Greyhounds off to hot start

Greyhounds off to hot start

The ASU Mid- South hoping for best season in the school history

sports@theeveningtimes.com

The Arkansas State University Mid-South Greyhounds are 5-3 so far on this young season and are looking for their fourth consecutive season with a winning record. The Greyhounds look to improve on last year's 1811 record and continue a streak of increasing their win total every year under Athletic Director and Head Coach Chris Parker.

This year's early success results from the Greyhounds playing strong on the road. The team gained three of their five wins away from their home court of “The Dog House.” All three wins came on the team's latest road trip which included victories over Rhodes College JV, Missouri Baptist University JV and St. Louis Community College. During the winning streak, the Greyhounds handed St.

Louis Community College their first loss of the season.

Coach Parker attributes the success on the road to the mind-set of his players.

“We try to develop a culture of mental toughness,” Parker said. “Things away from home are not always going to go the way you want them to. We've got some kids this year who show they are capable of battling through some adverse circumstances.”

Throughout their first eight games, the Greyhounds are shooting 42.6 percent from the field and make an average of 27.3 percent of shots from behind the arch. These numbers result in 75.6 points per game, but the Greyhounds are very capable of scoring more than that season average.

ASU Mid-South's largest point total of the season came in a shootout against Rhodes College JV. The lightning paced game resulted in a 102-100 victory for the Greyhounds, which came from freshman K.J. Patrick's game-winning basket with 34.1 seconds remaining. Patrick finished the game with 16 points.

The Greyhounds are led in scoring this season by freshman Terrandus Smith and Patrick who average 9.6 and 9.4 points per game, respectively. Smith and Patrick are often set up for baskets by freshman Montee Randle who averages 3.5 assists. Freshman Dee Montgomery also shares the ball well with an average of 2.8 assists.

However, those baskets and assists would be hard to come by if it wasn't for the team's effort cleaning the glass. The Greyhounds, who led NJCAA Division 2 in rebounds last year, have averaged 44.1 rebounds per contest. That number is thanks in large part to sophomore Ladarius Mason. Mason snags an average of six boards a game. Patrick also helps with rebounding, adding 5.6 boards a game to his stellar offensive production.

“Every kid has contributed in his own way,” Parker said. “We don't have a kid averaging 10 points a game but what we do have is kids who are willing to sacrifice individual stats for the sake of the team, and I think that makes us more dangerous as the season progresses.”

The defense for the Greyhounds should not be overlooked as the team has only surrendered an average of 56.9 points per game to opposing teams.

The team's stout defense results from having four players who average at least one steal per contest.

However, perhaps the greatest statistic of the ASU Mid-South Greyhounds is that over the past three seasons 16 players have signed with four-year colleges. All five sophomores from last year's team, along with one freshman, signed. Two of those players signed NCAA Division 1 scholarships.

“What we've done is build a culture in our program that is going to prepare those guys to achieve their potential,” Parker said.

“The level of school they sign with will be up to them and how hard they want to work for it.”

The Greyhounds have three home games coming up in December with games against Itawamba Community College, Rhema College and Champion Christian College.

“I think fans can expect to see an entertaining brand of basketball,” Parker said.

“This is our biggest and most athletic team we've ever had. It's a fun group to watch.”

The Greyhounds next match is at home in “The Dog House” against Itawamba Community College on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.

By Collins Peeples