Amid Coaching Turmoil USA Makes Statement In Conference With Win
Interim head coach Jeff Price | jaguarsmensbasketball.com
After the turmoil surrounding Ronnie Arrow’s sudden retirement the Jags rebounded behind the leadership of Coach Jeff Price to add another win to their 2-0 record in Conference play. But the way they played really stood out.
The team improved their shot selection and ball movement and even made great defensive stands when the Trojans of UALR made a charge at them and they had an answer.
UALR was the team on top of the Western Division of the Sun Belt Conference and the Jags handed them a 15 point defeat. Is South Alabama a team to reckon with this season? There was an argument to be made before Arrow’s retirment. But that argument had some if’s to it. If the Jaguars moved the ball around, if they were smarter about their shot selection, if they hustled on defense and if they played as a team.
The Jags sent a message that they will not allow the mid-season coaching change affect their goals this season. They want to win conference games, position themselves to win the conference tournament and earn their place in the NCAA Tournament. It may be too early to say that the team led by interim coach Jeff Price will continue to be a team to reckon with, but with the win they made their first statement in the affirmative over UALR.
Middle Tennessee State, the favorite to win the conference this season, will meet on January 5 at the Mitchell Center. This game should prove to be a clash of conference power. MTSU will have to take notice of the Jags if they continue to play like they did in Price’s first game.
Only time will tell how the team continues to develop and perform under Price’s leadership.
While the team performed well after being placed in a tough spot, so did Coach Price. He replaced a coach who he served as an assistant coach twice and both times at South Alabama.
Price told AL.com that UALR was his “scout game”. Meaning he was prepared the scouting report for then head coach Ronnie Arrow. “So I was pretty in tune, as was our staff, as to what they were doing,” Price said to AL.com. “I thought we just did a really nice job taking them out of their game. I think it can lift us. We’re sitting here 3-0 in the league now with another home game coming up and hopefully we’ll have a good break and come back ready to go.”
The next game is on Saturday, December 29 at the Mitchell Center when the Jags host Arkansas State. After a three day holiday, the team is expected to return to campus to begin preparing for an ASU team that is 6-5 overall and 0-2 in Conference play.