Men's Basketball Season Preview

While most students have been working hard in the classroom during the fall semester, the College of Coastal Georgia Men's basketball team has been toiling away on the court, in the weight room and in the classroom to prepare for the rigorous season that officially began on Thursday, Oct. 1.

After more than a month of early morning running and workouts along with afternoon practices, the 12 players on the 2009-10 roster have their sights set on a return to the NJCAA Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas..

But to get there for the first time since 2003, the Mariners will have to win more frequently than last year's team that went a respectable 21-9 overall and 9-5 in Georgia Junior College Athletic Association play.

Lucky for the Mariners, head coach Gerald Cox's philosophy on winning is as easy as defense, defense and more defense.

“I've always believed that defense wins games,” said Cox, who's entering his 28 th season as the Mariners head man. “I try to keep it simple.”

While the Mariners will continue to defend in Cox's man-to-man scheme, which forces double teams and contest shots, they will mix in zone on a limited basis for a change of pace.

Cox said the athleticism and speed of his current team may allow the Mariners to press opponents more often than recent years, which should lead to steals and fast-breaks for rabid CCGA offense.

On offense, the Mariners are in their second year of utilizing the Dribble-Drive Motion, popularized by the 2008 NCAA Division-I National Championship runner-up Memphis Tigers.

The Dribble-Drive Motion, or DDM as it's known in the basketball world, requires speedy guards that can consistently penetrate the defense and make good decisions. Once in the heart of the defense, the guard can either dish the ball to a big man down low, kick the ball out to a perimeter shooter, or take a high-percentage shot as he drives to the basket.

Cox said besides the heady guard play, the DDM also requires the team to shoot well from the floor and grab plenty of offensive rebounds to maximize opportunities.

If the offense works out as planned, the Mariners will score points by the boatload.

“It's a fast-paced offense that requires you to get up and down the court,” said freshman guard Jaren Harris. “We can't let the defense sit back and set up. We have to attack and run.”

Though the roster features 10 freshman, Cox isn't worried that his young team will suffer because of inexperience. With just two years of athletic eligibility per player, almost every team that competes in the NJCAA is subject to a high rate of player turnover.

Cox said the returning redshirt freshman combined with the incoming true freshman and the addition of sophomore Jonathan Brooks, a transfer from Northwest Florida State, should help the talented team make up for any short comings.

“We've got a whole crop of freshman this year, all of whom can contribute,” Cox said.

Brooks, a 6-foot-7 forward originally from Macon, was equally optimistic about the path that lies ahead.

“We're a young team but everybody is enthusiastic and ready to play,” he said. “In college the game is so much faster, so we've got to be alert. There's no time for mistakes.”

With a month to prepare for regular-season action, Cox said he'll increase practice intensity and delve into the playbook a little bit more.

“It's all an open book right now,” Cox said prior to the team's first official practice. “We've got the basics out of the way, but there's still work to be done.”

Harris, a native of Washington County, said he and his teammates are ready for the challenge.

“Practices have been intense and we've been competing every day,” he said. “We have to make sure we don't slack and continue to push each other in practice every day.”

The Mariners have a home scrimmage against Brewton-Paker on Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. and open their regular season home schedule again with Brewton-Parker on Nov. 9 in the Coffin Gym at 7:30 p.m.