One of the ancillary benefits of having a team that features several transfers is that there is little those players haven’t already experienced.
So, Georgia State’s Ryan Harrow (Kentucky), Curtis Washington (USC) and Manny Atkins (Virginia Tech) aren’t likely going to be intimidated at playing at Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
“This is an old team,” sophomore R.J. Hunter said. “If any of us get rattled we have three guys who have played at high-major conferences. We’re definitely not intimidated by crowd. That’s the last thing we will be thinking about.”
And for Panthers such as Hunter, Devonta White, Rashaad Richardson and Markus Crider, who didn’t transfer from power schools in power conferences, they did experience games at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium and at Brigham Young last year. So again, the upcoming game in Nashville and the pair in Tuscaloosa in the NIT Season Tip-Off in two weeks don’t scare them, either.
“I have a mature basketball team,” Ron Hunter said. “As a coach that’s a great thing. They know how to play. They communicate. They say things to me that my guys haven’t said since I arrived. That comes with experience.”
But they recognize the importance of the next few games. Some have picked the Panthers (1-0) to win the Sun Belt Conference, which would mean a trip to the NCAA tournament. Coach Ron Hunter said if the team wants to win a championship it must win in hostile environments. Also, victories over the Commodores (0-0) and possibly the Crimson Tide would further strengthen Georgia State’s credentials should an at-large bid be needed.
It’s a lot to contemplate just the second game into the season. The Panthers seem to understand.
“We think that if we win these games it will be big for us and a good way to start the season,” Harrow said. “But at the same time we are just waiting on the next game.”
The Panthers have been mostly solid on the road since Ron Hunter took over the program before the 2011 season. Georgia State went 8-6 away from the Sports Arena in 2011 and 6-9 last year, including losses to the Blue Devils and Cougars.
The Panthers haven’t played a team from that SEC since the 2005-06 season.
But they do have Harrow’s experience playing against the Commodores that they can draw on. Though his last game against Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament was arguably the worst of his college career, his previous two were solid. Harrow averaged 14 points and four assists in two regular season games, both wins, against Vanderbilt. In the SEC tournament, Harrow missed 13 of his 15 field-goal attempts as the Commodores eliminated the Wildcats 64-48.
This year’s Vanderbilt squad returns three starters and nine letter winners from a squad that went 16-17 last year. Harrow will see a few familiar faces, including leading returning scorer Rod Odom (10.4 points per game), a 6-foot, 9-inch forward. He is one of four players who is at least 6-9.Washington is the only Panther who is at least 6-9, so rebounding will be key. The Commodores have played just one exhibition game, a 66-60 win over Alabama-Huntsville. Tuesday’s game will be the Commodores’ season opener.
“It’s like I’m back in the SEC all over again,” Harrow said. “(I’ll) just go and do what I’ve been doing.”
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