Marshall Men’s Basketball
By Rhys Owens, FM88 Sports
March 7, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) — While the Marshall men’s basketball regular season may have ended on Feb. 28, the Sun Belt Conference Tournament is underway, and the Herd looks to make a splash. Marshall takes on the Georgia State Panthers today, and if it advances it will face Arkansas State on Saturday in a rematch of a regular season series that was split 1-1.
More basketball still needs to be played, but just how important will this season’s team will be for the future of Herd hoops?
First year head coach Corny Jackson gave Herd fans just what they were looking for. Marshall finished the regular season with a 19-12 record and a 12-6 record in conference play. The Herd went 13-3 at home while it struggled on the road with a 5-9 record.
Despite the issues on the road, the Herd put on a show this year with stellar performances against Appalachian State, Arkansas State, and JMU, two of which split a share of the conference title this season.
Herd fans should relish what Jackson has done in his first season when compared to last year’s 13-20 record. The possibility for a tournament run is well within reach for Marshall, however, fans will remember this season for years to come regardless of the outcome in Pensacola, Fla.
That isn’t all Herd fans should be thankful for as Jackson has already locked down a Marshall legacy commitment in the 2025 recruiting class. Commit Bryce Slay is a 6’5 shooting guard out of Charlotte whose father Tamar Slay was a standout at Marshall and spent time with the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA.
Slay’s recruitment is impactful as the Herd looks to gain a volume scorer in the offseason. Plus, we must not forget about Jackson’s ability to find talent in the portal, illustrated in players Dezayne Mingo, Jalen Speer and Mikal Dawson. Pairing the commitment of Slay and Jackson’s talent of transfer recruiting, Marshall has a base to build upon in the future.
Development also looks to be a key cog in coach Jackson’s machine as freshman Erich Harding gained valuable experience this season, getting some key minutes in both games against App. State. Guards Will Moore and Kaiden White saw limited time in their freshman seasons but will likely see some key minutes come this November.
The Herd will surely look to improve upon what was already a stellar season in 2025-26. Plenty of roster turnover is on the way, with a huge group of productive seniors moving on to greener pastures.
With Jackson’s previously stated ability to recruit, fans shouldn’t worry much about the five guys who take the floor next season as they are sure to be tough, skilled, and ready to compete in every game.