Penders using undersized squad early in season
Tom Penders is trying to learn what his Houston Cougars players can do and how they best fit together. Cougars players, in turn, are trying to figure out how to give the coach what he wants.
The learning process would go faster if the Cougars hadn't played only one game since their Nov. 28 finale at the Great Alaska Shootout. Final exams have impeded the on-court, in-game learning, but that's about to change. The Cougars (4-2) begin a stretch of four games in 10 days when they take on Troy (5-4) at 7 p.m. today at Hofheinz Pavilion.
When last seen on the court eight days ago, the Cougars were relying on a four-guard lineup to pull out an 83-76 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The small-ball approach was by no means an aberration, because the Cougars' four leaders in scoring ? and minutes ? all stand 6-4 or shorter.
Best five for the job
Guards Aubrey Coleman, Kelvin Lewis, Adam Brown and Desmond Wade all are averaging at least 28 minutes per game. Coleman (27.0 points per game), Lewis (16.8) and Brown (13.5) are the team's only double-figure scorers, while Wade has a 35-to-9 assists-to-turnovers ratio. The front-line leaders in minutes and points are freshman forward Kirk Van Slyke (19.5, 5.8) and junior center Maurice McNeil (17.5, 5.5).
?Eventually, we're going to be playing most teams with a legitimate 4 (power forward) and a legitimate 5 (center),? Penders said. ?But I'm paid to win basketball games, too. I can't worry about minutes at this point. I've got to go with the five guys I feel will give us the best opportunity.?
The Cougars have won three of their past four games. They've managed to average 85.3 points per game this season while committing a nation-low 9.0 turnovers per game. They're forcing 21.2 turnovers per game, leading to an average of 26.0 points
?We found out that when we play fast, more like what we like to call crazy, we play a lot better as a team,? Brown said. ?We know we have to have each other's back.?
One trade-off is that the Cougars are getting manhandled on the boards, 41.7 rebounds per game to 29.5. When opponents aren't losing the ball, they're generally getting clear looks at the basket. The Cougars have allowed opponents to shoot 50.1 percent from the field.
?Everybody is trying so hard,? Lewis said. ?Even when we make mistakes, we've got each other's backs. Once we get it going and keep on working on what we're working on, we're going to be good at rotating (on defense).?
Rotation being sorted out
Penders vows to get things to where the Cougars will be rotating some of his bigger players into the game. Lewis, whom Penders had vowed before the season to cut to 30 minutes or less per game, has gone the distance in each of the past three outings.
One wild card is the development of Van Slyke, a freshman from College Park High, and McNeil, a transfer from San Jacinco College. Another wild card has been freshman Kendrick Washington, who is still trying to build up endurance after offseason surgery to repair stress fractures in both shins. Washington logged a season-high 15 minutes against A&M-Corpus Christi and was a part of the second-half surge that allowed UH to take control .
?Guys like Kirk Van Slyke are going to be really good,? Penders said. ?He and Kendrick Washington, those are guys who are going to be playing a lot and in the regular rotation. There's no rotation that's been set yet.?
Tom Penders is trying to learn what his Houston Cougars players can do and how they best fit together. Cougars players, in turn, are trying to figure out how to give the coach what he wants.
The learning process would go faster if the Cougars hadn't played only one game since their Nov. 28 finale at the Great Alaska Shootout. Final exams have impeded the on-court, in-game learning, but that's about to change. The Cougars (4-2) begin a stretch of four games in 10 days when they take on Troy (5-4) at 7 p.m. today at Hofheinz Pavilion.
When last seen on the court eight days ago, the Cougars were relying on a four-guard lineup to pull out an 83-76 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The small-ball approach was by no means an aberration, because the Cougars' four leaders in scoring ? and minutes ? all stand 6-4 or shorter.
Best five for the job
Guards Aubrey Coleman, Kelvin Lewis, Adam Brown and Desmond Wade all are averaging at least 28 minutes per game. Coleman (27.0 points per game), Lewis (16.8) and Brown (13.5) are the team's only double-figure scorers, while Wade has a 35-to-9 assists-to-turnovers ratio. The front-line leaders in minutes and points are freshman forward Kirk Van Slyke (19.5, 5.8) and junior center Maurice McNeil (17.5, 5.5).
?Eventually, we're going to be playing most teams with a legitimate 4 (power forward) and a legitimate 5 (center),? Penders said. ?But I'm paid to win basketball games, too. I can't worry about minutes at this point. I've got to go with the five guys I feel will give us the best opportunity.?
The Cougars have won three of their past four games. They've managed to average 85.3 points per game this season while committing a nation-low 9.0 turnovers per game. They're forcing 21.2 turnovers per game, leading to an average of 26.0 points
?We found out that when we play fast, more like what we like to call crazy, we play a lot better as a team,? Brown said. ?We know we have to have each other's back.?
One trade-off is that the Cougars are getting manhandled on the boards, 41.7 rebounds per game to 29.5. When opponents aren't losing the ball, they're generally getting clear looks at the basket. The Cougars have allowed opponents to shoot 50.1 percent from the field.
?Everybody is trying so hard,? Lewis said. ?Even when we make mistakes, we've got each other's backs. Once we get it going and keep on working on what we're working on, we're going to be good at rotating (on defense).?
Rotation being sorted out
Penders vows to get things to where the Cougars will be rotating some of his bigger players into the game. Lewis, whom Penders had vowed before the season to cut to 30 minutes or less per game, has gone the distance in each of the past three outings.
One wild card is the development of Van Slyke, a freshman from College Park High, and McNeil, a transfer from San Jacinco College. Another wild card has been freshman Kendrick Washington, who is still trying to build up endurance after offseason surgery to repair stress fractures in both shins. Washington logged a season-high 15 minutes against A&M-Corpus Christi and was a part of the second-half surge that allowed UH to take control .
?Guys like Kirk Van Slyke are going to be really good,? Penders said. ?He and Kendrick Washington, those are guys who are going to be playing a lot and in the regular rotation. There's no rotation that's been set yet.?
