Morris: New SC State basketball coach uses positive reinforcement

ORANGEBURG, SC — South Carolina State trailed North Carolina Central by nine points when Murray Garvin signaled for a timeout with 16.5 seconds remaining in the first half of Monday’s game.

In his third game as S.C. State’s coach, Garvin looked every bit as polished and cool under pressure as Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. As Garvin huddled his team, he quietly mapped out a play for S.C. State to score and keep the Bulldogs within striking distance of the MEAC’s top team.

Just like about everything else with the basketball program at S.C. State these days, it fell apart when the team returned to the court. A trapping N.C. Central defense forced a turnover and converted it into a fast-break layup. An 11-point halftime deficit proved insurmountable.

Still, there was no screaming at his team by Garvin. He did not storm off the court. In Garvin’s view, no amount of berating or finger-pointing is going to change the fortunes of S.C. State basketball.

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