Khadrice Rollins
krollins@ajc.com
The Owls say they should have done more last season.
Kennesaw State finished the season winning four of its last five regular season games, including a 10-point victory over the Atlantic Sun regular season champions, North Florida. They finished 7-7 in conference, but just 11-20 overall and were 3-14 on the road.
Now without Yonel Brown, who played the most minutes and was second on the team in scoring and assists a year ago, coach Al Skinner said he is looking to take advantage of his seven new players while also making sure his offensive scheme is executed at a higher level.
But in order for that to happen, Skinner said he needs the guys to believe in him, and while he is patient with their learning efforts, they need to be patient with the execution of the offense.
“I want to be able to think the game, and understand why they’re doing things,” Skinner said. “They’re just not doing it just for the sake of doing it. If we’re running a play, why are we running the play, what is it that we’re trying to get out of it, what’s the execution. … I want you to be able to take control of the game and have an understanding, so you can dictate what happens. And that takes time.”
Skinner said that he depended on Brown a lot last season and the offense took a significant hit when he went to the bench. Now, with a core of returning guys who have a year in his system and last season’s leading scorer senior Kendrick Ray still at his disposal, Skinner said he expects to see growth from the offense.
One of the most important reasons he said things should be better this year, is he is no longer the only teacher on the court. Skinner said last season players and coaches had to look to him to explain everything that was supposed to be happening. Now, Skinner can lean on his coaching staff and the guys who were around last season to bring the six freshman and transfer Shazier Lawson along while he can focus on smaller details.
Ray and junior Nick Masterson both said they were looking forward to this new leadership role and are ready to take on the challenge.
“Having YB last year, it was different because he was the leader,” Ray said. “And now I’m coming into that new role and learning how to be a leader, set an example for these guys, setting the tone for the season and stuff like that. So it’s been a real change.”
Along with getting a better understanding of his system, Ray said he has also built a good relationship with Skinner. He said with so many coaching changes in the recent history of the program, Skinner’s patience with everybody has been a big help and comfort for guys.
Skinner said it is important that he has a strong relationship with his guys because in order for him to elevate the team to its full potential, he needs the trust of his players.
“The reason that you decided to come here, is because you trust me,” Skinner said. “You trust my history. You trust what I’ve done. You trust me. So give it to me. Don’t hold back, give it to me. Otherwise, why did you come?”
As KSU tries to integrate so many new players while also replacing the production of a key member of last year’s squad, it makes sense for guys to believe in the man in charge. But having faith in Skinner will require players to understand that this season is a process and although there maybe some bumps along the road, the Owls cannot reach their destination if they do not hold true to the plan their lead man has put in place.
“He has a lot of small things that we know now, that we know to look for,” Masterson said. “What he wants us to accomplish, we all know that.”
