Topic: H-D: Herd starts hoops season with Madness (Oct. 12th)

[ZackUSAF82]

HUNTINGTON -- Basketball season begins at Marshall University with Thundering Herd Madness on Oct. 12 in Cam Henderson Center.

The men's team opening day practice at Marshall begins at 9 p.m., following a women's volleyball match between the Thundering Herd and UAB Blazers at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

Marshall first-year head coach Donnie Jones has eight returning lettermen and three starting players -- seniors Jean Francois Bro Grebe and Mark Dorris and junior Markel Humphrey -- back from a 13-19 season. New players include graduate student point guard Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes, a transfer from Gonzaga University.

Players will sign autographs beginning at 9 p.m. on the concourse level of the arena before moving to the court for introductions and drills.

Eight fans will be randomly selected to represent a Marshall player in a three-point shootout and dunk contest. The fan whose player wins each of the competitions will win either a Nintendo Wii game or a VIP trip for two to the Dec. 18 game at Louisville that includes dinner, lodging and tickets.

Fans in the arena will judge the dunk contest.

An intra-squad scrimmage will follow.

Season tickets for home games will be available at the event. Exhibition games are Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 before the regular-season opens Nov. 13 against Pikeville College.

Link: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x2132975765