Marshall Thundering Herd
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #107
Conference Rank: #3 C-USA
Marshall finished 17-15 last season, their lowest win total in a season since 2015-16. However, considering the circumstances of having no seniors on the roster, Dan D’Antoni did a solid job getting his team to finish above .500. If last season was a rebuilding year with a young roster, then this season is the one to capitalize on that. Virtually everyone is back from last season meaning the Thundering Herd should easily improve upon their win total from a year ago.
2019-20 Record: 17-15, 10-8
Coach: Dan D’Antoni
Coach Record: 113-92 at Marshall, 113-92 overall
Key Departed Players:
Cam Brooks-Harris, Guard, 4.1 ppg
Cam Brooks-Harris, Guard, 4.1 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Taevion Kinsey, Junior, Guard, 16.4 ppg
Jarrod West, Senior, Guard, 14.2 ppg
Andrew Taylor, Sophomore, Guard, 10.1 ppg
Iran Bennett, Junior, Forward, 9.1 ppg
Mikel Beyers, Senior, Forward, 7.1 ppg
Jannson Williams, Senior, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Darius George, Senior, Forward, 5.5 ppg
Marko Sarenac, Sophomore, Forward, 4.4 ppg
Goran Miladinovic, Sophomore, Center, 3.8 ppg
Jeremy Dillon, Sophomore, Guard, 0.7 ppg
Jarrod West, Senior, Guard, 14.2 ppg
Andrew Taylor, Sophomore, Guard, 10.1 ppg
Iran Bennett, Junior, Forward, 9.1 ppg
Mikel Beyers, Senior, Forward, 7.1 ppg
Jannson Williams, Senior, Forward, 6.7 ppg
Darius George, Senior, Forward, 5.5 ppg
Marko Sarenac, Sophomore, Forward, 4.4 ppg
Goran Miladinovic, Sophomore, Center, 3.8 ppg
Jeremy Dillon, Sophomore, Guard, 0.7 ppg
Key New Players:
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Freshman, Forward
David Early, Freshman, Guard
Dajour Rucker, RS Freshman, Forward
Obinna Anochili-Killen, Freshman, Forward
David Early, Freshman, Guard
Dajour Rucker, RS Freshman, Forward
Projection:
Every player that played in at least 20 games last season is back for Dan D’Antoni and Marshall this year. Taevion Kinsey and Jarrod West will each be looking to build on their all-conference seasons from a year ago. Kinsey led the team in scoring and assists as a sophomore on his way to All-CUSA Second Team honors. Kinsey racked up 16.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.1 steals, and he should be one of the best players in the conference this year. Meanwhile, West earned All-CUSA Third Team honors behind 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals. West led the conference in steals and made his way onto the All-CUSA Defensive Team. Andrew Taylor started all 23 of the games he played on his way to the All-CUSA Freshmen Team. Taylor averaged 10.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals. Kinsey, West and Taylor will make up arguably the top trio in the C-USA. Iran Bennett and Jannson Williams are the other two returning starters after both had solid seasons last year. Bench role players Mikel Beyers, Darius George, Marko Sarenac, Goran Miladinovic and Jeremy Dillon are all back which will provide important consistency for Marshall especially considering this unique offseason. Three freshmen also join the team, but with the returning experience it will be difficult for them to find extended playing time. Marshall enters 2020-21 in an interesting position. On one hand, it’s great to have the majority of last season’s production back. However, with the same players the Herd finished just 17-15. Improvement should be expected across the roster and Marshall should at the least be a competitor in the C-USA.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.9 (50th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 73.1 (276, 11)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.2 (149, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.3 (46, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.7 (134, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.3 (279, 11)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.3 (309, 13)
Rebound Margin: -2.4 (285, 13)
Assists Per Game: 14.2 (89, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.8 (312, 12)
