2017–18 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team

The 2017–18 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball team represented Louisiana Tech University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bulldogs, led by third-year head coach Eric Konkol, played their home games at the Thomas Assembly Center in Ruston, Louisiana as members of Conference USA. They finished the season 17–16, 7–11 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for ninth place. As the No. 10 seed in the C-USA tournament, they defeated North Texas before losing to Old Dominion in the quarterfinals.

2017–18 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs basketball
Cancún Challenge Riviera Division champions
New Orleans Shootout champions
ConferenceConference USA
Record17–16 (7–11 C-USA)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaThomas Assembly Center
Seasons
2017–18 Conference USA men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Middle Tennessee162 .889258 .758
Old Dominion153 .833257 .781
Western Kentucky144 .7782711 .711
Marshall126 .6672511 .694
UTSA117 .6112015 .571
UAB108 .5562013 .606
North Texas810 .4442018 .526
FIU810 .4441418 .438
Southern Miss711 .3891618 .471
Louisiana Tech711 .3891716 .515
Florida Atlantic612 .3331219 .387
UTEP612 .3331120 .355
Rice414 .222724 .226
Charlotte216 .111623 .207
2018 C-USA Tournament winner

Previous season

The Bulldogs finished the 2016–17 season 23–10, 14–4 in C-USA play to finish in second place. They beat UAB in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament before losing to Marshall in the semifinals. Despite finishing with 23 wins, the school declined to participate in a postseason tournament marking the first time since 2013 that they did not participate in a postseason tournament.[1]

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Erik McCree2F6'8"225RS SeniorOrlando, FLGraduated
Da'Shawn Robinson23G6'4"210SeniorHouston, TXGraduate transferred to Lamar
Omar Sherman24F6'9"255JuniorDuncanville, TXTransferred to William Penn
Qiydar Davis25G6'6"220RS SeniorAtlanta, GAGraduate transferred to Indiana State
Luke Walker30G6'2"185SophomoreNew Orleans, LAWalk-on; graduate transferred to William Jessup

Incoming Transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious school
Harrison Curry24F6'7"230JuniorAnn Arbor, MIJunior college transferred from Pensacola State College
Kyle McKinley25F/C6'10"220RS SophomoreStillwater, MNJunior college transferred from Northeast CC

Recruiting class of 2017

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Anthony Duruji
#80 PF
Potomac, MDSt. Andrews Episcopal School6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)190 lb (86 kg)May 17, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Exavian Christon
SG
Hot Springs, ARHot Springs High School6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg)Sep 21, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Amorie Archibald
SG
Deltona, FLTrinity Christian Academy6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg)Sep 30, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   RivalsN/A   247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 15, 2017.

