Work:
@WKDZ
. Tweets: my own. Joys: KY, sports, news. Hubs of
@emcarr23
. Official 'Hall of Shamer.' Email: journalist.edward
@gmail
.com. Should be fun.
Former Murray State point guard and current Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has weighed in on the Confederate statue in the downtown courtsquare of Murray, Ky.
Ja Morant not only led the bubble in assists per game (9.9), but was third in total minutes played (37.8) behind...Portland's Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
Murray State. Weber State. Lehigh.
With his 28 points tonight, Murray State's Ja Morant became the single-season points leader in Racer history (808).
The guy he passed? Hall of Famer Jeff Martin, who had 806 in the 1987-88 season.
(Per:
@RacerDave23
)
Former Murray State point guard Cameron Payne is neither the oldest player at the NBA Summer League (Jeff Ledbetter, 31), nor is he toting the most NBA experience there (Jimmer Fredette, 6).
He's 24 with some mileage, sure. Why people crap on him trying to get back is beyond me.
The 10th finalist, randomly revealed, for the 2019 Lexington Herald-Leader Kentucky Sports Figure of the year Award made Murray State men's basketball must-see TV in 2018-19, was a 1st Team AP All-America selection & the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft
"I just thanked him for what he's done, not only for our program, not only what a joy he's been to coach this season and through the whole recruiting process, but thanked him for what's he done for Murray State University."
Matt McMahon, on Ja Morant
(photo:
@AP
)
A guy just proposed on Kiss Cam here at the CFSB Center. She said yes (thankfully).
Meanwhile, I did that back in 2012. The Racers lost, we broke up, and everyone is better for it in the end.
Good story.
Some personal news:
I've been named the sports editor of The Paducah Sun.
Nothing changes. I'm still covering Murray State and assisting with prep. But I have ideas. I have a voice. And I'm here for you: the reader.
Murray State's Ja Morant is the third-ever consensus All-American for the OVC, since Clem "The Gem" Haskins (1967) and Jim McDaniels (1971) did it for Western Kentucky.
Per
@kschwartz74
,
@RacerDave23
and
@OVCSports
.
Five whole minutes on Ja Morant to open SportsCenter tonight.
Not Zion Williamson. Not LeBron James. Not Lavar Ball.
Ja Morant. Sophomore. Murray State.
Two years ago, the Missouri Valley sniffed at adding Belmont and Murray State as travel partners to the league.
Today, they're both headed to the 2019 NCAA Tournament as members of the OVC. Just, soak that in.
The first photo I took of Ja Morant came during a summer practice, just before the start of his 2017-18 freshman year at Murray State.
He's guarding Shaq Buchanan. Matt McMahon is watching.
In those moments, you don't know how the story will go.
Today, an incredible chapter.
MSU's Matt McMahon was 33-31 in his first two years. Racers were 54-11 the next two, in arguably the most memorable 24 months of CFSB Center history.
It takes TIME and DEVELOPMENT.
Wofford’s Mike Young went 74-103 without a winning season in his first 6 years. Since then, he has been to the NCAA tournament 5 times in 10 years. Sustaining a winning foundation takes time, patience, and losing seasons. Most coaches/staffs do not have that luxury.
Of the five Bob Cousy Award finalists (Howard, Morant, Winston, Perkins, Waters), MSU's Ja Morant is:
-- 1st in assists
-- 1st in FG%
-- 1st in blocks
-- 1st in minutes
-- 1st in rebounds
-- 2nd in steals
-- 2nd in points
-- 2nd in shots attempted
-- least in fouls
Last night, I learned that Marshall County track and field coaching assistants have been helping out Jared Rosa and Murray High track athletes finish out the season strong.
If that's not the definition of a good neighbor, I'm not certain what is.
ATTENTION KENTUCKY DRIVERS:
Located on the left side of your steering wheel is what is commonly referred to as your "blinker."
