A mighty Hunter
by Steve Behr Sports Editor
By Mark Mitchell
mmitchell@mountaintimes.com
Fewer than 10 days have passed since Appalachian State's bubble was burst by the Terriers of Wofford in the title game of the Southern Conference Tournament. It was a loss that denied the Mountaineers a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in their history.
It was a bitter loss for all of ASU's players, especially seniors like Josh Hunter.
"It was real disappointing to lose that game," Hunter said following an ASU practice on Monday. "We all hurt afterwards. We just started out so bad in that game and could never recover. We were all sad, especially me since I'm a senior. That's how it goes in basketball sometimes and that's how it goes in life."
While the ASU players did indeed suffer through some long nights in the aftermath of the Wofford loss, an invitation to play in the http://CollegeInsider.com Tournament has put a bounce back in the players' step, especially Hunter's.
"I'm loving the fact that we get to play another game," Hunter said as a smile breaks across his face. "The fact that we get to play together as a team is exciting. Everybody's excited to show what we can do. I'm just happy to play another game. I love it."
It's been a bitter-sweet year for Hunter. He's battled sore knees, one that required surgery after the Mountaineers returned from some exhibition games in the Bahamas in August. Mountaineers coach Buzz Peterson said Hunter's knees probably were major reasons why the 6-foot-6 forward got off to a slow start.
"Both knees are bad," Peterson said. "He has surgeries before he got here. He had one when he got back from the Bahamas, but he's fought through it."
Hunter has shown his appreciation and love for the game during this, his senior season, steadily improving over the course of the year. Averaging 6.7 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per contest on the year, Hunter has emerged as a double-double threat over the homestretch of the season. A homestretch which began with a career night on the first day of February. It was Feb. 1, and the Mountaineers faced off against Division II King College at the Holmes Center.
Not happy with his big men's play in the previous game against Chattanooga, Peterson benched Hunter, and Isaac Butts for the start of the King College contest.
While he saw only 17 minutes of action, Hunter exploded for a season and career-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. Hunter followed that up with 10 points in a big road win for ASU against Western Carolina, a double-double in a victory over UNC Greensboro, and 8 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in a home win over Davidson.
One game later, Hunter scored 14 points in the Mountaineers' battle with the College of Charleston, and then ended the regular season by scoring in double figures in back-to-back contests.
"I think the King (College) game was a stepping stone for me to step up for our team," Hunter said. "I knew it was my last go round, and I knew I just had to give it all I had. I am going to play hard and enjoy playing these guys every game I can, and I hope and pray I will be able to play basketball overseas when the season ends."
"He scored most of those points in the second half," Peterson said. "I told him that he scored them against guys who are 6-3 and 6-4. What are you going to do against the bigger guys?"
Hunter gets at least one more chance to don the black-and-gold on Wednesday night when the Mountaineers take on Harvard in the first round of the http://CollegeInsider.com Tournament at 7 p.m. at the Holmes Center.
mmitchell@mountaintimes.com
Fewer than 10 days have passed since Appalachian State's bubble was burst by the Terriers of Wofford in the title game of the Southern Conference Tournament. It was a loss that denied the Mountaineers a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament for only the third time in their history.
It was a bitter loss for all of ASU's players, especially seniors like Josh Hunter.
"It was real disappointing to lose that game," Hunter said following an ASU practice on Monday. "We all hurt afterwards. We just started out so bad in that game and could never recover. We were all sad, especially me since I'm a senior. That's how it goes in basketball sometimes and that's how it goes in life."
While the ASU players did indeed suffer through some long nights in the aftermath of the Wofford loss, an invitation to play in the http://CollegeInsider.com Tournament has put a bounce back in the players' step, especially Hunter's.
"I'm loving the fact that we get to play another game," Hunter said as a smile breaks across his face. "The fact that we get to play together as a team is exciting. Everybody's excited to show what we can do. I'm just happy to play another game. I love it."
It's been a bitter-sweet year for Hunter. He's battled sore knees, one that required surgery after the Mountaineers returned from some exhibition games in the Bahamas in August. Mountaineers coach Buzz Peterson said Hunter's knees probably were major reasons why the 6-foot-6 forward got off to a slow start.
"Both knees are bad," Peterson said. "He has surgeries before he got here. He had one when he got back from the Bahamas, but he's fought through it."
Hunter has shown his appreciation and love for the game during this, his senior season, steadily improving over the course of the year. Averaging 6.7 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per contest on the year, Hunter has emerged as a double-double threat over the homestretch of the season. A homestretch which began with a career night on the first day of February. It was Feb. 1, and the Mountaineers faced off against Division II King College at the Holmes Center.
Not happy with his big men's play in the previous game against Chattanooga, Peterson benched Hunter, and Isaac Butts for the start of the King College contest.
While he saw only 17 minutes of action, Hunter exploded for a season and career-high 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the field. Hunter followed that up with 10 points in a big road win for ASU against Western Carolina, a double-double in a victory over UNC Greensboro, and 8 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in a home win over Davidson.
One game later, Hunter scored 14 points in the Mountaineers' battle with the College of Charleston, and then ended the regular season by scoring in double figures in back-to-back contests.
"I think the King (College) game was a stepping stone for me to step up for our team," Hunter said. "I knew it was my last go round, and I knew I just had to give it all I had. I am going to play hard and enjoy playing these guys every game I can, and I hope and pray I will be able to play basketball overseas when the season ends."
"He scored most of those points in the second half," Peterson said. "I told him that he scored them against guys who are 6-3 and 6-4. What are you going to do against the bigger guys?"
Hunter gets at least one more chance to don the black-and-gold on Wednesday night when the Mountaineers take on Harvard in the first round of the http://CollegeInsider.com Tournament at 7 p.m. at the Holmes Center.