A New Home For WKU Football and Basketball Coverage

Yes, it has been a week since I've been on here but for good reason.  I've officially joined http://www.toppertalk.com/, where my main objective is covering all the WKU football action. 

So, if you have enjoyed my WKU coverage here, head on over to my new home for proper coverage and sarcasm. 

Don't worry though, I intend to keep this site up for continued coverage of area high school football, the season is just around the corner, so expect a lot of video coverage and photographs.

I want to thank everyone who has graced this site with their eyes and left feedback, so please, check me out at my new residence, http://www.toppertalk.com/.

Thank you,

Sean

WKU Target Watch: Chaffin and Shortridge off the board

Jacob Chaffin, a 6-foot-3, 260 pound defensive tackle from Spain Park (Birmingham, AL) has committed to South Alabama on Monday, July 9th.  He also held offers from Arkansas State, Troy, Middle Tennessee, and Georgia State.

Wake Forest snagged 6-foot-3, 270 pound defensive tackle Kyle Shortridge today.  He plays his ball at Seminole Ridge Community (Loxahatchee, FL) and held offers from Kentucky, Florida Atlantic, and Louisville.

Corey Winfield, 6-foot-2, 185 pound wide receiver from Riverview Gardens Sr. (St. Louis, MO) committed to Northern Illinois on July 8th.  Held offers from the likes of Ball State, Miami (OH), and Purdue.

Back on the fourth of July the 'Noles landed Freddie Stevenson, a 6-foot-1, 220 pound outside linebacker from Bartow High School (Bartow, FL).  Stevenson held offers from FIU, Marshall, and Houston. 

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By: Sean Williams

bgsportscode@gmail.com

Follow @BGSportsCode

2012 Sun Belt Preview: North Texas

The Mean Green are riding off into the Sun Belt Conference sunset as they head to Conference USA serenity.

Can North Texas reach back in the history books and make a run to conference title glory while slamming the door in the Sun Belt's face for good?

No.

I'm sure the last thing Karl Benson wants to see is a conference champion wearing "Conference USA" t-shirts while hoisting the Sun Belt trophy.

Talk about bad PR.

But, the Meanies do present some danger offensively with eight starters returning to the fold, including quarterback Derek Thompson and wide receiver Brelan Chancellor.

No doubt North Texas can light up a scoreboard with the best of them.

However, can the defense stop anyone?

Only five starters return on defense that will have big holes to fill on the frontline and the secondary.  The leadership will come from senior linebackers Zach Orr and Jeremy Phillips.

Offensive Playmakers:

(R) Jr. QB Derek Thompson - 157-272, 1,759 yards, 11 TD, 6 INT

Jr. WR Brelan Chancellor - 37 catches, 457 yards, 3 TD

(R) Sr. WR Chris Bynes - 37 catches, 442 yards, 5 TD

Replacing Lance Dunbar is undoubtedly the biggest task North Texas faces on offense.  It becomes easier with four starters returning to a young, solid offensive line that features three sophomore starters and a senior leader in Aaron Fortenberry.

Brelan Chancellor and Chris Bynes will form the most dominant receiving combo in the league and provide quality targets for quarterback Derek Thompson.

Don't forget, Chancellor is a dangerous kick returner as well, averaging 21.9 yards per return last year.

Defensive Playmakers:

Sr. LB Zach Orr - 74 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 INT

Jr. DE Brandon McCoy - 44 tackles, 4.5 sacks

Sr. LB Jeremy Phillips - 21 tackles (injured in 2011)

Experience at linebacker, check.

Inexperience elsewhere, check.

The linebackers will be forced to work twice as hard while the surrounding role players settle into new starting roles.

Good thing Jeremy Phillips is returning after missing half of 2011 due to injury, Zach Orr can use all the help he can get.

2012 Outook:

After suffering a stroke at the beginning of 2012 and bouncing back to fully participate in spring practice, head coach Dan McCarney proved two things:  He is a quality coach and a hardened bad ass.  However, after guiding North Texas to a 5-7 record last season, the win total for 2012 will likely remain stagnant due to the turnover on defense.

My psychic prediction for North Texas in 2012 is: 5-7 (4-4)  

9/1 @ LSU L

9/8 Texas Southern W

9/15 @ Kansas State L

9/22 Troy W

9/29 @Florida Atlantic W

10/6 @ Houston L

10/16 Louisiana-Lafayette L

10/27 @ Middle Tennessee W

11/3 Arkansas State L

11/10 South Alabama W

11/17 @ Louisiana-Monroe L

11/24 @ Western Kentucky L

Tops get commit #6, Dupont Manual RB Dishan Romine

The Toppers lock up their sixth commitment for the 2013 class in the 5-foot-10, 180 pound Dishan Romine.

Last year Romine rushed for 1,188 yards with 10 touchdowns, leading Dupont Manual (Louisville, KY) to the second round of the KHSAA playoffs.

The Manual senior joins his teammate, Juwan Gardner, as the Crimsons' second straight commit to WKU.

Romine becomes the Tops second offensive commitment.  He's a smart kid as well, holding offers from Cornell, Columbia, and Harvard.

Salivating for a Romine highlight video?  No worries.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/462107/highlights/1883383

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By: Sean Williams

bgsportscode@gmail.com

Follow @BGSportsCode

Toppers land commitment #5 in Juwan Gardner

The fifth commitment for WKU comes from 6-foot-1, 180 pound safety Juwan Gardner.

Gardner, who plays for Dupont Manual High School (Louisville, KY), had six interceptions and three touchdowns for the Crimsons in 2011.

He also held offers from Ball State, Miami (OH), and Indiana State.

Jonesing for a highlight video?  I thought so!  Click the link below:

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/462078/highlights/1959375

Gardner becomes the Hilltoppers fourth defensive commit for the class of 2013.

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By: Sean Williams

bgsportscode@gmail.com

Follow @bgsportscode

Basketball Notes

Evans signs three-year deal with Jazz

The Salt Lake Tribune's Brian T. Smith broke news that former Hilltopper Jeremy Evans and the Utah Jazz have agreed to a three-year, $5.5 million deal.

Evans was a restricted free agent and will be entering his third season with the Jazz, he's averaged 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds during his two-year career.

Evans won the 2012 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

Walk-on Spence Sheldon arrested early Thursday morning

It must have been quite a 4th of July throwdown that poured into Thursday morning, unfortunately WKU walk-on Spence Sheldon was picked up by the fuzz for public intoxication.

Sheldon only logged three minutes while appearing in seven games during the 2011-12 season.

Source: Bowling Green Daily News
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By: Sean Williams
bgsportscode@gmail.com 
Follow @bsportscode

WKU's Top 5 Impact Players on Offense: #1 RB Antonio Andrews

The Hilltoppers' utility man will have a busy 2012 taking the reigns at starting running back.

As I'm sure you've already heard (dozens of times by now) the great Bobby Rainey has departed.

If my math is efficient, that will be 49% of WKU's offensive production missing from last season.

Now, national experts will tell you the offense will struggle this season, but they don't know the skill set of Antonio Andrews.

While Rainey was chewing up yardage and getting a huge bulk of the carries, Andrews was busy returning kicks, playing receiver, and running some wildcat.

In 2010 he burst on the scene with 429 all-purpose yards and followed that up with an even better 590 all-purpose performance last year.
 

There was an open competition for the starting running back job heading into spring practice involving Andrews and Keshawn Simpson.  Was, being the key word. 

After a 18 carry, 123 yard performance in April's spring game one thing is for sure, Andrews is clearly in the driver's seat.
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By: Sean Williams

bgsportscode@gmail.com  

https://twitter.com/bgsportscode