— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s men’s basketball team is filled with youngsters getting their first taste of major college basketball.
That abundance of youth means the Herd will likely take some early season lumps as MU head coach Dan D’Antoni attempts to develop his team and figure out playing rotations.
One of those lumps came Sunday afternoon in Huntington at the Henderson Center as Marshall was humbled by a veteran Toledo team, 96-70.
Marshall got 20 points apiece from junior Jarrod West and sophomore Taevion Kinsey, but the other eight players to see action for the Herd combined for 30 points. Even returnees like juniors Jannson Williams and Darius George struggled against the Rockets, with the two combining for a mere 11 points.
Marshall fans used to the athletic style utilized by departed guards Jon Elmore and C.J. Burks may have been surprised to see Toledo use the same type of attack — or in effect, besting the Herd at its own game.
Rockets’ veterans Marreon Jackson, Luke Knapke, Dylan Alderson and Spencer Littleson were too much for the youthful Herd. Littleson was especially deadly, hitting 6-of-8 three-point attempts and scoring a career-high 27 points.
The Rockets shot nearly 52 percent from the field, 55 percent from 3-point land and out-rebounded Marshall by 14.
D’Antoni hopes the pain of defeat and domination ultimately pays off.
“Things will clear up,” D’Antoni said. “The ball will get moving and we’ll know where to go. I haven’t gotten a substitution pattern yet and I’m trying to figure out who belongs on the floor with who, where and how. When all that stuff takes place, I think you’ll see us rise back up to where we are very competitive.”
Marshall is able to get in plenty of practice this week before heading to South Bend, Indiana for a Friday night game at Notre Dame.
The Irish are 2-1 so far this season, losing to North Carolina by a 78-65 score in an early Atlantic Coast Conference matchup before knocking off Marshall’s season-opening opponent, Robert Morris by 35 points, and beating Howard on Tuesday, 79-50.
D’Antoni understands the challenge his team faces from the Fighting Irish, but he considers it all part of a growing process.
“It’s like a child before he can walk,” D’Antoni said. “You can hold him up there, but he’s going to fall down until he’s ready. I’m not too worried and I think there’s some things I saw (against Toledo) that we can work on and get better at, and I think these kids will.”
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Marshall’s fans got a nice compliment from veteran Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk after his club’s 26-point win on Sunday.
The Rockets had a 21-point halftime lead (55-34), but Kowalczyk said he was impressed that the vast majority of the 5,645 fans in attendance didn’t abandon the home team.
“The fan base here is unbelievable,” Kowalczyk said. “I’ve been at a lot of places where everyone left when the home team was down 21 at halftime, but no one here left and that’s a credit to what Dan has built here with his program and the community.”
After Friday’s trip to Notre Dame, Herd fans will get plenty of time to enjoy their team as Marshall will be home next week for two more contests — Nov. 19 against the College of Charleston and Nov. 21 against Howard.