HUNTINGTON - It comes a little earlier than planned, but coach Donnie Jones expects to have all hands on deck when Marshall opens its 97th basketball season today against WVU Tech.

Markel Humphrey and Tyler Wilkerson have returned to practice this week. Jones is not sure how long they will play against the Golden Bears, but they had been expected to miss the 2 p.m. game at Cam Henderson Center.

Humphrey has suffered from a stress fracture in his foot, but he participated heavily in an intrasquad scrimmage. Wilkerson, who broke a bone in his hand, returned to practice Friday.

That's a boost for the Thundering Herd, which takes on an NAIA squad which is playing its seventh game already.

"We have four games in seven days," said Herd coach Donnie Jones. "We need everybody if we're going to be productive."

Yes, the Herd begins the season with a heavy dose of action. Today's game is technically the beginning of the Glenn Wilkes Classic, with action shifting to Daytona Beach, Fla., next weekend. Marshall will play Morgan State, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Mississippi on consecutive days, beginning Friday.

But first, Jones will have another 40 minutes to figure out his rotations. The team has had many practices but just two game-like situations against another squad - an 87-58 exhibition victory over Wheeling Jesuit and a closed scrimmage against Virginia Military Institute.

That scrimmage, which by rule Jones cannot say much about than confirm its existence, must have been pretty productive for VMI. The high-scoring Keydets opened their season with a 111-103 victory over Kentucky.

How much the Herd got out of it may be difficult to discern today.

"There are a lot of unknowns," Jones said. "I hope we get a chance to play everyone a lot."

Jones will look for more out of all his eight newcomers. In the exhibition game two weeks ago, he received a big game from swingman Dago Pena, 11 points and seven rebounds, but others struggled to some degree. Among those was point guard Damier Pitts, who picked up two quick fouls and missed most of the first half.

Pitts, a 5-foot-10 native of Charlotte, N.C., who played at Hargrave Military Academy, isn't the only one who can play point guard. But Jones wants him to assume leadership of the offense, now and down the road.

Jones draws an interesting parallel to a just-retired NBA player with whom Herd fans are familiar.

"I think we had Jason Williams when he was a freshman here, and they are very similar in personality," Jones said. "They were very quiet [but] very charismatic out here on the court. He's respectful to his elders. We keep demanding of him, telling him it's OK, he needs to lead.

"But that's hard when you come into a program. He's a really talented kid; he's trying to fit in, too, and earn his respect with the guys on the team. As time goes on, I think he'll grow into that."

Tech is 4-2, fresh off an 83-75 win Wednesday over Southern Virginia. Coach Bob Williams had a lot of turnover, with just five players returning.

One of those, 6-6 forward Sam Robertson, is leading in scoring at 13.8 points per game. Robby Marshall, a 6-6 junior who is new to the team, is next at 12.2. Robertson leads in rebounding with 6.8 per game and 6-1 junior college transfer Zack Thomsen leads with 4.5 assists.

The Bears have lost to Glenville State and Shawnee State, and have beaten Maryland Bible, Ohio State-Marion (102-33!), Virginia Intermont and Southern Virginia.

"They're coming in a little past their jitters," Jones said.

Reach Doug Smock at 348-5130 or dougsm...@wvgazette.com.