Going into his second season at the helm of Kennesaw State’s basketball program, Al Skinner is welcoming seven new players to his roster as he looks to build off an 11-20 season in which the Owls went 7-7 in conference play. With the season officially beginning on Sept. 30, Skinner answered a few questions about what some of his expectations are for year two.
Q: What are you expecting out of the returning players to help the newcomers?
A: The most important thing is that they continually show what it takes to be successful here, it's much more important for them to show examples rather than rhetoric and I think they've been doing that. I'm very appreciative that the guys have been on-time, responsive, they've come together, they've worked hard and I think they have some goals set for themselves. I think that they recognize what it is going to take to give them a chance to fulfill those goals.
Q: Entering your second year at Kennesaw State, how will this year be a little easier for you?
A: I'm not sure if it's easier, but the thing that I will point to is that I think people have a better understanding of who I am, the things that are important to me, the structure that's necessary and the discipline that is required for us to give ourselves a chance to be successful; but it's not easier because we have not attained the goals that we have set for ourselves. I think there's a big challenge in front of us. Anytime you're trying to surpass your history, or overcome your history I think that it's very challenging and that's what these young men are trying to do.
Q: What are you most excited about entering this year?
A: The thing that I'm most excited about is that I think I've got a little better feel of what the league is all about, I feel a lot more comfortable from that standpoint than I did a year ago because everything was so new. This year I have a little more education about what the potential for us is, so I'm excited about that. I'm excited about our team because I think they're bringing the right attitude and I think that's a good portion of the battle, we'll find out if we have enough talent to win, but I think we have the right attitude and we're heading in the right direction.
Excerpted from an interview conducted by KSUOwls.com
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