GAME NOTES
The Prairie View A&M men's basketball team kick off the 2012-13 season on the road in Lubbock, Texas versus the Red Raiders of Texas Tech on Friday night at United Spirit Arena. The contest will be televised live by Fox College Sports beginning at 8 p.m.
? Texas Tech made a coaching change on Oct. 4 as Associate Head Coach Chris Walker was named interim head coach due to the departure of Billy Gillispie in September. This marks Walker's first-ever head coaching job.
? Friday's meeting marks the first matchup between PV and Texas Tech since 2000. The Red Raiders lead the all-time series 5-0.
? Texas Tech marks the first of two Big 12 teams the Panthers will play this fall as they'll play TCU on Nov. 18.
? Friday's game will mark the first time in the all-time series that PV and Tech will meet in the season opener for both teams.
? This marks the first meeting against Texas Tech for seventh-year PV head coach Byron Rimm II. Against the current lineup of Big 12 teams, Rimm holds an all-time record of 0-7.
? Texas Tech is 7-0 all-time against SWAC opponents with five wins versus PV and one each versus Grambling State and Alcorn State.
Expectations are high on “The Hill” this fall as the Prairie View A&M men's basketball team was picked to win the 2012-13 Southwestern Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship on Wednesday morning. This marked the highest preseason prediction by the Panthers since the 2003-04 campaign.
All five starters return from last year's squad which finished third overall in the SWAC standings. Entering his seventh year at the helm of the program, head coach Byron Rimm II is excited about the potential of this year's team as they return nine letterwinners in addition to adding eight newcomers. While the newcomers continue to gel and learn Rimm's system, the Panthers have a solid mix of experienced veterans to lean on led by senior guards Jourdan DeMuynck, Ryan Gesiakowski and Ronald Wright. Junior guard Louis Munks also returns along with sophomore Montrael Scott and Jimmie Duplessis as the Panthers won't have a problem with depth. Also joining the squad and expected to provide leadership this year is transfer point guard Carl Blair, who comes to Prairie View A&M from the University of Oklahoma.
Inside the paint, junior forward Jules Montgomery returns after posting a team-high 26 blocks in his first season at Prairie View A&M. Junior post Demondre Chapman is also back as he shot 50 percent from the field last year in addition to senior center Mayol Riathin. The Panthers also increased their depth in the paint as 6-9 junior Josh Eleby, 6-8 junior Patrick Agho, 6-7 freshman Wesley Afolayan and 6-8 junior Rasi Jenkins join the fold.
In addition to the SWAC Preseason rankings, Prairie View A&M has also been picked high in several preseason publications as they were picked to win the SWAC by Lindy's Sports and CBSSports.com. In addition, they were also selected to finish second by Athlon Sports.
The Panthers return home on Sunday for their home opener versus Schreiner College at 4 p.m. in the Baby Dome.
