By JACK BOGACZYK
HERD INSIDER SENIOR EDITOR

HUNTINGTON – The recent Conference USA spring meetings were “mostly about basketball issues,” Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick said.

And at those gulfside sessions in Destin, Fla., the men’s basketball coaches in the league ran a fastbreak to what Thundering Herd Coach Tom Herrion called “one thing we thought was very important.”

The hoop coaches pushed to have all 16 teams in the C-USA Tournament next March in El Paso, Texas, where UTEP’s bid for the 2014 event had been based upon the league’s former membership of 12 schools.

The 16-team field got the approval of athletic directors, and the C-USA Board of Directors – university presidents – is expected to approve that among other issues on June 10.

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.

HUNTINGTON - Head coach Tom Herrion announced Friday that Jaylen Brantley has signed a national letter of intent to join the Marshall men’s basketball team.

Brantley, a 5-foot-10-inch point guard from Fitchburg, Mass. played at Notre Dame Prep last season. ND Prep made it to the national semifinals and lost to eventual national champion Northfield Mount Hermon last season.

"Jaylen is a terrific addition to our basketball program,” Herrion said.

“He has played in very successful programs in high school and AAU.

"He is a talented player and quality individual who we welcome to our basketball family."

HUNTINGTON — If you think Kareem Canty has been only waiting to become an eligible member of Marshall’s basketball team, you’d be wrong.

He’s been waiting, yes, but also longing, battling, observing, lifting, shooting, studying, prospering …

The point guard from Harlem, N.Y., started summer classes this week, through with the academic year (two full semesters) he was ruled out by the NCAA as a non-qualifier.

He is on the team, and the guy nicknamed “NuNu” — he got the nickname from an aunt when he was a baby, and has no idea the roots of its origin — said he feels new.