By Bailey Hawkins, Guest Writer
With less than a month left until the Newman University men’s basketball season opener, the team has been in full preparation for its first games in the new MIAA conference.
But the team has had to work through the preseason to build chemistry because the roster includes only seven returning players. Twelve are new.
“The struggles are just getting guys to learn our terminology, our system, our culture and how we do things here,” Head Coach R.J. Allen said. “That is probably the biggest challenge with so many new guys.”
Most of the new additions are transfers who have played college basketball before. The team has the advantage of being an older team, Allen said. Experience is not something the team lacks.
A total of 10 players from last year’s team left, and only three of them were seniors. Players who were on the team last year came to an agreement with Allen to look elsewhere regarding their basketball careers.
“I think a lot of our kids from last year will be fine. They’ll still flourish,” Allen said. “They just needed to find a situation that fit them better and we do our part to help them find that situation.”
Returning player, redshirt junior Allen Wilson, said he looks forward to stepping into the new season and conference with his new teammates.
“We’ve got a lot of talent and skill on our team,” Wilson said. “It’s just more of seeing how we’re going to play together and seeing what this new conference is about.”
Wilson said the biggest adjustment from last year to this year has been getting used to playing with so many new players and building team chemistry. Since there were so many returners in the 2018-2019 season it was easier for Wilson because team chemistry built had already been built.
Junior Omar Boone, a transfer from Northern Oklahoma College, said he has found the transition to the new program to be easy.
“When I was playing at a junior college I was coming into each year with a lot of new people, so I feel like I’m in the same boat that I’ve always been in,” Boone said.
Boone also said he feels like the team has a good chance of being successful this year if players keep their focus and get better everyday.
“I feel like we got a good solid team and we should win games,” Boone said.
The Jets begin their season on Nov. 8 with a game against Henderson State in Dallas. They will host their first home game at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 against Manhattan Christian.
Bailey Hawkins Vantage Story
With less than a month left until the Newman University men’s basketball season opener, the team has been in full preparation mode for the 2019-2020 season. Only seven players from the previous season have returned, making room for the 10 new players that have been brought in. The team has been working all preseason to build up team chemistry as they head into the new season.
“The struggles are just getting guys to learn our terminology, our system, our culture and how we do things here.” Head Coach R.J. Allen said. “That is probably the biggest challenge with so many new guys.”
All but two of the new additions have played college basketball before, making most of them transfers. The team has the advantage of being an older team. Allen said that experience is not something the team lacks.
A total of 10 players from last years team left, and only three of them were seniors. Players who were on the team last year came to an agreement with Coach Allen to look elsewhere regarding their basketball careers. “I think a lot of our kids from last year will be fine, they’ll still flourish.” Allen said. “They just needed to find a situation that fit them better and we do our part to help them find that situation.”
Returning player, redshirt junior Allen Wilson, looks forward to stepping into the new season and conference with his new teammates. “We’ve got a lot of talent and skill on our team.” Wilson said. “It’s just more of seeing how were going to play together and seeing what this new conference is about.”
Wilson said the biggest adjustment from last year to this year has been getting used to playing with so many new players and building team chemistry. Since there were so many returners in the 2018-2019 season it was easier for Wilson because team chemistry built had already been built.
Junior Omar Boone, a transfer from Northern Oklahoma College, finds the transition to the new program easy. “When I was playing at a junior college I was coming into each year with a lot of new people so I feel like I’m in the same boat that I’ve always been in.” Boone said.
Boone feels like the team has a good chance of being successful this year if they keep their focus and get better everyday. “I feel like we got a good solid team and we should win games,” Boone said. The Jets begin their season on November 8 and host their first home game at 7 P.M. on November 13 against Manhattan Christian.
PHOTO: Courtesy Photo. Newman Athletics.