Roster

2017–18 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G0Jacobi Boykins6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)175 lb (79 kg)SrLakewood High SchoolSt. Petersburg, Florida
G1Derric Jean6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)JrMcArthur High SchoolMiami, Florida
G3Jalen Harris6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg)SoDuncanville High SchoolDuncanville, Texas
G4DaQuan Bracey5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)174 lb (79 kg)SoSt. Frances AcademyBaltimore, Maryland
C5Joniah White7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)215 lb (98 kg)RS JrGrenada High SchoolDuck Hill, Mississippi
F10Anthony Duruji6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)198 lb (90 kg)FrSt. Andrew's Episcopal SchoolGermantown, Maryland
G11JaColby Pemberton6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)180 lb (82 kg)RS FrLancaster High SchoolDallas, Texas
G15Jeremiah Taylor (W)6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg)SoLewisville High SchoolLewisville, Texas
G21Exavian Christon6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)197 lb (89 kg)FrHot Springs High SchoolHot Springs, Arkansas
F22Jy'lan Washington6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)195 lb (88 kg)JrStewarts Creek High SchoolSmyrna, Tennessee
F24Harrison Curry6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)230 lb (104 kg)JrPensacola State CollegeAnn Arbor, Michigan
C25Kyle McKinley6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)230 lb (104 kg)RS SoNortheast Community CollegeStillwater, Minnesota
F35Oliver Powell6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)230 lb (104 kg)SoRowlett High SchoolRowlett, Texas
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordSite (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017*
6:30 pm
UT TylerW 112–71 1–0
Thomas Assembly Center (3,271)
Ruston, LA
Nov 13, 2017*
6:30 pm
Southeast Missouri State
Cancún Challenge
W 96–95 OT2–0
Thomas Assembly Center (2,456)
Ruston, LA
Nov 18, 2017*
7:00 pm
Montana State
Cancún Challenge
W 71–58 3–0
Thomas Assembly Center (2,378)
Ruston, LA
Nov 21, 2017*
5:00 pm, CBSSN
vs. George Mason
Cancún Challenge Riviera Division semifinals
W 77–64 4–0
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Convention Center (842)
Cancún, Mexico
Nov 22, 2017*
7:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. Evansville
Cancún Challenge Riviera Division championship
W 63–61 5–0
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Convention Center (982)
Cancún, Mexico
Nov 29, 2017*
7:00 pm, SECN+
at No. 24 AlabamaL 74–77 5–1
Coleman Coliseum (12,062)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Dec 2, 2017*
6:00 pm
MilesW 106–55 6–1
Thomas Assembly Center (2,665)
Ruston, LA
Dec 6, 2017*
6:30 pm
Stephen F. AustinL 83–85 6–2
Thomas Assembly Center (3,041)
Ruston, LA
Dec 9, 2017*
6:00 pm
Jackson StateW 91–62 7–2
Thomas Assembly Center (2,668)
Ruston, LA
Dec 12, 2017*
6:30 pm
LouisianaL 71–75 7–3
Thomas Assembly Center (3,438)
Ruston, LA
Dec 16, 2017*
1:00 pm, LHN
at TexasL 60–75 7–4
Frank Erwin Center (8,828)
Austin, TX
Dec 21, 2017*
2:30 pm
vs. Alabama State
New Orleans Shootout semifinals
W 74–62 8–4
Convocation Center (300)
New Orleans, LA
Dec 22, 2017*
2:30 pm
vs. Fort Wayne
New Orleans Shootout championship
W 85–76 9–4
Convocation Center (250)
New Orleans, LA
Conference USA regular season
Dec 28, 2017
7:00 pm, beIN
at Western KentuckyL 68–69 9–5
(0–1)
E. A. Diddle Arena (4,897)
Bowling Green, KY
Dec 30, 2017
6:00 pm, ESPN3
at MarshallL 65–78 9–6
(0–2)
Cam Henderson Center (5,683)
Huntington, WV
Jan 4, 2018
6:30 pm, Stadium
UTSAL 76–78 9–7
(0–3)
Thomas Assembly Center (3,159)
Ruston, LA
Jan 6, 2018
6:00 pm
UTEPW 97–88 10–7
(1–3)
Thomas Assembly Center (3,654)
Ruston, LA
Jan 11, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN
at Middle TennesseeL 57–72 10–8
(1–4)
Murphy Center (4,418)
Murfreesboro, TN
Jan 13, 2018
4:00 pm, Stadium
at UABL 62–74 10–9
(1–5)
Bartow Arena (3,743)
Birmingham, AL
Jan 18, 2018
6:30 pm, Stadium
North TexasW 66–65 11–9
(2–5)
Thomas Assembly Center (4,236)
Ruston, LA
Jan 20, 2018
6:00 pm
RiceW 69–54 12–9
(3–5)
Thomas Assembly Center (3,836)
Ruston, LA
Jan 27, 2018
6:00 pm
Southern MissW 89–66 13–9
(4–5)
Thomas Assembly Center (4,269)
Ruston, LA
Feb 1, 2018
6:00 pm, Stadium
at Florida AtlanticW 67–62 14–9
(5–5)
FAU Arena (1,472)
Boca Raton, FL
Feb 3, 2018
6:00 pm
at FIUL 68–71 14–10
(5–6)
FIU Arena (2,463)
Miami, FL
Feb 8, 2018
7:00 pm, beIN
CharlotteW 83–65 15–10
(6–6)
Thomas Assembly Center (3,657)
Ruston, LA
Feb 10, 2018
6:00 pm, Stadium
Old DominionL 69–82 15–11
(6–7)
Thomas Assembly Center (4,031)
Ruston, LA
Feb 15, 2018
8:00 pm, CBSSN
UABW 73–60 16–11
(7–7)
Thomas Assembly Center (3,562)
Ruston, LA
Feb 17, 2018
6:00 pm, Stadium
Middle TennesseeL 70–87 16–12
(7–8)
Thomas Assembly Center (4,847)
Ruston, LA
Feb 22, 2018
6:00 pm, Stadium
at UTEPL 72–74 16–13
(7–9)
Don Haskins Center (5,386)
El Paso, TX
Feb 24, 2018
7:30 pm
at UTSAL 64–74 16–14
(7–10)
Convocation Center (1,624)
San Antonio, TX
Mar 3, 2018
4:00 pm
at Southern MissL 64–72 16–15
(7–11)
Reed Green Coliseum (2,687)
Hattiesburg, MS
Conference USA tournament
Mar 7, 2018
8:30 pm, Stadium
(10) vs. (7) North Texas
First round
W 68–62 17–15
The Ford Center at The Star 
Frisco, TX
Mar 8, 2018
8:30 pm, Stadium
(10) vs. (2) Old Dominion
Quarterfinals
L 58–62 17–16
The Ford Center at The Star 
Frisco, TX
*Non-conference game. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

References