(Indianapolis, IN) – Jacksonville State’s historic season has been fueled by tough love and chemistry. Thursday the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament champions worked out at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse and answered questions from the media as they prepared for a Friday date with Louisville.
Head coach Ray Harper has never had a losing season, so he knew coming to JSU would be a challenge. The Gamecocks won only eight games last year. So he made sure the team had a strength and conditioning coach to physically build up the players that remained, and scheduled mostly road games to build them together as team with good chemistry.
Fourteen of the Gamecocks first 15 games were played away from Pete Mathews Coliseum.
Guards Greg Tucker, Malcolm Drumwright and Eric Durham say coach Harper had important pre-season conversations with key players, and that the first year coach was demanding, but he practiced ‘tough love’ to prod the team to better play.
Tucker, the Charleston, Missouri native averaged 11.3 points per game and was second to teammate Malcom Drumwright in scoring (12.6 ppg and assists).
Harper says he knew chemistry would be the key to the team coming together and having some success. The three guards, and in particular the seniors Durham and Tucker have left an important legacy at JSU.
All three averaged double figures in scoring and Harper says their historic run through the OVC Tournament and earning the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance will never be forgotten.
The Gamecocks have a huge challenge in taking on second seeded Louisville, but Harper says he doesn’t discuss wins and losses with his team. He is more interested in the process.
The Gamecocks and Louisville are the second game here in Indianapolis on Friday. They’ll tip around 2 pm (ET).
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ICYMI: Semifinal # 2 today at #ArchMadness will feature a contrast of styles as # 5 @UIC_MBB faces # 4 @RacersHoops in the 2:30 game.
It's final: @UNImbb 68 @UEAthletics_MBB 59. The Panthers get @Redbird_MBB on Friday night. Campbell finishes with 23 points. Smith with a double-double. AJ Casey was great with 23 & 10. Panthers with 16 assists.
4:05 left: @UNImbb 57 @UEAthletics_MBB 54. Aces' ball. UNI upside? Campbell with 21 points. Down side - Bond 0/6 from deep. UE upside? Casey with 20 & 9. Down Side? 2/11 from deep in the second half. Anybody's game at #ArchMadness
7:25 left: @UNImbb 55 @UEAthletics_MBB 52. Trey Campbell with 21 points for the Panthers and AJ Casey with 18 for the Aces. Tristan Smith is such a game changer. He has 8 pts & 9 rebounds, but that doesn't tell the story. #ArchMadness
