Given the turmoil of the last few weeks, most College of Charleston men?s basketball fans wonder about the team?s mental state. But interim coach Mark Byington?s big concern for the remainder of the season is dealing with the team?s physical state.
After enduring a four-game losing streak and having sixth-year coach Bobby Cremins step down for a medical leave of absence, the Cougars went on a three-game road trip and managed to post two victories and take Elon to double overtime before losing by a point.
The Cougars (14-10, 6-7 SoCon) now have two home games, against Western Carolina (10-15, 4-8) at 8 p.m. today and Saturday?s 3 p.m. homecoming battle with league-leading Davidson.
Byington said he was excited to get back to work when the team practiced Monday until he saw the injury report from trainer Chris Horschel.
?We only had seven scholarship players practice Monday and Tuesday. We?re still beat up, still fighting that. I?ve told the guys that whoever gets the opportunity to play to be ready to play and be ready to play the right way,? Byington said.
Sophomore forward Trent Wiedeman twisted his ankle in the late stages of Saturday?s win over Appalachian State, ?about the 15th time Wiedeman has sprained his ankle this season? Byington said.
?If there?s any way to play, (Trent) will play. At the same time, we?re going to be smart about it. If there?s a risk of further injury, we?re not going to play him. We still have some long-range goals we?re trying to reach. We?ll err on the side of caution. At the same time I know he?s going to want to play.?
Junior forward Matt Sundberg is also dealing with an ankle injury. Byington said a decision on Wiedeman?s and Sundberg?s availability probably would be made at game time.
Since taking over for Cremins, Byington has worked with the team on playing a more structure offense, and that has paid dividends, especially for junior guard Andrew Lawrence.
?We?re getting different looks on offense and getting a lot more open shots,? said Lawrence, who has scored 56 points and had 15 assists in the last two games. ?I?m shooting the ball well, with a lot more confidence. We?re getting a lot of confidence from the way we?ve been playing. We?re trying to get everybody back healthy.?
Byington said the Cougars are trying to move the opponents? defense around and make Lawrence the finisher instead of taking shooting early in the shot clock.
?One of the best signs is that Trent Wiedeman?s (number of) shots have gone up in the last three or four games,? Byington said. ?We?re trying to get Adjehi (Baru) more shots. Andrew Lawrence has been playing at a high level.
?We?re trying to take high percentage shots and emphasizing making the extra pass, sharing the ball and finding a teammate.?
After enduring a four-game losing streak and having sixth-year coach Bobby Cremins step down for a medical leave of absence, the Cougars went on a three-game road trip and managed to post two victories and take Elon to double overtime before losing by a point.
The Cougars (14-10, 6-7 SoCon) now have two home games, against Western Carolina (10-15, 4-8) at 8 p.m. today and Saturday?s 3 p.m. homecoming battle with league-leading Davidson.
Byington said he was excited to get back to work when the team practiced Monday until he saw the injury report from trainer Chris Horschel.
?We only had seven scholarship players practice Monday and Tuesday. We?re still beat up, still fighting that. I?ve told the guys that whoever gets the opportunity to play to be ready to play and be ready to play the right way,? Byington said.
Sophomore forward Trent Wiedeman twisted his ankle in the late stages of Saturday?s win over Appalachian State, ?about the 15th time Wiedeman has sprained his ankle this season? Byington said.
?If there?s any way to play, (Trent) will play. At the same time, we?re going to be smart about it. If there?s a risk of further injury, we?re not going to play him. We still have some long-range goals we?re trying to reach. We?ll err on the side of caution. At the same time I know he?s going to want to play.?
Junior forward Matt Sundberg is also dealing with an ankle injury. Byington said a decision on Wiedeman?s and Sundberg?s availability probably would be made at game time.
Since taking over for Cremins, Byington has worked with the team on playing a more structure offense, and that has paid dividends, especially for junior guard Andrew Lawrence.
?We?re getting different looks on offense and getting a lot more open shots,? said Lawrence, who has scored 56 points and had 15 assists in the last two games. ?I?m shooting the ball well, with a lot more confidence. We?re getting a lot of confidence from the way we?ve been playing. We?re trying to get everybody back healthy.?
Byington said the Cougars are trying to move the opponents? defense around and make Lawrence the finisher instead of taking shooting early in the shot clock.
?One of the best signs is that Trent Wiedeman?s (number of) shots have gone up in the last three or four games,? Byington said. ?We?re trying to get Adjehi (Baru) more shots. Andrew Lawrence has been playing at a high level.
?We?re trying to take high percentage shots and emphasizing making the extra pass, sharing the ball and finding a teammate.?
