Article by Johan Englen

Basketball season is getting closer at Drury University. Is the men’s basketball team preparing for another NCAA tournament win, like in 2013? Are we doomed to disappointment? Or somewhere in between? Several key members of the team give insight on how this season is unfolding.

The men’s basketball season will start off with one exhibition game against Blackburn College and two separate skirmishes. The first official game of the season is Nov. 10 at the O’Reilly Family Event Center. They will then go straight into two games against challenging teams at away locations.

“In our second game, we play SVU on the road and then we continue on the road that weekend and go to Emporia,” explained Steve Hesser, men’s head coach. “Any time you go on the road at our level, it’s difficult.”

Steve Hesser. Photo by Drury Athletics.

Hesser isn’t quite certain how the season will go yet, but he remains cautiously optimistic.

“We had our first practice [on Oct. 15],” said Hesser. “I like our guys. I like how our preseason workouts went, but it’s early. We’re trying to put a team together and install our offensive and defensive systems.”

One strength that Hesser is more openly optimistic about is their intra-team competition. He thinks competition for playing time will be intense. Many players seem able to compete this season and Junior John Williams sees more technical strengths in the early part of the season.

John Williams. Photo by Drury Athletics.

“[Our team] strengths, I would say, are depth, athleticism and ability to shoot the ball. Something we need to continue to grow in is toughness, particularly mental toughness,” remarked Williams. “If something’s doesn’t go our way or we don’t shoot it well, how are we going react to that?  Toughness is always something a team can grow in as the year goes on. We are also a smaller team so we are going to have to make rebounding a priority.”

Hesser also noted that he feels good about the team’s experience, even with the loss of last year’s graduates.

“We’ve got new faces and we do have a couple starters back, so that’s a positive,” said Hesser. “It’s just a process of getting some practices under you, going to a skirmish, playing somebody else and seeing how well we compete and how well we understand collectively what we need to do on the floor on the offense and defensive ends.”

Personally, Williams foresees a good year for himself as well as for the team.

“I think I’ll have my best year yet. This is my third year here, so it is my job to set the example for these guys on my team,” said Williams.  “I do have personal goals I will work to reach, but my main goal is to help my team be the best it can be.”

Hesser expects Bellarmine, Wisconsin Parkside, and Southern Indiana to be the team’s most staunch opponents this year in conference play while Williams agrees with Hesser’s Bellarmine prediction, but sees a challenge from Truman and Quincy, as well.

Show some support and panther pride at the first game on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the O’Reilly Family Event Center against Ottawa.