Marshall Basketball: Bouncing Back After Virginia Loss

The Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team returns home to the Cam Henderson Center on Thursday, November 20th, looking to rebound from a tough 104-78 loss against the Virginia Cavaliers. The Herd (3-1) hosts the winless Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions (0-6) in a 4 p.m. EST matchup, with tip-off moved earlier to accommodate Marshall's NCAA men's soccer tournament game later that night.

Tough Lessons from Virginia

Despite the lopsided score, coach Cornelius Jackson found positives in the Virginia game. "We learned a lot and took several things from that game," Jackson stated. "One is the weight room. They were strong, and they were in shape. We have to elevate what we do conditioning-wise and strength-wise."

The standout performance came from freshman guard Landen Joseph, who exploded for 22 points in just 22 minutes, shooting 8-for-11 from the field including three three-pointers. "I felt comfortable," Joseph said. "I trust coach every day, and we were preparing for situations like this. No fear came out."

Marshall actually outscored Virginia 45-43 in the second half and held the Cavaliers scoreless for a seven-minute stretch. "We won the second half by two, but they also went seven minutes without scoring," Jackson noted. "But we fouled a bunch, and they shot 36 free throws. We have to capitalize on those opportunities."

Coach Cornelius Jackson strategizes during Marshall's game against Virginia - Image from https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.Qj5-K4RpNhj_RcPLgM3sGAHaEK&w=120&h=120&c=1&pid=5.1

Arkansas-Pine Bluff: A Dangerous Opponent

Though winless, the Golden Lions shouldn't be underestimated. UAPB has faced a brutal early schedule, playing four major-conference opponents (Washington, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and SMU) in their first six games. "I told our guys today, don't look at Arkansas-Pine Bluff's record," Jackson warned. "They play 11 straight road games, and they've played five so far. They have talent and their top players — Quion Williams transferred from Oklahoma State and Jaquan Scott is averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds after playing at Mississippi State."

Despite ranking No. 363 of 365 Division I teams by KenPom metrics, UAPB plays at a top-20 national pace and boasts three double-digit scorers. The Golden Lions' resilience was evident in their recent 106-60 loss at SMU, where they kept competing despite the deficit.

Team Chemistry and Depth

Marshall's strength lies in its depth and unselfish play. The Herd ranks 7th nationally in assists, with 70.9% of made shots assisted. "Our style is unique, and it's different than other teams," Jackson explained. "We want to get out in transition and move the ball. I think our guys are doing a great job of finding each other — character and selflessness."

Senior leadership has been crucial. Wyatt Fricks scored 34 points in Marshall's dominant win over Elon, while grad transfer Matt Van Komen has recorded double figures in scoring over three straight games. "It's like having a cheat sheet for a test," Joseph said of the veteran guidance.

The UAPB Golden Lions during a timeout against a major-conference opponent - Image from https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.1nga7g2LufOxNg6EeMigvAHaHa&w=120&h=120&c=1&pid=5.1

Young Talent Emerging

Beyond Joseph, freshmen Bryce Slay and others are gaining Jackson's trust. "At one point in an ACC game, we had two freshmen on the floor — two freshmen that are four games into their career that looked like they belong," Jackson emphasized. "We need to get stronger body-wise and maturity-wise, but that will come. We're 1 through 15 on the roster where we can play, we can shoot, we can pass and we believe."

Joseph's high basketball IQ stood out during film review sessions. "I was asking questions about film, and he had the answers," Jackson said. "There's a lot of older guys, so it shows me his basketball IQ is high. When he got on the floor, he had no fear."

Looking Forward

With the Virginia game serving as a "motivating factor," the Herd aims to turn lessons into improvement. "You can tell that those guys at that level prepare like they're going to the NBA," Jackson reflected. "It's a great lesson for our group. We won the second half, competed on the boards. Lots of positives. After watching the film, it was more about what we're doing."

As Marshall prepares to face UAPB, the focus remains on execution and continued development. "We can't look at their record," Jackson concluded. "We have to be focused and ready to play at a high level." The Herd aims to build momentum and prepare for future challenges with the same confidence and unselfishness that have defined their early-season success.