Jaguar Men’s Basketball Begin 2014-2015 Season with First Workout
The Jaguars Men’s Basketball team kicked off the 2014-2015 season and year two under Matthew Graves on Monday morning with their first team workout.
It was their first practice session as they begin preparation for the season and their exhibition match on November 6 against Mobile.
Six players return from last years team including the leading returning scorer Ken Williams but will ahve nine newcomers as well.
Those six player will be key as last season Graves was working to implement his system, they will have knowledge of his system and can help their new teammates learn the system.
“We are further along (than we were last year),” Graves said. “We still have a long ways to go, but this first practice, we were able to get through probably 50 percent more than we were a year ago, and that’s in part to how hard our guys worked this summer, and even though half of our roster is new, we were still able to accomplish some things because the new guys were here all summer and that made a huge difference.
“It helps that (the returning players have) been through it and when we call out a drill or running a play, they know what we’re doing. They’re getting more comfortable with helping the new guys, and one thing I noticed from this morning is we have a lot more competition from the second group. Last year it was pretty one-sided but this year our second group, with a guy like Nick Stover, that’s sitting out with a redshirt, is really going to be vital for that second group to push the first group. Having that competition in practice on a daily basis is really going to help us get better throughout the year.”
The Jags only have one scholarship senior on the roster in Dionte Ferguson. The team is comprised of two seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen.
Last season the Jaguars finished 11-20 overall and 5-13 in conference play. The season begins on November 11 against Carroll (Mont.) after their exhibition match against the University of Mobile on November 6.