DG158

Dread gallery #158 features action from the 2014-15 regular season in College Basketball.



















1. In DG157 I mentioned that Memphis junior F Shaq Goodwin scored the most important 2 points of the game in their victory at UConn on Mar. 5. Well, those 2 points came on this jump shot to the left of the lane over the arm of the late-arriving 6-10 F Phillip Nolan with 8.1 seconds to play and gave the Tigers a 54-53 lead .....




.

2. ..... G Kedren Johnson puts Shaq in a headlock as he celebrates after hitting the shot. Connecticut missed a shot at the buzzer, and Memphis held on for the 54-53 win. Goodwin had 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 blocked shot in 36 minutes as the Tigers improved to 18-12. It would turn out to be their last win of the season.

.

3. Shaq Goodwin tries to foil a drive to the basket by Indiana State F Khristian Smith (left photo) and deals with a double team by C Jake Kitchell (#0) and G Devonte Brown (right photo) on Nov. 28 at Las Vegas. Goodwin scored 19 points (his second highest scoring game of the season) and had 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in the Tigers' 72-62 victory.

.

4. Shaq Goodwin gaves us all quite a thrill for a little while in January, when he unleashed his dreads almost completely for a couple of games. In the second of those games here on Jan. 8 at SMU Shaq is surrounded by the enemy and fouled by G Ryan Manuel (left photo) as he tries to go up for a shot in the 1st half. In the right photo Goodwin tries to bother F Ben Moore on a short shot during 1st half. Unfortunately the Tigers lost both games, and that was the last we saw of Shaq with his dreads loose.

.

5. Back in a ponytail against Gonzaga on Jan. 31, Shaq Goodwin encounters stiff competition for this rebound in the form of 7-foot-1 C Przernek Karnowski (#24) and G Byron Wesley. Goodwin had 8 rebounds but no points in 23 minutes as Gonzaga rolled to an 82-64 home win.

.

6. Senior F Dominique McKoy puts up a shot against the defense of St. Joseph's F Isaiah Miles on Jan. 7 at Pittsburgh. McKoy played a season high 37 minutes, finishing with 13 points and 6 rebounds and blocking a 3-point FG attempt by St.Joseph's with 2 seconds remaining as Duquesne won 71-68.

.

7. After a turnover by Western Kentucky, Marshall junior G Justin Edmonds is open for a 3-pointer but misses early in 2nd half on Feb. 14 at Huntington, WV. Edmonds made 3 of his other 5 3-point attempts in the game and finished with 15 points in Marshall's 87-82 win. Edmonds scored in double figures in 15 games, including a high of 27 vs. FAU on Feb. 28, in his first season playing with the Thundering Herd (he redshirted last season) after transferring from junior college.
JUSTIN EDMONDS (2014-15): 31 games, 23 MPG, 9.8 PPG, 38.7 FG%, 2.6 RPG, 1.3 APG

.

8. What a pleasant surprise it was to see senior F Aron Phillips-Nwankwo, a 6-foot-8 walk-on, doing something this season other than sitting on the Pittsburgh bench all the time. He may have played only 81 minutes all season, but that was twice as many as he played in his first three years combined. Aron scored a career high 7 points against Florida State on Jan. 14, including a dunk in the face of C Boris Bojanovsky (left photo), for a 46-41 lead early in 2nd half of Pitt's 73-64 home win. Five nights later Phillips-Nwankwo actually dunked on Duke (right photo) late in 1st half, but the Panthers lost that game 79-65.

.

9. Tony Wills, 6-3 sophomore G for Illinois State, goes to the basket (right photo) during a 69-55 road win over Missouri State on Jan. 11 and resorts to illegal tactics trying to keep Drake C Jacob Enevold Jensen from getting a rebound (left photo) on Jan. 20. Wills had 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals in the Redbirds' 64-56 road win over Drake.

.

10. More action from the Missouri Valley now, featuring Illinois State's other player with dreads. 6-5 junior F DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell battles for possession of the ball against G Jeremy Morgan (left photo) during an 83-64 road loss to Northern Iowa on Feb. 11, the second of ISU's 3 losses to UNI this season. On the right, Akoon-Purcell drives to the basket against Southern Illinois G Tyler Smithpeters on Feb. 25, the game in which he scored a season high 24 points and had 7 rebounds as the Redbirds rolled to a 73-56 home win. 

.

11. Junior F Quintin Brewer defends against F Malik Thomas (left photo) and puts up a shot against F RaShid Gaston (right photo) during a 79-55 home loss to Norfolk State on Jan. 12. Brewer was the best of Bethune-Cookman's 3 players with dreads, leading the team in rebounds and blocked shots. But he will not be back with the Wildcats next season, electing instead to transfer to Illinois State for his senior year.
QUINTIN BREWER (2014-15): 32 games, 28 MPG, 9.2 PPG, 50.7 FG%, 7 RPG, 1.1 BPG

.

