With the midway point of the season approaching quickly, the Colonels basketball team is ready to tangle with Southland Conference foe McNeese State tonight at 7:45 p.m. in Stopher Gym.
The Colonels (3-13, 1-7 SLC) hope a victory against McNeese (8-7, 4-4 SLC) will send a message throughout the Southland Conference.
“It is a real big game for us. If we can get this win, it could put fear into other people’s heart about Nicholls State in the Southland Conference,” junior guard Markeith Brown, said.
Since it is the first home game this season for which students are on campus, the Colonels hope the homecourt advantage will be in their favor.
“I hope the students come out because it will really help us get a win,” Brown said.
“I encourage all students to come out. Our guys feed off of that and they look forward to it,” Ricky Blanton, head basketball coach, said.
The Colonels are expecting the level of competition in the remaining games this season also to increase. They still have key games against Southwest Texas, Northwestern, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Texas-Arlington and McNeese.
“The quality of our opponent is getting better also. If you look at the teams coming in here, they are in the upper half of our conference,” Blanton said.
McNeese comes into Stopher Gym with the fifth best record in the Southland Conference. They lead the conference in three-point field goals.
McNeese guard Jason Coleman lead the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game. Coleman also shoots .440 from the field. Forward Desmond Williams is second on the team in scoring with 11.2 points per game.
Blanton said he expects a tough contest against the defending Southland Conference champions.
“McNeese is very talented and very well coached. They know how to win and they have played in big games,” Blanton said.
“We have to bring our A game, and understand that it is a forty minute game.”
The Colonels are led offensively by senior forward Earnest Porter, who leads the team in many categories.
Porter leads the team in scoring, field goals attempted and made, free throws attempted and made, rebounds, steals and minutes played.
“Earnest has been our most consistent guy. He has been pretty solid on all phases of the game,” Blanton said.
Blanton said he was also impressed with the play of Brown, who leads the team with 2.1 assists per game.
“The point guard position is very valuable. It is something like an extension of who you are since the coaches can’t be on the court,” Blanton said.
“The overall components that he has disposed have been pretty good.”
In his first season coaching the Colonels, Blanton said he can pull out many positives from this years team.
“The biggest positive is that the kids are playing hard, they are competing hard, and most importantly, they are learning,” Blanton said.
“At this stage as a first year staff, everyone has been real receptive.”
Despite dropping several games this season, Blanton said it is important that his team learn from its mistakes and move on to the next game.
“We recognize why we weren’t able to win some of the games that have slipped away. We have lost four or five games by eight to nine points. We just have to correct those mistakes, and continue to improve,” Blanton said.
With the season reaching its climax, Blanton said his team should be complimented for their hard work and dedication.
“We are trying and the kids need to be complemented for their effort. The results aren’t always what we want, but they are trying,” Blanton said.
“That by itself says a lot about character.”