I'll Be a Son of a Shark

[CoachC]

Oct 19: We receive our 3rd verbal commitment of the fall from:

6'7 198 lb HS F Jason Horton from Raymond HS in Raymond, MS

Horton is an athletic scorer at the 3 and will probably play a prominent role on this team next year with so much scoring being lost to graduation.

We badly need to still land 2 or 3 guards for this team for next season, but it's been difficult to find them thus far.

[CoachC]

Oct 23: Practice is going well. There's been some minor bickering but nothing serious. Felts did very well on his midterms fortunately so now there is little risk of losing him for the 2nd semester. Arenas, White, and Sanders are still struggling a bit, but hopefully will be okay. I miss coach Vicky.

[CoachC]

Nov 3: Our first test against outside competition comes against Div II Winston-Salem St. We have a bunch of newcomers to evaluate again, as we look for 2 or 3 players to step up to become part of the rotation along with the 6 hold-overs. Finding someone to back up Battle at the point for about 10 minutes a game is a big priority. We will probably experiment some with Felts there during the exhibitions, but it's not something we want to have to rely on. Jeffers has proven to be such a good passer he may even see a few minutes there during the exhibitions.

The first half was a disappointing mess as we struggled to shoot, and not turn the ball over. Defensively we might have been worse. We trail at the half 34-36

The offense was much better in the 2nd half, but our defense still stunk, especially the 37 times we sent them to the line. I won't get too concerned about that given that most of the game we had guys playing with each other who were unfamiliar with each other, so it's no surprise that communication wasn't the greatest. we lose 80-78. The next exhibition must result in a much better showing of course as our regulars will be playing their normal minutes along with a few guys we are looking at as part of the rotation.

Of the new guys Garvin Sanders had 8 pts, 4 rebs in 17 minutes and will definitely be part of the rotation. Angelo Madison had a decent audition at the point with 8 pts, 3 asts and no turnovers but fouled out in 15 minutes. He will be given every opportunity to play as Battle's back-up. Bobby White had an impressive 12 minutes with 10 pts before he too fouled out. Holdovers Geisen and Bradley both did some nice things in their time on the floor and will see some time in the 2nd exhibition.

[CoachC]

Nov 8: Our 2nd exhibition vs DII Kentucky Wesleyan. Hopefully we give the crowd something to look forward to in this one.

A solid first half performance where we shot 50%, held them to 28% and out-rebounded the Panthers 23-14. At the half we lead 40-24.

Our offense really sputtered in the 2nd half when they switched to zone. Our defense remained decent, but we limp to the finish line 63-58.

Battle had 15 pts, 4 asts, but turned the ball over 5 times.
Felts had 13 pts, 4 rebs
Jeffers 16 pts, 8 rebs
Moore 5pts, 6 rebs, 3 stls
O'Conner 8 pts, 5 rebs
Brown 4 pts, 3 asts, 8 rebs, 2 stls

Other than Brown the only help we had off the bench at all were Madison who had 2 pts, 3 asts in 10 minutes behind Battle, and Geisen had 3 rebounds in 8 minutes. Bradley, Sanders, and White all played but provided little. This game left me concerned given the schedule we are facing. We'd better play better than this when the bell rings.

[CoachC]

Nov. 9: Kevin and I have a discussion about possibly red-shirting freshman Center Jamar Ferrel who appears to be a bit over his head right now, but decide against it.

[CoachC]

We open the season on the road vs the Wildcats of the America East Conference.

We had a decent first half performance against a not very good basketball team. At the half we lead 41-26.

We weren't quite as good in the 2nd half but we turn them over 22 times on 13 steals for the game and were never threatened.

Ike led us with 22 pts, 4 stls
Felts added 16 pts, 7 rebs, 2 stls
Battle had 10 pts, 3 asts, 3 rebs and just 1 turnover
Moore had a typical Moore game. Just 2 pts, but 3 asts, 8 rebs, 2 stls, and 2 blks to fill up the stat sheet.
O'Conner added 8 pts, 7 rebs.

Brown had an off game tonight, but we had solid minutes off the bench from Madison (4 asts, just 1 TO in 14 minutes at the point), Giesen (7 pts, 4 reb), and Sanders (8 pts, 4 rebs, 2 stls)

Final:

G-W 74 NH 58

[Tim Moungey]

Can't wait to see what kind of offers you get after this season.

[CoachC]

With the schedule we have, they may get worse! lol I've actually been getting more offers from BCS schools than good mid-majors.

[CoachC]

The Spiders are the start of a 4 game homestand. After this one, the schedule really heats up.

After last season, our season ticket sales are close to 3600, the most in school history. 4168 are on hand for our home opener. It should be loud.

The Spiders play almost exclusively 2-3 zone. We need to prove we can beat a zone.

With both Battle and Madison picking up early foul trouble, Felts was forced to play a fair amount of minutes at the point in the first half, and acquitted himself impressively well. Sanders awed the crowd in his home debut coming off the bench to riddle the zone with 20 first half points. At the half we lead 43-25.

We don't shoot as well in the 2nd half but our defense was sound throughout and we turned them over 25 times on 11 steals. Our own A/TO ratio of 23/3 was phenomenal especially with Felts playing some significant minutes at the point.

Sanders spectacular coming out party continued in the 2nd half finishing with
30 pts, 3 asts, 3 stls.
Jeffers had 16 pts, 5 rebs, 2 stls.
Limited to 16 minutes because of foul trouble, Battle never-the-less had 3 points 6 asts, and no turnovers.
Felts really stepped up playing at the point, and wound up with 8 pts, a career high 7 asts, and just 2 turnovers.
Moore and Brown did their usual thing.
O'Conner was limited to 15 minutes with foul trouble and wasn't much of a factor.

Leading by as much as 28 points we were able to empty the bench late. This one was never a contest.

FInal:

G-W 71 Richmond 50

[CoachC]

Nov 20: We receive signed LOIs from all 3 of our previously committed recruits.