12. After playing three seasons for Toledo, 6-9 F Delino Dear played his senior season - and his first season with dreads - for Bethune-Cookman and was a part-time starter. Dear and G Tony Kynard make it difficult for C Eric Jacobsen to get to the basket (left photo) during a 49-39 loss at Arizona State, and Dear puts up a shot against Malik Thomas (right photo) on Jan. 12. Delino recorded 3 double-doubles during the Wildcats' 11-21 season.
DELINO DEAR (2014-15): 31 games, 19 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 56.7 FG%, 4.0 RPG

.

13. The player with the longest dreads for Bethune-Cookman is 6-8 senior C Travis Elliott; but more often than not he was on the court with his dreads reduced. This game at Ball State on Jan. 3 was the only one that I could find photos of him when they weren't reduced. He had 0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, and 4 fouls in 12 minutes in the Wildcats' 51-48 defeat.
TRAVIS ELLIOTT (2014-15): 26 games, 19 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 56.3 FG%, 5.2 RPG

.

Tying Bethune-Cookman for 7th place in the MEAC at 7-9 but with one less player with dreads than B-C was South Carolina State .....

14. 6-0, 170-pound freshman G Tyvoris Solomon tries to get to a loose ball before it goes out of bounds during the season opener at Washington on Nov. 14. Solomon had 4 points and 5 assists in his debut for SCSU as the Builldogs lost to the Huskies 77-59. Solomon had a very nice season coming off the bench - 80 assists to 37 turnovers ain't bad, especially for a freshman.
TYVORIS SOLOMON (2014-15): 29 games, 19 MPG, 1.9 PPG, 29.5 FG%, 2.2 RPG, 2.8 APG

.

15. 6-8 junior F Darryl Palmer was one of three players with dreads to average more than 2 blocked shots per game, but he can't get a hand on shots by F Darion Atkins (left photo) during a 75-55 loss to Virginia on Nov. 18 and G Robert Turner (right photo) during an ugly loss to Texas Tech 101-39 on Dec. 17. Palmer scored in double figures 8 times this season for SC State and recorded 3 double-doubles.
DARRYL PALMER (2014-15): 30 games, 27 MPG, 7.5 PPG, 41.5 FG%, 6.7 RPG, 2.2 BPG

.

16. In DG157 I mentioned that Tyvoris Solomon arguably has the longest dreads in the the MEAC. That's because 6-3 junior G Larry Haley of Delaware State might also have an argument, although you can't tell it by looking at this photo from Jan. 5 with his dreads folded up. Actually I was fortunate to get any pictures of Haley at all, since he played in only 5 games all season. After scoring 17 points in the home opener against Baptist Bible (who?) on Nov. 17, he scored only 2 more points the rest of the season. LARRY HALEY (2014-15): 5 games, 6 MPG, 3.8 PPG, 41.5 FG%

.

17. One of only two players with dreads in the SWAC, 6-5 junior F Tyrel Hunt of Alcorn State tries to keep up with G Yettra Specks (left photo) during a 64-54 loss at Jackson State on Jan. 10 and battles for a rebound with three other players, including F Myles Turner of Texas (right photo), during an 85-53 loss to the Longhorns on Nov. 16. Hunt scored in double figures 9 times this season for the Braves, who went 6-26.
TYREL HUNT (2014-15): 30 games, 21 MPG, 7.7 PPG, 47.0 FG%, 3.1 RPG

.

18. Steven Davis, 6-7 sophomore F for Wright State, and FIU G Marco Porcher Jimenez watch as the ball gets away from them (left photo) on Nov. 28; and Davis defends against Ohio State F Keita Bates-Diop (right photo) on Dec. 27. Not only did Wright State get killed by the Buckeyes 100-55, but Davis - expected to be a key player for the Raiders - suffered what turned out to be a serious foot injury late in the game and missed almost all of the rest of the season (appearing in only one more game).
STEVEN DAVIS (2014-15): 14 games, 20 MPG, 7.1 PPG, 45 FG%, 3.3 RPG

.

19. 6-3 walk-on freshman G J.T. Jones didn't play very much this season for Southeast Missouri State but was on the court for a season high 14 minutes here on Feb. 12, as he puts up a couple of shots against Tennessee-Martin G Marshun Newell. 7 of Jones' season total of 20 points came in this game as SEMO rolled to a 98-76 home win.
J.T. JONES (2014-15): 12 games, 6 MPG, 1.7 PPG, 38.1 FG%, 1.3 RPG

.

