Photo by: Todd Drexler
2009-10 RADFORD MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON NOTEBOOK
3/5/2010 10:39:10 AM | Men's Basketball
Despite its loss to third-seeded Winthrop in the semifinals of the 2010 Big South Men's Basketball Tournament, Radford enjoyed tremendous success in 2009-10. Click the link below for just a few of the Highlanders' many noteworthy accomplishments.
Along with Art Parakhouski earning his second straight Big South Player of the Year honor, Radford's Joey Lynch-Flohr was named to the league's second team, Blake Smith was voted to the all-freshman squad and Phillip Martin was selected the Scholar Athlete of the Year, as announced by the conference office.
GREENBERG PICKS UP CAREER WIN NUMBER 50
In Radford's quarterfinal win over Charleston Southern Tuesday evening, third-year head coach Brad Greenberg picked up his 50th career win.
Greenberg, the sixth head coach in Highlander men's basketball history, is the third quickest to 50 wins. Only Dr. Ron Bradley (79 games) and Joe Davis (75 games), who sit 1-2 on Radford's all-time wins lists, respectively, were quicker to the milestone.
RADFORD TOPS ON 1,000 POINTS CHART
Radford had four players on its 2009-10 roster with at least 1,000 career points, more than any other school in Division I men's basketball. Currently, there are 14 schools that have three players on the list, which has 295 members.
Among the current teams with three 1,000-point scorers are, Maryland, Siena, LaSalle, Northeastern, California, Seton Hall, Oakland, Richmond, Western Kentucky, Sacred Heart, Eastern Michigan, Purdue, Nevada and Syracuse.
FEBRUARY SUCCESS
For the second straight season Radford finished February 7-1, continuing the Highlanders' success in the year's second month under head coach Brad Greenberg. In Greenberg's first season, 2007-08, Radford went 5-3 in February, and finished the month 7-1 last season in its final push on the way to a Big South regular season title. Under Greenberg, the Highlanders are 19-5 in February games.
In its first-ever ESPN Bracketbusters appearance, Radford defeated UNC Wilmington from the Colonial Athletic Association 76-68 on Feb. 20. The Highlanders and Presbyterian, also a first timer, were the only Big South schools to record victories in the annual event.
FOURTH TIME'S A CHARM
For the fourth time this season and seventh in his brief career, Art Parakhouski of the Radford men's basketball team has been named the Big South Choice Hotels Player of the Week for games played Feb. 15-21, as announced by the conference office.
For the week, Parakhouski averaged 21 points and 13.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 61.5 percent from the floor. Parakhouski is the first player in Radford men's basketball history to earn Big South Player of the Week four times in one season.
MEMBERS ONLY
At Liberty on Feb. 16, Art Parakhouski became the 19th player in league history with 1,000 points and 700 boards. Meanwhile, Parakhouski tied his career-high with six blocks, including the 100th of his career, Feb. 7 vs. High Point and is now just one of seven players in Big South history with 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 100 blocks.
In just two seasons, Parakhouski moved into the Big South's top-10 all-time in rebounding with 783 rebounds.
15-WIN SEASONS
Radford won at least 15 games for the 17th time since the 1986-87 season, the most of any Big South member. This is also the first time the Highlanders have recorded back-to-back 15-win seasons since recording six-straight 15-win seasons from 1996-97 to 2001-02.
In Radford's 52-51 setback to first-place Coastal Carolina on Feb. 13, Amir Johnson became the Big South's all-time leader in assists. The 5-9 Highlander point guard broke Chris Gaynor's (Winthrop, 2004-08) mark of 567 when he fed backcourt mate Blake Smith for a 15-foot jumper at the 16:41 mark of the second half.
10-WIN PLATEAU IN LEAGUE PLAY
Radford finished with 13 League victories this season, marking its eighth time overall and the first time since 1999-00 and 2000-01 that the Highlanders have recorded back-to-back 10-win Big South campaigns.
BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The Highlanders, who finished 13-5 in Big South regular season play, have won 28 of their last 36 regular season league tilts and 32 of the last 41 against Big South competition, including league tournament play.
A WORK OF ART
In Radford's win over Winthrop on Feb. 27, Art Parakhouski broke his previous league / school record of 369 rebounds in a single season. The 6-11 center is also the first player in league history to record back-to-back 350-rebound seasons.
IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN
Art Parakhouski is the lone Big South men's basketball player to score in double ?gures in all of his team's games this season, and owns the Big South's longest double-?gure scoring streak at 33 games, dating back to 2008-09. In addition, Parakhouski leads the nation with 26 double-doubles -- including 16 in 18 Big South contests.
