The Georgia State men’s basketball team started the season 7-4 against non-conference teams, but injuries have piled up and they’ve lost three of their past four games — dropping them to an 8-7 record.
To make matters worse, these injuries couldn’t have come at a worst time considering the rest of their games are conference games (the Panthers are 1-2 in Sun Belt play).
“Last time we were all healthy we played Middle Tennessee (Dec. 21) and won,” coach Ron Hunter said. “Since that game we haven’t had that same lineup.”
The Panthers are without their three top guards Justin Seymour (personal reasons), D’Marcus Simonds (knee injury) and Isaiah Williams (undisclosed injury). All three big contributors have averaged at least 18 minutes per game. Simonds is the second leading scorer on the team, averaging nine points per game.
“It’s really a different feeling because I’ve never had any real injuries before,” Simonds said about his injury. “This one has had me sidelined for multiple games. I just need to be a constant motivator for the team because they really feed off some of my energy.”
Starting guard Malik Benlevi has figured out that he will have to do even more than usual because of the nagging injuries on the team.
“I feel like I have to do a little more on offense and defense, too,” Benlevi said. “With Demarcus being out for while it hurt us. He’s another energy guy who plays hard and gives it his all.”
Overcoming injuries right in the beginning stages of conference play is no easy task. When asked about the challenge, Hunter said, “It’s hard, the hardest part is practice. Not knowing who’s going to be here at practice to get a rhythm. You take any college team in the country and you lose your top three guards, and it’s going to be hard.”
Hunter is right on point when it comes to the team’s rhythm. There has been one player on the team who has played and started in all 15 games, Jeremy Hollowell. Not having a consistent starting lineup has hurt the Panthers in numerous ways. They rank seventh in the conference in scoring and eighth in scoring defense, and only one player on the team is averaging more than 10 points, Hollowell (15 ppg.).
Injuries are bad for any team, but at the same time there is always something positive that can come out of any scenario and Hunter understands that.
“We got guys that were averaging 8-9 minutes a game and are now having to play 30 minutes a game,” Hunter said. “The experience these guys are getting is good and whoever shows up just gotta make sure we’re ready to play. We’ve got a deep team and we know this. So, what we want to do is get healthy and play our best basketball in Feb. and March.”
Although Hollowell is the only player to start all 15 games, the Panthers have 11 players who are averaging at least 15 minutes thanks to all the injuries. In fact, their most recent game, against Troy, Benlevi had a career high in playing time with 37 minutes (he averages 23 per game), and Austin Donaldson doubled his season average by playing 31 minutes.
Simonds also is staying positive through his injury and focused on helping his team, even from the sidelines.
“The positive is being able to see the game from the outside,” Simonds said. “Being able to see where the problems are and being able to help those problems when I get back on the court.”
Williams returned to practice this week, but is still not at 100 percent. Benlevi has a twisted MCL sprain and is considered day to day. Guard Isaiah Dennis is playing with an injured wrist, and Simonds looks to be back at practice in about a week.
The Panthers’ next two games will be on the road — Jan. 14 at Louisiana-Monroe (6-10) and Jan. 16 at Louisiana-Lafayette (12-4).
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