Fisk Bulldogs 2023-24 Season Review:

Head Coach Kenny Anderson had one thing in mind when he set his schedule for the 2023-24, play a tough road schedule to prepare his team for the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. One would think that his strategy paid off, because the Fisk University Bulldogs (13-15, 10-8 GCAC) won their most GCAC games. For Anderson, there were some missed opportunities to win more than ten games.

"We played in spurts all season," said Anderson. "From the first game against Faulkner to the last one at Rust, we didn't play 40 minutes. I counted about seven more games that we should have won. Now everyone is 0-0. We don't have time to tweak or fix anything. It is win or go home."

THE GOOD

Fisk has improved each season since returning to the GCAC. Last season, the Bulldogs went from winning no games in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference to winning eight. The two-win improvement was spurned in part by their 'Big Three' of sharpshooter Blake Goodman, and all-around players Jayden Lockett and Tyon Thompson.  

Anderson worked hard to get a bigger team this season to matchup with the teams in the conference. Senor Tyree Martin, a 6'9 transfer from Wayne State University, gave Anderson a big body to help move rebounding machine Michael Ashley back to his more comfortable power forward position. 6'8 freshman Solomon Mustafa-Reid gave Fisk some key minutes down the stretch, along with 6'5 classmate Mitchel Seay.

THE BAD

The seven games that Anderson is referring to are as follows:

• The 89-84 loss at Faulkner University when they were up late in the game and squandered Blake Goodman's 36-point performance.
• The 64-60 loss to Rust College in overtime when they also had a late lead.
• The 78-68 double overtime home loss to Philander Smith University when they were up by 18 at the half and gave up a buzzer beater in regulation to tie the score.
• The 79-77 loss at Wiley University when they were up by five points in the final minute.
• The 61-55 loss at home to Talladega College when they were winning late in the second half.
• The 77-75 home loss to Tougaloo College when they were up by one in the final minute.
• The road loss to Rust to finish the season when they had two one-point leads in the final minute.

THE UGLY

The extremely tough schedule featured road games against NCAA Division I Schools, Tennessee State University, and Austin Peay State University. They also traveled to take on NAIA powerhouse Faulkner (AL) University and HBCU rival Clark Atlanta, an NCAA Division II team.

BY THE NUMBERS:

1924 – Most points in a season since 2003-04.

17 Up – The number of points that the top two scorers Blake Goodman (17.6) and Jayden Lockett (17) average for the year

3 – Fisk is the only team that has three scorers in the top ten. Goodman 4^th, Lockett 5^th, and Tyon Thompson 8^th (15.1).

2.9 -Lockett's steals per game average which leads the GCAC and is fifth in the country.

254 – Rebounds for Michael Ashley that placed him second in the GCAC.

Quick Hits:

Armstead Named Perry Wallace Courage Award Winner

Jeremiah Armstead came to Fisk last season after being homeless. His story was featured in The Washington Post. He was named the United States Basketball Writers' Association's 2024 Perry Wallace Courage Award winner. Armstead will be invited to take part in the NCAA's Final Four Weekend.

Anderson's Tough Schedule, Key Fisk Winning The Most Games in GCAC Play

The Bulldogs have won ten games in the GCAC for the first time in team history. Anderson is sure that his team's tough schedule, which included two games against NCAA D1 teams Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University is the key to preparing the team.

Spicy Wings

Anderson has some athletic wings at his disposal, in Jayden Lockett, Tyon Thompson, and Blake Goodman. The three have shown up huge this season. Lockett, a former Mr. Basketball candidate in Tennessee, is filling up the scoresheet with "Scottie Pippen" type numbers. On January 9^th, he scored his 1,000^th career collegiate point. Thompson is the team's leading scorer, doubling up as a point guard at times. Goodman has four 30-point games this season with a high of 36 in the first game against Faulkner University.

Ashley and Martin Bring Physicality to Interior

One of the most expensive cars on the is an Ashton Martin. At Fisk Ashley and Maritn have been a motor in the middle that has helped the team succeed. Michael Ashley, a senior and former NCAA football player from Atlanta, and classmate Tyree Martin from Chicago are big and physical posts for the Bulldogs. Ashley is averaging 10.2 rebounds per game against conference opponents and the 6'9 Martin has made it tough for opponents to get points in the paint.