Dating back to the 2007-08 campaign, Radford has played in 10 contests that have required overtime to decide. Including its quarterfinal win over Charleston Southern on March 2, 2010, Radford has won six straight contests that have required extra time and are 9-2 under head coach Brad Greenberg in overtime contests.
BIG SOUTH ROAD WARRIORS
Dating back to Radford's 65-55 victory at Presbyterian Jan. 3, 2009, the Highlanders have won 15 of their last 18 Big South road games. Prior to its setback at High Point on Jan. 9, Radford had won 11 straight league games away from home, which tied Winthrop for the longest streak in Big South history.
A RARE TRIPLE CROWN
Radford senior Art Parakhouski currently leads the Big South in scoring (21.4), rebounding (13.4) and ?eld goal percentage (.581), and is looking to become just the second player in Big South history to lead the League in all three categories. The ?rst was High Point's Danny Gathings in 2002-03 with averages of 18.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 57.1 percent from the ?eld.
DOUBLE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Throughout the course of their RU careers, Art Parakhouski (43), Joey Lynch-Flohr (16) and Laz Trifunovic (9) have combined for 68 double-doubles. This season, the trio posted eight dual double-doubles and a pair of games with three double-doubles (VMI - 1/21, 2/2).
In games where the Radford frontcourt had at least two double-double performances, the Highlanders went 9-2 with their only setback coming at UNCA and to Winthrop in the Big South semifinals.
OH WHAT A NIGHT
At VMI on Feb. 2, 2010, the following happened ... Art Parakhouski became the fastest (55 games) in school history and tied for sixth quickest in league history to hit the 1,000-point mark… Parakhouski became the first player in school history to record at least 30 points and 20 rebounds in the same game ... Parakhouski set a school single-game record with 22 rebounds ... Parakhouski's 20-point/20-rebound performance was his second of the season and third in school history (Andrey Savtchenko – at Purdue 11/21/2001) … Parakhouski reached double figures for the 24th straight contest … Parakhouski became the 10th player in Radford men's basketball history with 1,000 points and 600 rebounds … Parakhouski recorded a 10-point/10-rebound effort in the first half alone for the fifth time this season … Radford moved to 7-1 this season when two or more players recorded a double-double in the same contest … It was the fourth straight contest against VMI that Radford has had three players record a double-double.
Radford's frontcourt trio of Art Parakhouski (21.4 points/13.4 rebounds), Laz Trifunovic (13.0 points/8.1 rebounds) and Joey Lynch-Flohr (12.3 points/6.7 rebounds) accounted for 65.3 percent of RU's offense and 65.3 percent of the squad's rebounds per game. Combined, Parakhouski, Lynch-Flohr and Trifunovic averaged 46.7 points and 28.2 rebounds per game. To go along with their statistical output, the trio combined for 42 double-doubles this season.
HE ONLY NEEDS 20 MINUTES
Art Parakhouski, who is first nationally in double-doubles with 26 this season, recorded a 10-point / 10-rebound effort in the first half alone on five separate occasions this season.
ART GALLERY
In Radford's win at VMI on Feb. 2, Art Parakhouski became the 26th player in Radford men's basketball history to hit the 1,000 point plateau. The 6-11 center needed just 55 games to accomplish the feat, which ties him for sixth fastest in Big South history. The record is 48 games, set by Charleston Southern's Ben Hinson and Darnell Sneed. Below is a look at the fastest players to score 1,000 career points in league history.
20-20 / 20-30 CLUB
With his 26-point, 20-rebound performance at Duquesne on Nov. 29, 2009, Art Parakhouski became just the second player in RU men's basketball history to score 20 points and grab 20 rebounds in a single contest.
Andrey Savtchenko (1998-02), who ranks second on Radford's all-time rebounding list, was the first to accomplish this task scoring 22 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in 91-84 setback at Purdue on Nov. 21, 2001.
Two months after joining Savtchenko as the only members of RU's 20-20 club, Parakhouski scored 30 points and grabbed a school record 22 rebounds at VMI, making him the first 30-20 performer in the history of Highlander basketball.
RADFORD'S NON-CONFERENCE STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE RANK
Radford's 2009-10 schedule, which included the likes of then-No. 8/9 Duke, top-ranked Kansas, 2009 Final Four team Louisville and William & Mary, has RU ranked near the top of the nation in non-conference strength of schedule. The Highlanders rank fourth in non-conference strength of schedule according to the Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings. RU's 2009-10 non-conference opponents have a combined record of 157-108 (.592).
Following its win over VMI (1/21/10), Radford's frontcourt duo of Art Parakhouski and Laz Trifunovic were named Jeff Goodman's (FoxSports.com) Mid-Major Stud(s) of the night in his Nightly Award Blog. Goodman Wrote -- Radford's duo of Laz Trifunovic and Parakhouski combined for 57 points and 25 boards in a win against VMI. Trifunovic had 27 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists while Art finished with 30 points, 11 boards and 5 blocks.
