Clarksville, TN – Over the years, Austin Peay State University’s men’s basketball team has primarily seen its offense run from inside out attack under the direction of head coach Dave Loos, but if their two exhibition games last week are any kind of indication that may not be what Govs fans will see as much of this season.
In their two exhibition games, the Governors averaged 100.5 points per game with 60 of those points coming from behind the arc on three-point field goals and another 25 coming on fast break buckets.
To no one’s surprise, Ohio Valley Conference pre-season selection Josh Robinson led the Govs attack in the two contests by scoring 53 – with the junior guard going 19-of-30 from the floor – including seven three-point field goal in 12 attempts.
But he wasn’t alone in putting up points from the perimeter for the Govs, with sophomore wing Jared Savage and senior point guard Josh Glotta also put up at least one double-figure game each, with a majority coming from outside the arc.
Another reason the inside out game will be seen less this season is that although the Govs to have some size in 6-10 Jartavious Dobbs along with 6-8 Assane Diop and Sam McCracken, Dobbs and McCracken are both freshmen who are still getting acclimated to Loos’ offense and the college game – while Diop is more of a forward than true post player with his style of play.
Add to that, seniors Kenny Jones and John Murry – who stand 6-6 and 6-3 respectively – are listed as a forward or forward/guard tend to play better facing the goal, or slashing to the basket, when near the paint.
All of this doesn’t mean that the Govs won’t have any type of inside attack, or not have opportunities to play an inside-out game, but this year’s Govs team will tend to have more of a quick-paced, up tempo, more fast breaking team that will shoot a lot of 3s.
So with the Governors opening their 2016-17 season this Friday, November 11th at Dayton, be ready for this year’s team to come out running and keep on running on to hopefully what will be another OVC championship and another NCAA Tournament berth come March.
