APSU Sports: Austin Peay Men’s Basketball
Clarksville, TN – It seems just like yesterday Austin Peay State University men’s basketball team was practicing. Well, not exactly.
However, it was just two months ago the Governors were preparing for its Toronto exhibition series. Now they will be back on the floor officially, 5:00pm, Friday, in the Foy Center when practice begins for the 2012-13 season.
“The (practices/exhibition trip) certainly make things easier to get going because we are farther along than we would normally be,” APSU coach Dave Loos said. “Secondly, I think we have a better idea, having done the Canada thing, where we are starting from and what we have to do.”The young Govs, who have just 40 of 160 2011-12 starts returning, were 2-1 on their exhibition tour against mostly Canadian-based former NCAA players. It was a chance to give a four-man (Corey Arentsen, Chris Horton, A.J. Lynch and Preston Herring) freshman class, being counted on to contribute early in their respective careers, to get a taste of college competition.
“I liked their aggressiveness,” Loos said. “They showed they have some ability, but they are freshmen. They have a lot of work to do to help them adjust to playing on this level.
“We know there will be some bumps in the road as they gain that experience, but I do like their intensity for the most part. We got some pieces of putting the puzzle together.”
It also allowed several inexperienced returning Govs an opportunity to show their wares as well. In addition it gave Loos and staff an opportunity to evaluate the club’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We have a lot of work to do defensively,” Loos said. “That’s the concern but at the same time I am encouraged by their seeming willingness to play on that end. We have gotten a pretty good effort throughout preseason.
The Governors return guards Jerome Clyburn (6.3 ppg) and Herdie Lawrence (3.7 ppg), who shared the point guard duties last year. Also back is forward Will Triggs, who averaged 6.2 ppg and 3.9 rpg. Triggs grabbed double-figure rebounds in all three Canadian exhibition games and scored 25 in their lone defeat.
The Governors also added junior college guard Travis Betran, a talented scorer, right as school started.
“He is showing signs,” Loos said. “He was faced with all this all of a sudden. On Friday right before we were starting class on Monday, he didn’t even know he was coming here yet.
“He had a lot to adjust to-a brand environment, new teammates, new coaches, new system, new part of the country. And then you throw in the fact he was forced to miss about a week with pink eye, he has adjusted pretty well. ”
Forward Anthony Campbell, coming back from a second ACL tear operation in two years, didn’t play in Canada. After playing only 10 games in each of the last two seasons before suffering knee injuries, the redshirt senior is determined to end his career on a strong note.
“Campbell is moving around well,” Loos said. “Everything seems to be progressing well in relation to his knee. He did miss about a week with an abdomen pull. He is one of a number of guys that we just need to get in a little better basketball shape.”