What to know about Austin Peay men’s and women’s basketball entering the 2024-25 season

It’s hoops season in Clarksville.

The Austin Peay men’s and women’s basketball teams both open their seasons this week. The women host NAIA program Bethel at 5 p.m. Monday at F&M Bank Arena, with the men tipping off against Division II Union immediately after that game.

Here are three things to know about each squad entering the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Dec 30, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Austin Peay Governors head coach Corey Gipson gives direction during the first half against the Memphis Tigers at FedExForum.

APSU men’s basketball in second year under Corey Gipson

Former Austin Peay guard Corey Gipson returned to coach his alma mater last March and had immediate success.

The Govs went 19-16 (10-6 Atlantic Sun) and reached the final of the conference tournament, losing 94-91 to Stetson with a March Madness berth on the line. They earned a bid to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament but lost in the first round to Alabama A&M.

Gipson was a two-year starter for APSU and coach Dave Loos from 2002-24, averaging 7.7 points and helping the Govs win the Ohio Valley Conference and reach the NCAA Tournament in 2003.

Returners Sai Witt, Isaac Haney to lead Govs

Austin Peay’s three top scorers from 2023-24 — DeMarcus Sharp, Dezi Jones and Ja’Monta Black — have all moved on. But the Govs bring back a pair of double-digit scorers in Sai Witt and Isaac Haney.

Witt, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound graduate student forward, was the ASUN Sixth Man of the Year last season after averaging 12.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and shooting a team-high 53.6% from the field. Haney played for Gipson at Northwestern State in 2022-23 and transferred to join him at APSU. The 6-2 guard averaged 11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and shot 37.8% on 3-pointers as a junior.

North Carolina State transfer LJ Thomas, a 4-star recruit out of high school, led the Govs with 26 points in an exhibition win over Tennessee Tech in October. The 6-2 junior guard should add perimeter punch along with fellow newcomer Quan Lax, a redshirt junior…

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Author : The Leaf-Chronicle

Publish date : 2024-11-04 10:05:00

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