Oct. 18, 2005

When it comes to rebuilding a Division I men's basketball program, one can insert any cliché they choose. Whether it's the one where "Rome wasn't built in a day," or the saying that "anything worth doing is worth doing well," one can make the correlation that it takes time to build a competitive, successful program. Regardless of the terminology used, one can be sure that the wanted and desired results won't happen instantaneously.

When it comes to rebuilding the Southern Miss men's basketball program, one can be sure that Head Coach Larry Eustachy knows it isn't going to be an easy thing to do.

After a disappointing 11-17 performance last season, the outlook could be bleak for this year's edition of the Golden Eagle squad. But that isn't the case at all. Instead, there is an excitement heading into this upcoming season. It's not an excitement because there will be a guarantee of more wins than last year. It's not an excitement because of a re-vamped Conference USA that could level the playing field for Southern Miss. No, instead the excitement comes from the fact that the program is further along in the process of what it takes to be a successful, competitive force in Division I basketball.

The 2005-06 basketball season is one that Eustachy says will be better because it's the second one in his system.

"We do want to have great basketball team now, but those things take time," Eustachy said. "Unfortunately, you can't make a great team just like that. It's a process that will take time. We are a lot farther now than we were a year ago - a 100 percent farther. The problem is that we still aren't close to where we need to be."

The fact that the program is in a better state this season than last could seem a bit confounding. Gone are four of the top five scorers from last season. Only four players return in all - three of which who have put in considerable minutes for the team. But things may not seem what they appear to be. Much like last season, the Golden Eagles will be mostly a new team - with incoming junior college and high school players outnumbering the quartet of returnees. But unlike last year, the current edition of Southern Miss players will be those who fit in well with the type of basketball program that Eustachy and company want - one that not only can compete athletically on the Division I level, but one that also has the mental toughness to set itself apart from the rest.

"The way to improve any program is to add good players to it," Eustachy said. "Last year, we literally had a brand new team. There are a lot of the same similarities this year, but with that, we have been able to research players more and find out whether or not they have what it takes to be successful."

Even though the team has yet to set foot on the basketball court, there's evidence that the players in the program - both returning and incoming - are willing to do what it takes to be the best. Over the summer, players put in the time in the weight room and honed their skills in summer basketball leagues, all in preparation for the upcoming basketball season.

The rejuvenated, blue-collar work ethic is largely due to the fact that Eustachy and his staff - made up of Associate Head Coach Steve Barnes, and assistants Nate Loenser and Ricky Wilson - have had an entire year to put its touches on Southern Miss basketball. The returning players no longer need to wonder what is expected of them on and off the court. The coaching staff also had the time to recruit the players with the skills, as well as the mental makeup, that it takes to progress the program along.

"We asked an unbelievable amount of questions when it came to recruiting," Eustachy said. "One thing that happens when you bring in guys who have the mental makeup that is needed, the cream rises to the top. There will be some guys who will crack and can't handle the demands of playing on the fouryear level and everything that goes along with that.

"We think we will be bigger, taller and more athletic. We think we should be tougher mentally and physically. But it's the same old deal - you won't actually know the answers until you coach the players."

On the flip-side, however, whether or not the players have the correct mindset to be competitive isn't the only piece to the puzzle. Eustachy knows that this group of veterans and newcomers will have to come together as a solid, fluid unit that is on the same page each and every time on the court.

To ensure that the team is on the same page this season, Eustachy and his staff will demand a lot more when it comes to practices and games. They'll demand a harder work ethic on the court and in the weight room and the classroom. They'll demand more accountability for doing what is necessary to be successful.

"There is no question that there will be more demand from us this season," Eustachy said. "Every year that you are with a program, you hope that you can do more. Eventually, we want to get it to where the players will police the situation. The players will do a good job of recruiting the players and know who will fit in our program. That's where we have had success in the past." While Eustachy and company feel that the team as a whole will be bigger and more athletic, there is a question mark when it comes to youth and the lack of experience that goes along with that.

