Men's Basketball Prepares for Successful Season
Camron Canniff
Gerad Good, head men’s basketball coach, will be entering his 4th year for Manchester University. As the season approaches quickly, there has been great preparation for his team but also some challenges as well.
This offseason, Ricardo Johnson was added to the coaching staff and adds great experience for the basketball team. Johnson was a graduate assistant at Xavier University and helped them to become the Big East Conference regular season champions and reach the NCAA tournament Elite Eight. Johnson was also an assistant coach at Panola Junior College in Carthage, Texas. His playing resume consists of being a student-athlete at Ohio University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.
The Spartans are looking for success with their large roster of 25 players.
“It’s a challenge but it’s helpful,” Good said. “The reason why I like it is because it shows how many people really want to be a part of our program. The only downside is I want to be able to connect, along with Coach Johnson and all of our players. We want them to have a positive experience here so we try to allow everyone to get reps, which is also a challenge.”
Good wants the teams to not only be successful on the court but grow into solid young men. He believes that they are all great people and they enjoy each other as they continue to grow.
Preparation for the season has consisted of normal practice times and also lifting as a team. They have had preseason conditioning too. Many players are working hard during practice and trying to have a successful year.
“Keiton Hall has progressed more than a lot of players at any level I’ve coached,” Good said. “His work ethic has been phenomenal. I’ve never seen a guy go years,” Minehart says. The team faces Bethany West Virginia for the Main View Tip-Off Tournament at home in the Stauffer-Wolfe Arena tonight, Friday November 16. To finish off the month of November, the ladies hope to bring home two wins against Kalamazoo on Saturday, November 24, and Olivet on Monday, November 26. These two games are both away and then the Spartans are back home Dec.1. from his freshman year to where he is now. That has been all hard work.”
The first game to start the season was against Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday, Nov 13. They lost with a score of 111-65.
Next, the team will take on Kalamazoo College and Adrian College. These games are not conference games but they will provide first looks for the team as their long season begins.
Coach Good looks for success after going 6-19 overall last year. “Almost every game we lost was an average of three points,” he said. “We have the capability to win and we hope to be a top team in our conference.”
The first home game will be on Nov. 27 against Trine University. During that same week on Dec. 1, the Spartans will start their conference games against Mt. St. Joseph University. Coach Good hopes to see many students, faculty and staff come support the team this season.