the Commodores, where he has eight 20-win seasons and has guided the program to six NCAA Tournament appearances.
LOOKING AHEADDetroit will return home for a four-game homestand starting with Northeastern on Saturday, Dec. 5, with tip-off slated for 3:00 p.m. The Huskies - who won the CAA and made the NCAA Tournament last season - just defeated No. 15/19 Miami on the road.
WHERE WE STAND IN TENNESSEEThe Titans are 9-2 all-time against teams from the state of Tennessee.
WE LOVE THE 80'SDid you know that Detroit is a remarkable 49-5 overall when scoring 80 or more points under head coach
Ray McCallum.
The Titans are even better outside of the Horizon League where they have a 25-2 record when reaching 80 points.
Year-by-Year Mark When Reaching 802015-16 (2-1)
2014-15 (6-0)
2013-14 (3-2)
2012-13 (14-1)
2011-12 (9-0)
2010-11 (8-1)
2009-10 (7-0)
ALL-TIME VS. RANKED TEAMSDetroit is 20-128 all-time against ranked teams, including dropping its last 24 games against top-25 teams.
The last time Detroit defeated a ranked team was on Jan. 10, 2002, when the Titans earned a 63-54 triumph over No. 23/24 Butler in Calihan Hall.
UDM is also 4-73 all-time against ranked teams on the road with its last true road win coming back on Feb. 6, 1979, a 64-63 victory at No. 9 Marquette.
Detroit did have a neutral site win in this span over a top-25 team as the red, white and blue shocked No. 15/15 UCLA, 56-53, in the 1999 NCAA Tournament.
DON'T BLINKAs of Monday, Nov. 30, Detroit was tied for second in the nation (Louisiana Lafayette) in scoring averaging 96.0 points per game.
The two schools trail only The Citadel's 97.1.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARDThe Titans are coming off a 100-95 setback at Oral Roberts last Saturday.
It was the highest combined score in a Titan game since UDM lost to Stony Brook, 104-102, in triple overtime in 2013.
It was also the highest combined score in regulation since Detroit downed Duquesne, 108-97, in 1989.
OFFENSIVE ATTACKDetroit has scored at least 79 points in all four games, including 88 or more three times.
UDM has also made at least 30 field goals in three of its four games and has posted 39 baskets in each of the past two games.
Against UM-Dearborn, the Titans were 39-of-68 from the field (57.4%), including 15-of-27 (55.6%) from behind the arc and 29-of-39 (74.4%) at the free throw line. It was the highest field goal percentage since finishing at 68.2 percent in a victory at Youngstown State last season.
The 29 free throws were the most since going 37-of-43 at the charity stripe against Stony Brook in a triple overtime game in 2013
GAME OF 100'SThe Titans had one of their best scoring games in school history as they rolled past Michigan-Dearborn, 122-70, on Nov. 23.
It was the 91st career game in Titan history that Detroit crossed the 100-point plateau.
It was the highest scoring game since Detroit cruised past the City College of New York (CCNY), 135-77, in 1979, which is also the Titan school record for points.
The 122 points are tied for the seventh-highest scoring game in school history.
Detroit totaled 62 points in the first half, the most in a half since posting 65 in the second against Concordia in a 113-68 victory in 2011.
Top 9 Scoring Games In Titan HistoryDetroit 135, CCNY 77 - 1979
Detroit 133, Iowa Wesleyan 79 - 1977
Detroit 132, CCNY 91 - 1978
Detroit 124, Canisius 89 - 1978
Detroit 123, Xavier 110 - 1965
Detroit 123, Wayne State 77 - 1977
Detroit 122, UM-Dearborn - 2015
Detroit 122, Marshall 86 - 1977
Detroit 122, Buffalo 81 - 1978
BOMBS AWAYThe Titans were 15-of-27 from behind the arc against UM-Dearborn on Nov. 23, the second time this season that they have hit 10 or more treys.
Last season, UDM hit 10 or more 3-pointers just three times.
Detroit's 15 trifectas were the most since knocking down 15 against DePaul in 2007
PROTECT THE ROCKThe Titans committed 25 turnovers in the season opener, but still came away with a win.
Since that game, Detroit has turned it over a total of 24 times in the last three outings.
POST PLAYDetroit has outscored its counterpart in the paint, 175-114, this season, including 46-20 against UM-Dearborn and 55-20 at Oral Roberts.
