Rider looking to Weeks Jr. for shooting and toughness
LAWRENCEVILLE >> When Kevin Baggett saw T.J. Weeks Jr. in the transfer portal, Rider’s veteran coach remembered what he did to the Broncs when Weeks was at UMass a few years ago.
In that game, Weeks scored 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting and 6-of-6 from beyond the 3-point line.
It’s that kind of shooting that Baggett hopes the graduate student brings to Lawrenceville as Rider prepares to open the season on Monday night against Division III Immaculata.
“I’m just going to let the game come to me,” Weeks said after he scored seven points and knocked down a trey in an exhibition victory. “Being out there during (the exhibition) showed me there are going to be a lot of open shots in the offense. We didn’t really run anything crazy, it was a vanilla offense and I still got shots up easy.”
Weeks shot 36.5% on 3s during his four seasons at UMass and his 156 career 3-point makes ranks 13th all-time in that program’s history. Rider shot 33.4% as a team last season, which ranked 217th nationally and seventh in the MAAC, while its five made 3s per game was last in the league and 341st nationally.
“We were trying to win with 2s when teams were beating us with 3s,” Baggett said. “We’ve got enough guys this year that can make 3s and keep us in the game. We got to be a better defensive team guarding the 3-point line, but we’ve certainly got guys who can open the floor.”
Weeks, though, is here for more than just his shooting.
“(Coach) wants me to bring defense, being able to stay in front of my man and lock down the best player on each team,” he said. “Then offensively, just do what I know how to do. Shoot and get offensive rebounds, make the right play.”
Weeks, along with his younger brother Tyriek, is also one of eight new players on the roster. But with returners like MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Mervin James, Allen Powell, Corey McKeithan and Tariq Ingraham already established, it’s been easy fitting in.
“I’m just listening to these guys because they are going to give me the blueprint,” Weeks said. “As soon as I got here, they gave it to me, so just talking and listening they gave me great feedback. I was able to apply it on the court.”
While the season gets underway with a non-Division I opponent, the tables turn quickly as the Broncs embark on a long road trip that will take them to Marquette, Nebraska, Duquesne, Stony Brook, Maryland and Siena for the MAAC opener.
“This might be my toughest schedule,” Baggett said. “You’re trying to get ready for the league. We’ve never shied away from playing against tough opponents. This year will be a test again, but I’m hoping all of the pays dividends for us when we get into league play.”
Rider, which went 1614 overall and 13-7 in the league, was picked as the preseason favorite in the MAAC largely due to its strong returning core.
“Everybody is trying to win a championship and if you don’t win a championship it is just more added pressure, so we’re no different even though we are picked preseason number one,” Baggett said. “Game by game everybody is going to come after year, but at the end of the day you just want to be playing your best basketball when it comes time to get in that tournament.”