|
PRINT
THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE
Wednesday, November 18, 1998
Tech hopes youthful exuberance can replace
Cory Carr
By CHRIS NEWTON Associated Press Writer
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - The vacuum created by the departure of
guard Cory Carr to the Chicago Bulls and several other seniors
has left the Texas Tech Red Raiders frantically searching to fill
a giant void of experience, leadership and depth this season.
As Tech's season opens Thursday, its prospects for successfully
filling the space don't look promising.
Only one senior, guard Stan Bonewitz, is on the roster.
The team also lacks chemistry, relying on several junior college
transfers.
Critics say the best the Red Raiders can hope for is a good
year to build upon. But players claim they're not ready to concede
this season to rebuilding just yet.
"I think this team has a lot of talent, but we're going
to need everyone to play their role every night," said Bonewitz.
"If we can get that to happen, we can do some damage in the
Big 12. We need guys to step up and play like veterans now ...
We're looking at right now, not next year."
Returning this year as starters with Bonewitz are Rayford Young,
Cliff Owens and Johnny Phillips. Six members of the team are newcomers.
The Red Raiders' strongest asset will be their strong backcourt
game led by guards Bonewitz, who averaged 12.9 points last season,
Young, who averaged 15.4 points, and James Ware, a transfer from
Midland College.
But if Tech is to find any success in the Big 12 this season,
Coach James Dickey said the team will have to establish an inside
game to help replace the 23.3 points contributed by Carr in his
final season. Even with Carr, the Red Raiders where 13-14 in regular
season play and 7-9 in Big 12 play.
"We'll be a perimeter team but we'll have to work the
inside and even out this ballclub," Dickey said. "You
can't just rely on any one phase of your game to win for you every
night. When the outside game is off you have to be able to go
for high percentage shots or you're going to have a long season."
The inside game will rely heavily on the ability of Young to
penetrate and 6-10 center Phillips, who averaged 5.2 points and
5.2 rebounds last season.
"We think Johnny is really learning to use his strength
and size effectively in the paint and he knows we're looking for
him to have a better season," Dickey said. "We really
will need him to be an offensive threat and a defensive player."
Young says he feels that the team's perimeter shooting should
help the efforts of the players down low.
"I think the offense is getting to where it needs to be,"
Young said. "We need to establish the lanes to the basket
early. Our perimeter guys also have to prove they are a threat.
That usually opens up the lane."
Defense and rebounding is also a primary concern for the Red
Raiders. Last season Tech gave up an average of 77 points in conference
games and was outrebounded by an average of four rebounds a game.
Phillips says that's far too many points and rebounds if the
team wants to be competitive this year.
"We need to learn how to get in that rhythm where we're
contesting every shot and going after every loose ball like the
game is on the line," Phillips said.
Dickey said much of the team's success may rely on its ability
to take advantage of teams that are struggling.
"We need to get that killer instinct," Dickey said
after his team beat the Arkansas Express, 80-73, in an exhibition
game Tuesday night. The Red Raiders squandered a 17-point lead
in the game, highlighting Dickey's concerns about the team's defense.
"When we go up by 15 we need to push it to 20," Dickey
said. "When we get it to 20 we need to continue to bury them.
We need to continue to run the floor and make them earn every
shot, no matter what the score."
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address)
of This Story to A Friend:
|
