Kyle Borland Coaching Legacy (CH2K8)

[kblu54]

im back

sorry for the hiatus but I had no internet access for the past week

update coming tonight

[kblu54]

EIU wins big

EIU rolls Campbell in Tourney opening round
EIU Basketball News

EIU made a statement in the 1st round of the South Padre Island Tourney, blowing out Campbell 89-61. The Panthers were led by their starting backcourt tandem of junior PG D'or Dupre and senior SG Lloyd Giles, who combined for 31 points.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 89
Campbell, 61

EIU Top Performers:
D'or Dupre, PG --- 16 pts, 4 asts, 2 blks
Lloyd Giles, SG --- 15 pts, 2 stls, 2/4 3PT

EIU will face North Carolina A&T in the Tourney final.

Current Record: 2-1
Next Game: EIU vs. N.C. A&T (Final --- South Padre Island Tourney B)

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EIU wins tourney

EIU claims Tourney title with 3rd straight win
EIU Basketball News

EIU snatched the South Padre Island Tourney B title this week in dominating fashion, crushing North Carolina A&T 78-55 in the final. The win was the Panthers' 3rd straight win and is the 2nd in-season tournament title in a row. Last year, EIU claimed the 100 Club Classic title with 2 nail-biting victories.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 78
N.C. A&T, 55

EIU Top Performers:
Skip Maye, C --- 14 pts, 9 rebs
Lloyd Giles, SG --- 13 pts, 2 rebs, 2 asts, 6/6 FT

The Panthers will stay on the road and will have to beat a tough opponent to keep their current win streak alive. EIU travels to Tennessee to take on #22 Memphis in the rubber match between both programs. A few years ago, the Panthers upset then-#1 Memphis in the season opener, but Memphis got revenge the following season in a tough battle. This game should be a good one, as both teams want the bragging rights.

Current Record: 3-1
Next Game: EIU @ #22 Memphis

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EIU loses

Poor shooting, Memphis late run dooms EIU
EIU Basketball News

It was another tough battle in the recent rivalry between Memphis and EIU, but it was the #22-ranked Tigers that pulled out the victory thanks to a late scoring surge and a poor shooting effort by the Panthers.

EIU tied the score at 46 with only 6 minutes to play, but Memphis closed the game with a 15-4 run to put the Panthers away. EIU shot only 27% from the field for the game, including going 1-13 down the stretch.

Final Score:
#22 Memphis, 61
Eastern Illinois, 50

EIU Top Performers:
Skip Maye, C --- 10 pts, 10 rebs
Ryan Morandais, C --- 6 pts, 11 rebs

The Panthers will open OVC play next week on the road, taking on Murray State. EIU went 3-0 against the Racers last season, including a 66-55 victory in the OVC final that granted the Panthers their 2nd NCAA Tournament berth in 3 years.

Current Record: 3-2
Next Game: EIU @ Murray State (OVC opener)

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EIU loses

EIU upset in OVC opener
EIU Basketball News

EIU could not pull out the win in their OVC opener this week, dropping a 68-59 decision to Murray State. The Panthers had won their last 3 conference openers but lost the struggle to the Racers on the road.

Junior star PG D'or Dupre did all he could in trying to bring home the victory but he did not get the help he needed. EIU and Murray State traded the lead many times during the course of the game, but a late 5-0 run by Murray State gave them just the edge they needed.

Final Score:
Murray State, 68
Eastern Illinois, 59

EIU Top Performers:
D'or Dupre, PG --- 17 pts, 4 asts
Ryan Morandais, C --- 7 pts, 5 rebs, 3 asts

Interview with Coach Borland following the loss...

Reporter: Coach, last year your team got off to a hot 5-0 start and dominated your schedule. This season, your Panthers currently sit at 3-3 following this loss. Has your team lost its focus after having such an amazing season last year?

Coach Borland: I wouldn't say we've lost our focus, I'd say we're just getting used to the new rotation. We brought back everybody from last year but we threw in Morandais. Not saying that he is killing our team, but throwing in a new guy who's gotten lots of minutes and starts over guys from last year's team throws everybody's priorities and roles into semi-chaos. We're still learning but we are still a dangerous team. Murray State is a great program and we are not ashamed by this loss. It only motivates us to get better on a daily basis.

Reporter: Coach, after last season's success, do you feel more pressure from the EIU administration and boosters to win?

Coach Borland: Not really, but failing to achieve our goals this year after last year would look bad for any coach. The administration and the boosters have put their faith in me, my players and the program and I am not afraid of anything. This slow start is not a sign of the season to come. We are just adjusting and we will turn it around soon.

