Photo via @morehousebasketball

By: Rece Allen, Associate Sports Producer and Daniel Smith Staff Writer

The Maroon Tigers basketball season is right around the corner. Coming off the heels of a heartbreaking end in the SIAC conference championship, new faces on the team look to contribute to a fresh start. The team dealt with the loss of key players like Senior Kerry Richardson from last year, but after a great off-season from the recruiting team the Maroon Tigers look to take this season by storm. 

 

The season kicked off with two exhibition games against the Georgia State Panthers and The University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers. The Maroon Tigers lost both games; 66-92 to the Panthers and 70-88 to the Blazers.

 

The Maroon Tigers were 18-10 last season and lost in the SIAC tournament semifinals to the Miles College Golden Bears in overtime 72-67. 

 

With the loss of last season’s leading scorer and rebounder, Kerry Richardson and twins Elijah and Andrew Stewart, the second leading scorers, the Maroon Tigers will need to find help in the new faces on the team to fill these gaps.

 

Damion Mitchell, a freshman guard from Atlanta and Nate Lacewell a senior forward from Texas spoke to the Maroon Tiger about the upcoming season. 

 

Mitchell looks to make an early impact on the team. He went to Wheeler High School in Georgia where he played as the starting guard on the varsity team and was a three-time state champion.

 

“In high school I played in a lot of big games,” Mitchell said. “I played in nine ESPN games, so I feel like even as a freshman I have experience of keeping my composure in big games.” 

 

Mitchell wants to use his experience in the big games he has played in high school and confidence to help the team improve on last year. 

 

In the team’s attempt to “go undefeated, win a championship, and win everything they can”, the team understands the importance of building their chemistry. 

 

“Building the bond with your teammates is very important because once you get a bond off the court it’s easier to trust people on the court. You really know who you are going to battle with,” Mitchell said.

 

Lacewell said the team is doing more conditioning both mentally and physically. Lacewell compared the team’s conditioning to the cross-country team with the amount of running that they have done. 

 

Lacewell says that the conditioning has made the Maroon Tigers “stick together in all the little things that we do”. With the expectation of the team being “Win conference or bust”. 

 

Lacewell also said the coaching staff has done well reloading the roster heading into the season. 

 

“The new guys are confident in their game and love the game of basketball,” Lacewell said. 

 

Head coach, Coach Whittler also spoke to the conditioning and new faces on the team. 

 

“So far we’ve been dealing with a lot of conditioning and transition,” Whittler said. “Because I have a lot of new guys, they have to understand the culture of what we’re trying to do. That starts with being in tip-top shape.”

 

Coach Whittler also spoke about the team not having the most size; this year’s team is filled with athletic guards and wing players. The lack of size outside of Chukwuebuka Nwafor, Branco Balingate, and Nate Lacewell will mean that the Maroon Tigers will be looking to push the pace against teams all season.

 

The returning players will also need to step up this year. The Maroon Tigers only return six players from last year’s team.

 

“The new additions are going to be key and interval to our success,” Lacewell said. “The older guys understand the league and we will help prepare them for the spells.” 

 

The bond and new faces on the team will be put to test, and we will see if the team can reach one of its goals, an undefeated season or a championship. A championship would be the only improvement from last two years’ teams who both lost in the semi-finals. 

 

The Maroon Tigers will open the season with the South Regional Challenge against Palm Beach Atlantic University on Nov. 10 and Embry-Riddle University on Nov. 11 at Forbes Arena.

 

Edited by: Auzzy Byrdsell, Editor in Chief & Kobe Scales, Sports Editor