By looking at the team?s scoring breakdown, one might think Towson basketball coach Pat Kennedy could have success by starting any four undergrads picked out of Burdick Gym. With Gary Neal scoring 25.2 points per game (fifth in the nation), the Tigers have been able to feed the senior guard the ball without much concern for their own scoring output.
But now, the Tigers (9-10 overall, 3-5 Colonial Athletic Association) are looking like a different group, having solidified a starting five.
“I don?t think I?ve ever had a team ? that has done such a 360 since the George Mason game,” Kennedy said of his team?s turnaround since a 29-point loss at home on Jan. 11.
That can be attributed to getting back to basics and having each player on the roster understand his role.
“All the things we analyzed after the two double-overtime losses [to VCU and Georgia State]? it?s all coming back around,” Kennedy said. “And the kids are buying into the things they need to do.”
Next to Neal, junior college transfer C.C. Williams has stepped into the starting point guard position, and juniors Tommy Breaux and Jonathan Pease have joined senior Dennard Abraham in the court. They?re still becoming familiar with one another, leading Kennedy to compare the start of the season to having “three freshmen and four sophomores” in the regular rotation. But after a few games of playing with one another, the Towson group is confident.
“It?s amazing what getting familiar can bring to a team,” Kennedy said. “We now have a starting team and a rotation off the bench.”
The players are comfortable with the new look, too.
“I think this was the best lineup we?ve had so far,” Abraham said after Saturday?s 75-61 win over UNC-Wilmington.
Finding a secondary scorer to go with Neal has been key, too. Abraham turned in a 20-pointperformance to lead the way Saturday.
“I think he?s as good as anybody in the league down low, offensively,” Kennedy said.
While he would like to get some more from his bench players, Kennedy is happy with his team?s work of late.
“We?re just doing what we do and we?re making minor adjustments and it?s working well,” he said.
TIGER TURNAROUND
» Four Towson players scored in double-figures against UNC-Wilmington Saturday, and with his 20-point game, Dennard Abraham joins Gary Neal as players averaging double-digits in scoring.
» C.C. Williams had a career-high 10 assists Saturday, while Neal had nine.
» Towson hosts Delaware (3-16, 1-7) Wednesday at 7 p.m.