Reporter: Thank you Coach.

Coach Borland and the Panthers will look to even their OVC record next week at home, as they will welcome Tennessee-Martin to Lantz Arena. Last season, EIU waxed UT-Martin in both contests by an average of 19 points, including last season's OVC opener victory.

Current Record: 3-3 (0-1 OVC)
Next Game: Tennessee-Martin @ EIU

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EIU wins

EIU back on track with solid win
EIU Basketball News

EIU evened its OVC record with a 72-55 home victory over visiting Tennessee-Martin. Junior PG D'or Dupre turned in another solid performance as the Panthers never trailed and led by as much as 18.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 72
Tennessee-Martin, 55

EIU Top Performers:
D'or Dupre, PG --- 16 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts, 2/4 3PT
Jacob McDaniel, SG --- 12 pts, 2 asts, 5/8 FG

EIU will put their OVC schedule temporarily on hold as they will compete in 3 straight non-conference matchups. The Panthers travel to Iowa to take on another Panther squad in Northern Iowa from the Missouri Valley. EIU has not beaten a MVC team yet, including last year's tough overtime loss to Illinois State.

Current Record: 4-3 (1-1 OVC)
Next Game: EIU @ Northern Iowa

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EIU falls

EIU drops road game
EIU Basketball News

EIU's losing streak against the Missouri Valley was increased to 3 as the Panthers dropped a tough 61-51 decision to Northern Iowa. The loss puts EIU back at .500 for the season but their non-conference record drops to 3-2.

Final Score:
Northern Iowa, 61
Eastern Illinois, 51

EIU Top Performers:
M.C. Watkins, SF --- 12 pts, 6 rebs
D'or Dupre, PG --- 8 pts, 3 asts, 2 stls, 2/5 3PT

The Panthers return home next week to welcome Ball State to Lantz Arena. EIU is 2-0 against MAC teams under head coach Kyle Borland, their last victory coming on a 69-66 win over Akron in year 3.

Current Record: 4-4 (1-1 OVC)
Next Game: Ball State @ EIU

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EIU wins

Superior defense notches win for EIU
EIU Basketball News

EIU snatched a non-conference victory over Ball State at home this week, using some amazing defensive play to shut down their opponents in a 59-47 win. The Panthers held Ball State to only 21% shooting and forced 22 turnovers, including a season-high 13 steals.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 59
Ball State, 47

EIU Top Performers:
D'or Dupre, PG --- 12 pts, 4 asts, 5 stls
Rod Bobik, SF --- 11 pts, 5 rebs, 2 stls

EIU will hit the road for another tough non-conference road matchup, taking on in-state powerhouse Illinois. The Fighting Illini began the season ranked #19 but have recently dropped out of the Top 25.

Current Record: 5-4 (1-1 OVC)
Next Game: EIU @ Illinois

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EIU loses

EIU can't match up with Illinois, lose defensive battle
EIU Basketball News

EIU couldn't overcome a strong defensive effort by a superior-talented Illinois team despite playing good defense of their own, losing 59-49 on the road. The Panthers shot only 24% from the field and turned the ball over 16 times, including a season-high 7 turnovers from star PG D'or Dupre. 6th man junior SF M.C. Watkins paced EIU with 15 points off the bench, the 2nd time he's led the Panthers in scoring in the last 3 games. EIU lost both games when he was the leading scorer.

Final Score:
Illinois, 59
Eastern Illinois, 49

EIU Top Performers:
M.C. Watkins, SF --- 15 pts, 2 rebs, 2 asts
Ryan Morandais, C --- 7 pts, 7 rebs, 3 blks

Coach Borland: "We just can't seem to break this funk we're in. We should have taken at least 2 from the 4 tough non-conference teams we've played, but we have lost all 4. We need to get our act together and start playing Panther basketball like we know how, like we played all last season. We need to get a conference win next week and close out the non-conference schedule on a good note."

Coach Borland and the Panthers fall back to .500 on the season and see their non-conference record fall to .500 (4-4) as well. Last season, EIU finished 6-2 in non-conference action, including an overtime upset over LSU. Next week, the Panthers return home to welcome OVC foe Tennessee Tech before hitting the road for their final non-conference matchup at Florida Atlantic. EIU split with Tech last season.

Current Record: 5-5 (1-1 OVC)
Next Game: Tennessee Tech @ EIU

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EIU splits

EIU splits this week, looks ahead to OVC play
EIU Basketball News

EIU split this past week and finished up their non-conference schedule in the process, sneaking past Tennessee Tech on a buzzer beater but then dropping a 3-point decision to lowly Florida Atlantic.