20. Moving across the Mississippi River from SEMO up to SIU-Edwardsville, here's a look at 6-8 junior F Michael Chandler - one of two players with dreads for the Cougars - trying to defend a shot by G Aitor Zubizaretta during a 75-53 road loss to Portland on Nov. 22. Chandler might not have gotten this one, but he proved to be a prolific shot blocker in the few minutes he played. I mean, how many players are there that finish a season with more blocked shots (27) than points (24)?
MICHAEL CHANDLER (2014-15): 27 games, 6 MPG, 0.9 PPG, 60 FG%, 1.2 RPG, 1 BPG

.

21. 6-4 senior G Rozell Nunn plays some hands-on defense against G Tyler Smithpeters during SIU-E's 79-67 home loss to SIU on Dec. 3. After missing the first 4 games of the season (injury?), Nunn was in the starting lineup for almost every game after that and scored in double figures 12 times; but the Cougars finished at only 12-16.
ROZELL NUNN (2014-15): 23 games, 26 MPG, 9.4 PPG, 38.5 FG%, 4.8 RPG, 1.7 APG, 1.1 SPG

.

22. Wearing Russell Athletic socks but Nike shoes (hmm), 5-10, 150-pound senior G Jeremy Purvis of Austin Peay has a couple of close encounters with G Nathan Moran during a 68-59 home loss to Lipscomb on Dec. 13, a game in which he played 31 minutes but scored no points. Jeremy scored 13 in a win over Troy two nights later for his only game in double figures.
JEREMY PURVIS (2014-15): 22 games, 18 MPG, 3.1 PPG, 31.8 FG%, 1.1 RPG, 1.7 APG

.

23. It was very hard finding any photos of East Carolina sophomore G Greg Alexander, but there he is standing in the background watching the action during a 92-51 win over Virginia U-Lynchburg on Nov. 20. After playing a total of 52 minutes in his two seasons with ECU, Alexander has transferred to Mt. St. Mary's, where he hopefully will get more playing time and where hopefully his dreads will be much longer and easier to see.
GREG ALEXANDER (2014-15) (season totals): 6 games, 14 minutes, 3 points, 25 FG%, 1 assist, 1 blocked shot

.

24. 6-0 sophomore G Quinton Ray of Campbell puts up a shot during a 54-48 loss to Colgate (right photo) and handles the ball during a 78-59 win over Gardner-Webb (left photo) on Jan. 26, which ended a 7-game losing streak. Ray did not score in either game, two of his 17 scoreless games in his first - and unfortunately only - season with dreads. Although he waited until after the season was over, Ray joined F Rod Days (who cut off his dreads around Thanksgiving) on the ex-dread list. With Reco McCarter graduating, Campbell goes from three players with dreads at the start of this season to none for next season.
QUINTON RAY (2014-15): 32 games, 17 MPG, 1.5 PPG, 33.3 FG%, 1.9 RPG, 1.7 APG

.

25. In my First Look post I mentioned a couple of SEC players who converted their hair to dreads during January. By the time March came around Mississippi State 6-9 freshman F Oliver Black's dreads were coming along nicely, while Auburn F Jordon Granger (#25 in left photo) went back to normal hair (hopefully to switch it back to dreads when it gets longer). Black battles for a rebound (on left) and defends as G K.C. Ross-Miller goes to the basket (on right) during the Bulldogs' season-ending 74-68 loss to Auburn in the SEC tournament on Mar. 11. It was Black's only season with the Bulldogs. Looking for more playing time or perhaps not wanting to go through 4 years of losing, he has transferred to UALR.
OLIVER BLACK (2014-15): 31 games, 16 MPG, 1.8 PPG, 48.9 FG%, 2.4 RPG

.

26. Also in his first season with dreads, 6-5 junior F Clide Geffrard of Stephen F. Austin teams up with star G Thomas Walkup to box out Texas A&M-Corpus Christi F Rashawn Thomas during SLC action on Feb. 14. Geffrard, a key reserve for the Lumberjacks, played only 9 minutes and scored only 2 points (while Thomas scored 20) in a 71-63 loss that ended their 19-game winning streak. It turned out to be SFA's only conference loss of the season (17-1).

.

27. UTEP freshman G Omega Harris drives to the basket against G Raheem Appleby of Louisiana Tech as Speedy Smith (#4) looks on in CUSA action on Feb. 26. Harris scored 8 points, while Smith had a season high 17 points, 4 rebounds, and only 3 assists as La Tech won 77-60. Although there's not too much difference, if you look closely you can see that Harris' hair clearly has turned into dreads, while Appleby's isn't quite there yet. That's why I couldn't welcome Appleby to the house this season.

.

28. Playing his first season for San Diego State after a transfer from Arizona, 6-9 junior F Angelo Chol rejects a short shot by G Mike Caffey (left photo) of Long Beach State during 1st half of the Aztecs' 60-59 win on Dec. 10 and goes to the basket against F Goodluck Okonoboh (nice name) of UNLV (right photo) on Jan. 17. Chol scored 8 points (2 short of his season high) as SDSU defeated UNLV 53-47.

