Preparations for the 2022-2023 men’s basketball season are well underway at Wofford.
Team members – including four transfers and eight freshmen – were on campus during the summer. They took part in individual and group workouts as well as non-basketball activities aimed at building team unity (there’s a fun video on Twitter of a highly competitive kickball game a couple months ago).
And a few weeks ago, official preseason practices began. I had an opportunity to watch a practice recently. And I enjoyed a follow-up conversation with Coach Jay McAuley on October 9. He was spending his Sunday evening with family, and I appreciate his sharing some time to talk about the upcoming season.
Here are a few thoughts and observations:
** Wofford has some really talented players. We’ll get to more on that below. But with all the losses from last season – a few guys graduating and numerous transfers – it’s important to say right off: The 2022-2023 team has talent. It remains to be seen, of course, just how good various players are, how they will blend together, how certain needs will be met (or not), and so on. But McAuley and his staff did a good job in the spring – as well as the previous fall – of identifying and recruiting some talented kids.
**The practice was fun to watch. There was very little of what you might think of as traditional five-against-five ball. Most drills were in smaller groups, though were 10 guys on the court together at times. Everything was very fast-paced and competitive. There were lots of stops and starts as coaches took time to offer constructive feedback and direction.
**With so many new players, it appeared that the coaches wanted to stress team unity and a winning mindset. The team was split into two groups – subbing guys in and out for various drills. Dwight Perry led one group, and Will Murphy managed the other. Murphy had Messiah Jones and BJ Mack, along with several freshmen, in his group. He could be heard a couple times commenting on the players’ body language and encouraging the “older guys” to lead by example. McAuley, meanwhile, oversaw the action and gave input throughout, emphasizing the need to “talk.” He wanted to see the players constantly communicate with their teammates on the court – a foundation for winning basketball.
**McAuley told me that the outline of a starting lineup and rotation is starting to come into view. The point guard spot, of course, is essential. And with the graduation of Ryan Larson (now at College of Charleston as a graduate transfer), point guard is one of the main question marks coming into the 2022-2023 season.
During the practice I saw, sophomore Corey Tripp and freshman Jackson Paveletzke took the lead point guard role for much of the time in their respective groups. Both guys can play. Tripp was a backup last season for Larson and showed signs of promise. But, according to McAuley, he battled injuries most of the season and was a bit overwhelmed by the transition from high school to college ball.
Tripp brings strength and athleticism to the position. And McAuley raved about his effort and leadership. “He’s been leading our hustle chart, which is a huge thing in our program,” the coach said. “And Corey has been a leader in the locker room.”
Paveletzke is quick and tenacious. He’s crafty with the ball, and it’s easy to see why he was a big-time scorer against high school competition in Wisconsin. McAuley had praise for Paveletzke and freshman Adam Silas, who also looked solid during the practice I saw.
It seems likely that a combination of these players may share point guard duties. “If you look at some of our best teams, we had more than one guy who gave us good minutes at point guard,” McAuley said. “You have more decision-makers, and teams can’t press you as much.”
**Messiah Jones is the lone carry-over from the Mike Young era and the history-making 2019 team. He was a redshirt that year. A highly regarded forward out of Chicago, Jones was a force during McAuley’s first couple seasons, splitting time in the post with Chevy Goodwin and then with BJ Mack and Sam Godwin, who transferred last spring to Oklahoma.
Jones started the 2021-2022 season looking like an all-conference player. His season-ending Achilles tendon injury altered the team’s potential. Jones’ recovery is still ongoing. In the meantime, his mother passed away unexpectedly in late August. Jones has faced plenty of adversity in the past year.
He was part of the action for most of the practice drills I had a chance to watch. He looked like the strong, quick, springy player we remember. His continued development will be an important factor this season.
McAuley believes that with Jones in the mix, Wofford has the potential to have “the best frontcourt in the league.”
Mack, of course, is big part of the equation. He was a second-team all-SoCon player last season as a junior and could be in the mix for league player of the year this time around.
I think fans are going to really enjoy watching newcomer Kyler Filewich, a transfer with two years of experience under his belt. He’s brawny – and not afraid to use his strength to make space and impose his will. As McAuley put it: “He’s a moose.”
Filewich and Mack were matched up against each other much of the practice. Mack got baskets – but Filewich didn’t make things easy. And he scored some, too. Filewich isn’t the most graceful player, but he has a nice touch. I think he’ll be effective — and fun to watch.
Freshman Amarri Tice, a rangy forward, was sidelined with an injury – no cast or crutches, but he wasn’t able to go. McAuley has spoken highly of Tice’s attitude and athleticism. He could have a chance to make an impact early.
**Wofford has some shooters. If Virginia transfer Carson McCorkle gets open, he can fill it up. I saw him hit numerous 3-point baskets and one nice pull up jumper off the dribble. McCorkle isn’t especially big and probably won’t overpower people physically. That isn’t necessarily a problem if he plays with the right edge, McAuley said. “He will have to play with toughness and a defensive mindset,” the coach said.
Offensively, there is clear potential. “Every time he shoots the ball, everybody thinks it’s going in,” McAuley said.
Wofford recruited Jackson Sivills hard when he was a high school player in Kentucky. He opted to stay closer to home and go to Murray State, where his dad is an alum. Now Sivills is a Terrier, and McAuley says “he’s the hardest working guy on our floor every day.” Sivills brings size on the wing and a good shooting touch. It seems likely that he will play a lot.
I’ve mentioned Tauris Watson, a junior college transfer who grew up in Lexington, SC, a couple times here. There will likely be an adjustment to Division 1 basketball in terms of defense and style of play, but McAuley praised Watson’s scoring ability and athleticism. If he can earn substantial minutes, Watson could bring an element of excitement on the perimeter reminiscent of hall-of-famer Karl Cochran.
**I should add here that I didn’t ask Coach McAuley to comment on each player on the roster. There are other young players who, during the practice I saw, were hustling and making solid plays. In particular, the freshman class includes three promising perimeter players — Joshua Morissette, Anthony Arrington, and Chase Martin — who will be competing hard for minutes.
**Away from basketball, McAuley said the players are bonding with one another, and he believes the newcomers are having a good time so far at Wofford. (The guys from up north are enjoying the warm Fall weather, he noted.) And, on the whole, it’s surely a better college experience for these young men than for the guys who came in during the midst of the Covid pandemic. Hopefully that bodes well for the student-athletes and the program.
Changes on the college basketball landscape, including the transfer portal and NIL prospects for athletes, still loom large. In terms of the long-range picture, Wofford — like most everyone else — has plenty of challenges and opportunities to navigate.
But for now, we can look toward this group of Terriers’ first game, at home against Bob Jones University, in less than three weeks. Exciting!
Interesting read …. Gettin fired up.