Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Trojan Men Set to Begin Practice
10/14/2011 11:53:00 AM | Basketball (M)
2011-12 Prospectus
TROY, Ala. – The Troy men's basketball team will begin preparations for the upcoming season on Friday when they open practice, marking the unofficial beginning of the 2011-12 season.
“Everybody is looking forward to the start of practice,” head coach Don Maestri said. “This is a very versatile group we've got, and it's the most balanced we've had in years.”
“We don't have much experience at the Division I level, but hopefully everyone will learn our system a lot quicker this year than in the past.”
The Trojans take to the floor at 4:00 p.m. on Friday at Sartain Hall looking to get out to a faster start than a season ago as a 2-11 non-conference start set the tone for an 8-21 season.
Last season the Trojans began to click in February as they rattled off four wins over a five-game span to start the month, however, the season finished with a first-round exit at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, but the 2011-12 edition of the Trojans has a much different look than a season ago.
The Trojans welcome the return of just three letterwinners from a season ago, one of which is All-Sun Belt point guard Will Weathers.
Last year, Weathers led the league and ranked sixth in the nation at 6.6 assists/game. Weathers also enters the 2011-12 season as the Trojans leading returning scorer at 12.0 points per game.
“I think one of the most crucial parts of any basketball team is the point guard,” Maestri said. “It's like the quarterback in football, and we're fortunate to have an experienced point guard this season.”
The 2011-12 squad features just two seniors in guard/forward Steven Cunningham and center Tim Owens.
The starting five is wide open for the Trojans as the three returners mix with three redshirts from a season ago and nine newcomers. Former UCF transfer R.J. Scott sat the 2010-11 season per NCAA transfer rules and looks to bolster the Trojans lineup.
Guards Nic Combs and Brian Feldman also return after redshirting a season ago.
Two incoming freshman and seven junior college transfers make up the nine newcomers, including Ray Chambers, an NJCAA All-American from a season ago who will look to contribute to the Trojans post play.
The two incoming freshman, Breon Dixon and Sidki Muwallif, along with another junior college transfer, Westley Hinton, will also add to the Trojans frontcourt while the remaining newcomers will mix into the backcourt.
Emil Jones comes to Troy after spending two seasons as the go-to scorer at Pearl River Community College, a Top-25 junior college program.
Alan Jones, Deonata Jethroe, Justin Wright and Daronte Clark are also newcomers that will add depth to the Trojans' perimeter.
The Trojans will tip-off their season with an exhibition match-up at Sartain Hall on Monday, November 7 against West Alabama before traveling to Lubbock, Texas for a date with Texas Tech on November 11 to open the regular season.
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