Bulldogs Continue Road Trip with HBCU Tilt in Atlanta
Fisk has a tall order as they take on the Clark Atlanta Panthers.
ATLANTA -- The Fisk University Bulldogs (1-4) continue their "Murder's Row" schedule as they travel to Atlanta to take on Clark Atlanta in non-conference action. This will be the fourth meeting against an HBCU foe for Fisk this season.
The trip to Atlanta is a homecoming of sorts for four Bulldogs. Head coach Kenny Anderson played two years at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Senior Michael Ashley, sophomore Jeremiah Armstead, and freshman Soloman Mustafa-Reid all grew up in the ATL. Being back home is a treat for Ashley.
I am going to need about 50 tickets, so I am asking my teammates for passes," said Ashley. "Playing at home was something that Coach Kenny promised when he recruited me. It will be fun to be back home, but this is a business trip. We need to find a way to get a dub.
The Bulldogs are playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation. The game against Clark Atlanta will be their fifth against NCAA-sanctioned teams. Anderson wanted to have a tough schedule to prepare his team for the rigors of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference play.
"Our conference is a dogfight every night," said Anderson of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. "We put this schedule together to get guys prepared. We had Faulkner beat on the road but let them off the hook. TSU and Austin Peay got a run late in the first half that we couldn't overcome, and Wilberforce beat us last year. I want to see us compete. You must love tough competition. If not, you are on the wrong team."
Last season, the Bulldogs went 8-16, a five-game improvement from the previous season. Tyon Thompson is the leading returning scorer (13.5 per game). The junior will be supported by returning seniors Michael Ashley and Jayden Lockett. Sophomore Justin McNelkin will be called upon to help with scoring. Chris Spears Jr. and transfers Rodney Wiley and Allan Powell will be asked to run the offense.
Anderson's team is outsized so they will have to rely on their quickness and try to stay close rebounding the basketball.
The WMG "Pick 2 Click" is Michael Ashley.
Game 6: Fisk University (1-2) at Clark Atlanta (0-2)
Date/Time: Monday, November 20 | 6:00 p.m. (CST)
Watch: https://fan.hudl.com/United-States/GA/Atlanta/organization/23609/Clark-Atlanta-University/video
Live Stats: https://clarkatlantasports.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Location: L.S. Epps Gymnasium, Atlanta
Quick Hits
New Athletic Director with Old Roots Bringing New Direction
On October 6. 2023, Valencia Jordan was announced as the new Director of Athletics. Jordan returned to Fisk after playing basketball in 1981-82. She gained experience as the Assistant Athletic Director at Tennessee State University. She also coached volleyball and women's basketball there.
Anderson's Tough Schedule Will Be Key When Conference Play Starts
With two NCAA D1 teams (TSU and Austin Peay) on the schedule, one might think that head coach Kenny Anderson is setting his team up for failure. Anderson scheduled them, and NAIA powers Faulkner (AL) University, Clark Atlanta, Freed-Hardeman University, Bethel University, Life University, and Wilberforce University to set his team up for success once the conference season rolls around.
Spicy Wings
Anderson has some athletic wings at his disposal, in Jayden Lockett, Tyon Thompson, and Blake Goodman. Already this season, the three have shown up huge. Lockett, a former Mr. Basketball candidate in Tennessee, is filling up the scoresheet with "Scottie Pippen" type numbers. Against Wilberforce, he had a triple-double of 18 points, 12 boards, and 10 helpers. Thompson scored 22 points against Wilberforce, including the game-winning shot, and Goodman had 36 points against Faulkner.
The Trees Are Growing Around Good Trouble U
Anderson jumped into the transfer portal to get a much bigger lineup. Two transfer players will have to sit out until they are qualified. They are Brazilian import Hamilton Wallace is the tallest recruit for Anderson at 7'1, Tyree Martin is 6'9, and freshman Solomon Mustafa-Reid is 6'8. He played in his first game this season against Wilberforce.
"We now look like a college team," said Anderson. "These guys will help us in the paint on both ends."
SCOUTING THE CLARK ATLANTA PANTHERS
- Chris Martin led five players in double figures with 37 points in the 121-116 victory over Montavello. He leads the team with a 26.0 ppg average.
- Kharys Cayne (73%) and Shemani Fuller (68%) are shooting the ball at an outstanding rate this season. Clark has five players with at least ten attempts that are shooting at 50% or better.
- Cayne at 6'10 is the tallest of seven Panthers that are at least 6'7 or better.
The Bulldogs will play in the Bethel Classic on November 25-26.