MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama men’s basketball is preparing for a summer exhibition tour of Canada, and head coach Ronnie Arrow is using the practice time to address ball security.
Last season, the Jaguars ranked near the bottom of the Sun Belt Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio and turnover margin.
Practicing Under Pressure
Arrow has built practices around basic ball-handling and passing drills run under game-like pressure, with defenders pressing.
“It doesn’t do you any good to dribble and pass with nobody on you—you have to do it with ‘heat’ on you to be able to fully develop those skills,” Arrow said. “We’ve tried to put as much pressure on those guards as we can. Today we’ll start working on our presses and working full court, which will enable them to not only do it in half-court situations, but in full court, with double teams and making decisions in the full 94 feet.”
Veterans and Newcomers in the Backcourt
Returning seniors Trey Anderson and Wendell Wright are expected to help guide the newcomers. Anderson ranked sixth in the Sun Belt in assists per game last season.
Three new guards join the backcourt: junior college transfer Dre Connor, freshman Barrington Stevens and junior Antoine Allen, a transfer from Miami who adds an outside shooting option.
Arrow said Allen is further along than the other two newcomers.
“Antoine is further ahead than the other two guards,” Arrow said. “I think a lot of it has to do with strength. He’s a lot stronger than they are and he’s able to maneuver and get open better because of that strength factor.”
Tour Opens Aug. 13
The Jaguars will continue practicing this week before opening the exhibition tour Aug. 13 against Windsor.
