University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Men's Basketball Frontcourt Embracing New Systems, Intensity
10/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- College basketball practices are not something many people could handle day in and day out. One would not pick up on that from the Southern Miss men's basketball frontcourt, which smiles wide as it discusses how the 2016-17 preseason has gone so far.
Eddie Davis III enters his third season in Hattiesburg while Quinton Campbell, Tim Rowe and Raheem Watts begin their second. All have waited for this season with much anticipation already, and the arrival of new assistant coach and Golden Eagle legend Clarence Weatherspoon has truly upped the ante.
"We are getting perspective from a veteran NBA player that played in the post," Davis said. "He's giving us knowledge that some people might not have. It's more in-depth and we get to learn more moves, counters and other post things."
Weatherspoon is Southern Miss' all-time leading rebounder and proved to be one of the best iron men of the decade in the NBA, starting all 82 games of the season four times over his 13-year career.
That too comes with the renaissance of the team looking forward to its first postseason opportunity in three years following NCAA sanctions. The squad welcomes seven newcomers this year, including talented transfers Tyree Griffin (Oklahoma State) and Dominic Magee (Grand Canyon) who will be ineligible this season per transfer rules.
Freshman Josh Conley and Colby (Kan.) CC transfer Bilal Abdur-Rahim, both 6-foot-7, will also have to-be-determined roles in the front or backcourt. Abdur-Rahim is the younger brother of Shareef, averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game during his NBA career (1996-08) before embarking on his basketball front office administration career.
Conley and Abdur-Rahim averaged 10 and 8.7 rebounds per game, respectively, at their previous stops.
"The biggest opportunity for us is we get to play for something," Davis said. "We aren't on probation anymore. We have a chance to get into the conference and NCAA tournament. We are gonna strive to win as many games as we can."
Davis started six of the team's first 10 games last year before suffering a season-ending injury. He scored in double-figures six times in that span and had nine rebounds versus Troy in just 18 minutes. He also added eight more boards each against Memphis and Alabama.
While the motivation is high for any player in any class, Weatherspoon says he notices especially how the seniors have responded to the upcoming season.
"We try to work them and push them to get ready," Weatherspoon said. "Quinton Campbell and Raheem Watts are in their senior years and they want to elevate their game. One of the things we are doing is to change your intensity levels and focus. You have to execute at a higher level. That's one of the things they've been responding well."
Rowe, a sophomore, led the team in blocks last season but has been kept aware of what new challenges and opportunities lay ahead in the new system. He says he enjoys the new direction.
"The intensity is higher with [Coach Weatherspoon]," Rowe said of him. "When you mess up, you'll know."
Campbell, at 6-foot-7, is arguably the most versatile player on the team. He tied for the team lead in three-point attempts last year but is the second-highest returning rebounder. Two of his three career-high nine-board games came on the road, including the season finale. Campbell says he sees where the team's variety of roles can be problematic for any opponent.
"I think that's where our defense comes in," he said. "Where some teams may be bigger than us, we are going to be quicker than them and more conditioned. I think if we can come after people defensively, we can go from there."
The Golden Eagles begin their 2016-17 campaign with a home exhibition game versus Mississippi College on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. The regular season commences Friday, Nov. 11 versus Tougaloo, also with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
