ACES..ACES
09-25-2007, 03:14 PM
Aces are all about intensity
New coaches, new attitude at UE
By Steve Ford
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Jason Holsinger is going at game speed.
The junior guard at the University of Evansville wraps himself tightly around a solid screen and digs for the open spot on the floor, all arms and motion, shouting as he goes.
Starting at the end
"Ball, ball, ball," he pants and the pass comes. Then he pulls up and hits the jumper.
Then it's Darin Granger's turn. The sophomore guard moves with a smidgen less of urgency, doesn't cut quite as close to the screen before he also hits the shot.
"You've got to go harder, cut it tighter, D.G.," shouts first-year coach Marty Simmons. "You move like that and you won't get open in the Missouri Valley Conference."
Simmons watches intently. His team's work rate is intense. Holsinger, a captain this year, sets the pace and Granger works hard to match it.
These are individual workouts, part of the two hours a week in the offseason that the NCAA allows coaches with players in groups up to four. Simmons divides his into four 30-minute workouts.
"I wanted as much contact with the players as possible," said Simmons. "We're still getting to know each other, still building relationships. But these are also important because it gives them a chance to learn the way I do things. We're working on little things, the things that make the difference between winning and losing."
Almost on cue, Granger moves around one of the stationary picks — a pair of trash cans on the floor — and brings the ball in front of him waist-high to square up on a make-believe defender.
"You can't bring that ball by a Missouri Valley Conference defender there," urged Simmons. "Do that and somebody's dunking at the other end. Rip it by his toes and he doesn't even try for it."
Holsinger listens and complies. So does Granger, ruffling shoelaces as he goes. They run curls, give-and-goes, wrap around the cans. Both guards are hitting shots at a rate that would make purple-clad fans weep tears of joy come winter.
Marty Simmons
"I'm really pleased with what I've seen so far," said Simmons. "The guys are all working hard and responding. We've still got a long way to go, but we're getting closer,"
Holsinger said the workouts are invaluable to a young team with a new coach.
"We're breaking down step-by-step the details off what we're going to do during the year," said Holsinger, the Aces' leading returning scorer at 12 points a game. "There's a certain way things are going to be done. When you've only got 30 minutes you have to work hard every second you're out there."
Redshirt freshman Pieter van Tongeren, a 6-foot-10 inside player, said the workouts were different for the big men, but just as important.
"It's all about the little things," said van Tongeren. "This type of work has helped me mature a lot since I've been here, but I still need more. I've gotten better, gotten tougher, but I'm not there yet."
Still, Simmons is pleased. He said senior forward Victor Gomez has been stood out among the big men.
Newcomers Nate Garner, a junior transfer, and freshman guard Kavon Lacey are fitting in nicely, and freshmen Jonathan Van Hoose and Clint Hopf were working out coming off knee injuries. Zach House, the 7-foot freshman, has potential.
"We can get the whole team together with those two hours now," said Simmons. "I'll probably do some of that. We need to start working as a team, working together. The season's right around the corner."
Practice starts for real at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13.
:aces::aces::aces::aces::aces::aces::aces:
New coaches, new attitude at UE
By Steve Ford
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Jason Holsinger is going at game speed.
The junior guard at the University of Evansville wraps himself tightly around a solid screen and digs for the open spot on the floor, all arms and motion, shouting as he goes.
Starting at the end
"Ball, ball, ball," he pants and the pass comes. Then he pulls up and hits the jumper.
Then it's Darin Granger's turn. The sophomore guard moves with a smidgen less of urgency, doesn't cut quite as close to the screen before he also hits the shot.
"You've got to go harder, cut it tighter, D.G.," shouts first-year coach Marty Simmons. "You move like that and you won't get open in the Missouri Valley Conference."
Simmons watches intently. His team's work rate is intense. Holsinger, a captain this year, sets the pace and Granger works hard to match it.
These are individual workouts, part of the two hours a week in the offseason that the NCAA allows coaches with players in groups up to four. Simmons divides his into four 30-minute workouts.
"I wanted as much contact with the players as possible," said Simmons. "We're still getting to know each other, still building relationships. But these are also important because it gives them a chance to learn the way I do things. We're working on little things, the things that make the difference between winning and losing."
Almost on cue, Granger moves around one of the stationary picks — a pair of trash cans on the floor — and brings the ball in front of him waist-high to square up on a make-believe defender.
"You can't bring that ball by a Missouri Valley Conference defender there," urged Simmons. "Do that and somebody's dunking at the other end. Rip it by his toes and he doesn't even try for it."
Holsinger listens and complies. So does Granger, ruffling shoelaces as he goes. They run curls, give-and-goes, wrap around the cans. Both guards are hitting shots at a rate that would make purple-clad fans weep tears of joy come winter.
Marty Simmons
"I'm really pleased with what I've seen so far," said Simmons. "The guys are all working hard and responding. We've still got a long way to go, but we're getting closer,"
Holsinger said the workouts are invaluable to a young team with a new coach.
"We're breaking down step-by-step the details off what we're going to do during the year," said Holsinger, the Aces' leading returning scorer at 12 points a game. "There's a certain way things are going to be done. When you've only got 30 minutes you have to work hard every second you're out there."
Redshirt freshman Pieter van Tongeren, a 6-foot-10 inside player, said the workouts were different for the big men, but just as important.
"It's all about the little things," said van Tongeren. "This type of work has helped me mature a lot since I've been here, but I still need more. I've gotten better, gotten tougher, but I'm not there yet."
Still, Simmons is pleased. He said senior forward Victor Gomez has been stood out among the big men.
Newcomers Nate Garner, a junior transfer, and freshman guard Kavon Lacey are fitting in nicely, and freshmen Jonathan Van Hoose and Clint Hopf were working out coming off knee injuries. Zach House, the 7-foot freshman, has potential.
"We can get the whole team together with those two hours now," said Simmons. "I'll probably do some of that. We need to start working as a team, working together. The season's right around the corner."
Practice starts for real at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13.
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