.

29. In a shot too tight to display all of his dreads (left photo, but at least you can see his face), junior F Roderick Lawrence of Mississippi battles for a rebound against F Kevin Thomas of Troy on Nov. 16. You get a much better look at Lawrence's dreads (on right) as he defends against Florida on Jan. 24. Lawrence played 4 minutes in the Rebels' 72-71 win over the Gators and only 2 more minutes in their other 17 SEC games. Not surprisingly Roderick decided not to hang around for another year of sitting on the bench. The 6-5 forward has transferred to NAIA school Campbellsville for his senior season.
RODERICK LAWRENCE (2014-15): 13 games, 8 MPG, 1.7 PPG, 30.8 FG%, 1.3 RPG

.

30. Marquiez Lawrence (no relation to Roderick that I'm aware of), 6-8 sophomore F for Kent State with dreads short enough this season to have them completely loose, wrestles Kansas F Cliff Alexander for possession of the ball on Dec. 30. Lawrence was on the court for 10 minutes in Lawrence (KS, that is) and had 1 rebound and 3 fouls in Kent State's 78-62 defeat.  

.

31. And here's Marquiez Lawrence again (because I love to see the dreads flowing freely) on Mar. 3. Bowling Green star F Richaun Holmes scored 29 points, but Marquiez stops him here, rejecting his layup and preventing the Falcons from extending their 57-53 lead midway through 2nd half. Although Lawrence scored 0 points in 6 minutes, Kent State came back to win 81-80 to improve to 20-10.

.

There were a half dozen players with dreads that I discovered had dreads after I did my First Look post in Febrauary. Let's take a look at them now.

32. IPFW 6-5 senior F Joe Edwards shoots a layup (left photo) in his first game with dreads against Manchester (who?) on Nov. 14. Edwards scored 13 points (6-8 FG) in the Mastodons' season-opening 74-50 victory. On the right, Edwards defends against a drive by G Kendall Stephens during a 63-43 road loss to Purdue.

.

33. Another senior in his first season with dreads, here's FIU 6-7 G Kris Gulley, being harassed by G Robert Brown (left photo) during a 70-53 CUSA road loss to UAB on Jan. 10 and, with his dreads dyed earlier in the season, defending against F Josh Cuthbertson during a 68-53 road loss to USC-Upstate on Nov. 27. Gulley was in the starting lineup in most of the Panthers' games but wasn't a star player. He scored in double figures 3 times in FIU's 16-17 season.
KRIS GULLEY (2014-15): 33 games, 20 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 38.8 FG%, 3.1 RPG

.

34. And here's yet another player who waited until his senior season before debuting his dreads. 6-3 G Cam Griffin of Denver goes to the basket for a shot (right photo) during an 85-84 home loss to Colorado State on Dec. 19. I added the photo on the left so you can get a good luck at Griffin's dreads from the rear, as he watches Rashawn Thomas put up shot after being fouled during 2nd half of Denver's 64-48 road win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Dec. 6. Griffin scored 16 points in that game and in double figures in 18 other games; so I think I erred not giving him an honorable mention nod on my all-America with dreads team.
CAM GRIFFIN (2014-15): 28 games, 33 MPG, 11.4 PPG, 54.2 FG%, 6.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.7 SPG

.

35. If Newark, NJ, native Abdul Lewis is planning on being the next Kenneth Faried, he's going to have to turn his dreads loose a lot more than this. Lewis' dreads might have made a great showing this season but didn't because (in every photo I've seen of him) he always kept them folded up and tucked in under his band. No, Abdul, this is not the look we want to see. Lewis, defending against Appalachian State G Dustin Clarke (on left) and having his shot blocked by Richmond F Trey Davis (right photo) on Dec. 18, had a fine freshman season for South Alabama, leading the Jaguars in rebounding. But apparently the 6-9 F got homesick and has transferred back home to NJIT.
ABDUL LEWIS (2014-15): 33 games, 28 MPG, 7.0 PPG, 46.8 FG%, 6.9 RPG

.

36. Paul Baxter, 6-1 junior G for Sam Houston State did not have dreads when the season began, and you just about needed binoculars to see his dreads at the end of the season; but they're there, as he has a hard time in the game against Stephen F. Austin (both photos) on Mar. 14. Baxter had 8 rebounds and 3 assists but shot 0 for 10 from the field and scored only 3 points as SHSU lost the SLC tournament championship game to SFA 83-70. Baxter started almost every game for the Bearkats and was just short of earning an honorable mention for the all-America with dreads team. If all goes well, SHSU will have (at least) two players with dreads next season.
PAUL BAXTER (2014-15): 35 games, 27 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 39.7 FG%, 2.7 RPG, 2.6 APG

.