"Youth and experience will be tough for us," Eustachy said. "We still lack strength. We have remedied some of that by us being able to implement the program that we want. But, you can't gain strength overnight. We want guys who will have strength not just in the weight room, but also will be physical and mentally strong on the court. Everyone has different definitions of mental toughness. Until we get these guys to understand our definition, then we'll keep working at it. We do feel like we have extremely receptive guys, but we won't know that until we put these guys in these pressure situations."

A new rule that was implemented this season by the NCAA will help alleviate some of the questions concerning the mental and physical toughness of the players. In previous years, coaches were only allowed to work with four players at a time prior to the official start of practice. This season, staffs can work with the team as a whole for two hours a week prior to the start of practice. "We think that having the two hours with our team will really help us," Eustachy said. "That will help us get the base of our team in."

Guards
The Southern Miss backcourt is one in which skill and competition will be plentiful. With just one returning position guard with experience - Jarekus Singleton (6-3, 210, r-Jr.) - spots in the guard rotation are up for grabs. Joining Singleton in the guard lineup are one returning player, Tyler Quinn (6-3, 170, Sr.), two junior college newcomers, Travis Hall (5-10, 180, Jr.) and Kyle Lamonte (6-3, 181, Jr.) and two incoming freshman, Courtney Beasley (6-3, 220, Fr.) and Craig Craft (6-3, 170, Fr.).

"What I think we do have is competition, and we didn't have that last year," Eustachy said. "When someone didn't want to play or practice, it didn't matter. Now we have more guys who are willing to put in the work, so there is some competition there. With the idea that we can play a lot of times with a three-guard lineup, there should be a lot of competition for time."

There will be a new a face running the point for the Southern Miss offense this season, with Hall and Lamonte serving as the viable options. Both players saw action at their respective junior colleges last season - Hall at Western Nebraska Community College and Lamonte at Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College.

Hall enters the season after a two-year standout career at Western Nebraska. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists, leading the team to a 25-4 record and a No. 14 final ranking in the National Junior College Association poll. For his play, Hall was selected to the NJCAA All-Region IX First Team.

Lamonte comes in following a two-year stint at Marshalltown, where he led his team to a 25-9 record as a sophomore. He averaged 9.9 points and a conference-leading 4.4 rebounds a game, while adding 1.6 steals a game, earning NJCAA Region XI Honorable-Mention honors.

Craft, who saw some action as a point guard for Raleigh (Miss.) High School in his prep career, also could see time at the point, as well as at the twoguard. Craft, a Clarion Ledger "Dandy Dozen" selection, averaged 27 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals as a senior. He participated in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star game and in the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star game.

While most likely a two-guard or on the wing, Beasley also could figure into the mix at the point guard slot. Last season, Beasley led his Bridgton Academy squad to a 30-6 record and the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council's Class A Championship. He averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Prior to playing at Bridgton, Beasley led his high school team, Butler (Ala.) High School, to the Alabama Class 4A State title. As a walk-on, Quinn adds valuable depth to the guard positions. Last season, the senior from Knoxville, Tenn., played in four games and grabbed four rebounds and one assist.

Forwards/Centers
In the front court, both senior Jason Forte (6-5, 220) and redshirt-junior Mildon Ambres (6-6, 210) return and will be joined by three junior college standouts - David Cornwell (6-8, 225, Jr.), Kendaris Pelton (6-6, 200, Jr.) and Shaun Simpson (6-8, 240, Jr.) - and one incoming freshman, Donatas Visockis (6-10, 215).

"We are a lot bigger and stronger than last year," Eustachy said of the frontcourt positions.

Forte, who primarily played as a guard during his first two seasons at Southern Miss, gained some experience as a forward last season out of necessity. But his play and improved work ethic has landed him back in the forward rotation for this season. Last season, the Bay Springs, Miss., native, averaged 6.1 points per game and grabbed 3.9 rebounds a contest, despite playing half of the season with a broken bone in his non-shooting hand. Ambres is expected to step up a major way this season, after playing just half the season last year in order to fulfill transfer requirements. Despite playing in only 17 games, Ambres registered 10 starts, averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. The Opelousas, La., native also shot .518 from the field and had a team-high nine blocks on the year.

