With just two days before the 2011-2012 season opener for the men’s basketball team, offseason practices and scrimmages will be thrown out the window.
“Samford [University] is kind of a hard game to play because of the fact that they play a different style,” said head coach Jerry Slocum. “We got our hands full for a different kind of a team in terms of the style of play.”
Senior guard Ashen Ward said the Bulldogs play a spread offense.
“They do back cuts, and they shoot a lot of [three-pointers], so we have to rebound the ball and play very well defensively,” Ward said. “That’s really our main goal.”
Ward added that this game could help the team compete against Horizon League foes down the road.
“We play who’s on the schedule; that’s the way I look at it,” Ward said. “[If] we can learn something from this game that can help us in our conference, then I’m all for it.”
Ward finished last season with 259 points, 96 rebounds, 51 assists and 21 steals. He also led the team with 50 three-pointers.
Going against the Bulldogs requires athleticism, Slocum said, but it may also be a disadvantage.
“Hopefully our athleticism will help us in terms of keeping them in front of us, but in the same breath we can’t be undisciplined in terms of our athleticism or you’re just going to get backed cut and give up layups,” Slocum said.
He added that athleticism helps the defense.
“You just can’t get trapped into coming down and just making one or two passes and launch the [three-pointers],” Slocum said. “You constantly think you’re open all the time because they’re backing off of you the whole time.”
The Penguins opened last season against the Bulldogs at Beeghly Center and won 64-61. Senior forward DuShawn Brooks played 29 minutes, collected six rebounds and scored 20 points off the bench.
Overall, the Penguins made nine three-pointers in 33 attempts. Slocum said he plans to keep the three-pointers coming.
“We’re not different in the fact that we’re going to shoot a lot of [three-pointers],” he said. “We’re going to play in games where we try to push the tempo. We’re probably a little bit too much of a jump-shooting team right now than I would like us to be.”
Slocum said he likes the experience level, even with only two seniors.
“I think our experience has shown,” he said. “I think our backcourt is solid in [junior Blake Allen] and [sophomore Kendrick Perry]. I think our inside game is solid with [junior Damian Eargle] and DuShawn [Brooks].”
Ward agreed with Slocum.
“I feel we’ve got that experience,” Ward said. “We’ve got a comfort level both on the floor and with each other.”
The Penguins head to Samford looking for their first road win since Dec. 16, 2009.
