GWU Basketball Preview
Here's the season preview that appears in Sunday's Star:
BOILING SPRINGS - One week away from the biggest game in school history, Gardner-Webb men's basketball coach Rick Scruggs couldn't help smiling as he sat in his office last week.
While opening the 2005 season on Nov. 19 in Chapel Hill is an exciting event, Scruggs has his sights set on bigger things than just the Tar Heels.
The Bulldogs ended last season with an 18-12 record, falling to Central Florida in the Atlantic Sun Championship game. With all five starters back from that team - and UCF moving to Conference USA - the bar is set as high as it can go for this year's club, a NCAA Tournament berth..
"After last year, there's one more step to take,'' Scruggs said. "Barring anything unforeseen, we'd like to be the ones that cut the nets down this year. I think we've got a good shot at it. Last year, we played hungry. It'll be interesting to see if we still play that way.''
Last year, GWU was picked ninth in the Preseason Atlantic Sun poll. This year's squad is the odds-on favorite to win the crown this season, making this year's edition of the Runnin' Bulldogs the hunted, rather than the hunters.
"It's going to be a different mentality,'' Scruggs said. "Now instead of people looking ahead to their next opponent, they're going to be looking ahead to us. People are going to know that we've got the talent to play on that level. Now, we're going to have to go out and prove it.''
Scruggs, entering his 11th season at GWU, will have the luxury of putting an experienced team on the floor. There are six seniors on the roster, including center Simon Conn, forward Brian Bender, reigning Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year Tim Jennings and point guard T.J. McCullough.Newcomers Ricky McPhee, who Scruggs describes as a "J.J. Redick-type shooter'' and Takayo Siddle should fit into the backcourt mix early on.
Conn averaged 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season and spent his summer playing for his native Australia in the 2005 World University Games. His continued development is a big part of GWU's tournament chances.
"Last year, the first part of the year, Simon played fair,'' Scruggs said. "It seemed like around Christmas - he must have gotten a good present or something because he just blossomed. I thought he was the best post player in the league after Christmas. This year, I think you'll see us go to him more than we did early last season because he's obviously a force in there.''
Jennings has started drawing interest from NBA scouts because of his defensive prowess, and his abilities will also be key for the 'Dogs.
"We had the San Antonio Spurs' scout in here the other day watching him, which was exciting and a little different'' Scruggs said. "I've never had a pro scout come in and watch practice. I've had them watch games where they came to see somebody else and saw us.
"The thing they said (about him) is he has the ability to play defense on the NBA level. Now, they didn't say anything about his offense, but they like his defensive ability.''
Former Burns High standout Chris Gash should also crack the starting lineup this season, and Scruggs is happy with the junior's development as well.
"I think where he's most improved is that he's refined some things,'' Scruggs said. "He's smoother, and he's developed into a very strong young man. He's had a great preseason, and I think his game will step up next season when we lose all these seniors. I think he'll be ready to take another giant step forward then.''
It won't take long to find out how the Bulldogs handle their newfound expectations, as North Carolina, Auburn, East Carolina, Minnesota and Ohio State dot the early schedule.
"Playing games like that is great for Gardner-Webb,'' Scruggs said. "I just think when you play against those kind of crowds and those kind of teams, it helps you get ready for league play. I think also the kids who come here now are expecting to play a big-time schedule. That's one of the reasons we get kids here, because we play such an ambitious schedule.''
If that schedule plays on into "The Big Dance,'' Scruggs' smile will be bigger than ever.
BOILING SPRINGS - One week away from the biggest game in school history, Gardner-Webb men's basketball coach Rick Scruggs couldn't help smiling as he sat in his office last week.
While opening the 2005 season on Nov. 19 in Chapel Hill is an exciting event, Scruggs has his sights set on bigger things than just the Tar Heels.
The Bulldogs ended last season with an 18-12 record, falling to Central Florida in the Atlantic Sun Championship game. With all five starters back from that team - and UCF moving to Conference USA - the bar is set as high as it can go for this year's club, a NCAA Tournament berth..
"After last year, there's one more step to take,'' Scruggs said. "Barring anything unforeseen, we'd like to be the ones that cut the nets down this year. I think we've got a good shot at it. Last year, we played hungry. It'll be interesting to see if we still play that way.''
Last year, GWU was picked ninth in the Preseason Atlantic Sun poll. This year's squad is the odds-on favorite to win the crown this season, making this year's edition of the Runnin' Bulldogs the hunted, rather than the hunters.
"It's going to be a different mentality,'' Scruggs said. "Now instead of people looking ahead to their next opponent, they're going to be looking ahead to us. People are going to know that we've got the talent to play on that level. Now, we're going to have to go out and prove it.''
Scruggs, entering his 11th season at GWU, will have the luxury of putting an experienced team on the floor. There are six seniors on the roster, including center Simon Conn, forward Brian Bender, reigning Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year Tim Jennings and point guard T.J. McCullough.Newcomers Ricky McPhee, who Scruggs describes as a "J.J. Redick-type shooter'' and Takayo Siddle should fit into the backcourt mix early on.
Conn averaged 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season and spent his summer playing for his native Australia in the 2005 World University Games. His continued development is a big part of GWU's tournament chances.
"Last year, the first part of the year, Simon played fair,'' Scruggs said. "It seemed like around Christmas - he must have gotten a good present or something because he just blossomed. I thought he was the best post player in the league after Christmas. This year, I think you'll see us go to him more than we did early last season because he's obviously a force in there.''
Jennings has started drawing interest from NBA scouts because of his defensive prowess, and his abilities will also be key for the 'Dogs.
"We had the San Antonio Spurs' scout in here the other day watching him, which was exciting and a little different'' Scruggs said. "I've never had a pro scout come in and watch practice. I've had them watch games where they came to see somebody else and saw us.
"The thing they said (about him) is he has the ability to play defense on the NBA level. Now, they didn't say anything about his offense, but they like his defensive ability.''
Former Burns High standout Chris Gash should also crack the starting lineup this season, and Scruggs is happy with the junior's development as well.
"I think where he's most improved is that he's refined some things,'' Scruggs said. "He's smoother, and he's developed into a very strong young man. He's had a great preseason, and I think his game will step up next season when we lose all these seniors. I think he'll be ready to take another giant step forward then.''
It won't take long to find out how the Bulldogs handle their newfound expectations, as North Carolina, Auburn, East Carolina, Minnesota and Ohio State dot the early schedule.
"Playing games like that is great for Gardner-Webb,'' Scruggs said. "I just think when you play against those kind of crowds and those kind of teams, it helps you get ready for league play. I think also the kids who come here now are expecting to play a big-time schedule. That's one of the reasons we get kids here, because we play such an ambitious schedule.''
If that schedule plays on into "The Big Dance,'' Scruggs' smile will be bigger than ever.
posted by Randy Capps at 11:33 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home