BACK-TO-BACK 30-POINT EFFORTS
With his second straight 30-point effort, Art Parakhouski became the first player since Whit Holcomb-Faye (2002-06) to record back-to-back 30-point outings. Parakhouski accomplished the feat with 34 points against George Mason (12/30) followed by 31 three nights later versus UNCA (1/2). Holcomb-Faye, RU's second all-time leading scorer, poured in 37 (CSU - 2/13/06) and 36 points (LIBERTY - 2/18/06) in consecutive contests in 2006.
BIG ART IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (UVa, Wake Forest, UNC, Duke), BIG EAST (West Va, Louisville) and Big XII (Kansas) Art Parakhouski averaged 16 points and 11.3 rebounds in his short RU career. Parakhouski posted double-doubles against each of the ACC teams he's faced, highlighted by 16 points at Virginia (Nov. 21, 2008) and 16 rebounds at No. 6 Wake Forest (Dec. 30, 2008) and a 23-point, 14-rebound performance at Duke on Nov. 21. Parakhouski scored all 21 points in the second half at Kansas and finished with 13 rebounds.
For the third time this season, Blake Smith has been named The Crons Brand Freshman of the Week for games played Jan. 25-31, as announced by the league office Feb. 2.
During the week, Smith averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.3 steals, while shooting 49 percent from the floor and 48 percent from behind the arc.
After scoring 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting at JMU, Smith scored a season-high 23 points with four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and seven steals in Radford's win at Gardner-Webb. Smith's seven steals were just one shy of tying the school's single-game record.
The 6-4 shooting guard capped his week with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two more steals at UNC Asheville on Jan. 31.
LYNCH-FLOHR EARNS FIRST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
After a week highlighted by a career night at Kansas and his 1,000th career point against Roanoke, RU's Joey Lynch-Flohr was named Big South player of the week on Dec 14.
In Radford's first-ever meeting with the nation's No. 1 team, Lynch-Flohr scored a career-high 26 points. Lynch-Flohr hit a milestone against Roanoke when his jumper at 8:09 of the first half marked the 1,000th point of his career in an 18-point game.
RADFORD'S 1,000TH GAME
Radford's trip to Freedom Hall on Dec. 27 to take on Louisville was its 1,000th game in program history. In the program's 36th season of play (first season was 1974-75), Radford has won better than 55 percent of its all-time contests. Radford played its first intercollegiate varsity men's basketball game in 1974 at Virginia Wesleyan (L 76-117).
HIGHLANDERS ON THE TUBE
Along with five contests televised on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Radford's Nov. 21 contest at Duke was shown on ACC Select, while its trip to Phog Allen Fieldhouse to take on Kansas (Dec. 9) was nationally televised on ESPNU. The Highlanders' first-ever tilt with Louisville appeared on four different networks, including ESPN360.com. In addition to airing on MASN, Radford's Feb. 16 contest at Liberty also aired on ESPN Full Court.
HIGHLANDERS SWEEP WEEKLY HONORS
Along with Art Parakhouski grabbing the fourth Big South Player of the Week honor of his brief career, Radford's Blake Smith repeated as Freshman of the Week for games played Nov. 16-22, as announced by the league office Monday, Nov. 23.
For the first time in program history, the Highlanders met the Associated Press poll's top-ranked team when they played at Kansas on Dec. 9 (L, 64-99). The game was Radford's second this season against a top 10 team (Nov. 21 at No. 8 Duke – L, 68-104), and the fifth time in the last three seasons that Radford has played an Associated Press top 10 team.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Highlanders have enjoyed tremendous success in the Dedmon Center, posting a winning record on their home court for the past 19 seasons -- including perfect slates in 1993-94 and 2000-01. Since its opening in 1981, RU has an overall record of 275-87 (.759) and been victorious in 125 of 172 league games. Below is a list of year-by-year results at Dedmon.
DOUMBE, SMITH INKED DURING EARLY PERIOD
Brad Greenberg announced forward Masse Doumbe (Le Mans, France ) and Jareal Smith (Savannah, Ga.) signed NLI's during the early period to join the Highlanders in 2010-11.
SEASON OPENERS
With its 76-65 season-opening win over Navy, Radford improved to 17-19 all-time in season openers, including a 2-1 mark for Brad Greenberg. Despite their below-.500 mark in season openers, the Highlanders are 12-3 in openers at home, which includes a 10-2 mark at Dedmon.
Thursday, April 23
Sunday, April 12
Thursday, April 02
Saturday, March 21