In its down position, your left blinker will flash -- indicating a left turn. Up? You got it; a right turn.
For all that is holy: USE IT.
Well, good news:
Thanks to a VERY GRACIOUS sponsor, I'm on my way to San Diego to see the Racers take on West Virginia.
A special shoutout to Usher Transport out of Louisville and Paducah, who answered my California dreams.
Stay classy, and please read the Paducah Sun.
Under the cover of Bowling Green darkness, Marshall County's Jay Nimmo slips in a par putt on No. 18.
He is your two-time KHSAA individual boys golf state champion.
As Paducah Tilghman begins its renovation of the arts building into a new athletic facility, this was recently discovered underneath some flooring.
I freakin' love this logo.
The loud boos for Gov. Andy Beshear, at the Kentucky Derby and on national television, are an absolute joke.
Agree or disagree with his politics, no one is thrilled to be dealing with a global pandemic and record unemployment. His actions saved hospitals, and lives.
Memphis Grizzlies.
Los Angeles Clippers.
Sacramento Kings.
And let's add the Brooklyn Nets to the list, as Murray State's Shaq Buchanan is headed there later this week for his fourth NBA workout before the NBA Draft.
In an open letter to Murray mayor Bob Rogers, Murray City Council and local media outlets, Murray State assistant football coach Sherman Neal II (
@Neal_MurrayStFB
) has called for the removal of a Confederate statue on the court square of Murray, Ky.
His points:
Sporting News' 2018-19 college basketball All-Americans:
🏀 RJ Barrett /
@DukeMBB
🏀 Rui Hachimura /
@ZagMBB
🏀 Grant Williams /
@Vol_Hoops
🏀 Zion Williamson /
@DukeMBB
🏀 Cassius Winston /
@MSU_Basketball
Details + second and third teams 👉
FINAL, MBB: Murray State 77, Belmont 65.
An incredible second half ends with the Racers claiming a second-consecutive OVC title.
Ja Morant had 36 points, but you give that game ball to Darnell Cowart. Changed everything.
Remember when people questioned whether Alexis Burpo should be playing Division I basketball?
She played 35 minutes today in a win, and she's shooting 46 percent from the floor and is averaging 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 20 mpg.
Silence the questions.
Guys I've heard Ja Morant compared to:
Latrell Sprewell
Muggsy Bogues
Allen Iverson
Rajon Rondo
Magic Johnson
Nate Archibald
Isiah Thomas
Russell Westbrook
Damian Lillard
Lonzo Ball
"Pistol" Pete Maravich
That's awesome. But perhaps he's just himself. Perhaps he's just "Ja."
Amazing.
Marshall County and Henderson County were seconds away from tipping off in the opening round of the 2020 KHSAA Sweet 16, when COVID literally arrived.
Tomorrow, they play each other for a berth in the 2021 state title game.
Can't even write stories like that.
In Ja Morant's three contests against Power 5 opponents (Alabama, Auburn, Marquette):
+ 26.67 ppg
+ 9.33 apg
+ 9.33 rpg
+ 7.33 topg
+ 53.8 percent shooting
This has been your factual Friday.
With his 90 3-pointers made during the 2018-19 season, MSU freshman Tevin Brown could finish with 360 makes in a four-year college career.
Would shatter current Racer record holder Isaiah Canaan, who owns the career mark of 304.
This time tomorrow, Kentucky will be enjoying high school baseball and softball. A lot of players who haven't had a meaningful swing in nearly two years -- back on the diamond after a painful wait.
Happy for athletes. Embrace this season.
So, Murray State's Class of 2020:
-- 6-3 PG Dionte Blanch
-- 6-6 SF Ja'Queze Kirby
-- 6-8 PF Nicholas McMullen
-- 6-6 SF Jackson Sivills
Size. Size. And more size.
@ryanhermens
@heraldleader
Ryan, you may never get a better photo in your life, but I know you'll try.
