Jags Look to Guards to Lead

(This is the fifth in a series of team previews in the Sun Belt Conference)
SOUTH ALABAMA JAGUARS: Coach: Matthew Graves
2014-15 Record: 12-21, 9-11 Sun Belt (6th) Lost to UL Monroe in Sun Belt Quarterfinals
KEY RETURNEES: G Ken Williams (15.7, 3.7), G Taishaun Johnson (12.5, 4.1) G Barrington Stevens III (7.4, 104 assists, F Georgi Boyanov (6.0, 4.7)
KEY LOSSES: F Donte Ferguson (11.5, 6.7), F Abdul Lewis (7.0, 6.7)
It was a rough start for South Alabama in 2014-15.
The Jaguars didn’t notch a Division I win until January 5th and started league play 0-2. But South Alabama then split their final 18 league games and got a win in the conference tournament before falling to UL Monroe in the quarterfinals.
“I felt like we accomplished one of our goals (and that was) making conference tournament, “ head coach Matthew Graves said. “Winning a game in the tournament was uplifting for program. Our players are excited. “
South Alabama’s competitiveness was due in no small part to the emergence of guard Ken Williams, who morphed into one of the league’s best players.
“He was completely different at the end of the year. He was really pressing at first after we lost so many good players. He got back into rhythm, especially in the last month of the season,” Graves said. “Now his body is in even better shape and his conditioning is much improved.” Williams is a first team pre-season all conference pick.
And, he’ll have plenty of help in the backcourt.
Taishaun Johnson was one of the top freshmen in the league last year after averaging 12.5 points per game. And Barrington Stevens III was near the top of the league in assists.
The guards can score and distribute the basketball.
Now, who’s going to rebound the basketball?
“How we rebound the basketball will determine whether we are middle to top or middle to the back of the league,” Graves agreed. But I like our options. We’ll do it by committee during the first part of the year and hopefully we’ll see some separation.”
The Jaguars lost their top two rebounders from a year ago and return only Georgi Boyanov (4.7) is the leading returning rebounder. Newcomers Nikola Marijan (7’1), Nick Stover and Don MuepoKelly will all get an opportunity to show they’re ready to play at the Division I level.
“We have to cut down our turnovers in the backcourt,” Graves said. “But with a year together, hopefully we will improve.”
OUTLOOK: It’s hard to find a more talented backcourt than what you’ll see from the Jaguars. Williams has become a star, Johnson is a big time scoring threat and Stevens can quarterback this club. Those three by themselves make South Alabama a dangerous team. As Graves said, the question is the front court. There’s a lot of inexperience there and South Alabama, like last year, could take a lump or two early. But if Graves has the positive answers to those questions, this will be a team no one wants to face in the league tournament. And, that concern could come even sooner than that.