37. Earlier we saw dreads at Bethune-Cookman, South Carolina State, and Delaware State. And Howard makes it 4 MEAC teams with players with dreads this season, that is if you count this look by 6-5 sophomore G Damon Collins as dreads (and I am). I welcomed Collins and his partial dreads to the house this season; but I'll be watching closely when next season begins to find out if he can stay or not. Collins, losing the handle on the ball against G James Palmer in a season-opening 84-49 loss to Miami (Florida) on Nov. 14 and watching Marcus Thornton dribble by him four nights later during a 56-49 loss at William & Mary, was a starter for the Bison in their 16-16 season.
DAMON COLLINS (2014-15): 30 games, 31 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 41.1 FG%, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.2 SPG

.

OK. Now it's time for some of my favorite shots from the season.

38. Richmond G Kendall Anthony tries in vain to keep Marcus Thornton from hitting a 3-pointer on Dec. 3 at Richmond. Thornton was on fire all game, hitting 14 of 18 from the field (8 for 11 on 3-pointers) for a career high 37 points. But W&M fell 1 point short, losing to the Spiders 68-67 to drop their record to 5-2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR2IdRs-F98

.

39. Whoa there, watch out. I don't know how they got to this point, but Iowa G Mike Gesell ends up landing on the back of Penn State F Brandon Taylor during 2nd half on Feb. 28; and neither player seems to be enjoying the moment. Taylor had 5 points and 4 rebounds in the Nittany Lions' 81-77 loss in OT, the 5th loss during their 6-game losing streak.  

.

40. With Chasson Randle's dreads just getting started this season, in a lot of photos you don't get a clear look at them. But that wasn't the case in this shot from Feb. 26, as he takes it to the basket against 7-0 C Cheikh N'diaye of Oregon State. Randle finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists as Stanford outscored OSU 47-18 in the 2nd half to roll to a 75-48 home victory.

.

41. Senior F David Rivers of Nebraska defends against senior F Kadeem Jack of Rutgers on Jan. 8 at Lincoln. Rivers had 4 points and 2 rebounds in 21 minutes as the Cornhuskers whipped the Scarlet Knights 65-49. Jack put me on alert when he began the new year with his hair in braids (and possibly dreads for a game or two); but eventually he decided it wasn't for him and cut his hair back to normal in early February.

.

42. Taurean Prince is feeling good after his 3-pointer to end the 1st half gives Baylor a 34-25 lead over Vanderbilt on Dec. 4 at Nashville. Prince hit all 3 of his 3-pointers in the game and finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists to help the Bears win 66-63 and improve to 7-1.

.

43. Ho-hum, just another rebound by Baylor junior F Rico Gathers. But I'm including this shot because, according to the caption, it was his 28th and last rebound of the game on Jan. 21 during an 81-61 home victory over Huston-Tillotson (who?). The 28 rebounds broke the Baylor school record that had been on the books for 60 years and also was a new Big 12 record. And oh, btw, Gathers also scored a career high 25 points in the game. 25 and 28 in 28 minutes. Nice game, eh?

.

44. Ex-dread G Anthony Hickey of Oklahoma State messes with Rico Gathers' dreads but can't get him to miss this slam dunk (no foul was called) early in 1st half on Jan. 27. Gathers had a more normal game for him in this one - 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots - but Baylor lost 64-53.

.

45. Louisville junior F Montrezl Harrell has the front-row fans ducking and a lot of others gaping as he goes flying into the seats (left photo) in pursuit of a loose ball during a 74-65 home loss to North Carolina State on Feb. 14. One week later Harrell has his headband dislodged by the elbow of Miami C Tonye Jekiri on a drive to the basket at Louisville on Feb. 21. Montrezl was called for an offensive foul. It was a slightly milder encounter between the two than the one they had late in the 1st half when Harrell (on purpose?) fired the ball off Jekiri's face from close range and picked up a technical foul. Both players ended up recording double-doubles in the game - 21 points and 14 rebounds for Harrell - as Louisville won 55-53.
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2015/02/21/rick-pitino-jim-larranaga-spar-montrezl-harrells-throw-tonye-jekiris-head/23811683

.

46. If you can't be home and/or with family for Christmas, you might as well be in Hawaii, right? ...... After getting his 2nd steal of the game, Ohio F Maurice N'dour goes in all alone but has his dunk blocked by the rim (ouch!) during 2nd half at Honolulu on Dec. 25. Ohio lost the game 71-58 in the battle for 5th place in the Diamond Head Clasic tournament.

.

47. Xavier Johnson also was in Hawaii for Christmas, here getting his shot rejected by C Tommy Hamilton during 1st half on Dec. 20. Johnson scored 20 points (the second of his two 20-point games this season) and added 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in Colorado's 82-68 win over DePaul in the 1st round.

.

