by CHUCK McGILL, DAILY MAIL SPORTSWRITER , Charleston Daily Mail

The 6-foot-8 Wilkerson relayed his expectation to successfully build upon his junior campaign. If that comes to fruition, he knows to credit Whiteside, a 7-foot freshman, and Spikes, a 6-10 sophomore, for better preparing him for the rigors of the hoops season.

"It's a real good thing we have those two because we never really had big guys that could get in there and play," Wilkerson said. "During practice we can train against them. In the past in practice we wouldn't have anybody with any size and then face a 7-footer in a game and wouldn't be used to it.

"Now we see it every day in practice. Now we are ready for it."

Whiteside and Spikes are two big pieces in third-year Coach Donnie Jones' plan of building the Thundering Herd program into Conference USA contenders.

His team is coming off a sub-.500 season where it ranked ninth in the league in scoring defense and 10th in blocked shots, while also ranking in the bottom 10 nationally in field goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense.

"Adding these guys gives us a chance to press and run and play our style of play," Jones said. "In this league you are going to play teams like Memphis, Tulsa, UTEP, Houston, and they all have great length. It's a disadvantage to not have those kinds of guys."

The expectations for Whiteside, a recruit who was coveted nationally, and Spikes should be tempered, Jones said.

With traditional big men, the transition to college basketball is more difficult than it is for guards or forwards, development on defense often precedes offense, and their impacts are sometimes not as tangible as statistics, such as value in practice or altering shots on defense.

"For the first time we have a 7-foot and a 6-10 shot blocker," said Marshall assistant coach Darren Tillis, who at 6-11 played two seasons in the NBA. "What that does is give you a presence in the paint. You'll see a lot of shots that are missed because the offensive players are looking for the big guys."

The presence of Whiteside and Spikes, along with Wilkerson and 6-6 junior Tirrell Baines, affords the Herd the opportunity to create steals in the backcourt and generate fastbreak opportunities.

"We can be a lot more aggressive with our perimeter players because have people back there to cover for them," Tillis said. "You can be a little more risky out there because if the other team gets by there will be guys waiting to block a shot or intimidate them."

Then there's the added benefit of depth, especially considering the injury woes that curtailed the Herd's season down the stretch a year ago.

"If we have guys that are tired we can rest and bring someone else in with the same length and the same skill set," Wilkerson said.

In addition to the twin towers who will operate closest to the basket, Jones must integrate 6-8 sophomore transfer Cam Miller, who will provide the Herd with a versatile inside-out threat, and Antonio Haymon, a 6-6 junior college transfer, into the rotation.

Because Miller gained experience in his lone season at Western Carolina and Haymon earned Division II All-America honors at Cecil Community College last season, they are more ready-made for major college basketball.

Whiteside and Spikes are still in their infancy in terms of developing into well-rounded players.

"I think they're growing, but I think right now they are still overwhelmed," Tillis said. "They are doing a lot of things right, but they are doing so many little things wrong. What they are doing right now is relying on God-given ability."

At least that ability is giving Wilkerson a few early tests before the season begins Sunday at 2 p.m. when Marshall hosts North Carolina A&T.

In a league that features Tulsa's Jerome Jordan, a 7-footer who was tapped as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, and 6-11 Arnett Moultrie of UTEP, Wilkerson needed all the prep he could get.

At this point, Wilkerson would welcome a matchup with either Jordan or Moultrie.

"I'm so tired of playing against these guys," Wilkerson said of Whiteside and Spikes. "I want to beat on someone else."

Bob Wojcieszak/Daily Mail

Marshall senior Tyler Wilkerson wants to step into a leadership role and make big plays for the Thundering Herd.

Donnie Jones is entering his third year with the Herd.

Contact sportswriter Chuck McGill at chuck.mcgill@daily mail.com or 304-348-1712.

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