Govs trying to rebound from two straight OVC losses
Tennesse Tech is undefeated in OVC play, while APSU struggling
It's time for the Governors to play a little role reversal.
One year ago, Austin Peay took its first-place 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference record into Cookeville and held on for a 58-56 victory.
This year, Tennessee Tech (11-6, 6-0) owns the undefeated, first-place record and will look to defend it at 7:30 p.m. tonight against the Govs (5-13, 3-3) at the Dunn Center.
"This game is very big," Austin Peay wingman Anthony Davis said. "We are coming off losing two games in a row and ... they are coming in with their chests out. So it's important that we come out to a good start and just knock them off."
If the Govs do that, they are going to have to slow down Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year Willie Jenkins.
The 6-foot-6 senior is averaging 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season, and scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Tech's 81-68 victory Saturday over Eastern Illinois.
Austin Peay center Zac Schlader said defense by committee is the only way to slow down Jenkins.
"When he puts the ball on the floor we have to help whoever is guarding him," Schlader said. "Whether it be me or (Eric Young) or Tomas (Janusauskas) or whoever. We all have to help."
Loos agreed, but said they can't expect to stop him completely.
"You can't shut him out," Loos said. "There's no way."
So the Govs went to the other side of the ball Monday and experimented with some lineup changes to try and get some more offensive production.
In their last two losses, Austin Peay has scored only 103 points combined.
But after practice Monday Loos still wasn't sure if he had found any better solutions than the starting unit of Derek Wright, Jr., Maurice Hampton, Davis, Will Durden and Schlader.
"I haven't made a decision yet," Loos said. "We are looking at all kinds of options. We are just looking for some scoring ... to try and get some punch in the lineup and try to figure out a way to guard them at the same time."
If Loos decides to make changes today, many of the players said they are ready to make the adjustment.
"I think it's going to be a little difficult, but I think we are going to try to work through it," freshman shooting guard Todd Babington. "We are just going to go out and play as hard as we can, and make the best of it."
Schlader said the veteran leadership and experience should help the transition smoother if changes are made.
"Its going to be difficult in certain instances," said Schlader, who has made 75 percent of his shots in the last three games. "But at the same time you know we've played with each other since we got here at school so we know how each other play."
No matter which lineup plays, Davis said the Govs still have time to pull it together this season.
"This is a big statement for us," Davis said. "A lot of people think it's over, we have lost three games, ... but I remember last year we went undefeated and we lost one game in the tournament and the undefeated meant nothing."
Loos agreed and said the team's biggest goal is finishing the regular season in the top four in the OVC to ensure a home game in the first round of the conference tournament.
"I don't know how many it is going to take to get a home game, but I would say somewhere maybe 9, maybe 10," Loos said. "That is the big thing, playing yourself in position for a home game. Winning the conference is nice and fun, but it's about those three days in March. So you try to play yourself into the best position you can, and you have to win your home games to do that."
Tennesse Tech is undefeated in OVC play, while APSU struggling
It's time for the Governors to play a little role reversal.
One year ago, Austin Peay took its first-place 7-0 Ohio Valley Conference record into Cookeville and held on for a 58-56 victory.
This year, Tennessee Tech (11-6, 6-0) owns the undefeated, first-place record and will look to defend it at 7:30 p.m. tonight against the Govs (5-13, 3-3) at the Dunn Center.
"This game is very big," Austin Peay wingman Anthony Davis said. "We are coming off losing two games in a row and ... they are coming in with their chests out. So it's important that we come out to a good start and just knock them off."
If the Govs do that, they are going to have to slow down Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year Willie Jenkins.
The 6-foot-6 senior is averaging 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season, and scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Tech's 81-68 victory Saturday over Eastern Illinois.
Austin Peay center Zac Schlader said defense by committee is the only way to slow down Jenkins.
"When he puts the ball on the floor we have to help whoever is guarding him," Schlader said. "Whether it be me or (Eric Young) or Tomas (Janusauskas) or whoever. We all have to help."
Loos agreed, but said they can't expect to stop him completely.
"You can't shut him out," Loos said. "There's no way."
So the Govs went to the other side of the ball Monday and experimented with some lineup changes to try and get some more offensive production.
In their last two losses, Austin Peay has scored only 103 points combined.
But after practice Monday Loos still wasn't sure if he had found any better solutions than the starting unit of Derek Wright, Jr., Maurice Hampton, Davis, Will Durden and Schlader.
"I haven't made a decision yet," Loos said. "We are looking at all kinds of options. We are just looking for some scoring ... to try and get some punch in the lineup and try to figure out a way to guard them at the same time."
If Loos decides to make changes today, many of the players said they are ready to make the adjustment.
"I think it's going to be a little difficult, but I think we are going to try to work through it," freshman shooting guard Todd Babington. "We are just going to go out and play as hard as we can, and make the best of it."
Schlader said the veteran leadership and experience should help the transition smoother if changes are made.
"Its going to be difficult in certain instances," said Schlader, who has made 75 percent of his shots in the last three games. "But at the same time you know we've played with each other since we got here at school so we know how each other play."
No matter which lineup plays, Davis said the Govs still have time to pull it together this season.
"This is a big statement for us," Davis said. "A lot of people think it's over, we have lost three games, ... but I remember last year we went undefeated and we lost one game in the tournament and the undefeated meant nothing."
Loos agreed and said the team's biggest goal is finishing the regular season in the top four in the OVC to ensure a home game in the first round of the conference tournament.
"I don't know how many it is going to take to get a home game, but I would say somewhere maybe 9, maybe 10," Loos said. "That is the big thing, playing yourself in position for a home game. Winning the conference is nice and fun, but it's about those three days in March. So you try to play yourself into the best position you can, and you have to win your home games to do that."
