University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Edwards Looking to Build on Strong Freshman Year Improvements
10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Cortez Edwards made 14 turnovers in his first five collegiate games, spanning just 104 minutes.
The final eight games of the season saw him not commit one over those 105 minutes, and it was far from an accident.
"At the beginning of the season I had a problem with turnovers," Edwards admitted. "I just focused more on taking care of the ball and being more conscious about what I'm doing."
It is a pragmatic approach that many 18 and 19-year-olds could very easily have problems with, especially when playing at a high level of basketball. The situation goes even deeper than that, considering where his role was on the team.
"I think two things have contributed to his improvement," head coach Doc Sadler said. "One is his work ethic, and two is his understanding. He understood more later of what we were trying to do. Earlier in the year he was put in situations he probably wasn't ready for. But because of the time he did spend there, I think that's what cut down on his turnovers. He just played with a little bit more confidence."
Assistant coach Marques Townsend, who oversees the backcourt development, was equally complimentary of the 6-foot-2 guard.
"We talk about this all the time," he said. "There's always a learning curve and adjustment for everybody. In fairness to Tez, we asked him to play a position he never had to play. It was a deer-in-headlights situation not really understanding what would be required of him. Game experience and his maturity throughout the year attributed to his improvement."
Edwards is also keen to the mindset of this year's crop of newcomers, which of the seven-strong bulk includes a pair of freshmen.
"I feel like they were in my position last year, so I'd like to help them out as much as I can," he said. "I know what they are going through."
Not only does he have the opportunity to inspire them from weave drills to the film room, but also what makes Hattiesburg and Southern Miss so special to him and instrumental to his development.
"I came here [from Osceola, Fla.] because of the town," Edwards said. "It's not too fast-paced, so it allows me to be focused. I just love the fans and people here. Everybody's respectful and this town really gets behind Southern Miss."
Edwards missed just one of his 12 free-throw attempts in the 2015-16 campaign and did not commit multiple turnovers in a game after Dec. 19. The only thing left to do for him now is to completely turn over a new leaf with the Golden Eagle program as they march on to a new era.
