 SECTION LINKS |  |
|
| |
|
Trojan basketball team going through challenges
| | |
By ARIY-EL BOYNTON, Sports Editor
| 10/22/2009 |
| | |
While his team was picked to finish last in the DAC preseason men's basketball coaches' poll, Gary Garner, Dakota State University's basketball coach, is far from upset by the eight-team conference poll.
"I meant to cut that out and put it on the bulletin board. I kinda like being picked last," said Garner.
Due to a new system and an adjustment period, Garner knows that his players need time to get to the level where he wants them.
"Right now, we're not a good basketball team, but as each week and each day passes, we're getting better," he said.
Garner isn't worried about how the team is doing in October.
"The conference season is what it's all about, and the test is how good are we come conference time? That's what we are practicing for, to gear up to play in the conference tournament. And when we start the conference tournament, then we'll see what happens," said Garner.
Currently, the former Southeast Missouri State University coach and his son/assistant coach Matt Garner are battling some adversity.
The Trojans are missing players due to injuries, and a few players have quit the team before the games have even started.
"We're down on numbers. Getting serious, we're talking to two or three kids and asking them to walk on. Numbers are a problem for us," said Garner.
While Garner is seeing mental mistakes along with physical miscues from his current players, he expects errors with a new coaching strategy in place.
"I like the effort the players are giving, but they are learning. Any time you put in a new system in every area -- defense, offense, in-bounds, transition offensen and I mean everything -- it's going to be slower," he said.
"It's been slower this year, and that's what I expected," said Garner. "Nobody on the floor understands the full process. Every player is adjusting to new things, and I'm learning right with them.
``Any time you start a new job, there's going to be an adjustment period. We need a lot of patience. We're going through the growing pains of a change in system."
With DSU's first game on Nov. 2 at Mount Marty College in Yankton, Garner knows that his team needs to get better through practice.
"We're making the mistakes we need to make. They're learning as we drill. You can't think and play basketball. It's a game of reaction. And we are not at the point where we can play without thinking," he said.
| |
©Madison Daily Leader 2010
| |
| |
|
  | Send us your community news, events, letters to the editor and other suggestions. Now, you can submit birth, wedding and engagement announcements online too!
Copyright © 1995 - 2010 All Rights Reserved. |
|
