By REGGIE BENSON, Times Sports Staff
Returnees hope to put A&M back on winning path
Two years after winning the school's first Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball championship, Alabama A&M's program hit rock bottom.
The Bulldogs, fielding a team made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores, finished 10-20 and failed to reach the SWAC Tournament.
However, A&M coach Vann Pettaway says the experience gained from last year's disappointing season has provided the impetus his team needs to turn things around.
"I'm looking forward to this season," said Pettaway, who is beginning his 22nd campaign at A&M. "On paper, we're still a young team, but these guys have grown up. Hopefully, we can go out and redeem ourselves from last year."
If the Bulldogs are to redeem themselves, they will do so with Mickell Gladness and Trant Simpson leading the way.
Gladness, A&M's 6-foot-11, 205-pound senior center, is the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He led the nation in blocked shots, averaging more than six per game and also set the single-game record with 16 against Texas Southern.
While Gladness' prowess has been on the defensive end, Pettaway needs him to be more effective on the offensive end.
"He has to step up and be a threat for us," he said. "I'm looking for four more points and four more rebounds per game. That will make him a double-double guy and take some of the pressure off of our perimeter people."
Simpson, the league's Freshman of the Year, was A&M's top perimeter player a year ago. He averaged 13 points and six assists while shooting 81 percent from the foul line.
"Trant had a really good freshman year and he's only going to get better," Pettaway said. "We had to play him too many minutes and we've added some depth to that position and we hope that will make our team better."
Junior Norris Arnold, 6-8 and 225 pounds, will back up Gladness at center, while Jonathan Inman and Jonathan Belt, a pair of rugged sophomores, will split time at power forward. Inman is 6-5 and 215, while Belt is 6-6 and 235.
"Inman played real well down the stretch last year," Pettaway said. "We're counting on both of those guys to give us some scoring punch inside."
Kudus Ogbara, who was granted a medical redshirt last year after sustaining a knee injury, will play both forward spots, Pettaway said.
The Bulldogs have an ample amount of talent at small forward, shooting guard and point guard.
Sophomores LaNorris Smith and Andrew Williams will compete for the starting job at small forward.
Smith, 6-4 and 215, is regarded as the team's best athlete. Williams, also 6-4 and 215, isn't far behind.
"Smith has to pick it up," Pettaway said. "He has shown some signs in preseason practice that he may be ready to come around. He was a little heavy last year, but he's lighter and leaner this year.
"He has looked impressive in preseason workouts and he has that look in his eye. He's a very gifted athlete. He's got to have his motor running every game."
Sophomore Cornelius Hester returns at shooting guard, but will be challenged by redshirt freshman Desmond Jackson and junior Evan Hilton.
Hester averaged 10.4 points per game, but shot just 35 percent from the field, including 29 percent from 3-point range. Jackson has been solid in preseason workouts, Pettaway said, while Hilton hopefully will emerge after splitting time between shooting guard and point guard the last two seasons.
"Jackson can put the ball in the basket," Pettaway said. "We think we have created a very competitive situation by grouping those three guys together."
Simpson is the clear leader at point guard, but freshmen Jabari Deshields and Reggie Porter will also see playing time.
"We expect more from this cast of players," Pettaway said. "If Mickell can shoulder some of the offensive production in the paint and we can stay healthy, I like our chances."
Returnees hope to put A&M back on winning path
Two years after winning the school's first Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball championship, Alabama A&M's program hit rock bottom.
The Bulldogs, fielding a team made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores, finished 10-20 and failed to reach the SWAC Tournament.
However, A&M coach Vann Pettaway says the experience gained from last year's disappointing season has provided the impetus his team needs to turn things around.
"I'm looking forward to this season," said Pettaway, who is beginning his 22nd campaign at A&M. "On paper, we're still a young team, but these guys have grown up. Hopefully, we can go out and redeem ourselves from last year."
If the Bulldogs are to redeem themselves, they will do so with Mickell Gladness and Trant Simpson leading the way.
Gladness, A&M's 6-foot-11, 205-pound senior center, is the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He led the nation in blocked shots, averaging more than six per game and also set the single-game record with 16 against Texas Southern.
While Gladness' prowess has been on the defensive end, Pettaway needs him to be more effective on the offensive end.
"He has to step up and be a threat for us," he said. "I'm looking for four more points and four more rebounds per game. That will make him a double-double guy and take some of the pressure off of our perimeter people."
Simpson, the league's Freshman of the Year, was A&M's top perimeter player a year ago. He averaged 13 points and six assists while shooting 81 percent from the foul line.
"Trant had a really good freshman year and he's only going to get better," Pettaway said. "We had to play him too many minutes and we've added some depth to that position and we hope that will make our team better."
Junior Norris Arnold, 6-8 and 225 pounds, will back up Gladness at center, while Jonathan Inman and Jonathan Belt, a pair of rugged sophomores, will split time at power forward. Inman is 6-5 and 215, while Belt is 6-6 and 235.
"Inman played real well down the stretch last year," Pettaway said. "We're counting on both of those guys to give us some scoring punch inside."
Kudus Ogbara, who was granted a medical redshirt last year after sustaining a knee injury, will play both forward spots, Pettaway said.
The Bulldogs have an ample amount of talent at small forward, shooting guard and point guard.
Sophomores LaNorris Smith and Andrew Williams will compete for the starting job at small forward.
Smith, 6-4 and 215, is regarded as the team's best athlete. Williams, also 6-4 and 215, isn't far behind.
"Smith has to pick it up," Pettaway said. "He has shown some signs in preseason practice that he may be ready to come around. He was a little heavy last year, but he's lighter and leaner this year.
"He has looked impressive in preseason workouts and he has that look in his eye. He's a very gifted athlete. He's got to have his motor running every game."
Sophomore Cornelius Hester returns at shooting guard, but will be challenged by redshirt freshman Desmond Jackson and junior Evan Hilton.
Hester averaged 10.4 points per game, but shot just 35 percent from the field, including 29 percent from 3-point range. Jackson has been solid in preseason workouts, Pettaway said, while Hilton hopefully will emerge after splitting time between shooting guard and point guard the last two seasons.
"Jackson can put the ball in the basket," Pettaway said. "We think we have created a very competitive situation by grouping those three guys together."
Simpson is the clear leader at point guard, but freshmen Jabari Deshields and Reggie Porter will also see playing time.
"We expect more from this cast of players," Pettaway said. "If Mickell can shoulder some of the offensive production in the paint and we can stay healthy, I like our chances."
Alabama A&M University Maroon and White Marching Band
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