48. Xavier Johnson puts up a shot over 6-11 C Stefan Jovanovic of Hawaii during 2nd half of the 3rd place game on Dec. 25. Xavier had 15 points and 8 rebounds but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied the game with 10 seconds remaining, allowing Hawaii to get the win 69-66.

.

49. 2 weeks later Xavier Johnson's season takes a turn for the worse as he goes down with a high ankle sprain (left photo) during 1st half of a 74-49 loss at Utah on Jan. 7. Johnson missed the next 2 weeks but wasn't about to miss the trip back home to L.A. at the end of January. Returning to action on Jan. 29, Johnson drives against F Malik Marquetti during CU's 98-94 win in triple OT over USC. X had 12 points and 5 rebounds in 36 minutes in that one but scored in double figures only 5 more times in CU's final 14 games of the season.

.

50. Sophomore C Brandon Bolden of Kansas State also suffered an injury this season, only he didn't ever make it back. His season ended here on Feb. 14 when he fell to the court during a game against Oklahoma and broke his wrist. Even worse, I have just found out that within the past week Bolden was granted a medical exemption, meaning he gets to stay on scholarship at K-State but can no longer be a member of the basketball team. That's what happens when you're not a very good player. The coaching staff deems you expendable and moves on without you. (Bolden wasn't forced to take the exemption; but having already transferred once - from Georgetown - and probably not wanting to do it again, and realizing that pro basketball wasn't likely to be in his future, well, you can't beat a free college education.)
BRANDON BOLDEN (2014-15): 17 games, 4 MPG, 0.9 PPG, 50 FG%, 0.9 RPG

.

51. Sophomore G Anthony Barber of North Carolina State drives against G Chris Jones during the Wolfpack's 74-65 road win over Louisville on Feb. 14. I was happy to welcome Barber to the house, as he switched from braids last year to dreads this season; but I wasn't too thrilled that he kept them banded together in every game all season. Come on AB, when your dreads are this short, you got to let them flow.

.

52. Hopefully some day Anthony Barber's dreads will be as long as Rod Hall's; but that day is probably years away. Here on Dec. 14 Hall dribbles away from G K.C. Ross-Miller (left photo) and goes to the basket for a layup (right photo). Hall hit 8 for 13 from the field and scored 20 points (only the second 20-point game of his career), helping offset the 8 turnovers (yikes!) he had, as Clemson improved to 6-3 with a 72-61 home win over Auburn.

.

53. Senior G Aaseem Dixon of Northern Arizona dribbles upcourt as Fresno State G Marvelle Harris defends on Nov. 20 at Flagstaff. After shooting a combined 2 for 23 in the first 2 games of the season, Dixon hit 7 of 9 from 3-point range and finished with 30 points in the Lumberjacks' home opener as they whipped Fresno State 73-52.

.

54. Aaseem Dixon drives against UTSA G Ryan Bowie late in 2nd half on Dec. 3. The drive ended with Dixon having his shot blocked by Bowie. In this game Aaseem made 9 3-pointers, including one with 32 seconds remaining that sent the game into overtime. But despite his career high 31 points, NAU lost at home to UTSA 88-83. 

.

55. Junior F Darnell Harris of MTSU goes up for a shot against FAU F Kelvin Penn in CUSA action on Jan. 10. Harris shooting the ball was a good thing for the Blue Raiders on this night as he hit 9 for 12 from the field and finished with a season high 24 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes. MTSU routed FAU 82-58.

.

You are now entering the Jameel McKay section of DG158 .....

56. After sitting out all of last season and the fall semester this season after transferring from Marquette, 6-9, 215-pound F Jameel McKay finally makes his debut for Iowa State on Dec. 20 against Drake, as he and teammate Abdel Nader go for a fake by Drake C Jacob Enevold Jensen on this play. McKay had 8 points and 5 rebounds in 13 minutes as the Cyclones whipped Drake 83-54.

.

57. Five seconds after a Kansas basket, Jameel McKay beats everyone down the floor and dunks to give Iowa State a 61-55 lead with 8:22 remaining on Jan. 17 at Ames. McKay had 6 points (including 2 dunks) and a blocked shot during an 11-2 run as ISU increased their 55-53 lead to 66-55. Jameel finished with 11 points and 3 blocked shots in 21 minutes as the #11 ranked Cyclones picked up a very crowd-pleasing 86-81 victory over #9 Kansas. 

.

58. Jameel McKay reaches high, but 7-0 F Anthony Allen of Oklahoma State reaches higher as they go for a rebound on Jan. 6. McKay had 5 points and 6 rebounds as the Cyclones won their Big 12 opener 63-61. As for Allen, those very well might be dreads he has; but I have seen a lot of photos where it looks like his hair definitely is in braids. Maybe at some point in the future I'll be able to welcome him to the house; but not this season.

