Youthful Broncs believe they can be MAAC contenders
LAWRENCEVILLE » Youth will be served at Rider, yet if it all comes together the way coach Kevin Baggett hopes, the Broncs may have a few surprises.
Baggett enters his sixth season at the helm with a talented, albeit young roster that has a chance to be “really good.”
“It requires teaching 24/7, on and off the court with this group,” Baggett said. “It’s going to take some time, take some patience, and these guys just have to continue to get it. We have to be ready when it comes time for league play in January and February.”
Rider graduated four seniors who accounted for 67 percent of the offensive production, but the pieces to replace that seem to be in place.
Point guard Stevie Jordan is the most important player, with the sophomore coming off a rookie campaign in which he averaged 11.7 points and a league-high 5.6 assists.
Jordan Allen, Devine Eke and Frederick Scott — three players who were on the roster but sat out last season — are eligible. Allen, a rangy 3-point shooter, and Scott, a 6-8 225-pound forward, both started in the Broncs’ exhibition game.
“The talent-level is very good,” Baggett said. “Guys just have to grow. They have to lock in and understand what we are trying to get done, understand all the little details we’re trying to coach. That’s the difference from an experienced team to a youthful team.”
Rider went 18-15 last season and finished 10-10 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, good for sixth place.
The Broncs were picked seventh in the league’s preseason poll.
“It’s a fun team,” Baggett said. “You’re going to have a chance to watch these guys grow and get better.”
Here’s what watch for: else to defensively, allowing 75.8 points per game, which ranked fifth in the MAAC. Their field goal percentage defense (42.8) was third.
But with just one returning starter, those numbers may suffer early on.
“You got to think on your feet quicker and be more disciplined,” freshman guard Tyrei Randall said. “You got to make sure to close out with hands high or it’s going to go up. Then you’re going to hear (coach), and you don’t want to hear (coach).”
From 3
Rider attempted 37 shots from beyond the arc during its exhibition game against Ningbo University of China.
While that number is unlikely to be duplicated during the season, this group has no problem letting it fly from long range.
Allen, Randall and freshman Paxton Wilson all have 3-point range and can stretch the floor, something that was lacking last season when the Broncs finished eighth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (33.2).
Baggett said he and his staff identified that they needed to recruit better shooters. In other words, find offensive players and teach them how to defend.
“Defensive is a will, not as much of a skill,” the coach said. “It’s guys understanding that I’m going to allow you to do what you want to do on the offensive end, but on the defensive end you have to be committed.”