“We’re gonna have a much, much better team,” Rashad Callaway proclaimed. “We’re gonna put forth the effort, and we’re gonna win games.”
According to Callaway, the Spartans’ starting guard, the UT men’s basketball team has improved immensely this offseason.
After an 11-16 2009 campaign which was disappointing at best and ugly at worst, it couldn’t come soon enough.
The Spartans started off hot last season, beating three Sunshine State Conference rivals and No. 2 ranked Valdosta State on their way to an 8-3 record.
Marcus Morrison was named SSC player of the week for his work in the second week of December. He averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for the week.
Things were looking up, and they looked poised to rearrange the hierarchy of SSC basketball for the postseason, until they met up with Lynn University on Jan. 9th. And Eckerd College on the 13th. And Rollins, the 16th, etc.
Three losses in a row turned into 12 losses in 14 games. Just like that, it was back to the drawing board, and dreaming about 2010.
Coach Richard Schmidt has seen a lot in his days at the University of Tampa. He is entering his 28th season as head coach.
To put it in perspective, 2009 marked only the third losing season in Schmidt’s NCAA head coaching career as well as the first in 11 years.
Needless to say, he wasn’t happy. But he also wasn’t extremely concerned.
“Last year was a bad year.” Schmidt said. “We had a lot of young kids, freshmen and sophomores who hadn’t played at all in the big time. But we’re getting a lot of those guys back.”
Coach Schmidt alluded to the youth of the team, and it really is an understatement.
The Spartans return three starters to a team that includes nine underclassmen. Schmidt is known as a yeller, and his way of molding the younger players begs a comparison to Bob Knight, without the chair hurling.
But according to Callaway, Schmidt’s message is one to be remembered, and it’s important to listen to what is being said more than how it’s being conveyed. He is indeed one of the more successful coaches in NCAA Division II history.
“People always take the yelling as negative criticism. They should take it as positive criticism,” Callaway explained, “You should be worried if he’s not yelling at you. That means he’s lost faith in you.
“If everyone listened to his message, and not how he says it, then I think we’ll go a real long way.”
It’s obvious talking to Callaway, that he’s not only been around Coach Schmidt’s style of play for a long time, but basketball in general is more of an art than a sport to him. He comprehends plays and shoots out stats between other stats.
Within a conversation, he mentioned teammate Anthony Griffis’ wingspan, graduated guard Mounir Benzegala’s three point percentage and the odds a basketball player has of making it in the NBA.
“Rashad’s intelligence on the floor is just outstanding,” Coach Schmidt said.
Callaway is not only the self-proclaimed leader of the 2010 UT men’s basketball team, but he’s also the most talented player they have.
This season is the second in which he’s been selected to the preseason All-American team, as well as first team All-SSC. He led the SSC Conference in scoring, assists and steals last year. But there still remains room for improvement.
Coach Schmidt has expressed to Callaway a necessary adjustment to his game: more passing.
Defenses double and even triple cover Callaway, leaving players open on the arc and down low. Although this was excusable last year, when the talent level around him was considerably lower, it is much more urgent in 2010.
Transfer junior from Lincoln Trail College Anthony Griffis leads a recruiting class full of speed and shooting prowess. Griffis drilled 22 three pointers last season, on his way to being second on his team in scoring.
Where size remains an issue for UT- Fred Woods stands as, at 6 feet 7 inches, the tallest man on the roster- agility is not. Expect to see a fast-paced game featuring speed from the guard position dominating their style of offense this season.
Ranked seventh in the SSC preseason poll, UT looks to exceed expectations in 2010. Looking at a schedule, Jan. 19 jumps out as a potentially huge game.
Rival Florida Southern comes to Tampa as the Spartans look to avenge two losses to the Mocs last season, including an embarrassing blown 22 point lead on Jan. 20th.
This is also the first basketball game after students return from winter break, so a large excited crowd is expected.
Although many doubt the merits of the Spartan men’s basketball team in 2010, there is much room for optimism.
After all, with an All-American on the court, and a Hall of Fame coach off it, winning doesn’t ever really seem too out of reach.
The Spartan’s tip-off their season on Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13 at the South Region Crossover.
Played at Florida Tech, UT will matchup against Fort Valley State and Albany State. Their home opener will be on the 16th versus Florida Memorial at 7 p.m.
Miles Parks can be reached at mparks@spartans.ut.edu.