.

In one of my DGs from last season I mentioned that the Iowa State-Kansas State matchups this season could have 4 players with dreads. Unfortunately that never materialized. Kourtlin Jackson, who was redshirting last season along with McKay, cut off his long dreads. And F D.J. Johnson of K-State missed this season due to injury. Instead it was the Iowa State vs. Baylor games that had the most players with dreads .....

59. In the first of those games F Taurean Prince looks on as Jameel McKay shoots over F Rico Gathers during 1st half on Jan. 14 at Waco. Gathers finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Prince had 5 points and 6 rebounds. And McKay had 8 points and 4 blocked shots. Despite blowing a 13-point lead in the 2nd half, Baylor won a thriller 74-73 to improve to 13-3. Iowa State dropped to 12-3. As was mentioned in DG157, Gathers, Prince, and McKay all were all-Big 12 selections this season and made my all-America with dreads team.

.

60. The rematch was in Ames on Feb. 28, and McKay is on the losing end of these rebound battles to Gathers (left photo) and Prince (right photo), with Prince rebounding an ISU miss 25 seconds after his 3-pointer had given Baylor a 69-66 lead.

.

61. A gentle shove from freshman F Jonathan Motley does absolutely nothing to prevent Jameel McKay from slamming home an offensive rebound to tie the game 8-8. It was the first of 5 dunks in the game for McKay .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIjuWWigX20
The last of those dunks gave the Cyclones a 62-54 lead with 8:28 to play. But then it was Prince's turn. Taurean hit three of the Bears' 6 3-pointers during an 18-4 run over the next 4 minutes that put Baylor in front 72-66. The Bears went on to win 79-70 ..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqGag1Pn2UA
Prince finished with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Gathers had 10 points and 7 rebounds. And McKay had a season high 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots in the defeat.
And one more thing. If you spent the whole season (like me) wondering if Motley was planning on doing anything with that hair he was growing, the answer is yes. The 6-foot-9 Motley had beginner dreads on the Bears' recent trip to Canada; so yes, I'm expecting there to be 4 key players with dreads playing when Iowa State faces Baylor next season.

.

Of course, Baylor vs. Iowa State wasn't the only time this season that players with dreads opposed each other .....

62. Senior F Reco McCarter of Campbell deals with the double team by senior G Rozell Nunn and F Keaton Jackson of SIU-Edwardsville on Dec. 17. Nunn scored 11 points for the Cougars. McCarter led the Camels in points, rebounds, and assists: 16, 11, and 6 (his only double-double of the season) as Campbell won at home 70-65.

.

63. Mississippi junior G Stefan Moody gets past Mississippi State freshman F Oliver Black for a layup during 2nd half on Jan. 28 at Oxford. Black finished with 5 points and 3 rebounds in 21 minutes. Moody had 14 points and 3 steals in 24 minutes as the Rebels picked up the first of their two wins over the Bulldogs this season 79-73.

.

64. Two of the three players with dreads in the Big 10 square off on Feb. 7 as Nebraska senior F David Rivers defends against Penn State junior F Brandon Taylor. Rivers had his usual 3 points and 3 rebounds in 22 minutes. Taylor had 11 points and 4 rebounds in 21 minutes. In a game in which the score comically was 6-6 with 9 minutes remaining in the 1st half, Penn State finally got going. Nebraska never did, shooting 29% for the game as Penn State won at home 56-43.

.

65. Sorry to do this to you, but this picture is only a tease - because you'll need a magnifying glass to see it. Believe me, I tried to find a larger version of this photo, featuring a battle for the ball between David Rivers and Terran Petteway of Nebraska and Maurice N'dour of Ohio on Dec. 25; but I couldn't. It's better than nothing, I guess. N'dour finished with 10 points and only 1 rebound. Rivers had 8 points and a career high 13 rebounds. Petteway had 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocked shots. Nebraska defeated Ohio 71-58. 

.

66. Maurice N'dour wins the battle and the war in a duel between the MAC's best two players with dreads on Jan. 24. With 3.2 seconds remaining in a tie game, N'dour catches a 70-foot pass and takes advantage of a bad defensive play by Moss to get to the basket for an easy 2-handed slam with 0.6 seconds remaining and give Ohio a 63-61 home win over Buffalo. The dunk was the last 2 of a career high 31 points for N'dour, who also had 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in 40 minutes. Moss was held to 11 points and 7 rebounds in 33 minutes ..... First the video, then the story .....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltdC2c0vHzM
http://www.athensnews.com/news/sports/ohio-men-s-nd-win-sparks-controversy-over-fist-pump/article_a0410b39-b5e7-570f-9ee0-53bcb348eb83.html 

.

67. Fans at the Louisiana Tech-North Carolina State game on Dec. 23 got to decide for themselves ..... who is quicker, Kenneth "Speedy" Smith of La Tech or Anthony "Cat" Barber of NC State? 

