Murray State University Athletics
Racers to play three in Canada; Redding gets Belgium, Holland tour
8/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
August is very early for a basketball team to begin workouts, but that's just what the Racers are going to do as they prepare for the program's first trip out of the country since 1997. The Racers have three scheduled exhibition games in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
On Sept. 2, Murray State plays Royal Military College at noon, then will play two games on Sept. 3, against the University of Ottawa at 2 p.m. and against Carleton University at 7 p.m. All three games will be played on Carleton's court.
Per NCAA rules, the Racers are allowed 10 practices to prepare for the Canadian series, the first coming on Aug. 24.
Head coach Mick Cronin said this type of tour is a good idea when a program has a bunch of returning players. MSU returns 10 players from the 2004-05 team that finished 17-11.
"This is a great way to get in some early work and assimilate the new players into the program," said Cronin, who will be in his third season as the Racers' coach this fall. "The most important thing is for our players to pick up where they left off. That is where it concerns the process of building our team.
"Our guys need to become true Murray State Racers, and it's time for them to step up and show some leadership. This could be a springboard to a great season.
"We get those 10 days of practice," Cronin said, "and it's going to be an advantage in getting our season off to a quick start and begin further bonding as a team."
All three of Murray State's Canadian opponents play in the Ottawa University League. The most accomplished team out of the bunch is Carleton, who went 38-2 and won its third straight Canadian national championship.
The Racers return all of the players who played the majority of minutes last season, including guard Trey Pearson, who led the Racers in scoring with 14.5 points per game as a sophomore.
MSU has five seniors on the squad, including Issian Redding, Keith Jenifer, Darnell Hopkins, Chuck Johnson and Pearson Griffith.
Since Murray State is going on this trip after the fall semester begins, the four newcomers can play as well. Freshmen Tyler Holloway, Marqis Wright and Tony Easley will join sophomore Rob Kennedy, all wearing the MSU uniform for the first time.
Cronin is looking forward to getting the group together.
"There has already been a huge difference in the off-season with our players understanding what it takes to be successful at this level," he said. "Hopefully, we'll see some of that on this trip to Canada, and that will lead to collective success for our program."
RACER NOTES: Before the trip to Canada, senior forward Issian Redding will play in Europe with a team put together by Global Sports. Redding will play five games in Holland and Belgium beginning Aug. 4, then will return to Murray in time to begin practice with the Racers for the trip to Canada...Upon the Racers' return, they begin official workouts for the 2005-06 season on Oct. 16.
