Tuesday, December 09, 2014
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Basketball
Protecting the Nest
How time flies! It
was Hallowe’en when I attended an open practice for the Eagles before the start
of the regular basketball season. Coach Dooley put the boys through the paces
for more than an hour, then let them loose for a few moments to chat with the
local media.
Bernard Thompson told
me that he was excited to start the season. “Our depth is going to be really
valuable to us this season. I don’t think anyone is going to be tired at the
end of a game. Sure, we did just finish a good practice. We went through
everything, trying to get all the new players used to our style. Ball movement
is critical, to get the open shots.”
In a blurb I received
yesterday from the team, it appears that Bernard hit the nail on the head over
a month ago. For the second time in three weeks, he has been recognized as the “Men’s
Co-Player of the Week” in the Atlantic Sun Conference. He led the Eagles to a
pair of wins, shooting 77% from three point range.
The coach is
impressed. “Bernard is a great player, and he’s really starting to get into a
rhythm offensively the past few games,” he noted. “It’s another great and well
deserved honour for him, and it’s once again a testament to the players around
him, in particular Brett Comer. They do a terrific job of getting Bernard the
ball in spots where he can continue to score and knock down open shots”.
Brett Comer
Comer is the NCAA
active career assist leader now with 681, averaging eight assists per game.
That mark is third in the nation, and he is tied for the national lead with 72
assists. He also protects the ball well, averaging just 2.1 turnovers per game.
Newcomer Marc-Eddy
Norelia has been a welcome addition to the team this year. He is averaging
double figure points, and leads the A-Sun Conference with an average of 8
rebounds per game.
The team is off to
its best start as an NCAA Division One team. They are 8-1 heading into a week’s
break for exams, always a bit of a harrowing time, memory serving me correctly.
Those exams can certainly cut into one’s social calendar as well.
The Eagles return to
action on Sunday, December 14th, when they host cross-state rival
FIU for an afternoon tilt at Alico Arena.
Thompson also told me
in the pre-season interview that it was “crunch time” for the Eagles, and
particularly for the players who had transferred to the team. “They can’t be
timid at this time. We are an athletic team with very high potential. This is
the best team since I’ve been here. We are better prepared this year. Last
year, we weren’t consistent with our half-court defence. The coach is trying to
teach me to be a leader, to pay attention to details. There is great chemistry
with all of the players on this team.”
The ultimate goal is
to play in the madness in March. “That’s where I want to be,” Bernard stated
emphatically.
Pass me my
sunglasses. I’m heading to the Arena!
Sportslices.blogspot.com
December 9, 2014
# posted by James Hurst @ 8:01 AM 
