ETSU's Tiggs Ranked With The Best

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Kevin Tiggs had no idea.

So he stepped back, smiled a big, Kevin Tiggs-like smile and stretched out his long arms.

“I am?” asked Tiggs, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior forward for the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers.

He was.

“Un uh,” Tiggs said.

Yes. He was.

Tiggs was asked on Monday before ETSU practice inside the Memorial Center if knew he was ranked in the top 25 in the nation in points per game among NCAA Division I men’s basketball players.

Tiggs didn’t know. He didn’t have a clue.

Despite tying a career-high with 31 points in the Bucs’ 89-70 road win over Appalachian State on Dec. 13, and despite leading ETSU in scoring with 20.9 points per game this season – which ties Tiggs with three other players for 24th in the nation – he had no idea that his name currently pops up on a list headlined by Davidson’s Stephen Curry, and one that features major college stars like North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin.

Tiggs’ initial key-to-the-candy-store type response says a lot about his character and personality.

Praised by Buccaneers coach Murry Bartow and teammates for his passion and child-like enthusiasm, Tiggs’ outgoing style is contagious and catching.

He laughs. He smiles. He jokes, cuts up and teases.

But while Tiggs is a comic off the court, he’s as serious as can be on it. And Tiggs’ follow-up response when learning of his top-25 scoring position said even more.

“That don’t mean nothin’,” Tiggs said. “That ain’t nothin’.”

Tiggs doesn’t play the game for numbers. Or recognition. He plays the game because it’s the one thing he does best. And it’s the one thing he loves to do.

Basketball gave Tiggs an out during a tough childhood in Flint, Mich. The sport gave him guidance and hope, direction and dreams.

And now, the 24-year-old junior college-transfer who didn’t begin playing organized basketball until the end of his high school career, is just a few names removed from the big, shiny ones, like Curry, Hansbrough and Griffin.

“Every time [Kevin] steps out there, he gets better,” Bartow said. “Kevin is really kind of a work in progress. He hasn’t played organized basketball that long.

“What he’s got, he’s got an incredible motor. And he’s just got a lot of stuff you can’t teach, in terms of his motor, his energy, his mind and his attitude.”

Every game, Tiggs learns. Every game, Tiggs grows. His confidence builds. His shot selection, court vision and technique improve. He learns how to use his soft touch and harness his God-given speed. And his knowledge that he can dominate opposing defenders – at times scoring at will and taking over games – increases.

Tiggs’ strong showing is a major key to ETSU’s recent success.

The Bucs (6-3), who host the Chattanooga Mocs (1-6) at 7 tonight in a non-conference game at the Memorial Center, have won three straight and five of their last six. In addition, ETSU survived and came out ahead in a tough, early-season road test, one that saw ETSU play eight of its first nine games on the road, with the Bucs winning six.

“I’m just obviously really pleased,” Bartow said. “We could easily have lost any of [our last] five [road games]. But to win four of them, and to win three of them pretty convincingly, is obviously encouraging.”

More encouragement could follow soon for the Bucs.

While Bartow admitted he’s concerned with ETSU’s recent bench play, he expects his team to receive a lift when 6-foot-11 freshman center Seth Coy returns to the lineup. According to Bartow, Coy should be ready for the Buccaneers’ home matchup on Dec. 30 against Morehead State, and the freshman center could possibly join the Bucs when they face Kennesaw State on Dec. 23.

Coy poured in 18 points in ETSU’s 96-66 home win over Wingate on Nov. 20, before a broken foot put him out of action, and he’s averaging 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and shooting 73 percent (11 of 15) from the field this season.

Meanwhile, Bucs senior guard Courtney Pigram has emerged from an early-season shooting slump to once again find his touch.

Pigram ranks second on the team in scoring (18.4 points) and has improved his shooting percentage to a respectable 41.8 percent (64 of 153).

Pigram’s ascension, coupled with the continued resurgence of ETSU junior guard Mike Smith (15.0 points), now gives the Bucs three legitimate offensive threats. And it takes the pressure off Tiggs.

“It opens up for everybody on the team,” Tiggs said. “I like playing with both of them. We make a good team together. And with all three of us scoring, I don’t think we can be beat.”

Notes: According to Bartow, ETSU senior point guard Jocolby Davis will receive a medical re-evaluation later this month. Davis, who has been out of action since the start of the season due to an arm injury, was slated to be the Bucs’ starting point guard this year. Depending on the results of the evaluation, Bartow said Davis could either return to the team in early 2009 or sit out the remainder of the season to preserve a year of eligibility. Regarding sitting Davis out in 2008-09, Bartow said, “It’s good for next year, not for this year.”

btsmith@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2569

Who: Chattanooga (1-6) at ETSU (6-3)
What: Non-conference men’s basketball game
When: 7, tonight
Where: Memorial Center in Johnson City, Tenn.

Kevin Tiggs
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Hometown: Flint, Mich. (Mott Community College)
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
Numbers: 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game