McNeese looks to rebound
Published 8:30 am Wednesday, December 3, 2014
After each dipped into Southeastern Conference play Thanksgiving week, the McNeese State basketball teams will host a double dip against NAIA programs tonight at Burton Coliseum.
The Cowgirls (3-2) will get things started against Wiley College at 6 p.m., while the Cowboys (2-2) tip off against Southern-New Orleans at approximately 8 p.m.
Cowgirls
The Cowgirls will be looking to shake off the cobwebs from a 93-27 shellacking at No. 7 Texas A&M last Wednesday.
“We felt like we would compete a little bit better,” said Cowgirls head coach Brooks Donald Williams. “We certainly want to be tougher than what we showed on Wednesday. Win or lose, we want to compete. That’s the message that was relayed in the locker room Wednesday night. We didn’t compete. We had a lot of fear going in, and I’m disappointed in that.
“We have a special group, and I feel like they’re going to respond.”
McNeese isn’t swimming in a shark tank like it did against A&M, but Wiley is at least barracuda-like in its potential to cause damage.
The Wildcats reached the NAIA Final Four last year and have a 65-48 win at Sam Houston State this season.
“They’re good,” Donald Williams said. “It’s going to be a tough challenge for us. They’re similar to Southern Miss, I think, because they’ll have the same type of full-court pressure. We’ve got to be able to handle it better.”
Cowboys
The Cowboys are coming off a loss, though it was one that came with some positives.
McNeese was tied with LSU at halftime before the Tigers pulled away late for an 83-72 win.
Point guard Jamaya Burr had a solid game with 13 points and five assists, while forward Stephen Ugochukwu came off the bench for seven points and seven rebounds in 12 minutes to supplement a double-double by senior Desharick Guidry.
“They had good games,” said Cowboys head coach Dave Simmons. “We’re still not clicking on all cylinders to get this team to be a championship team, but I was pleased with the effort. We made progress.”
That progress will need to be met with consistency against SUNO tonight — sandwiched between LSU and Louisiana-Lafayette on the schedule, the Knights are in prime position to play spoiler.
“The biggest thing I preached to the kids about it is every game should be the same no matter who is playing,” Simmons said. “Whether it’s LSU or Southern-New Orleans, every game should be approached the same. Don’t leave anything on the court.”
Starting center Austin Lewis may be left on the bench. Lewis left the LSU game with an ankle injury, and Simmons said he will be a game-time decision after warm-ups.
