With the season coming fast, Coach TJ Tibbs believes the Dolphins hard work in practice and scrimmages has them ready to start the season strong.
By: C. DeMartini
The men’s basketball team at CSI prepares for its season opener on November 14 with practices focused on discipline and improving the team’s chemistry. Head coach TJ Tibbs has pushed the Dolphins to spend long hours in the gym to ensure the team is prepared.
“We’re really focused on what we can control right now,” said Tibbs. “It’s about us, our energy, effort, and attention to detail before we think about any opponent.”
Preseason practices have been competitive and challenging. The coaches keep the energy high at practice to make sure every player stays locked in from start to end. Conditioning is one way the Dolphins have prepared themselves for this season. Players do sprints and defense, and go through high-intensity drills to build stamina and mental strength.
According to Watts Basketball, scrimmages allow players develop confidence, get rid of bad habits, and refine their skills in time for games against tougher teams. Scrimmages have become a big part of CSI preseason training since it helps the players prepare themselves for real games.
The players break into smaller teams and go head-to-head in game-like situations, testing their communication, performance, and the way they come together as a unit on the court. Tibbs chooses to intervene every now and then to make corrections, so players do not make the same mistakes in a real game against their opponents.
Offensively, the team has been going over a lot of movements with the ball. On defense, communication and group effort is key in making sure teammates know the plays and trust each other. Tibbs and his staff have been pleased with how quickly the players are holding each other accountable.
Asa Kone, a senior forward on the men’s basketball team, had many positive things to say about his teammates and the practices. Every day, he’s been impressed with the energy and the focus of the team. Kone feels that the mix of returners and new players has made practices both intense and very productive.
“The energy’s been great all preseason,” said Kone. “Everyone’s competing, and the mix of new and returning players has made every practice intense and productive.”
Team chemistry has also been crucial for preseason. Returning players made sure to welcome the new faces and helped them adjust to what was expected of them in the program.
Budding friendships have helped create a strong sense of trust both on and off the court. Players say that connection makes practices more productive and enjoyable. Redshirt junior Michael Oyekanmi said this year’s group already feels like a family and that he can’t wait for the season to start.
“Man, 10 out of 10. Everybody loves each other,” said Oyekanmi. “We all go to war behind each other’s backs, so I’d say 10 out of 10 for sure.”
Every drill, practice or scrimmage are designed to challenge players mentally and physically, increasing discipline and accountability on the court. Tibbs expects the same level of focus during a practice on Tuesday afternoon as he does on a game night.
As the first game comes closer, Tibbs believes that they will do great things this season. The team has put so much work in. The preparation, communication, and chemistry they have built will be crucial during the season.
“If we bring this same focus and effort every day, we’ll be exactly where we want to be when the season starts,” said Tibbs.
