Greyhounds Open Season with Tipoff Classic

Basketball season is here, and Greyhound fans will get their first look at the 2016-17 team this weekend at the Greyhound Tipoff Classic held at The Dog House.

Coming off back-to-back 18-win seasons, the men of ASU Mid-South return three sophomores from last season's record-setting team: Teverette Cain, Ladarius Mason and Chris Smith.

Cain, a 6'4" guard from Memphis, is expected to take some of the scoring load this season with an outstanding mid-range game that is a perfect fit in the offensive system. Long and smooth, he can also hit the three and finish at the rim and provides high basketball IQ on the defensive end.

As the returning leader in points and rebounds, Mason is perhaps one of the Greyhounds' best all-around players. The 6'5" forward has a potent jump hook inside, but also stretches the defense with his ability to hit the three-pointer.

Smith, a 6'8" forward, returns from a team who led the nation in rebounding a year ago and should help the Greyhounds continue to control the paint. A physical defender who loves contact, he provides offense inside and is the grit and grime in the Greyhound machine.

Joining the three returners are ten new faces who look to help the program continue to set records and establish new standards.

Forwards include K.J. Patrick, a 6'6" scorer from Russellville, Arkansas; Trevor Banks, a 6'7" athlete from Senatobia, Mississippi; and Koray Erdogan, a 6'9" transfer from Howard College (TX) who comes from Istanbul, Turkey.

New faces in the backcourt include Montee Randle, a 6'3" combo guard from Forrest City, Arkansas; 5'11" point guard D'Ayerian Montgomery from Horn Lake, Mississippi; Jerrick Cole, a 5'10" guard from Little Rock's J.A. Fair High School; brothers Terrandus Smith, a 6'4" shooting guard, and Terrikous Smith, a 6'1" shooting guard, from Jackson South Side High School in Jackson, Tennessee; KeShaun Davis, a 6'3" wing from Mineral Springs, Arkansas; and Silas Finch, a 6'0" guard from Nettleton High School in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The Greyhounds set several records last season as they averaged 92.8 points per game to finish seventh in the nation, which no doubt has helped draw an average crowd that has finished in the top five in the nation in attendance every season played in The Dog House. And with the talent that continues to find its way to ASU Mid-South, this looks like it may be the best yet.

Tickets for the tournament are $5 for adults and $3 for students, but Dog Pack memberships are available for purchase which include a season pass, t-shirt and more. Contact Elizabeth Williams to get your membership today at 870-733-6764.