Men's Basketball Practice Report No. 2
10/17/2007 4:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. --- The Georgia Southern men’s basketball team held its fifth practice of the 2007-08 season Wednesday afternoon at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The Eagles took to the floor following an off day on Tuesday.
“I think we’ve been pretty intense, [but] I was disappointed in our practice today,” said head coach Jeff Price. We seem to have a pattern after off days of being sluggish, for whatever reason. We’re just all trying to get on the same page right now. Our returning guys are way ahead of our new guys and we’ve got to get those guys caught up.”
ON THE POINT
The Eagles return one of the Southern Conference’s top playmakers in senior Dwayne Foreman. The Apopka, Fla. native finished eighth in the nation and second in the league last season with 6.1 assists per game. His 176 assists were fourth-best all-time and he dished out 13 helpers in a game twice last year, which are tied for fifth in the GSU record books.
“I think Dwayne is one of the top point guards in the conference,” said Price. “I think he’s going to have a great season as long as he stays healthy. That’s one of our strongest spots to start on the floor.”
Foreman has been slowed by a hamstring injury he suffered last season that kept him out of two key conference games in February.
“It’s the hamstring he hurt last year when he missed those games, but it’s not as bad as we originally thought. The most important thing with Dwayne right now is we’ve got to get him healthy. So however many days it takes is what we’ll do.”
A major question facing Price and his staff is who to use as a top backup to Foreman. Behind Foreman are two sophomores and a freshman. One of those second-year players is Antoine Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.), who is only one of two returning players to see action in all 31 games. Sophomore Blake Thompson (Cartersville, Ga.) earned significant playing time while Foreman was injured, but did not see much of the floor otherwise. Freshman Willie Powers (Gainesville, Fla.) brings in high credentials, but has yet to play in a collegiate game.
“We’re showing signs,” said Price of the young group’s progress. “A.J.’s playing it some; Willie Powers is coming along and might have a chance to play out there too and Blake Thompson’s playing a little bit. It’s too early yet to tell where we’re at with that position.”
