HUNTINGTON – When Marshall fans consider the retooling men’s basketball team and who might handle the scoring load in 2013-14, count on one newcomer.

Ryan Taylor has a shot at being one of those guys … because he really has a shot.

Taylor, one of seven newcomers – to date – on Coach Tom Herrion’s 2013-14 team, sat out at MU this past season to gain his eligibility as a non-qualifier. The Indianapolis native was a big-time prospect in high school and in a prep year at Hargrave Military Academy … and still is.

“I believe in myself and I have confidence in myself that I can come in and have a big impact on the program, said Taylor, who officially joined the Herd program last week. “I know Marshall hasn’t been to the ‘Big Dance’ in a while (1987 NCAA Tournament), and that’s our goal this coming year, to make it there and just put some faith in the doubters that we all have.”

On a team coming off a 13-19 finish with only one returning starter in rising senior forward Elijah Pittman, Herrion will be looking for plenty of contributions from new faces. Taylor – like point guard Kareem Canty and Ohio transfer TyQuane Goard – do know the drill after watching while sitting out for the 2012-13 season.

HOUSTON — The "Killer Bs" struck one more time for Marshall baseball on Tuesday, and Coach Jeff Waggoner has to hope these two players may not be the only Herd players to hear their names called in next month's baseball draft.

Marshall senior Isaac Ballou and junior Aaron Blair have been selected All-Conference USA first team, announced the conference office Tuesday afternoon.

It marked the first time Ballou was named All-C-USA, and Blair was honored for the second time in three years, also being named in 2011 as a member of the C-USA All-Freshman Team.

Only three members of the baseball team have been named first team in Conference USA: Kurt Lipton in 2010, Victor Gomez in both 2009 and 2010 and Nate Lape in 2008.

In the history of the Marshall baseball program, back to 1896, 10 players were first team All-West Virginia Athletic Conference (today’s WVIAC, Marshall a member 1925-1932), three were first team All-Buckeye Conference (1933-39), 13 were first team All-Southern Conference (1977-97) and 12 in the Mid-American Conference (9 from 1954-69, 3 from 1998-2005), plus five from C-USA (2006-present).

HUNTINGTON – It’s been well chronicled that Marshall does not yet have a track and field facility.

That hasn’t stopped the Thundering Herd women’s team from running, jumping and throwing its way into national consciousness this season.

When Marshall sends eight competitors into the NCAA Championships first round meet Thursday through Saturday in Greensboro, N.C., the Herd won’t be competing as an unknown any more.

In the latest computer rankings from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association, Marshall is No. 40. To put that into some perspective, Coach Jeff Small’s team was at No. 136 by the USTFCCCA entering the 2013 outdoor season.

“I think when you actually look at our marks, it shouldn’t surprise me,” Small said Monday. “We have quite a few kids ranked nationally, and according to whatever formula they use, we got there. But yeah, should we be ranked in the top 40? No, I don’t think so.”

IRVING, Texas — Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky announced today the conference has secured an agreement with the 2013 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO.

C-USA will provide a team to face an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Washington, D.C.-based bowl.

This year’s game will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., on Friday, December 27 at 2:30 p.m. ET and televised by ESPN.

“We are excited to be a part of the Military Bowl in a great destination like Washington, D.C.,” Banowsky said.

“We are also pleased to have the opportunity to face an opponent from the ACC in a great game day setting like Annapolis.”