| Men’s and women’s basketball teams face transition, but show potential |
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| Written by Stephen Peters, The Shorthorn sports editor | ||||
| Tuesday, 24 March 2009 05:46 PM | ||||
 Head coach Scott Cross and the men’s basketball team fell well short of repeating a Southland Conference title run this season when they lost in the first round of the SLC tournament. (The Shorthorn: Andrew Buckley) The question: What now? Both teams have graduating posts that were instrumental in the teams’ success this year. Senior forwards Candice Champion, Erin Dixon and Anthony Vereen leave their respective teams transitioning next year. Over the last five or six seasons, the men enjoyed solid post play from people like Vereen, last year’s seniors Jermaine Griffin and Larry Posey and, before them, Steven Thomas. This year, Vereen accounted for 22.7 percent of the team’s offense and, the year before that, he, Posey and Griffin accounted for 46.5 percent of the points scored. Now the men have proven that they can score with anyone — even increasing the season scoring average from last year, in large part due to the addition of junior guard Marquez Haynes. But, without Vereen, UTA is left with senior-to-be Tommy Moffitt (7.5 ppg) and Trey Parker (2.5 ppg) returning for the front court. Moffitt remains the team’s emotional leader, but he’s a bit undersized to dominate down low, and Parker was unable to stay on the court because of consistent knee problems. The men also have freshmen Jordan Kinnear and Ishmael Awange who combined for 1.4 points and six minutes a game in 30 games played last year. Next year, UTA adds Jordan Reves, a 6-10 player from Kentucky rated 76 according to ESPN.com’s recruiting central. Reves has some shooting touch and good post work but is unproven and may be burdened as the most skilled post UTA will have. But next year, guard play will dominate this team. Haynes, who can easily put up 20-25 points a game, will return. Just check the opening round conference tournament game against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi when he dropped a career-high 36 just to give the Mavs a fighting chance. Junior guard Brandon Long had a solid season but faded toward the end. Junior guard Rogér Guignard is a question mark for next year. Guignard was suspended before the conference tourney for not abiding by team rules.  The women’s basketball team and head coach Samantha Morrow exceeded expectations this season by making it to the Southland Conference championship compared to last season's semifinal loss in the tournament. (The Shorthorn: Andrew Buckley) Head coach Samantha Morrow and the women are pretty much carbon copies of the men’s team. UTA had Champion, Dixon, last year’s senior Tiffany Riles and, before her, Ashley Bobb, as the physical and scoring forces over the last few years. Champion and Dixon accounted for 40.4 percent of the women’s scoring this year and unproven talent follows after they graduate. UTA will have junior-to-be Kristina Grace, who averaged 4.1 points in 13.5 minutes through 31 games this year. Ryan Green, a transfer from North Texas, was a three-time all-district player at Crowley and could be a solid offensive threat for Morrow next year. Veronica Mergerson, who also redshirted with Green, is another potential forward that can establish her mark in the Southland Conference, as the Mavericks look for a solid player down low. Next year’s team will feature juniors-to-be Shalyn Martin and Tamara Simmons, who each had solid performances in the conference tournament. Martin has established herself as a very active, defense-minded player who can shoot well when left open. Simmons emerged late this year as a dual-threat guard who can run the offense or provide a big scoring boost when needed. Next year also promises to be a year of hardships for both teams as they try to adjust to playing without dominant low-post presences. There shouldn’t be any huge drop in the performance which fans have grown accustomed to in the last few years, but they can expect different styles from teams traditionally stocked with dominant post players. Views: 1642 | E-mail
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 20 August 2009 10:40 AM ) | ||||
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