Panther is pumped
UPEI’s Deontay ( D. J.) Smith is ready to get new men’s basketball season underway tonight at home
Deontay ( D. J.) Smith doesn’t blink when asked if his game can improve in year two.
“Always can get better,” the UPEI Panthers guard said Wednesday without hesitation. “You just have to stay working hard, stay positive and let nothing bring you down.”
The Panthers host the Acadia Axemen tonight at 8 p. m. in their opening game of the Atlantic University Sport ( AUS) men’s basketball season.
Smith, the reigning Canadian Interuniversity Sport ( CIS) rookie of the year, is a big part of the Panthers.
Fans can expect to see the guard with the ball in his hands less this year. The team has added Ellis Ffrench and Jayden SkinnerNordin in the off- season as true point guards. The additions are expected to help Smith and, in turn, the Panthers continue their ascension to the conference’s elite teams.
“We think bringing him off the ball will enable him to get out in transition more, will enable him to create from the wing more and give him a lot more opportunities,” coach Tim Kendrick said. “Going to the basket he’s as tough as there is in the country.”
The team also has a contingent of players who can space the floor with their outside shooting.
“For a slasher- type player like D. J. that’s a great complement,” Kendrick said.
Smith averaged 17 points, seven assists and 4.5 assists per game last season as the Panthers dealt with an array of injuries. Smith often had the ball in his hands running the offence, but is looking forward to a deeper team this season as the green and white look to take the next step.
“We’re looking to be one of the top contenders this year,” Smith said. “AUS championship and then move on to nationals.”
UPEI finished the season 13- 7 and in third place for the second consecutive year, but lost its opening game of the AUS playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Panthers return its lineup from last season, except for graduate Jermaine Duke. The new additions include guards Ffrench, Skinner- Nordin and Mahad Mohomed as well as forwards Stefan Vujisic and Ethan Deruelle.
While Ffrench is a new addition, he is far from a rookie, having played at St. F. X. He is one of a number of former Horton Griffins, who have followed Kendrick to Charlottetown. Kendrick coached the Nova Scotia high school team to back- toback provincial championships with Ffrench and won 73 straight games.
The team has dealt with injuries to Donathan ( Donnie) Moss, Will Caesar and Mandrez ( Manny) Downey during the preseason. All have been on the floor this week in practice and are expected to play tonight.
“Monday night was the first night we had our team together in over a year,” Kendrick said. “It was nice. You get a real feeling of what we have.”
The Panthers have won four AUS championships, but it’s been a decade since a new conference banner was added to the university’s collection.
The team and players are preaching teamwork as a key ingredient to their success this season.
“It’s we, it’s never I. . . When you play at UPEI the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back,” Kendrick said. “We want to make UPEI champions and we have to do it together.”