Rested Privateers to host 22nd-ranked Miss. State tonight
Final exams seldom come at a good time.
For UNO coach Monte Towe, a nearly two-week academic hiatus following a 55-54 victory against Tulane was not his preference, especially with No. 22 Mississippi State coming to Lakefront Arena tonight at 7 as the Privateers (3-3) resume play.
"I don't like long breaks," Towe said. "It's always best when you can play every three or four days. Generally, you come out rusty after a long layoff, and Mississippi State certainly isn't a team you can afford to be that way against."
The Bulldogs (7-2) are coming off an 83-53 rout of Arkansas-Little Rock in which preseason All-America forward Lawrence Roberts had a season-high 27 points.
"They're very, very good," Towe said. "Maybe as good as anybody we'll see this year.
"But I felt we competed with them pretty well last year (a 77-59 loss). So we're going out there and trying to beat these guys, or at least use the opportunity to make ourselves better."
Because of exams, the Privateers had no full-squad practices following the Nov. 30 Tulane game until Friday.
Towe and his staff used the time in between to concentrate on individual workouts, stressing rebounding, outside shooting and defense.
The Privateers have been outrebounded in five of their six games and are shooting 30 percent from 3-point range, including a 5-for-21 effort against Tulane.
"We're missing our long shots, and if you can grab a lot of them, it's like an assist," Towe said. "But we're not getting them."
The defensive woes come from not having a stopper along the lines of Kentrell Martin, who filled that role for the past three seasons.
"We're getting beat off the dribble too much and not giving enough weakside help," Towe said. "It comes from awareness, but it seems like we're still trying to find out what our best defense is."
Similarly, Towe still is searching for his best starting lineup.
Although Bo McCalebb, Chad Barnes, Shawn Malloy, Jamie McNeilly and Jacob Manning will be the first five for the third straight time tonight, Towe said he anticipates more switching around, especially in the seven games between now and the start of Sun Belt Conference play.
"I'd probably like to take five guys, start them every game and play them for 40 minutes," he said. "But changing things around is indicative of how our team is this year.
"The good thing is that we have no seniors, so this year will be our team for the next two years, and in the long run we will be better."
There are things Towe likes about his team. McCalebb is living up to his Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year tag by averaging 22? points per game.
Malloy has been a solid addition at center, and Ben Elias has been effective as Malloy's backup.
Towe also said he thinks Barnes will become more of a contributor when his shooting becomes more consistent and he likes what he's getting at forward from Manning.
Also, help is on the way with forward Nathaniel Parker expected back for the start of conference play as he recovers from a stress fracture in his right leg. Forward Kenny Simelton has been back for two games after missing the start of the season with a wrist injury.
"We're playing some very good competition (Houston, Southern Mississippi, Alabama and possibly Louisville) between now and the start of conference," Towe said. "We're challenging our kids in every one of them.
"If we keep our heads up, I think we'll be in good shape."
Final exams seldom come at a good time.
For UNO coach Monte Towe, a nearly two-week academic hiatus following a 55-54 victory against Tulane was not his preference, especially with No. 22 Mississippi State coming to Lakefront Arena tonight at 7 as the Privateers (3-3) resume play.
"I don't like long breaks," Towe said. "It's always best when you can play every three or four days. Generally, you come out rusty after a long layoff, and Mississippi State certainly isn't a team you can afford to be that way against."
The Bulldogs (7-2) are coming off an 83-53 rout of Arkansas-Little Rock in which preseason All-America forward Lawrence Roberts had a season-high 27 points.
"They're very, very good," Towe said. "Maybe as good as anybody we'll see this year.
"But I felt we competed with them pretty well last year (a 77-59 loss). So we're going out there and trying to beat these guys, or at least use the opportunity to make ourselves better."
Because of exams, the Privateers had no full-squad practices following the Nov. 30 Tulane game until Friday.
Towe and his staff used the time in between to concentrate on individual workouts, stressing rebounding, outside shooting and defense.
The Privateers have been outrebounded in five of their six games and are shooting 30 percent from 3-point range, including a 5-for-21 effort against Tulane.
"We're missing our long shots, and if you can grab a lot of them, it's like an assist," Towe said. "But we're not getting them."
The defensive woes come from not having a stopper along the lines of Kentrell Martin, who filled that role for the past three seasons.
"We're getting beat off the dribble too much and not giving enough weakside help," Towe said. "It comes from awareness, but it seems like we're still trying to find out what our best defense is."
Similarly, Towe still is searching for his best starting lineup.
Although Bo McCalebb, Chad Barnes, Shawn Malloy, Jamie McNeilly and Jacob Manning will be the first five for the third straight time tonight, Towe said he anticipates more switching around, especially in the seven games between now and the start of Sun Belt Conference play.
"I'd probably like to take five guys, start them every game and play them for 40 minutes," he said. "But changing things around is indicative of how our team is this year.
"The good thing is that we have no seniors, so this year will be our team for the next two years, and in the long run we will be better."
There are things Towe likes about his team. McCalebb is living up to his Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year tag by averaging 22? points per game.
Malloy has been a solid addition at center, and Ben Elias has been effective as Malloy's backup.
Towe also said he thinks Barnes will become more of a contributor when his shooting becomes more consistent and he likes what he's getting at forward from Manning.
Also, help is on the way with forward Nathaniel Parker expected back for the start of conference play as he recovers from a stress fracture in his right leg. Forward Kenny Simelton has been back for two games after missing the start of the season with a wrist injury.
"We're playing some very good competition (Houston, Southern Mississippi, Alabama and possibly Louisville) between now and the start of conference," Towe said. "We're challenging our kids in every one of them.
"If we keep our heads up, I think we'll be in good shape."
