by PointGuard » Thu Mar 10, 2016 2:03 am
(KSMO Nightly News sports report)
After the Missouri State Bears returned home yesterday, I caught up with Coach Bret Vandergard as the team came off the plane returning them from a disastrous 2-game road trip that again put their season record under .500. Here’s my interview of Missouri State’s supposed basketball messiah:
SP: Hey Coach, are you happy to be back home?
BV: (a cold stare) Well yeah, home is always a good place to be.
SP: What happened in the past 2 games? In the first game your team played well in the first half and then tanked in the 2nd half and then in the next game, the Bears looked like they were asleep in the first half and much of the second, and only a late run make it look as if the game was close.
BV: Look Steve, most sports reporters would know that playing on the road in NCAA Division I basketball is tough. The fact that the guys made both of those games close is a positive, not a negative. Louisville regularly has a top-flight team and Oakland is coming off a great season with their team mostly intact.
SP: Yes, but I thought you were supposed to turn this team around? And yet, here we are looking at what is beginning to appear to be yet another mediocre season.
BV: That’s your assessment, Steve, not mine. I think this team has made steady progress the past 2 years and this season will be yet another positive step along the road to ultimate success.
SP: Hasn’t the move of Brent Gregory from the 2 to the 1 and the resultant benching of Bart McCain been a failure? Gregory’s production is down and McCain’s court generalship is sorely missing.
BV: It’s much too early in the season to draw any conclusions, but I think Brent has performed well at the point guard position and he’s a big reason freshman Kareem Masiello is leading our team in scoring. And Bart has been getting a lot of playing time, so his importance to the team has not been diminished in the least. Importantly, those three can spell each other meaning we have a solid backcourt pair on the court throughout the game. Additionally Cleveland Brown is coming into his own as a solid backup at the 2.
SP: Well, none of your big men have stepped up to lead the team. It seems you’re playing the 4 and 5 positions by committee and none of the committee is comfortable or productive with that approach.
BV: The actual fact of the matter is that we have a group of big men, all of whom can step in and do what’s necessary. As you should know, Steve, playing inside is physically demanding. Being able to spell our big men with the depth we have inside before they get too tired is a real plus.
SP: Quinton Asbury has been doing pretty well at the 3 position, but you just don’t have depth there to take over when he’s off the court.
BV: Wrong again, Steve. Kenneth Grandison, not only plays well as a power forward but also has the shooting skills to ably fill in at the 3 and Brent Gregory can perform well at any of the perimeter positions. Then there’s walkon Marcus Jones who has been improving week-by-week in practice and will likely get more playing time as the season progresses. Obviously another key cog, but not until next year, will be small forward Quin Bruton who has to sit out this season since he’s a transfer player.
SP: So are you saying that this team will finally make it to the Big Dance this season?
BV: I’ll leave the predictions up to those like you looking in from outside. We just have to play the games as they come up and do the best we can and then let the chips fall where they may. But…now I have to head out of here with my team. (turns and walks away)”
Well, Bears fans, there you have it. Coach Vandergard doesn’t have any idea about how this team will do. And the question remains…will this coach ever be the savior he was thought to be when he arrived in Springfield? You know, it’s not what have you done in the past for someone else, but what have you done for us lately, Coach Vandergard!
Dynasty Threads:
Fedora-CB;Town Crier-CB;FIve Friends/Foes-CB;Media Perspective-CB;Whatever It Takes-CB;Who's Bret Vandergard-CB;Gym Rat-CB;Repairman-CB;S. Mastroani-TPG;V. Stevenson-TPG