Simon Elfrink
Staff Writer
selfrink@murraystate.edu
With the 2019-20 college basketball season only days away, the Murray State men’s basketball team looks to continue its progress from last season in establishing a solid post presence for the upcoming season.
While finding a way to patch the hole in the absence of recently-drafted sophomore guard Ja Morant is a challenge on its own, the Racers’ frontcourt has an entirely different dilemma: The number of posts who have proven themselves eligible to play valuable minutes this season.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Head Coach Matt McMahon said. “I think a lot’s still to be determined. I think ultimately the players determine who plays. Either their commitment on a daily basis [or] their production in practice. Do they make the people around them better? I’m confident those things will work themselves out and who earns the minutes will play out as the season goes on.”
Throwing their horseshoes in the ring are incoming freshmen Demond Robinson and Matt Smith. Returning to the Racer post game are junior Devin Gilmore, sophomore KJ Williams, senior Darnell Cowart and fifth-year senior Anthony Smith.
Anthony brings experience to the frontcourt in his fifth season of college basketball, coming back after his last season was cut short due to injury. Before the injury, he averaged 7.6 ppg and 5 rpg. Now that he’s made a full recovery, it looks like he’ll be an integral part of the lineup once again.
“Anthony really attacked the surgery and rehabilitation process the way he attacks every workout, every practice,” McMahon said. “He only knows one speed, and that’s all out. He’s made a great recovery. I think our team greatly benefits from his leadership and his toughness back for his fifth year.”
Smith wasn’t the only forward who battled an injury. Cowart also suffered from a knee injury. With Cowart back in good health, he’s made his way into the forefront of the post conversation. Toward the end of last season, Cowart added valuable minutes for the Racers. After making his first start in the 22nd game of the season, he was integrated into the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. Cowart averaged double figures for the Racers at 10.3 ppg. He was also an invaluable rebounder with 6.5 rpg.
“Darnell is working his way back into practice,” McMahon said. “He’s doing well. It’s just a matter right now of continuing to build his conditioning back to the level he got to, which was a guy who was playing 34 minutes a game when the season was on the line. So that’ll take some time, but we’re going to be patient and let him work his way back.”
Williams was a significant rebounder last season, snagging 4.7 rpg. He also added 7.6 ppg, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field.
Williams anticipates contributing even more this season. Although he plans to keep his game around the basket, where he excelled last season, he plans on extending his range a little as well. The new three-point line has freed up just enough room inside for posts like him to take advantage.
“It’s provided more space,” Williams said. “You can catch the ball out wider. We have more space to cooperate.”
Williams’ greatest focus in the months leading up to the season was conditioning. He, like several other Racers, lost significant amounts of body fat during the first weeks of practice. Now that opening day is fast approaching, he’s directed his attention to the fundamentals of his game, especially mid-range and finishing around the basket.
Gilmore also found his way into the rotation off the bench last season after being upset with his original role to start the year, becoming a sparkplug for the Racers.
“Coach put some trust in me to perform and that has been reassuring,” Gilmore said. “I was surprised at first at my role, but all year my goal has been to increase that. It was frustrating at first, but I had my mom and my coaching staff in my ear encouraging me to stay consistent.”
And consistent he was. After Jan. 26, Gilmore provided 14.1 mpg off the bench for the Racers and his athleticism and ability to defend around the rim was a crucial factor to fastbreak buckets for Murray State.
Regardless of who claims the minutes when the season arrives, Smith summed up what he expects from himself and the other bigs on the team.
“We’re just going to continue to battle,” Smith said. “Whoever’s not called out [to start] at that four and five better be ready to come off the bench.”