.

68. Well, it looks like Barber is quicker on this play. But that's not a question that would be easy to answer. Smith finished the game with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Barber had 17 points (7-12 FG) and 6 rebounds. La Tech led 50-32 with 14:10 remaining, but NC State came roaring back to win 73-65. With this loss added to earlier losses to Temple and Syracuse, it wasn't even Christmas yet and the Bulldogs already knew they had no chance of getting an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

.

69. Anthony Barber also got the better of Montrezl Harrell during their ACC game at Louisville on Feb. 14. Harrell had 7 points and 13 rebounds, while Barber finished with 21 points and 4 assists to lead the Wolfpack to a 74-65 win. But they would meet again.

.

70. Montrezl Harrell has a close encounter with Aron Phillips-Nwankwo as they try to gain possession of the ball on this play on Jan. 25 at Pittsburgh. APN had 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 7 minutes. Harrell finished with 19 points (8-12 FG) and 7 rebounds as Louisville defeated Pittsburgh 80-68.

.

71. And one more shot of Montrezl Harrell, this time battling for the ball against Clemson G Rod Hall at Louisville on Jan. 7. Neither player had a good game. Hall finished with 9 points (1-7 FG), 4 assists and 4 turnovers, while Harrell was held to 6 points and 6 rebounds as he played only 25 minutes. Louisville won 58-52.

.

72. Rod Hall drives to the basket for a shot against junior G Michael Qualls during 2nd half of Clemson's 68-65 upset of Arkansas in overtime on Dec. 7. Both Qualls and Hall led their teams in scoring. Qualls had 21 points and 6 rebounds, while Hall finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals.

.

73. It's a good thing this isn't football. Otherwise Michael Qualls would have been penalized 15 yards for showing off, and this dunk - which broke a tie midway through overtime vs. Alabama on Jan. 22 - wouldn't have counted. But since it's basketball, it's celebrated as one of the day's best highlights. Qualls had a lot of highlights in this game, as he finished with a career high 30 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 0 turnovers in 38 minutes as Arkansas won 93-91.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoepkZlYCi0

.

74. The other two of the three SEC players on the all-America with dreads team go to the basket on Mar. 3 at Tuscaloosa. Levi Randolph (left photo) did everything in his power trying to get the win on senior night, but his season high 32 points were not enough. Stefan Moody had 25 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals as Mississippi spoiled Alabama's senior night, defeating the Crimson Tide 82-74. Randolph and Moody both played 39 minutes and spent a lot of those minutes at the FT line, combining to hit 30 of 31 FT.

.

75. With time running out in the 1st half on Feb. 25, and with Marcus Thornton 2 points away from becoming William & Mary's all-time leading scorer, he tries to break the record in style; but F Walter Foster (#5) and G A.J. Astroth of Towson don't let him get the slam dunk that would have brought the house down. Foster was called for the foul, and Thornton made the 2 FT to surpass Chet Giermak's record of 2,052 career points that had stood for 65 years. Marcus finished the game with 23 points as W&M won 65-50.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgm_m8r0lVM

.

Let's finish off DG158 with a couple of shots from senior day/night.

76. Three days after becoming William & Mary's all-time leading scorer, Marcus Thornton poses with his family and Coach Shaver as he is honored before playing his final home game. Thornton had 19 points and 6 assists, but surprisingly the Tribe suffered a potentially devastating 80-66 loss to Drexel. The Tribe got help elsewhere though on the final day of league play and finished in a 4-way tie for 1st place in the CAA at 12-6, clinching the #1 seed on the tiebreaker.

.

77. On senior night at Nebraska David Rivers walks out with his mom and is presented his placard by Coach Miles before playing his final home game on Mar.8. The Cornhuskers battled hard trying to snap a 7-game losing streak but came up short, losing to #10 Maryland 64-61. Rivers fouled out of his final home game after getting 3 points and 5 rebounds in 25 minutes.

.

78. At Clemson senior day was celebrated this season on Feb. 28, which actually was 3 days before Clemson's final home game. Rod Hall and G Damarcus Harrison were honored and congratulated by Coach Brownell before going out and beating Georgia Tech 70-63 in OT to keep their postseason hopes alive as Clemson improved to 16-12, 8-8 in the ACC.

.

79. And on senior night at Louisiana Tech, Kenneth "Speedy" Smith, one of the best ever to wear a Louisiana Tech uniform, is not one to hide his emotions as he is honored before the Bulldogs' game against Southern Mississippi on Mar. 5. Smith had 2 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals and 10 assists as La Tech picked up their 27th straight home win and clinched the outright CUSA regular season championship with a 72-61 victory. Unfortunately for Speedy these would not be the last tears he would shed before the season was over.