2008 Woodie Awards
Start of basketball season is just around the corner
Men's team happy to play at home this year
Eric Drew / Copy Editor
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Practices for the University of West Florida's men's basketball team are under way, and the coaches and players are ready for a season back at home at the UWF Field House.
After Hurricane Ivan damaged the Field House last year, the team was forced to play all of its home games at Pensacola Junior College, which hurt attendance.
"We're just glad to have some home games," Assistant Coach John Lykins said. "Last year, we played all of our games at a neutral site or on the road, so just having a home atmosphere will be the first improvement that we see. Having students again at our games will be great."
The team returns six players from last year's team, which finished 12-15 overall and 4-10 in the Gulf South Conference. Lykins said the returning players would play immediate leadership roles on the team.
"Maurice (Thomas) and Naazir (Russell) and Kashif (Russell), being returning players," Lykins said. "Tuck Taylor, Matt Walker. All of those guys have been here for three or four years. They know the system. Offensively, we'll run the same stuff. Those guys are comfortable, and they'll help bring the new guys along."
Head Coach Don Hogan said he expects his returning players to be able to fill the shoes of departing players Bryan Richardson, John Stanley and Josh
Sullivan. Hogan said Bruno Silva, who averaged more than eight points a game for the Argonauts two years ago, is a better player now.
"I certainly think he's someone that can fill a role for us," Hogan said. "We think Maurice Thomas is a much improved player. Kashif Russell averaged double-figure scoring last year. Maybe he'll do even more this year."
The team welcomes nine new players, including four transfers and five freshmen.
"We have an awful lot of new players," Hogan said. "It's a brand new team. I'm encouraged about our work ethic to this point. From my experience, effort and attitude are everything."
Hogan said he is impressed with the transfers he was able to recruit.
"We've got a wealth of incoming players who are very good," Hogan said. "From Marcus Grant, who was leading scorer and most valuable player on a top-20 junior college team at Faulkner State last year, to Brandon Gordon, who was a starter and key player for South Alabama in Division I. Those are guys who come in with proven statistics."
Lykins agreed with Hogan.
"We're really counting on some of the transfers to fill the void and become leaders right away," he said.
Hogan said the coaching staff is very pleased to get five quality recruits in this year's freshman class.
"We're excited about the five freshmen in our freshman class," he said. "Deondre Boynton is probably the most heralded out of North Broward Prep. We're really impressed with his feel for the game."
Hogan added Max Hoggard and David Maddox would play key roles on the team.
"Max Hoggard, from P.K. Yonge is a very skilled player. If we have any potential deficiencies, it's outside shooting," he said. "Max is a very good outside shooter. David Maddox is somebody who's a big guy who likes contact. That's another deficiency maybe we've had - toughness in our team - that I think David will have.
Hogan also heralded the potential of other new players.
"Daniel Alcorn, a young man from Kentucky, is very skilled, knows how to play the game," Hogan said. "A local young man, David Stallworth, has come to us as a walk-on. He's somebody that we think can be a main contributor in the future."
Lykins added: "We could have three or four freshmen come in and play as freshmen and help us. Max Hoggard and Deondre Boynton were two very highly recruited players in the state of Florida. Both had Division I schools looking at them. Daniel Alcorn had other college offers."
Hogan said he has high hopes.
"I'm encouraged and optimistic about what kind of season we can have," Hogan said. "I think we've got some good returning leadership and some very competitive, enthusiastic additions."
With 17 teams in the GSC, Hogan said UWF, which is in the East division of the GSC, plays in one of the most competitive conferences in Division II basketball.
"From year to year, five of the top 25 Division II teams in the United States come out of the Gulf South," Hogan said. "It reminds me of the old ACC basketball tournament back before they expanded the tournament. Great teams every year
get left out of the NCAA tournament."
Lykins added: "We'll be able to compete with anybody in the conference. We'll have a very aggressive, very competitive team. This team has a large group of people who are competitive-natured people. I think will get out there and mix it up with anybody and do well."
The season starts Nov. 4 with an exhibition in Gainesville against the University of Florida. The second exhibition is in Starkville, Miss., against the University of Mississippi.
"We're trying to get our thing together," Lykins said. "Right now, we just want to try and get our guys comfortable with us and not necessarily worry about those teams. That's what the exhibitions are for."
The players are very optimistic about the upcoming season.
"It's going to be way different from last year," junior point guard Donovan Redden said. "Things are already looking like they're turning around. It's a team thing. We have to get everybody on the same page. We just got to get everybody to buy into the offense. Once we get that going, we should be rolling."
"I feel our team this year is pretty deep," freshman forward Deondre Boynton said. "We got people to come off the bench and back up the starters. They contribute just as well. Coach Hogan and Coach Lykins did a good job of recruiting this year."
"I think we're always a potential tournament team," Lykins said. "Last year was not the norm for us not being in the thick of things. I think we'll be back to where we were as being one of the top teams in the East."