2016–17 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team

American college basketball season

2016–17 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
ConferenceConference USA
Record23–10 (14–4 C-USA)
Head coach
  • Eric Konkol (2nd season)
Assistant coaches
  • Duffy Conroy
  • Yaphett King
  • Tony Skinn
Home arenaThomas Assembly Center
Seasons
2016–17 Conference USA men's basketball standings
  • v
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 Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Middle Tennessee † 17 – 1   .944 31 – 5   .861
Louisiana Tech 14 – 4   .778 23 – 10   .697
Old Dominion 12 – 6   .667 19 – 12   .613
UTEP 12 – 6   .667 15 – 17   .469
Rice 11 – 7   .611 23 – 12   .657
Marshall 10 – 8   .556 20 – 15   .571
UAB 9 – 9   .500 17 – 16   .515
Western Kentucky 9 – 9   .500 15 – 17   .469
UTSA 8 – 10   .444 14 – 19   .424
Charlotte 7 – 11   .389 13 – 17   .433
Florida Atlantic 6 – 12   .333 10 – 20   .333
Southern Miss 6 – 12   .333 9 – 22   .290
FIU 3 – 15   .167 7 – 24   .226
North Texas 2 – 16   .111 8 – 22   .267
† 2017 C-USA Tournament winner

The 2016–17 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by second-year head coach Eric Konkol, played their home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, Louisiana and were members of Conference USA. They finished the season 23–10, 14–4 in C-USA play to finish in second place. They beat UAB in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament before losing to Marshall in the semifinals. Despite finishing with 23 wins, the school declined to participate in a postseason tournament marking the first time since 2013 that they did not participate in a postseason tournament.[1]

Previous season

The Bulldogs finished the 2015–16 season 23–10, 12–6 in C-USA play to finish in three-way tie for third place. They lost in the quarterfinals of the C-USA tournament to Old Dominion. They received an invitation to the inaugural Vegas 16 where they lost in the quarterfinals to East Tennessee State.

Preseason

The Bulldogs were picked to finish in seventh place in the preseason Conference USA poll.[2] Erik McCree was selected to the preseason All-Conference USA team.[2]

Departures

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Alex Hamilton 0 G 6'4" 190 Senior Chipley, FL Graduated
Dayon Griffin 10 G 6'5" 188 Sophomore St. Petersburg, FL Transferred to Central Florida
Branden Sheppard 15 F 6'7" 225 RS Freshman Shreveport, LA Transferred to Pearl River CC
Merrill Holden 21 F 6'8" 215 Junior Lincoln, NE Graduate transferred to Iowa State

Incoming Transfers

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Omar Sherman 24 F 6'8" 225 Junior Duncanville, Texas Junior college transferred from Paris Junior College

Recruiting class of 2016

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
DaQuan Bracey
PG 		Baltimore, MD St. Frances Academy 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Nov 17, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals: N/A   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:2/5 stars
Jalen Harris
SG 		Duncanville, TX Duncanville High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sep 22, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
JaColby Pemberton
SG 		Lancaster, TX Lancaster High School 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) N/A Oct 17, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Oliver Powell
PF 		Rowlett, TX Rowlett High School 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sep 24, 2015 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:3/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: #127
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2016 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 7, 2017.

Recruiting class of 2017

US college sports recruiting information for 2017 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Amorie Archibald
SG 		Deltona, FL Trinity Christian Academy 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sep 30, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Exavian Christon
SG 		Hot Springs, AR Hot Springs High School 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sep 21, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Anthony Duruji
F 		Potomac, MD St. Andrews Episcopal School 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) May 17, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.

Roster

2016–17 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Jacobi Boykins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Lakewood High School St. Petersburg, Florida
G 1 Derric Jean 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So McArthur High School Miami, Florida
F 2 Erik McCree 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) RS Sr Murray State Orlando, Florida
G 3 Jalen Harris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Duncanville High School Duncanville, Texas
G 4 DaQuan Bracey 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr St. Frances Academy Baltimore, Maryland
C 5 Joniah White 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 205 lb (93 kg) RS So Grenada High School Duck Hill, Mississippi
F 11 JaColby Pemberton Injured Current redshirt 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fr Lancaster High School Dallas, Texas
G 15 Jeremiah Taylor (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Lewisville High School Lewisville, Texas
F 22 Jy'lan Washington 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Stewarts Creek High School Smyrna, Tennessee
G 23 Da'Shawn Robinson Injured 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Navarro College Houston, Texas
F 24 Omar Sherman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Jr Paris Junior College Duncanville, Texas
G 25 Qiydar Davis Injured 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Sr Indian Hills Community College Atlanta, Georgia
G 30 Luke Walker (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) So Brother Martin High School New Orleans, Louisiana
F 35 Oliver Powell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Fr Rowlett High School Rowlett, Texas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Current redshirt

