NATCHITOCHES – Slow starts aren't uncommon for programs who often play away from home in the nonconference schedule, and Northwestern State returns to the friendly confines of Prather Coliseum on Sunday aiming to snap a three-game slide.
The Demons (1-5) have found their footing once Southland Conference play has rolled around in each of the last two seasons, and NSU hopes to channel those conference vibes when the Demons welcome former SLC member Stephen F. Austin (4-2) for the 3 p.m. contest.
Patrick Netherton has the radio broadcast on 94.9 FM The River and the game will be video and audio streamed on nsudemons.com and the NSU app, which are available on the Google and Apple platforms.
"Home games like this are few and far between, especially in the last few years," said NSU associate head coach Jeff Moore. "To get quality opponents to come to Prather, that's something that (NSU head coach Mike McConathy) has tried to get done, and it worked out this year.
"SFA is a quality team that we know well. (SFA head coach Kyle Keller) has done a great job with the program, and he has four guys returning led by Gavin Kensmil, who is a load.
But it's more about us at this point. We've got some things that we've got to fix, correct some things as we go through the season."
NSU has used the six-day break since its last game against ULM to self-evaluate, its longest stretch of the season so far without a game.
Senior guard LaTerrance Reed said that time has been positive, and the Demons know the type of opponent they'll get Sunday in the Lumberjacks.
"It's a good time to rekindle an old rivalry and for us to get things back on the right track," said Reed, who scored a career-high 27 points and seven 3-pointers against SFA in 2019. "We haven't played up to our capability in the last three games, so this stretch gives us a chance to shake those games off and get back to the drawing board where we can work on our pieces of the puzzle.
"We learned something from each of those three losses (SMU, Louisiana Tech and ULM), even though they didn't go the way we thought they would. We're mixing in the old guys with the new guys, and we're putting it together. We have the ability to win these games, but you also have to go find different pieces in each of these games to get ready for conference play."
SFA is one of five teams who announced their departure from the Southland Conference, joining Sam Houston, Lamar, Abilene Christian and Central Arkansas.
NSU has posted marks of 9-7 and 11-9 in Southland Conference play, finishing in the top five in the league in each of the past two seasons, after a combined 3-17 mark in nonconference play in those campaigns.
After slow starts in games against Louisiana Tech, SMU and Champion Christian, the Demons came out Monday against ULM with more success, making four of their first five shots to keep pace with a hot-shooting Warhawks squad.
But the Demons hit a drought for more than 8:30 late in the first half without a field goal, which helped spark a 26-5 ULM run as the Warhawks skirted away with a 96-66 win.
"I thought our guys had a better approach at the start of the game, and we did some things like running the floor better and getting into the flow on our fastbreak, which allowed us to get some baskets," Moore said.
NSU fell behind 15-2 against Louisiana Tech (83-64 defeat) and 16-0 at SMU (95-48) after the CCC Tigers took an early 9-4 edge in the Demons' previous three games.
The Demons did surge into the season with strong starts, trailing Oklahoma by just three at halftime before building an early 21-14 edge against Tulsa in a game which NSU had a lead with four minutes remaining.
SFA will be the second Division I opponent to visit Natchitoches in this nonconference schedule, the first time NSU has hosted multiple D-I teams since 2018-19 when ULM and Alabama A&M came to town.
A win against the Lumberjacks, who were one of five SLC members to leave the conference last year, would do wonders for a team that's mixing in six newcomers with nine returners.
Two of those newcomers, sophomores Cedric Garrett and Jalen King, have multiple starts with two others (Emareyon McDonald and Zurabi Zhgenti) averaging more than 15 minutes per game.
NSU, who is traditionally a perimeter-oriented, uptempo bunch, is led by centers Kendal Coleman and Larry Owens.
Coleman has reached double figures in scoring in all six games, averaging 16 points per game although he's been held to 10 points in each of his past two outings. But he's dropped 19 or more points in his other four contests, including a career-high 22 points at Tulsa.
The Captain Shreve product also leads the Demons in rebounds (7.5 per game), blocks (four total) and steals (eight total).
Owens is having his best season in year five, scoring 19 against Louisiana Tech in the last home game and is averaging 8.7 points per game.
NSU has seen its share of accomplished post players, such as Louisiana Tech's Kenny Lofton, Oklahoma's Tanner Groves, Tulsa's Jeriah Horne and ULM's Thomas Howell.
The Demons will add one more to that pile with former SLC First Teamer Gavin Kensmil, who is averaging 18 points and nine rebounds.
"It does help with preparation for Kensmil, and we've got to continue to develop our inside out game," Moore said. "We've gone inside a lot, and we've got to develop where there's a balance between the two. That's going to be a key for our team."
The Jacks bring another efficient offense as they shoot 47 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep.
But SFA's usually stingy defense hasn't manifested yet, allowing opponents to shoot 46 percent and 33 percent from long range. SFA still pressures teams into turnovers, forcing 104 in its first five games with 51 steals.
NSU has taken care of the ball relatively well so far, but the Demons had a hiccup against ULM with 25 turnovers, 14 of which were steals.
But the Demons and a Brian White-engineered offense had produced 75 assists to 62 turnovers in its first five contests.
White and backup point guard Emareyon McDonald combined for 35 assists to 13 turnovers.
"break" - Google News
November 28, 2021 at 01:32AM
https://ift.tt/3FTWcbX
Demons use break to take breath, prepare for Stephen F. Austin - nsudemons.com
"break" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3dlJq82
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Demons use break to take breath, prepare for Stephen F. Austin - nsudemons.com"
Post a Comment