DOUBLE-UP CHRISJunior
Chris Jenkins is coming off back-to-back great games that saw him set a career high in points, tie a career best in rebounding and tally a double-double.
At Oral Roberts his last time out, Jenkins had 16 points and a career-tying 13 rebounds for his second career double-double.
He started the week with a career-high 25 points to go with four rebounds and three assists against UM-Dearborn, his second career 20-point game.
For the week, he shot over 50.0 percent from the field (14-of-27), including a career-best 9-of-12 from the field and tying his career high with four 3-pointers against UM-Dearborn.
He is currently second on the team in scoring (14.3) and rebounding (6.5) and is shooting exactly 50.0 percent (19-of-38).
JA-LETHALSophomore
Jaleel Hogan recorded a career-high 16 points at Pittsburgh as he was a career-best 7-of-12 from the field with five rebounds.
He is also coming off a 15-point performance - in just 15 minutes of action due to foul trouble - at Oral Roberts, where he was 7-of-11 from the field.
He is currently fifth on the team with 4.5 rebounds per game and 12.0 points per game, all while shooting 57.6 percent (19-of-33).
PAINT MANWith his strength inside, sophomore
Jaleel Hogan is uncanny in the paint showcased by his career 60.9 percent (81-of-133) field-goal percentage.
Last season, he ended the year with a blistering 62.0 field goal percentage (62-of-100), which would rank third in school history for a single season, but was 25 shot attempts shy from qualifying for that mark.
GETTING HOT EARLYSenior
Anton Wilson recorded his third career 20-point game as he led Detroit with 20 markers at Pittsburgh on Nov. 20.
He scored all 20 of his points in the first 20 minutes of play, the first Titan to score 20 in the first half since Nick Minnerath had 21 against Valparaiso on Jan. 17, 2013.
It was also one point off his career high of 21 set against UM-Dearborn in 2013.
Wilson also tallied 13 points in the opener versus Central State and had 19 his last time out at Oral Roberts.
He currently leads the team in scoring at 15.0 points per game and is third in rebounding (6.0).
#1 SHOOTING 3'SSharpshooting senior
Anton Wilson continues to make his name show up in the Titan record books.
He shot 41.8 percent from behind the arc last season, a number that ranks sixth in school history as he was 56-of-134 from long distance.
With his four triples in the season opener, he passed Titan legend and 12-year NBA veteran Willie Green and is now eighth in school history with 130 career 3-pointers.
He is also sixth in school history with a 40.0 career three-point field goal percentage.
Titan Career 3-Point Field Goal Leaders1. Rashad Phillips, 1998-01 - 348
2. Desmond Ferguson, 1998-00 - 235
3. Dwayne Kelley, 1990-93 - 224
4. Jon Goode, 2005-08 - 202
5. Greg Grays, 2001-02 - 169
6. Michael Jackson, 1992-95 - 157
7.
Juwan Howard Jr., 2012-15 - 146
8.
Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - 130
Titan career 3-Point Field Goal Percentage Leaders1. Archie Tullos, 1985-88 - .433
2. Bill Wood, 1987-90 - .415
3. Tony Tolbert, 1993-94 - .409
Jon Goode, 2005-08 - .409
5. Derrick Hayes, 1997-98 - .405
6.
Anton Wilson, 2012-pre. - .400
MORE 3 NEWSSenior
Anton Wilson started the season with back-to-back games hitting four 3-pointers and now has 12 career game with four or more treys.
He also has 66 career games with at least two 3-pointers and 20 games knocking down at least three triples.
NON-CONFERENCE TOUGHNESSThe non-conference slate features a total of 11 games -- including six regular-season home dates.
Overall, the non-conference schedule has six teams that posted 20 or more wins in 2014-15 - with two other foes garnering 19 – while six of the nine Division I opponents made a trip to the postseason last year.
Eight of the nine Division I schools had winning records and combined to tally a 176-125 overall mark (58.4 percent) last season.
Non-Conference Foes 2014-15 RecordBowling Green - 21-12
Central State - 18-12
Eastern Michigan - 21-14
Northeastern - 23-12
Oral Roberts - 19-15
Pittsburgh - 19-15
Toledo - 20-13
UCF - 12-18
UM-Dearborn - 11-19
Vanderbilt - 21-14
Western Kentucky - 20-12
NO SHORTAGE OF OFFENSEThe Titans have quite a few coaches who have been known to score a few baskets in their days.
