Men's Basketball Preseason Report No. 6
11/6/2008 5:18:00 AM | Men's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. --- The start of the 2008-09 men’s basketball season is just days away and head coach Jeff Price is still evaluating his talent.
The six new players, most of whom will become key contributors early on, include three junior college transfers and three true freshmen.
“We just continue to look at more of the personnel than our team,” said Price. “You want to look at both but we have so many new guys that I think we’re in a process of feeling out personnel and positions and things like that. As the season goes on you’ll see that come together but right now that’s where we’re at.”
With the start of the season so close, Price and the staff have already begun to prepare for Houston.
“We have been a little bit,” said Price. “They’re a new team ? they have some new players also ? so more than anything we’re trying to get an idea of how they play. We started a little bit this week on preparing for their style of play.”
CENTERS OF ATTENTION
While not playing with a true center, the Eagles have two players that embody the physical attributes necessary for the position.
With a lack of size on the frontline, Price will need senior Kenith Ward and junior Krzysztof Janiszewski to play an increased role this season.
“They’re our two physical players on the front line,” said Price. “I’ve been really pleased with Kenny’s play. He does all the little things, he’s strong and physical so those two guys give us a physical presence up front.”
Ward has appeared in 76 games in his career, including all 32 last season, but has yet to start. He averaged 10.6 minutes per contest last year.
“You can tell he has great leadership skills, he knows what’s expected of him, he never tries to do things he can’t do, plays within himself and has gotten better and better at how our team is and what’s expected of him,” said Price.
Janiszewski is the largest member of the team at 6-11, 280 and gives the Eagles a significant size advantage in the low post.
“He needs to come in and give us some solid minutes on the defensive end of the floor and make things difficult for people in the lane,” said Price. “He needs to get what he can offensively but be more of a presence with his size defensively.”
