Confidence, Focus Account for Basketball Turnaround

Confidence, Focus Account for Basketball Turnaround
BY DAVID KAPLAN
Rice News Staff
Jan. 21, 1999

Last year’s Owls men’s basketball team had a 6-22 record, while this year’s team is currently cruising at 12-4.

Quite a nifty turnaround. How has the team done it? It’s not like there are that many new players on the court, or that the game plan has changed significantly.

The difference, says Owls’ premier shooting guard Robert Johnson, is in the details. “It’s the little things, things a fan might not always notice,” he says, like a well-set screen or a perfect pass.

It also helps to play aggressively and confidently. In short, the Owls are playing team basketball. “As a unit we’re much more effective,” Johnson says. “Everyone’s focused.”

Johnson also believes that, compared to last season, the Owls are more aware on the court: Less like “robots” going through plays and more in tune to the action.

Johnson has been outstanding offensively and has been ranked as high as eighth nationally in scoring. But even his strong shooting can be partly attributed to teamwork, he believes. Johnson says he has greatly benefited from the play of his teammate, point guard Mike Wilks.

Johnson’s shooting game has improved dramatically in one year. Last season, he averaged 11.6 points a game. This year he’s averaging 22.5.

Head Coach Willis Wilson says the entire team was left with a “bitter taste” from last year, and “they didn’t waste any time rectifying the situation. It was a long off-season with a lot of hard work and sweat.”

Johnson notes that, after last year’s disappointing season, about eight players on the team spent the summer working out together, “to get a feel of how each other played.”

Along with a strong work ethic, Wilson believes that the keys to the team’s success have been a solid defense and a team chemistry that includes “players making sacrifices.” Unselfish is a good way to describe these Owls, Wilson says. “It’s not a team of individuals.”

Among the unselfish players who are working for the greater good are Wilks, center Alex Bougaleff, forward Derek Michaelis, forward T.J. Armstrong and forward Jason Skaer.

Michaelis says he sees himself as one of a number of role players. “Nobody on our team is out for themselves or concerned about their own stats. We just want to win.” He may not have been trying for impressive stats, but against Colorado State, Michaelis had his first double-double as an Owl, with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Michaelis says that certain games this season have served as confidence builders, such as the University of Houston game before a standing-room-only crowd at Autry Court, and the home-court victory over Wyoming, which meant, Michaelis says: “Getting the first conference game under our belt.”

The Owls play their next game on Saturday against Tulsa at 7:35 p.m. at Autry Court. Rice has won its last nine games inside the “Jungle Gym.”

Wilson believes that his players now have “a lot of confidence in each other. We’re proud of what we’ve done, but we don’t feel we’ve proven anything yet.” There’s still a long season ahead, he says.