Head coach
Ray McCallum ended his collegiate career at Ball State as the MAC's all-time leading scorer with 2,109 points.
Assistant coach
Steve Payne tallied 1,440 points in his college days at Ball State, while assistant coach Jermaine Jackson is 21st in school history with 1,341 points.
Meanwhile, assistant coach
Jay Smith still holds the Michigan high school state record for scoring with 2,841 points at Mio Au Sable High School.
EASY POINTSSenior
Anton Wilson is a career 83.1 percent shooter at the free throw line connecting on 74-of-89 career attempts.
He does not have enough free throw attempts to qualify for the school record book or his career percentage would rank fourth.
HL SCHEDULE PUZZLEThe conference schedule is interesting considering the Titans play their first five league games at home and seven of their 10 contests in January on Dick Vitale Court.
Detroit will need to get off to a quick start as it ends the year with four-straight road games, as well as six of its final eight on the road.
GIBSON PROTECTING THE RIMFreshman
Jalen Gibson has seen limited action in the first four games, but that has not stopped him from showing off some of his defensive skills.
He currently leads the team with five blocks, including two at Pittsburgh - where he played just two minutes.
He is also averaging 3.0 rebounds per game and had a nine-board performance against UM-Dearborn in just 11 minutes of action.
GERALD'S GLASSFreshman
Gerald Blackshear had a fine start to his career as he posted a game-high 10 rebounds to go with six points, three assists, three steals and a block against Central State in the season opener.
He then had seven boards with three blocks against UM-Dearborn and seven caroms with seven points at Oral Roberts.
Blackshear currently leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game and has four blocks and three steals.
WHAT A DEBUTFreshman
Josh McFolley didn't have to wait long before he made an impact as he scored the first basket of the year for the Titans and led Detroit with 17 points in the season-opening victory over Central State.
McFolley was 7-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-8 from three, finishing with a team-high 17 points in just 26 minutes.
He is the first Detroit netter to lead his team in scoring in his Titan debut since sophomore Chase Simon had 17 at California in 2009. He is also the first freshman to lead the team in scoring in his collegiate debut since Jerry Davis had 18 against Toledo in 1978.
On Nov. 23, he was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week after notching 17 against CSU and eight at Pittsburgh.
He is currently fourth on the team in scoring at 12.3 ppg., shooting 48.3 percent from the field (14-of-29).
WHAT A START FOR CBCarlton Brundidge has jumped out to a quick start in his final year of eligibility.
Through four games, he leads the team with 5.0 assists, and is second in scoring (14.8) and fourth in rebounding (5.0). He is shooting 54.1 percent from the field and has six steals.
He also has a phenomenal 10-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio on the year with 20 assists against just two turnovers.
He is coming off a career-best 23 points at Oral Roberts - 17 in the second half - where he was a career-high 10-of-19 from the field with five boards and two assists.
He had 14 points in the season opener and followed that up with 12 points at Pittsburgh. Against UM-Dearborn, he scored 10 points and handed out a career-high nine helpers.
By scoring in double digits, he has now reached double figures in four-straight games for the first time in his career.
AND THE 1ST POINTS GO TO.....Junior
Jarod Williams as he sank two free throws for the first points of the 2015-16 season.
A FULL YEAR OF JENKINSGetting a full healthy year out of junior
Chris Jenkins will also be key as he was eligible in the second half of last season after transferring from Colorado.
Despite some late season injuries, he played in 23 games and averaged 8.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. He shot 46 percent from three (23-of-50) and was playing his best ball at the end of last year, netting a career-high 21 against Youngstown State in the first round of the Horizon League Championship.
THEFT ALERTJunior
Jarod Williams is back for the Titans and the opposition should take note of that.
Williams led Detroit last year with 40 steals, after tallying 33 as a freshman, the second-highest total on the team.
He has played in 69 career games with 53 starts and is averaging 7.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
AN AFS SIGHTINGA candidate for Horizon League Freshman of the Year could be redshirt freshman
Aaron Foster-Smith, a 6-7, 220-lb forward who sat out last season. That experience could pay for him this season the same way it paid off for his teammate
Paris Bass a year ago.
He played 24 minutes in the season opener and registered nine points on 4-of-7 shooting with a pair of blocks and two rebounds. He also had 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting - 4-of-4 from three - against UM-Dearborn.
On the year, he is averaging 10.0 points and 3.0 rebounds and shooting 61.5 percent (16-of-26) overall, including 6-of-8 from behind the arc.
