Bobcats Begin Saturday
10/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Mick Durham won't need name tags when his 15th Bobcat basketball team begins practice Saturday at 5 pm in Worthington Arena, but it won't be far from that. Durham welcomes seven newcomers to the Bobcat squad this year.
"It will be different," Durham says of his overhauled roster, which features junior college transfers Branden Miller (6-1, 175), Ja'Ron Jefferson (6-0, 180), Marvin Moss (6-6, 230), Al Beye (6-11, 210), and Taylor Pratt (6-7, 205). All five will challenge for starting spots during camp, Durham indicated. "I think we're more talented than we've been, and hopefully that translates into better offensive play."
As usual, Durham's offense centers on scoring balance and unselfish play. Those tenets guide the Bobcats during the early part of pre-season practice, he said. "We always try to have balance," said the Big Sky's all-time winningest coach. "We like balanced scoring, we like inside-outside balance. I think we'll be a better-shooting team this year."
Durham said the focus during the first few days of practice -- MSU also practices Sunday afternoon -- will be big-picture issues. "We'll concentrate on being unselfish, shot selection, we'll try to keep it pretty basic. The more thinking players have to do, the less they're able to just play and react. But we'll focus on the way we want things done in our program."
Durham said a returning point guard -- junior Frank Brown -- is a good starting point for any team. He won't begin defining roles this early in the fall, however. "I'm not hard-core into roles yet," he said. "There is plenty of time to deal with those issues. I like the fact that we have a lot of guys that seem to be able to do a lot of different things well, that will make us a versatile team."
Durham foresees Miller and Jefferson joining Brown in the backcourt, with holdovers Nick Dissly and Carson Durr at the small forward spot. Returning letterman Dennis Woodall and Moss form an athletic power forward combo. Returning starter Matt Towsley, who will miss the first few days of practice with a recurring back injury, anchors the middle. Beye, Moss, a physical power forward who can play center, and lanky Pratt can all chip in at center if need be. Freshmen guards Ryan Holmes and Casey Durham, a redshirt, will each help on the perimeter, and forward Martrel Johnson is an undersized inside player.
"It will be different," Durham says of his overhauled roster, which features junior college transfers Branden Miller (6-1, 175), Ja'Ron Jefferson (6-0, 180), Marvin Moss (6-6, 230), Al Beye (6-11, 210), and Taylor Pratt (6-7, 205). All five will challenge for starting spots during camp, Durham indicated. "I think we're more talented than we've been, and hopefully that translates into better offensive play."
As usual, Durham's offense centers on scoring balance and unselfish play. Those tenets guide the Bobcats during the early part of pre-season practice, he said. "We always try to have balance," said the Big Sky's all-time winningest coach. "We like balanced scoring, we like inside-outside balance. I think we'll be a better-shooting team this year."
Durham said the focus during the first few days of practice -- MSU also practices Sunday afternoon -- will be big-picture issues. "We'll concentrate on being unselfish, shot selection, we'll try to keep it pretty basic. The more thinking players have to do, the less they're able to just play and react. But we'll focus on the way we want things done in our program."
Durham said a returning point guard -- junior Frank Brown -- is a good starting point for any team. He won't begin defining roles this early in the fall, however. "I'm not hard-core into roles yet," he said. "There is plenty of time to deal with those issues. I like the fact that we have a lot of guys that seem to be able to do a lot of different things well, that will make us a versatile team."
Durham foresees Miller and Jefferson joining Brown in the backcourt, with holdovers Nick Dissly and Carson Durr at the small forward spot. Returning letterman Dennis Woodall and Moss form an athletic power forward combo. Returning starter Matt Towsley, who will miss the first few days of practice with a recurring back injury, anchors the middle. Beye, Moss, a physical power forward who can play center, and lanky Pratt can all chip in at center if need be. Freshmen guards Ryan Holmes and Casey Durham, a redshirt, will each help on the perimeter, and forward Martrel Johnson is an undersized inside player.
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