This Wofford basketball season so far reminds of when I was in high school and my buddies and I would try to get a pick-up game going. Could we find enough guys available to play? Maybe. Would someone back out at the last minute? Always a chance. Where would we play? Sometimes we could find a church gym open or managed to sneak into a school nearby, but might have to settle for a backyard goal.
Bringing two college basketball together during a pandemic appears to be a similarly unpredictable affair. Just weeks into Wofford’s season, games against North Carolina Central University and Presbyterian (I was looking forward to renewing that old-school rivalry) were canceled. A game with nineteenth-ranked Richmond was added. A trip to Columbia to play USC fell through, and then Wofford found an opportunity to travel to Atlanta to take on University of South Florida in the Holiday Hoopsgiving event.
It’s all pretty dizzying. And how the schedule will take shape from here sure seems like a mystery.
Our team, though, is a bit less of a mystery following two close losses to strong opponents. Lopsided wins against the badly overmatched Toccoa Falls and Carver teams gave us little idea of how the Wofford bunch might match up in SoCon play, but the Richmond and USF games (final scores, both losses at 77-72 and 58-56, respectively) made this much clear: Wofford has guys who can hold their own.
Senior guards Storm Murphy and Tray Hollowell have been really good, leading the way in points and minutes played. Going into the season, we could expect that Murphy would be outstanding. But it looks as if he’s become more aggressive and confident offensively. And Hollowell, whose playing time and production were inconsistent during his first three seasons, has stepped up.
Messiah Jones had an interesting week. Against Richmond, he was sensational. He contended with bigger post players, including 6-10, 255-pound senior Grant Golden, and finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds. But on Saturday against USF, he never quite got on track, recording only five points and five rebounds. Still, Jones is a tough guy and an outstanding athlete – he looks more than ready to make his mark in the SoCon.
Transfer BJ Mack is a great addition. The size, skill, and versatility he brings make a difference. That said, versatility can be a two-edged sword: Mack’s ability to shoot from the outside is a nice weapon, but the eight three-pointers he took against his old team, USF, on Saturday might have been a bit much. He took only two shots inside the three-point arc; hopefully, he’ll use his size in league play to add scoring punch close to the basket.
Freshman tall guy Sam Godwin saw significant action in both games, and he appears ready to go. He will likely get stronger and more confident, but looks like someone we can expect to contribute in conference games. Nick Pringle played sparingly and may have been a little overwhelmed, so it will be interesting to see how he progresses in the weeks ahead.
It was good to see junior guard Ryan Larson return to action. His defense and overall energy make the team better. He’ll be counted on as a major contributor this season. Freshman Morgan Safford’s hustle and athleticism make him a valuable role player. If he can start getting shots to fall, he could make a significant impact in conference play.
Overall, there were plenty of encouraging signs in Wofford’s games against Richmond and USF, two big and athletic teams.
There are noteworthy areas for improvement, too. The Terriers turned the ball over too much and couldn’t quite make crucial plays down the stretch. Coach McAuley spoke after the USF game about needing to play smarter.
Murphy and Hollowell played major minutes in both games may need more support as the season wears on. The return of Larson should help, and we sill haven’t gotten to see heralded freshman guard Max Klesmit.
The team has taken a whole lot of three-pointers – 34 in the Richmond game and 39 against USF – and establishing greater offensive balance may be a key factor in the team’s chances of success against SoCon competition.
In all likelihood, this team will continue to rely heavily on outside shooting. McAuley seems to favor a fairly wide-open style of play in which players are encouraged to take good shots from long range. And he has recruited talented young players to fit that style. Of course, the season is early and it’s very much a work in progress. Do we have the same chemistry in December that recent teams had during their successful post-season runs — or that this team will likely have by March? Of course not. Right now, winning every game isn’t a must, though we all want to see the ‘W’ side of the ledger grow. This group is building chemistry and establishing an identity, and it appears that good things are coming together.
Up next tonight – if plans hold – is a contest in Spartanburg with Coastal Carolina, who is 4-0 on the season. They’re coached by former Clemson head man Cliff Ellis. He knows what he’s doing and he’s got a team with impressive size as well as returning all-Sun Belt guard DeVante Jones. It should be a competitive game.
Appreciate your cogent observations. Tonight we worked the ball much better and beat Coastal 88-77. Safford came up big, as did Murphy. Patterson even played nine minutes tonight.