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/03/2016*
6:30 pm 		Southern Arkansas W 86–69 
Thomas Assembly Center 
Ruston, LA
Non-conference regular season
11/11/2016*
5:30 pm 		at South Carolina L 76–85  0–1
 Colonial Life Arena (13,344)
Columbia, SC
11/16/2016*
6:30 pm 		Alabama State W 87–56  1–1
 Thomas Assembly Center (3,016)
Ruston, LA
11/19/2016*
7:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Nebraska L 54–65  1–2
 Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,824)
Lincoln, NE
11/23/2016*
6:30 pm 		Oklahoma Baptist W 79–63  2–2
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,017)
Ruston, LA
11/27/2016*
4:00 pm 		Maryland Eastern Shore
California Bears Classic 		W 74–53  3–2
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,027)
Ruston, LA
11/30/2016*
8:00 pm, P12N 		at California
California Bears Classic 		L 59–68 OT 3–3
 Haas Pavilion (8,129)
Berkeley, CA
12/03/2016*
6:00 pm 		Southeastern Louisiana
California Bears Classic 		W 88–59  4–3
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,764)
Ruston, LA
12/05/2016*
6:30 pm 		Alcorn State
California Bears Classic 		W 98–65  5–3
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,424)
Ruston, LA
12/10/2016*
7:15 pm 		at Louisiana–Lafayette L 83–91  5–4
 Cajundome (4,491)
Lafayette, LA
12/13/2016*
6:30 pm 		Prairie View A&M W 65–52  6–4
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,213)
Ruston, LA
12/17/2016*
7:00 pm 		vs. Grambling State
Shreveport-Bossier Holiday Classic 		W 89–55  7–4
 Hirsch Memorial Coliseum (877)
Shreveport, LA
12/20/2016*
6:30 pm 		Florida Gulf Coast L 78–79  7–5
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,277)
Ruston, LA
12/22/2016*
6:30 pm 		LSU–Shreveport W 95–53  8–5
 Thomas Assembly Center (2,044)
Ruston, LA
Conference USA regular season
01/01/2017
2:00 pm 		at Southern Miss W 79–55  9–5
(1–0) 		Reed Green Coliseum (2,761)
Hattiesburg, MS
01/05/2017
6:30 pm 		UTEP W 64–44  10–5
(2–0) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,205)
Ruston, LA
01/07/2017
6:00 pm 		UTSA L 68–69  10–6
(2–1) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,513)
Ruston, LA
01/12/2017
6:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Charlotte W 79–73  11–6
(3–1) 		Dale F. Halton Arena (4,319)
Charlotte, NC
01/14/2017
5:00 pm 		at Old Dominion W 75–63  12–6
(4–1) 		Ted Constant Convocation Center (6,564)
Norfolk, VA
01/19/2017
6:30 pm 		Rice W 74–64  13–6
(5–1) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,313)
Ruston, LA
01/21/2017
6:00 pm 		North Texas W 81–57  14–6
(6–1) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,066)
Ruston, LA
01/26/2017
8:00 pm, ASN 		at UAB L 70–79  14–7
(6–2) 		Bartow Arena (3,642)
Birmingham, AL
01/28/2017
5:00 pm, ESPN3 		at Middle Tennessee L 61–71  14–8
(6–3) 		Murphy Center (7,805)
Murfreesboro, TN
02/02/2017
7:00 pm, beIN 		WKU W 76–67  15–8
(7–3) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,802)
Ruston, LA
02/04/2017
6:00 pm 		Marshall W 94–90  16–8
(8–3) 		Thomas Assembly Center (4,804)
Ruston, LA
02/09/2017
8:00 pm 		at UTEP W 62–61  17–8
(9–3) 		Don Haskins Center (6,698)
El Paso, TX
02/11/2017
3:00 pm 		at UTSA W 72–66  18–8
(10–3) 		Convocation Center (1,212)
San Antonio, TX
02/16/2017
6:30 pm 		Florida Atlantic W 95–69  19–8
(11–3) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,012)
Ruston, LA
02/18/2017
6:00 pm 		FIU W 77–61  20–8
(12–3) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,418)
Ruston, LA
02/23/2017
7:00 pm 		at North Texas W 85–67  21–8
(13–3) 		The Super Pit (2,217)
Denton, TX
02/25/2017
7:00 pm 		at Rice L 81–88  21–9
(13–4) 		Tudor Fieldhouse (3,302)
Houston, TX
03/04/2017
1:00 pm, ASN 		Southern Miss W 93–65  22–9
(14–4) 		Thomas Assembly Center (3,102)
Ruston, LA
Conference USA tournament
03/09/2017
5:30 pm, ASN 		(2) vs. (7) UAB
Quarterfinals 		W 69–57  23–9
 Legacy Arena (4,005)
Birmingham, AL
03/10/2017
2:00 pm, CBSSN 		(2) vs. (6) Marshall
Semifinals 		L 77–93  23–10
 Legacy Arena (3,299)
Birmingham, AL
*Non-conference game. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time Source[3].

References

  1. ^ "Why Tech chose not to participate in pay-for-play postseason tournament". thenewsstar.com. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  2. ^ a b "MBK: UAB Voted C-USA Preseason Favorite". Conference USA. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  3. ^ "LA Tech Official Athletic Site". latechsports.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
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