Southern Miss Current Roster

On the 2013-2014 roster, there are 13 players listed.

[TABLE="class: cms_table, width: 100%"]
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[TH="class: cms_table_sortable-numeric cms_table_fd-column-0, align: center"]NO[/TH]
[TH="class: cms_table_sorted, align: center"]NAME[/TH]
[TH="class: cms_table_sorted, align: center"]HT/WT[/TH]
[TH="class: cms_table_sortable-text cms_table_fd-column-5, align: center"]POS][/TH]
[TH="class: cms_table_sorted, align: center"]YR[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]HOMETOWN (LAST SCHOOL)[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]MAJOR[/TH]
[TH="align: center"]JUCO / TRANSFER?[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: left"]13[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Chip Armelin[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-4/198[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]RS JR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Sulphur, La. (Minnesota)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Matt Bingaya[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-5/200[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G/F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]RS FR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Deleware, Ohio (Deleware Hayes HS)[/TD]
[TD]Undecided[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]NO[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Daveon Boardingham[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-7/225[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]SR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Newark, N.J. (Seward County CC)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]23[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Jerrold Brooks[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-0/205[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]SR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Rochester, N.Y. (Casper College)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]22[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Aaron Brown[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-5/210[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]RS JR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Hackensack, N.J. (Temple)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]21[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Norville Carey[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-7/220[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]SO[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]British Virgin Islands (Red Lion Christian Academy)[/TD]
[TD]Sociology[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]NO[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]25[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Jamie Chapman[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-3/175[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]SO[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul's Episcopal)[/TD]
[TD]Art[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]NO[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]24[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Michael Craig[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-5/230[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G/F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]SR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Phoenix, Ariz. (South Mountain CC)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]30[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Jeremiah Eason[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-7/230[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]JR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (College of Central Florida)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Davon Hayes[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-7/190[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G/F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]RS FR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Portsmouth, Va. (Mont Clare Academy)[/TD]
[TD]Leisure Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]NO[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Deonte Houston[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-0/180[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]JR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Bronx, N.Y. (Olney Central CC)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]32[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Ude Ifeanyichukwu[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]6-10/235[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]F[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]JR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Abuja, Nigeria (Laramie CC)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Neil Watson[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]5-11/170[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]G[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]SR[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]Kansas City, Kan. (Coffeyville CC)[/TD]
[TD]Interdisciplinary Studies[/TD]
[TH="align: center"]YES[/TH]
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So, nine (9) kids arrived at Southern Miss as either a JUCO, or as a transferring student from another college. And it's those same nine (9) kids - and no others on the team - who declared a major of "Interdisciplinary Studies", upon arrival.

Given its popularity amongst the basketball team, I checked Southern Miss' site for what, exactly, is "Interdisciplinary Studies", and found this:

That sounds pretty reasonable, even requires a student research project, as its culminating event, of which some examples include:

The overwhelming preference for the "Interdisciplinary Studies" amongst Southern Miss basketball players - particularly those who transferred in, or who came from the JUCO ranks - must make Coach Tyndall hope that Tennessee offers a similar course of study to its students.

And if not, I bet they soon will.​

 

Sorry, forgot the links.

Southern Miss Roster: http://www.southernmiss.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/smis-m-baskbl-mtt.html

Southern Miss "Interdisciplinary Studies" site: https://www.usm.edu/interdisciplinary-studies/bachelor-interdisciplinary-studies

 

Are we still pretending that in major college athletics these players are "student" athletes?

 

Real Sports on HBO did a piece on Student Athlete's major of choice, "Interdisciplinary Studies" and the fallout of obtaining a degree in said major last month, I think.

Prepare to pick your jaws off the floor but...it's barely worth the paper it's written on.

 

Sociology and Sports Studies is what I usually see on TN football players.

 

Seems legit.

 

I saw that piece with Bernie Goldstein. That is not just a useless degree from a resume standpoint. It just flat out doesn't do anything to educate the student. I will agree that it should not be offered, but the real issue is the lack of professionalism and skill set that those with that Major get. I hate to see that, however, on the flip side, I fault the students and their parents for not making education a priority.

 

We are in this instance because it caters to our feelings about the situation.

 

And if most of them are somewhat talented but just not educated enough, they might have enough people around them telling them they are sure fire NBA material, so what does a useless degree mean to them? Just get through school and money will be flowing in.

 

What'd you major in?

I did a charity fishing tournament.

Put me on your corporate team!

 

You're making an incorrect assumption that these kids are going to play major college basketball so they can get an education. 99% of them are going to try and go pro.

 

And 90% of that 99% will fail to do so

 

I imagine in their minds, however, it is the OTHER guys that will fail. I know I can make it. Typical human wiring, and when augmented by a lifetime of people telling them how great they are, it is hard to overcome that programming.

Like the guy spending 100 bucks on a lottery because he just knows he is going to win this time.

 

Closer to like 98%.

 

At Southern Miss?

I don't think that's right. I think 99% of them are playing basketball because it is better than whatever else they would be doing.

 

This. All of this.

 

I'm curious to know how much money a former D1 non-NBA players make a year playing basketball after college. Even moreso the BCS conferences versus mid-majors versus low majors.

 

I went to Austin Peay to play football and was convinced I'd have a chance to play Arena League, CFL or whatever after I left. Every single one of these guys think they'll have a chance to play professionally when they finish school. It's poured into them from high school coaches, parents, friends, AAU coaches & the college coaches recruiting them.

 

That's not the point though. Every single one of them thinks it's the other guy that will fail, not them. It's bred into their psyche and dangled in front of them like a carrot.

I'm not saying it's right, but it's the way it is. If a kid can't help your program coaches will "suggest" they move on. These coaches are fighting to keep their paycheck, clawing their way up the ladder and in most cases these kids are assets to help them get to their goals. the last thing most coaches consider them are student athletes.

 

That's a bunch of shit. You are buying a stereotype that isn't real.

The guys who went to Southern Miss, and other mid-majors, fall into two categories. Most are tickled to death that some D1 program finally offered them and are happy they get to leave home. A few are disappointed the offer from Ole Miss or Bama never came through and are happy they get to leave home. Every one of them knows who the pro prospect players are, and every one knows they are not among them.