You nailed Christmas, its meaning, and the pain west Kentucky feels as a collective following these storms.
It's really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that, for two years, Ja Morant continued to build himself at Murray State. Staff and teammates lauded his work ethic, his skill and his demeanor.
And we watched him grow.
Today, he's the 2019-20 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Awesome.
Through 11 games this season, Murray State's Tevin Brown is the only player in the country with 40 made 3-pointers, 40 assists and 60+ rebounds.
Take that for data.
MSU's Shaq Buchanan had worked out with Memphis, the Brooklyn Nets, the LA Clippers and the Sacramento Kings before Memphis offered an opportunity.
I'm not into player comps, but Buchanan really reminds me of a young Tony Allen. And boy, that went well in Memphis, didn't it?
Do you want to know why
@WPSDLocal6
cuts in to your silly football and basketball games for weather alerts?
Because of nights like tonight, where they are prepared to save lives across the quad-state area for hours at a time.
Here's a tip: Wheel of Fortune can wait.
If that was the end of the Tevin Brown and KJ Williams' career in a Murray State uniform -- salute. An absolute joy to watch them play. If it's not -- well, that's fine, too.
My brother would've been 35 today.
I don't do this often, but I felt compelled to tell you today that if you -- or anyone you know -- is gripping with depression and suicidal thoughts, there's always another way. Love is on the other side.
Just a nudge can save a life.
FINAL: Murray State 74, Memphis 72.
Racers move to 8-1. Down 14, shoot 10-for-15 from the arc in the final 20 minutes.
An absolute stunner in FedEx. Tigers tamed.
Marshall County softball finished the 2018 season 29-10, managed to crack the state's top 10 and won the First Region Tournament for the first time since 2009. Check. Check. Check.
FINAL: Murray State 40, No. 19 SEMO 38.
SEMO blew a 31-point lead, grabbed it back with 30 seconds to go, and then Malik Honeycutt returned the squibbed kickoff 79 yards to win the game.
Improbable. Unfathomable. But it happened.
Racers 5-2 in OVC.
Here's the deal:
I started with Tilghman FB, but it honestly needs to improve statewide.
Supporting local athletics is one of the most wholesome things a person can do. You can change lives in that moment. Win or lose, community is the most important thing.
I'm really worried that storms like these destroy towns permanently. Not city limits. Just, soul. So hard to recapture rural America.
Let's rebuild Mayfield, Dawson Springs, Princeton and everything in the middle.
So when did Murray State MBB coach Matt McMahon know Ja Morant was NBA-bound in 2019?
Directly after the conclusion of his freshman season. April 2018.
If I had a vote in the matter, I'd likely select Hutson School of Agriculture's Tony Brannon as the interim at Murray State.
I mean seriously: what better person to navigate an oncoming financial drought than a farmer who loves education and Racer Athletics?
Bella Batts just hit the game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Hickman County has defeated McCracken County 9-8.
It's only the second time in Lady Mustang history that a First Region team has beaten them.
Holy moly Clinton is partying tonight.
I can also confirm that University of Kentucky's Dean Hood will be the next football coach at Murray State.
A press conference to announce this decision will likely occur on Saturday afternoon in Murray.
I think the toughest part of covering tournaments isn't the writing or the games, but seeing high school seniors upset because it's over. Childhood melts into adulthood.
I'm not sure I like the idea of folks rejoicing in McCracken County's loss tonight.
What I did like was that, despite a stunning defeat, the Lady Mustangs and Lady Bombers still managed a tight prayer circle and shook hands. McCracken is trying to take the loss with grace.
Murray State head coach Matt McMahon commissioned a special poster, courtesy of
@helixcreative
, for Ja Morant and the 2019 NBA Draft Night.
A to-be-treasured and very rare relic, indeed.
(photo:
@JRolsie
)
After Cam Payne's jersey retirement celebration, Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams lingered and took photos of the CFSB Center and the celebration.
The man really is all class, all the time.