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SPORTS
Wilkerson wants to foul less, play more
Marshall's Tyler Wilkerson prepares to go for a rebound against Ohio's Keggie Keely during the NCAA mens basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at the Charleston Civic Center..
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Tyler Wilkerson reached out to knock on a wooden table Tuesday for more good luck when acknowledging that he hasn't fouled out of any games this season.
But, fouling is a problem for Wilkerson. The 6-foot-8 senior forward for the Marshall University men's basketball team is averaging 11.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while leading the Thundering Herd in personal fouls with 17.
Because of his fouling, Wilkerson spends long stretches of games sitting on the bench to keep him from accumulating five fouls and being disqualified. Fortunately, the Herd has enough depth for head coach Donnie Jones to sit Wilkerson down and put in someone else.
"One thing about it, we do have numbers (players)," Jones said.
Jones said he could resort to hiding Wilkerson in a zone defense, but he wants the Herd to be a good man-to-man defensive team.
Championship teams play good man-to-man, he said.
"Tyler has to learn to play hard without fouling," Jones said.
Wilkerson's average playing time is 22.4 minutes in a 40-minute game.
His season foul ledger shows he was in danger of fouling out with four in games against North Carolina A&T, Middle Tennessee State, Lamar and Ohio, but Marshall (4-1) won them all. He had only one foul in Marshall's lone defeat against an Old Dominion team that had a strong presence around the basket.
Marshall's next game is 7 p.m., Thursday, against Salem International (0-4), an NCAA Division II school from the West Virginia Conference, in Cam Henderson Center.
Jones said many of Wilkerson's fouls were "silly" as a result of being out of position.
"I just try to stay focused," Wilkerson said. "I watch the game tapes and try to adjust. I try to watch myself and critique myself."
Wilkerson said he's picking up most of his fouls against opposing guards driving to the basket. He was called three times for setting illegal screens in the Middle Tennessee State game.
He's apparently not getting any officiating breaks, either. Wilkerson said he watched the tape of Saturday's game against Ohio and on three of his fouls "I was standing straight up and down."
He has also blocked 10 shots, and was called several times for fouls attempting to block more.
In the Lamar game Wilkerson was limited to a season-low 16 minutes of action. He had 18 points and seven blocked shots, but was whistled for two fouls in each half.
Jones said he was in foul trouble because of trying to block shots.
Wilkerson knows he could be playing more minutes, and ultimately scoring and rebounding more.
He wants to continue playing hard, but without hearing the whistle blow.
"I'm trying to stay in the game," he said.