Cornwell had an outstanding sophomore season at Los Angeles City College last year, averaging 16.1 points and six rebounds a game. He, along with teammate Simpson, helped lead the team to a 27-4 overall record and 8-2 conference mark, sharing the league title. Cornwell was named as a Co-All South Coast Conference North Division Player of the year and was a first-team, allstate honoree.

Pelton is one of the more-decorated members of last season's recruiting class. As a sophomore at Chipola (Fla.) College, Pelton averaged 12 points, five rebounds and three assists and led the team to a 33-4 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the NJCAA National Tournament. He also led his team to titles in the Florida Community College Athletic Association and the NJCAA Region VIII Championship.

Simpson, who was a teammate of both Cornwell and Pelton in his junior college career, averaged 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists while at Los Angeles CC last season. He also was named to the All-South Coast Conference North Division Second Team.

The youngest member of the group, Visockis could possibly have the most potential. Standing at 6-foot-10, the native of Siauliai, Lithuania, enters the year after playing for legendary prep coach Bob Flynn at Cardinal Gibbons in Baltimore, Md. Visockis averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds while at Cardinal Gibbons, leading the team to a 13-17 record while playing in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association. Prior to playing at Cardinal Gibbons, Visockis spent a year at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy and was named to the Top 10 junior list by VirginiaPreps.com.

The Schedule
The 2005-06 men's basketball schedule will feature five postseason teams from a season ago and two Southeastern Conference foes also appear on the schedule. Among the NCAA participants that Southern Miss will face three of them -- UAB, UCF and UTEP -- all currently play in the new-look Conference USA. Two others, C-USA holdovers Houston and Memphis, competed in the 2005 National Invitational Tournament. Non-conference opponents Arkansas and Auburn, members of the SEC, also appear on the schedule, as does an eightteam preseason tournament in Fairbanks, Alaska.

In addition to the non-conference slate, there will be a new look to Conference USA this season, with the addition of six new teams - Marshall, Rice, SMU, Tulsa, UCF and UTEP - joining previous league members East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, Tulane and UAB. While the newness of the league could cause for some uncertainty in competition, there is a bit of familiarity with some new teams in the league.

"We have been coaching so long, that we know that the former Western Athletic Conference schools - Tulsa, UTEP and Rice - are very good programs. We may know a little less about teams like Marshall and UCF, but these teams will be every bit as good for us to handle."

Building The Foundation
With the changing landscape of the league, there also will be a change in the landscape of Southern Miss' basketball home - Reed Green Coliseum. Renovations are in place to improve the peripheral facets of the Coliseum, including new locker rooms, coaches' offices and fan-friendly improvements. "It's huge," Eustachy said of the benefit the renovations will give the program. "When you are able to show people that you have what other programs have and that there is a commitment to what we are doing, it's gigantic. Once we get all this done, this will be a great college facility. Not that a locker room is going to sign a guy, but it's nice to be able to have it and show that we have just as nice facilities as everyone else."

The scheduled improvements to the facility go along with the overall process needed to make Southern Miss basketball the type of program that Eustachy wants it to be. That, combined with the progression of the players within the system, makes up the catalyst that is spurring the team along the path to success.

"We are trying to get is a base to the team - a team that is able to implement some of the things that we think are very, very important to win games," Eustachy said. "We are very young this year, and we will probably lose some games close or by a lot because of inexperience. But we are hoping that we at least go to the gym every day and know what we got - last year at times we didn't know. Hopefully, as time goes on and we get more experience and add new players, that will result in wins."

All indications are that the pieces are starting to fall into place for the Larry Eustachy era at Southern Miss. But as any cliché or saying will point out, just give it some time.