by Erika Plunkett | Jun 29, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Summer is already over for the Lipscomb basketball teams, which have returned to campus to get acquainted with new faces among players and staff and begin preparations for their 2019-20 campaigns. Although these teams experienced very different stories last year—with the men’s team’s NIT Finals run earning them the ASUN Beam Award and the women experiencing one of the worst seasons in program history—both teams begin this season after tremendous turnover and tumult in their programs. The men’s team’s turnover came as the result of the success of prior coach Casey Alexander, who took the job at his alma mater, Belmont, after legendary coach Rick Byrd retired. In his six years at Lipscomb, Alexander’s teams had a 113-84 record, posting three straight 20-victory seasons, including the 29-8 campaign that took them to the NIT finals last season. The year before, he led the Bisons to their first-ever NCAA March Madness berth. It was a lack of success that shaped the change in the women’s program. In four years, coach Greg Brown posted a 44-164 record. The Lady Bisons finished last season 4-25 in a campaign that included a 19-game losing streak. The school looked for new vigor from a new leader for that program. After a number of player departures, two first-time Division I head coaches, men’s basketball’s Lennie Acuff and women’s basketball’s Lauren Sumski, take over as the new head coaches of Lipscomb’s basketball programs. Joining these two are four new assistants and 12 new players, including eight on the men’s team, bringing a new vibe to Lipscomb basketball. During their battle to the NIT Finals in Madison...
by Erika Plunkett | Jun 13, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Former Lipscomb pitcher Chris Kachmar was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 28th round of the Major League draft. The right-hander, who finished his senior campaign with a record of 9-3 and a 3.61 era, was a first-team all-conference selection in the ASUN. He also earned ASUN pitcher of the week awards in two consecutive weeks at the end of the regular season for his performances against North Florida and Liberty. “I think the thing that stands out to everybody about Chris is just his work ethic and how much he has improved since we got him,” said Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand. “He and our pitching coach, James Ogden, have worked really hard. It’s both of them, but it’s Chris’s work ethic and discipline to be the best that he can be that put him in that position to make all-conference this year and for the Cubs to recognize him as a draft pick.” Kachmar, from East Greenville, Pennsylvania, transferred before the 2017-18 season to Lipscomb from Palm Beach State College. At Palm Beach he compiled an earned run average of 3.79 as a sophomore. At Lipscomb in his junior year, Kachmar was able to step in and provide an immediate impact, but his season was cut short due to an injury. “He finished last May pretty much unable to pitch, so he went home for a few weeks, let that rest, came back, enrolled in summer classes and just started training and rehabbing his bad back,” Forehand said. “He got better, and he just continued to look forward every day to those 15 or 16 starts that...
by Erika Plunkett | May 27, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Former Lipscomb forward Eli Pepper has signed with the Glasgow Rocks. Scotland’s only professional basketball team, the Rocks play in the British Basketball League (BBL). Pepper, who graduated this year after a record-breaking career, averaged 6.9 points and 7.6 rebounds during 134 career games. With his 1,016 career rebounds, Pepper this year became Lipscomb’s all-time leading rebounder. Pepper’s record-setting boards are also third all-time in ASUN history. Joining Josh Williams, Malcolm Smith, Khion Sankey and Martin Smith, Pepper becomes the fifth Bison to be playing at the professional level, fulfilling a childhood dream. “Every kid that picks up a basketball dreams of playing at the professional level, and there is no better place to begin my career than with the Glasgow Rocks,” Pepper said in a statement released by the Rocks after his May 23 contract signing. “I look forward to the many wins that will soon come.” Pepper’s paint presence will be an asset to the Rocks who finished at just above .500 in their league last year. Pepper joins four returning players as well as another new addition, Earl Russell, for the 2019-2020 season, with more signees to come, according to the Rocks. “He is a big body, with a good sense for rebounding the ball and with outside shooting qualities,” said Rocks coach Vincent Lavandier. “He adds his determination and IQ basketball to our frontcourt. “I am pleased that he bought into my game philosophy and the Glasgow Rocks project to launch his professional career. Thank you, Eli, and welcome to Glasgow!” ...
by Erika Plunkett | May 13, 2019 | Galleries, Sports
Surrounded by family, friends, and Bison faithful in the Allen Arena Hall of Fame room, the Lipscomb softball team learned their next stop is Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as pairings were announced during the NCAA Softball Tournament Selection Show. Lipscomb drew the Tuscaloosa regional, hosted by the SEC regular-season champion and overall eight-seed, the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Lady Bisons will open the regional against the Arizona State Sun Devils. Also, included in the Tuscaloosa regional are the Alabama State Hornets. “This is a hard regional,” coach Kristin Ryman said. “This [Arizona State] is a tough team. But I don’t care. We are too.” After winning 22 of their last 24 games, Lipscomb won the ASUN championship and earned an automatic berth into the NCAA softball tournament. The first round of the tournament, which is set to begin May 17-19, is divided into 16 regional campus sites with four teams at each location. The four teams will play a double elimination tournament to determine who advances to the super-regional round the following weekend. Philip Hutcheson, Lipscomb’s athletic director, praised this team and their coaches for an incredibly exciting season, mentioning how fun it has been to watch them this year. ASUN Coach of the Year Ryman talked about how “connected” her team has been all season, attributing their success to this chemistry. The first game is set to be played at 3 p.m. Friday and can be streamed via ESPN+....
by Erika Plunkett | May 12, 2019 | News Slider, Sports
Power forward Luke Howard, a 2019 Tennessee Mr. Basketball award finalist, Sunday officially signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Lipscomb.Harding Academy’s boys basketball coach Kevin Starks expressed his excitement for Howard’s decision to come to Lipscomb. “I think he is really just scratching the surface of how good he can be,” Starks said. “I am excited for him to be with the coaching staff at Lipscomb, because I think they will help him grow and reach his potential.” The Harding Academy senior also received offers from Lincoln Memorial University, Drake University, the University of Texas at Arlington, Marist College, Campbell University, Kent State University and Troy University. Starks said that Howard’s versatility, athleticism, and hard work will take him far. “I think Luke’s potential is off the charts,” Starks said. “I believe that he has the chance to be an all-league player and to play basketball after college.“ Howard, originally from Vancouver, Canada, moved to Memphis two years ago and began playing basketball under Starks during the 2017-2018 season. Even given his short time at Harding Academy, Starks said that Howard was able to fit right in. He was one of the senior leaders for Harding Academy this year, averaging 23.8 points per game, eight rebounds per game, 62 percent field-goal shooting, 34 percent three-point shooting, 70 percent free-throw shooting, 1.8 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game. “Luke is a 6-foot-9, athletic four man that can really, really shoot,” Starks said. “Because of his skill level, his upside is just tremendous.” Howard served a number of different roles for the Lions with the ability...