Tech and EIU continued their recent rivalry with a hard-fought battle at Lantz Arena, including a wild final minute, in which the lead changed 5 times. The final change gave the Panthers the victory, as Rod Bobik's runner off the glass with no time remaining proved to be the difference.

EIU then laid an egg on the road in their final non-conference matchup, losing 51-48 to Florida Atlantic. The Panthers' had more shooting woes as they only shot 22% from the floor and was only 1 of 16 from behind the arc.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 58
Tennessee Tech, 57

EIU Top Performers:
Skip Maye, C --- 11 pts, 10 rebs
D'or Dupre, PG --- 7 pts, 9 rebs, 7 asts, 3 stls

Final Score:
Florida Atlantic, 51
Eastern Illinois, 48

EIU Top Performers:
D'or Dupre, PG --- 10 pts, 3 rebs, 5 asts
J.D. Lovelace, C --- 11 pts, 7 rebs

Coach Borland, following the Florida Atlantic loss:
"Well, it's been a frustrating start to the season, but our non-conference worries are over and we can now concentrate on winning the OVC again. We are still working out some kinks but I feel with our focus on teams we have played and beaten before, we should be able to smooth out the rough edges and go on a big winning streak. I'm very excited for the rest of the season."

Coach Borland and the Panthers will look to begin their quest for a 2nd-straight regular season OVC championship next week on the road, as they visit Jacksonville State. EIU has won their last 8 games against JSU and are 8-2 against them under Coach Borland.

Current Record: 6-6 (2-1 OVC)
Next Game: EIU @ Jacksonville State

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EIU wins

Freshman's double-double leads EIU to victory
EIU Basketball News

Freshman C Ryan Morandais paced EIU with 14 points and 10 rebounds for his 1st career double-double as the Panthers dominated Jacksonville State on the road 60-49. Morandais was solid all game long as EIU built a strong lead and never trailed in the OVC matchup. Star PG D'or Dupre added 9 assists in the Panthers' 9th straight win over JSU.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 60
Jacksonville State, 49

EIU Top Performers:
Ryan Morandais, C --- 14 pts, 10 rebs
D'or Dupre, PG --- 5 pts, 9 asts, 3 stls

EIU returns home to Lantz Arena for two OVC contests next week, welcoming Samford and their slow-down tempo first before taking on Morehead State. The Panthers fell victim to Samford's style last season but managed to split the season series, while they swept MSU in close fashion, only averaging a 5.5 margin of victory.

Current Record: 7-6 (3-1 OVC)
Next Game: Samford @ EIU

[crques]

Re: Year 5 Roster, Schedule, Top 25

I'm really enjoying reading your thread. It's helping this slow day at work go by a little quicker. LOL Just curious, you said you were coaching. What level are you on and have you adjusted any sliders? Sounds like you're having a lot of fun with this so I thought I might give coaching a try when I get time this week.

[kblu54]

Re: Kyle Borland Coaching Legacy (CH2K8)

I play on All-American and the sliders are the default except stealing ability and interception is down way low to like 20.

[kblu54]

EIU wins 2

EIU rolls twice this week at home
EIU Basketball News

EIU picked up two huge home blowouts this week, dominating Samford 63-34 before thrashing Morehead State 72-43. It was a collective team effort this week for the Panthers, as all players chipped in extremely well.

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 63
Samford, 34

EIU Top Performers:
Skip Maye, C --- 16 pts, 7 rebs, 2 blks
Rod Bobik, SF --- 11 pts, 6 rebs, 2 stls, 2/2 3PT

Final Score:
Eastern Illinois, 72
Morehead State, 43

EIU Top Performers:
J.D. Lovelace, C --- 13 pts, 8 rebs, 2 blks
D'or Dupre, PG --- 11 pts, 4 rebs, 8 asts

EIU has a loaded week next week with 3 OVC matchups. The Panthers will hit the road first to take on SE Missouri State before returning home to welcome Tennessee State and a rematch with Jacksonville State. Last season, EIU swept both SEMO and TSU by an average of 25.0 pts and 36.0 pts, respectively. The Panthers have already beaten JSU earlier 60-49 on the road and looks to push their winning streak over JSU to 10.

Current Record: 9-6 (5-1 OVC)
Next Game: EIU @ SE Missouri State

[crques]

Re: Kyle Borland Coaching Legacy (CH2K8)

Good luck man. Glad to see that your team seems to be getting things turned around.