Bobcat Cagers Prep for Practice
10/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Mick Durham knows high expectations surround his 2005-06 Bobcat basketball. He knows most expect his veteran squad to challenge for the Big Sky Conference title, for which it competed until the final weekend of the 2004-05 season.
And he doesn't mind a bit. "Our fans aren't the only ones that expect us to have a good year," Durham said. "Our coaches and players expect the same thing."
Durham has dealt with lofty expectations before. He led MSU to the 1996 Big Sky regular season and tournament titles, and the 2002 regular season crown. "I would much rather be picked high in the conference than down around the bottom," he said. "If people expect you to do well in your league it's probably because you have good players. That's a good situation."
Durham enters the new campaign with several good players, and with a very experienced squad. Nine returners, including all five starters, lead the Bobcats. Two of them, forward Marvin Moss and guard Ja'Ron Jefferson, earned First Team All-Big Sky honors a year ago. Durham's approach changes with an experienced squad, he says.
"We have a lot of guys back, and (preseason practice) always feels different when you have a lot of guys back," Durham said. "This is a pretty veteran group. I like to let the guys (scrimmage) a lot early so we can see where everyone is at. We need to get going pretty quick on defense."
Durham also indicated that rebounding stands as an early focus. "I hope that adding an extra big guy, Ted Morris, helps us rebound better," he said. "I'd like to be a better rebounding team. We have a couple guys in Ja'Ron and Nick (Dissly) that rebound well from the perimeter, so you add Ted to Al and Marvin inside and I think we can improve."
Morris, a 6-10 center, transferred from Indiana State and redshirted last year. He joins junior college guard Derrick Edmonds as new players Durham hopes can join the rotation immediately. "Ted was with us last year, so he knows how we do things," Durham said. "We need to blend Derrick in quickly. We brought him in to shoot, that's his strength. He gives us depth at guard, and he's a good enough athlete that I think he can help us defensively, too."
Montana State struggled with inconsistency early last season due largely to a difficult schedule and the addition of nine new players. Durham hopes a year of experience brings a more solid early-season performance. "I expect to see more consistency," he said, "not just in games but in practice. Our goal is to have quality day after quality day. We need to be hard on these guys, we need to push them. We'll hit things hard."
* * * * *
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Montana State opens its 2005-06 practice sessions this Friday at 7 pm in Romney Gym. The 'Cats practice Saturday at 1 pm and Sunday at noon, also in Romney.
* * * * *
JOHNSON SCOPED: Freshman forward Chawn Johnson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week. He is on the shelf for four-to-six weeks.
And he doesn't mind a bit. "Our fans aren't the only ones that expect us to have a good year," Durham said. "Our coaches and players expect the same thing."
Durham has dealt with lofty expectations before. He led MSU to the 1996 Big Sky regular season and tournament titles, and the 2002 regular season crown. "I would much rather be picked high in the conference than down around the bottom," he said. "If people expect you to do well in your league it's probably because you have good players. That's a good situation."
Durham enters the new campaign with several good players, and with a very experienced squad. Nine returners, including all five starters, lead the Bobcats. Two of them, forward Marvin Moss and guard Ja'Ron Jefferson, earned First Team All-Big Sky honors a year ago. Durham's approach changes with an experienced squad, he says.
"We have a lot of guys back, and (preseason practice) always feels different when you have a lot of guys back," Durham said. "This is a pretty veteran group. I like to let the guys (scrimmage) a lot early so we can see where everyone is at. We need to get going pretty quick on defense."
Durham also indicated that rebounding stands as an early focus. "I hope that adding an extra big guy, Ted Morris, helps us rebound better," he said. "I'd like to be a better rebounding team. We have a couple guys in Ja'Ron and Nick (Dissly) that rebound well from the perimeter, so you add Ted to Al and Marvin inside and I think we can improve."
Morris, a 6-10 center, transferred from Indiana State and redshirted last year. He joins junior college guard Derrick Edmonds as new players Durham hopes can join the rotation immediately. "Ted was with us last year, so he knows how we do things," Durham said. "We need to blend Derrick in quickly. We brought him in to shoot, that's his strength. He gives us depth at guard, and he's a good enough athlete that I think he can help us defensively, too."
Montana State struggled with inconsistency early last season due largely to a difficult schedule and the addition of nine new players. Durham hopes a year of experience brings a more solid early-season performance. "I expect to see more consistency," he said, "not just in games but in practice. Our goal is to have quality day after quality day. We need to be hard on these guys, we need to push them. We'll hit things hard."
* * * * *
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Montana State opens its 2005-06 practice sessions this Friday at 7 pm in Romney Gym. The 'Cats practice Saturday at 1 pm and Sunday at noon, also in Romney.
* * * * *
JOHNSON SCOPED: Freshman forward Chawn Johnson underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week. He is on the shelf for four-to-six weeks.
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