Since the end of the 2013-14 season, one word can describe the Skyhawks men’s basketball team’s offseason, change.
The biggest piece of change for the Skyhawks this season is the bringing in of a new head coach, former UNLV assistant Heath Schroyer.
Schroyer is taking over a program that went 8-23 and 3-13 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Since his introduction, Schroyer is making sure that change is on the way.
“I think the most important thing that we’ve done is change the culture and teaching these guys what it means to win, both on the floor and off the floor,” said Schroyer.
One way Schroyer is changing this program is by initiating a new slogan called “the Martin Way.”
“It’s basically the way in which we govern ourselves,” said Schroyer. “There’s five principles that we believe in and those five principles help govern what it is that we do every single day.”
“The first thing we talk about in ‘the Martin Way’ is loyalty, the second thing we talk about is passion, the third thing is unselfishness, the fourth thing is discipline, and the fifth thing is a champion’s work ethic.”
Schroyer will have some help this season in the return of Miles Taylor and Marshun Newell.
Taylor, a 6-foot-7 senior is returning this year after a season in which he averaged 14.6 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, a .509 field goal percentage and averaging 1.0 blocks per game. Taylor was also named to the 10-man Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team.
“I think Miles has had a good career, the one thing that Miles hasn’t done in my opinion is to reach his potential,” said Schroyer. He’s lost almost 40 pounds, he’s in the best shape of his life, we look for Miles to have an unbelievable year.”
Newell is returning after averaging 10.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season.
“We’re expecting Marshun to mature and to help lead this basketball team,” said Schroyer. “I think Marshun has gotten a lot better, he’s really really smart, he has as high of an IQ that we have on the team. I look for Marshun to have a great year.”
The Skyhawks are retuning six players from last year’s squad and are bringing in 11 new faces this season.
“Those kids that we signed see the vision for this program,” said Schroyer. “They want to be the pioneers that jumped on board and actually turn this program around. Those are the guys that are special and that you always remember.”
Another change that Schroyer is making is on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, the Skyhawks finished last in the OVC in average points allowed on defense (81.5) and defensive field goal percentage (.521).
“I think you have to have a system, a philosophy that’s consistent from game to game, and that’s first and foremost,” said Schroyer. “We mad that a huge emphasis in the fall, a huge emphasis in the first month of practice. I think you have to have a system that is conducive to both sides of the ball.”
The Skyhawks will begin their 2014-15 season this Thursday, Nov. 8 with an exhibition game against Blue Mountain. The Skyhawks will play a majority of their non-conference games on the road at places like Marquette, Butler and Nebraska. Conference play for the Skyhawks will begin Jan. 8 and will lead up to the OVC tournament on Mar. 4-7. Schroyer believes that despite being picked to finish sixth in the OVC West, his team will rise and work to get back to the OVC tournament.
“We have very high goals and high expectations for this team and every team that I will be apart of here.”
