Tennessee State Resurgence Going Strong

(St. Louis, MO) – Is Tennessee State the new emerging power in the Ohio Valley Conference? Tuesday’s loss at Vanderbilt was the Tigers’ first of the season and dropped their record to 6-1. Last season’s break through season turning from five wins in 2015 to 20 last season, has been followed up by this fast start.

Head Coach Dana Ford learned valuable lessons during his various tenures as an assistant coach. His work under Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall (two stints), Dan Muller at his alma mater, Illinois State and John Cooper at Tennessee State taught him valuable lessons.

Known as a dynamic recruiter, Ford, the youngest Division 1 basketball coach in the country, is also a stickler for defense, rebounding and toughness. This season the Tigers are averaging six steals per game, out rebounding their opponents by an average of over five per game, and the Tigers are forcing 17 turnovers per game.

Ford recruited the top players on Illinois State’s current athletic roster and during his first stint at TSU, under Cooper, Ford helped recruit future professional players like Robert Covington, Patrick Miller and Kellen Thornton.

Ford told me he has some very specific ways to achieve success and that Muller and Marshall have been influential forces in his coaching style. His team exemplifies the values he learned and one of Ford’s desires is for his team to have an ‘ultimate warrior’ mentality.

 

 

The current crop of Tigers are experiencing significant success. Eight different players are averaging at least 14 minutes per game. Six players are averaging at least 8.6 points per game, as preseason all-OVC guard Tahjere McCall leads the team in scoring (13.6 ppg), assists (4.4 apg) and steals (2.5 spg). Wayne Martin continues to rebound (9.7 rpg) with abandon and is averaging 12.7 points per game.

After last season’s success, Ford said the big challenge for the TSU coaching staff is to teach the players how to perform at a consistently high level.

 

 

TSU’s six game winning streak to start the season, is reminding people the Tigers are a team that may be up to the challenge of combatting Belmont and Murray State for the top spot in the OVC power rankings.

TSU’s biggest win so far has been over NCAA qualifier Middle Tennessee State and the Tigers own a 6-1 record despite playing only one home game. Before opening their OVC schedule with a New Year’s Eve game at Murray State, the Tigers travel to North Carolina State and Duke. Ford has built his schedule with a blend of mid major teams and national powers.

No Tiger team has won more than 20 games since 1973-74 and under Cooper, TSU put together a two-season total of 38 wins. Those numbers and a trip to the NCAA Tournament are certainly on Ford’s radar. No TSU team has danced in March since 1994.

The Tigers are receiving votes in the AP Top 25 Poll and RealTimeRPI.Com ranks the Tigers as the team with the 37th best RPI nationally and the best among OVC teams. Ford’s squad resumes action on Saturday. They travel to Lipscomb and one week later they travel to Raleigh for that game with North Carolina State.

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