Men's Basketball Ready for Fresh Start
November 16, 2007

The University of Texas at Tyler Patriots men’s basketball team enters the 2007-2008 season with a new head coach and new motivation. 

After a four year wait, UT Tyler is finally able to compete in conference and NCAA post-season play and the journey begins Friday as the Patriots travel to Tennessee to play Sewanee at 7 p.m.

This year’s team returns 12 lettermen and all five starters from last year’s squad meaning that 75 percent of last year’s scoring offense and over 75 percent of the rebounding efforts are back Patriots.  Under the direction of new head coach Kenny Bizot, the Patriots are poised to take the program to a new level, a reality that has not gone unnoticed around the league.

Despite finishing seventh in the American Southwest Conference’s East Division and winning just six games last season, coaches, media representatives and sports information directors from around the league picked the Patriots to finish in fourth place. That fourth place finish would earn UT Tyler its first trip to ASC Tournament in March.

Highlighting the returnees from last year’s team are ASC East Honorable Mention selections senior Mirada Reed (Cleveland, Texas) and junior Anthony Reese (Longview, Texas).  Reed averaged 10.5 points, two rebounds and one assist per game for the Patriots, while Reese added 9.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and almost two steals per game. 

Also making his return to the Patriots this year is senior center Patrick Branche (Houston, Texas).  Branche, who did not play last year, is a two-time All-ASC East selection, a former ASC East Newcomer of the Year, and currently sits second on the Patriots all-time career blocks list. 

Senior Brandon Weasby will join the Patriots after Christmas. Weasby sat out most of last season due to an injury, making him eligible for a medical red shirt.  Weasby will use the extra semester of eligibility in January while he finishes his degree.  Weasby leads UT Tyler in most major scoring and offensive career categories, including points with 1,346.

Not only will there be several returning faces to the patriot line-up this year, but three
new ones as well.  Transferring into UT Tyler are juniors Victor Hayes (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Craig Blackman (Houston, Texas), who played last year at ASC West rival Howard Payne.  Blackman averaged 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Yellow Jackets, while Hayes averaged 4.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals over an average of 16.4 minutes per game.  The lone freshman on this year’s team is Brad Koenig and six-foot guard from Montgomery, Texas.

Bizot takes the reigns of UT Tyler’s men’s program this year for his first-ever collegiate head coaching job.  Bizot is no stranger to Division III basketball, having served as a graduate assistant and assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Mississippi College under legendary coach, Mike Jones.  During his tenure as recruiting coordinator at MC, Bizot’s recruiting classes produced a 119-36 record, two straight ASC championships, three consecutive NCAA appearances and two trips to the “Sweet 16.”  During his playing career, Bizot was a standout player at Mississippi College, earning the team’s “Mr. Hustle” award during all four years of his career.

When Bizot was not at Mississippi College, he was a successful high school coach winning two state championships and two state Coach of the Year honors during his seven year prep career in Mississippi.  Bizot now looks to bring the hard work and excellence that he has been know for to UT Tyler. 

On Saturday, the Patriots will close out their trip to Tennessee by battling with Emory (Ga.) at 1 p.m. as part of Sewanee’s Lon Varnell Classic. Fans in Tyler who want to get a look at the Patriots this season will have to wait a while, as this weekend’s game will start a six game road trip to open the year.  The Patriots will return to Tyler on Dec. 15 for their long-awaited home debut against Mary Hardin-Baylor .

Athletics Home Page