Last year, nobody could have predicted the 14-game losing streak, the Liberty game or beating UNC Asheville.
Now, the men’s basketball team has more negative predictions to defy as their second season in the Big South Conference gets underway. In the preseason poll released last month, LU was predicted to finish last in the North Division and 11th in the conference overall.
Practice has been going for over a month now, and with the first game of the season just three days away, first-year head coach Jayson Gee has worked to institute a system of his own in place, one different from former head coach Mike Gillian.
“We practice defense a majority of practice, because that’s basically the main part of our system, to get defensive stops,” said redshirt junior forward Jeylani Dublin.
“[Gee] wants us to get the ball and go and be fast,” sophomore guard Lucas Woodhouse said.
A key part of the transition has been the idea of “PACE,” which stands for pressure, attack, compete and energize. “The literal word ‘pace’ is descriptive of the type of tempo that we want to play in,” Gee explained. “We want to play at a certain pace and that pace is up-tempo. It’s centered around putting pressure on the opponent, both defensively and offensively, and the ability to impose our will on to them so that we can control the tempo. That’s the pressure end of it.
“We want to develop an attacking mindset and we certainly want to be competitive, and we believe the pressure, the attack and competitiveness will energize our fans and we hope to make Willett Hall a very dangerous place for people to come in and play.”
Gee named a provisional starting lineup ahead of Saturday’s opener at South Carolina (1 p.m., WVHL 92.9): Woodhouse, freshman guard Leron Fisher, senior guard TT Carey, sophomore forward Karl Ziegler and senior forward Jeff Havenstein. The decision to start Havenstein was announced at Big South Media Day on Oct. 24 and raised eyebrows across the campus. When asked why he’s starting the 6-foot-8 Havenstein, who averaged 0.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 9.6 minutes last season, Gee said, “He’s a good defensive player. He’s been one of the few guys that have [sic] really picked up what we’re trying to do defensively. He brings a level of solidness, particularly to our half-court defense, where he’s solid. We’ve got to run some risks and gambles in the full court, but in the half court, we’ve got to be solid. Having Jeff back there brings that solidness.
“The second reason is, Jeff has size. We don’t have a lot of great size and depth this year. Jeff has the necessary required size to help us to be able to match up with other teams physically at the basket. Thirdly, he’s a senior. All these seniors are playing with a great purpose and have a goal to leave a legacy on this program.”
Gee also said that the captains for the season haven’t been named yet and will be decided by a player vote on the way to the South Carolina game.
A key storyline heading into the fall was the health of senior guard David Robinson, who was an instrumental force in the run the team went on late last season. The Richmond native averaged 8.8 points in 2012-13 with a .775 free throw percentage and made threes at a .345 clip. Robinson was on the road to recovery a few weeks ago before re-injuring his shoulder in a practice. Robinson is done for the season, Gee mentioned, and will undergo surgery in December. His Longwood career is over but he will stay with the team for the duration of the campaign.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed that we’re not going to have him. It’s a huge blow to our team … Losing him and having Mark [Parker] out now with an injured thumb, we’ve really lost some key veterans that I was planning on utilizing, particularly in the early going.”
Parker, a senior forward, is expected to return in time for the home opener against Mars Hill on Nov. 16. Carey had a severe bone bruise in September but is “full go” according to Gee.
After the team gave up 81 points a game last year, Gee’s focus is now on lowering that number. “We’re a long ways away,” he said. “Right now we probably would give up 90 points a game with where we’re at defensively for a couple of reasons. One, we’re new and this is a new system we’re employing, and it’s very different than anything they’ve ever done in the past with the way we defend. Number two, there’s been a major change in officiating and it’s going on all over the country … to be honest with you, that was a huge hit for the system I play so we’re currently trying to make the adjustment.
“The first scrimmage we had, the team shot 50 free throws and in the second scrimmage we had, the team shot 50 free throws. That’s what I mean by 90 points a game, so we’ve got to make an adjustment in terms of being able to defend a little bit better without fouling. That’s going to be key.
“When you’re rebuilding, and maybe you’re not fully loaded in terms of the talent base [you have], you need every advantage you can get. Physical play is one of those advantages. Now, if the officials now are calling it a lot tighter, that negates physical play and gives the advantage to the more talented team. Our players know they’re not the most talented team in our conference; they know that they’re not the most talented team than most of the teams they’re going to play this year, so that was an edge for us that we need to make an adjustment for in terms of being more sound defensively. It’s going to be a challenge for us.”
After the South Carolina game, the team will get ready for a road game at Texas Christian (TCU) on Tuesday Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. The Lancers will then have three days to prepare for the home opener against Division II Mars Hill next Saturday night.
