Jackson State head coach Wayne Brent is in search of improvement for year two. Wins versus loses is ultimately what it boils down to. In his very first season as a collegiate head coach, his team completed the season nine games below .500.
The Tigers finished 11-20 overall a year after posting an 11-18 mark in the 2012-13 season. They actually took a small step backwards in league play, going from 9-9 in to 7-11 in 2013-14.
Brent’s team must find a way to manufacture something on offense, scoring 65.8 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting. During the 2013-14 season, JSU was very active defensively. A year ago, they finished in the top five in scoring defense (68.7 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.431). The Tigers will have to somehow keep that trend in place while also proving that they are capable of scoring the ball.
Both Julysses Nobles (15.7 ppg) and Brandon West (12.6 ppg, 9.7 rpg) are gone, leaving no double-digit scorers on the roster. Javeres Brent (8.9 ppg) has the ability and opportunity to produce at a higher rate, but he must hit more than 33 percent of his shots, as he did last season.
Treshawn Bolden (5.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Dontaveon Robinson (3.3 ppg) combined for 46 starts last season, but neither was allowed many scoring chances. That should change as the Tigers attempt to find an identity on offense.
JSU opens the regular season at NC State on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the PNC Center. The home opener is set for Friday, Nov. 28 when the Tigers host Hofstra.
Courtesy: SWAC.org
