University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Golden Eagle Cagers Off To Fast Start
10/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Golden Eagle Cagers Off To Fast Start
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss opened practice for the 2002-03 basketball season with two Saturday workouts, got in another lengthy Sunday night session, and after three practices, Head Coach James Green says the progress continues to be quick.
"Our effort is still good, we've been able to do a lot of things defensively, but offensively we've been able to play some five-on-five and three-on-three, giving guys who can score, the opportunity to work on that also, and actually, the players look like we've been practicing for about a week, offensively, based on what we've been able to do in the past," Green said. "If you look at what we did today, we ran no sprints during practice, because guys were giving great effort. At the end, we ran only because players missed free throws.
"If they hadn't missed those free throws, I would have been very comfortable with our conditioning, just leaving the court, because we continue to work hard in practice, and we worked them hard enough before practice started, that the conditioning level is good. I also thinks it improves players listening, because when guys get tired, they don't hear very much. So our listening has been really good, which, I think, just puts us a little further along, in particular with a young team, than what we would be if we weren't in good shape."
The first week of practice will continue to be a hectic one for the Golden Eagles, who will start a demanding weekday schedule with 6:15 a.m., workouts Oct. 14, 16 and 18, a day off on Oct. 15, and an even earlier 5:30 a.m., session Oct. 17.
Green says the long, hard practices, particularly early in the day, are harder for young players not familiar with the format. "I think it's really hard for them," he said. "Just getting up and being here is tough at first, and doing that and being able to have a great focus and give a great effort is even tougher. It's a credit to the work ethic of our older players, who have experienced this. They help the younger players with this, the young guys have adapted quickly, and as we go along, it will just become second nature to them."
Green says it's easy to see that this year's team will be different from, perhaps any he has had at Southern Miss, and certainly different than last season. "We'll score better, we'll defend better, we'll be closer as a group, we'll have more guys who can play, and overall, I think we'll have a lot more fun," Green said.
"Our returning players are able to look back at last year's team and appreciate this year's team and what we're trying to do, and, the younger players also can look at last season at what we did last season and feel that they can be a part of making a difference. The attitude has been really good. I don't think there's any doubt about it. We'll be better, no ifs, ands or buts about it."
The Golden Eagles will scrimmage for the first time Oct. 19, from 10:30 until noon. That scrimmage will follow an 8 a.m., Commitment and Education breakfast that will be held in the Elam Arms dining room. Current players, their parents, former players and friends of the program are invited to attend. Reservations should be made through the Basketball Office at 601-266-6355, by Oct. 14.
Following that week, Southern Miss will have just over two weeks to prepare for Nov. 4 and Nov. 12 exhibition games against Spirit Express and Global Sports, respectively. Alcorn State visits Nov. 22, for the first regular-season game, while Jackson State is in town three days later. Troy State and South Alabama round out the November schedule, the team will play in the Gazette Hawkeye Challenge in Iowa City, Iowa, Dec. 6-7, and the schedule then remains busy throughout, as the team starts its run through the Conference USA schedule and into the league tournament, Mar. 12-15, in Louisville, Ky.
Season tickets for the 2002-03 season currently are on sale through the Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ferlise Center on West 4th Street, or by calling 601-266-5418 or 1-800-844-TICK.
