As one of three seniors on an evolving Elon men?s basketball team that?s in the process of defining roles, guard Kevin Blake senses development happening at perhaps a quicker-than-expected pace.
?We?re a maturing team and we?re maturing a lot faster than people would think, probably,? he said.
That progress rate figures to be tested during the next five nights with the Phoenix facing road games at Missouri and No. 2 Duke.
Elon is coming off blowouts of two non-NCAA opponents, romps past Virginia University of Lynchburg (by 111-55) and Central Pennsylvania (by 117-73) that coach Matt Matheny said allowed the Phoenix to focus on its overall self-improvement and also experiment with more four-guard lineups.
With forwards Tony Sabato (ankle sprain) and Jack Anton (hip pointer) working back from injuries and forward Brian Dawkins still shelved by knee surgery, swingman Christian Hairston received back-to-back starting assignments.
?That is the benefit of those two games more so than anything,? Matheny said of the four-guard looks. ?With Brian Dawkins not being healthy right now, it?s something we may need in the second half of the season. And in the close games we?ve played, we weren?t able to play that way.?
Matheny said he was unsure as to whether Hairston would remain part of Elon?s first unit tonight at Missouri or if Sabato would return to the starting lineup.
Sabato played eight minutes off the bench in Sunday?s rout after not suiting up in Elon?s previous game. Hairston averaged 11.5 points and 9 rebounds in his two starts.
?These past two games helped a lot, just on the little things, whether it?s taking the right shots or defensive plays,? said guard Tanner Samson, Elon?s leading scorer. ?We?re getting better as a team.?
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Tonight?s game ? a one-year deal that pays Elon guaranteed money; no future meetings are contracted ? was scheduled by Elon assistant coach Jack Wooten after Frank Haith departed Missouri in April for the Tulsa coaching job, Matheny said.
Haith, the Western Alamance High School and Elon grad, spent the last three seasons at Missouri, making two NCAA Tournament appearances there. He was replaced by Kim Anderson, who coached Central Missouri to last season?s national title in Division II.
?We?re a maturing team and we?re maturing a lot faster than people would think, probably,? he said.
That progress rate figures to be tested during the next five nights with the Phoenix facing road games at Missouri and No. 2 Duke.
Elon is coming off blowouts of two non-NCAA opponents, romps past Virginia University of Lynchburg (by 111-55) and Central Pennsylvania (by 117-73) that coach Matt Matheny said allowed the Phoenix to focus on its overall self-improvement and also experiment with more four-guard lineups.
With forwards Tony Sabato (ankle sprain) and Jack Anton (hip pointer) working back from injuries and forward Brian Dawkins still shelved by knee surgery, swingman Christian Hairston received back-to-back starting assignments.
?That is the benefit of those two games more so than anything,? Matheny said of the four-guard looks. ?With Brian Dawkins not being healthy right now, it?s something we may need in the second half of the season. And in the close games we?ve played, we weren?t able to play that way.?
Matheny said he was unsure as to whether Hairston would remain part of Elon?s first unit tonight at Missouri or if Sabato would return to the starting lineup.
Sabato played eight minutes off the bench in Sunday?s rout after not suiting up in Elon?s previous game. Hairston averaged 11.5 points and 9 rebounds in his two starts.
?These past two games helped a lot, just on the little things, whether it?s taking the right shots or defensive plays,? said guard Tanner Samson, Elon?s leading scorer. ?We?re getting better as a team.?
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Tonight?s game ? a one-year deal that pays Elon guaranteed money; no future meetings are contracted ? was scheduled by Elon assistant coach Jack Wooten after Frank Haith departed Missouri in April for the Tulsa coaching job, Matheny said.
Haith, the Western Alamance High School and Elon grad, spent the last three seasons at Missouri, making two NCAA Tournament appearances there. He was replaced by Kim Anderson, who coached Central Missouri to last season?s national title in Division II.
