http://www.ajc.com/sports/kennesaw-state...88061.html
By Clark Freeman
For the AJC
It's that time of year again, time for Kennesaw State basketball coach Tony Ingle to put the pieces of the puzzle in place.
The Owls return seven players from last season's team, which finished 13-20 (7-13 in the Atlantic Sun Conference). There are seven new players to fit in as the preseason progresses.
The really good news is that four starters are back: sophomores Markeith Cummings and LaDaris Green, junior Spencer Dixon (Kennesaw Mountain), and Matt Haremb (Chapel Hill), a senior. Senior Kelvin McConnell (Whitefield Academy) also played a key role last season.
"We've got experience, but it's young experience," Ingle said, noting that at the end of last season, four of his starters were freshmen and sophomores.
That "young experience" showed some potential in the A-Sun tournament at the end of last season. In their first year of eligibility in Division I, the Owls qualified for the conference tournament as the No. 8 seed and knocked off No. 1 seed Lipscomb in the first round before falling to eventual champion East Tennessee State in the semifinals.
"The guys coming back understand each other," Ingle said. "The team chemistry is better."
Now the task is integrating the new players, including sophomores Aaron Anderson and Mirza Sabic, both transfers from Central Arizona College, and a very large freshman, Andrew Osemhen (6 feet 9, 240 pounds), from Grayson High School. Two other freshman, guard Nick Turner and Brandon Dawson (Tucker), also join the team.
Ingle was able to get a jump on preseason practice when the Owls were authorized to play a five-game exhibition series in Canada in the summer. KSU won four of the five and gained some valuable extra practice time.
"That has to help," Ingle said. "We're still a young team. We need the help," he said. The Owls face early games against Georgia Tech, Chattanooga, Iowa State and Creighton.
"Markeith averaged about 20 points a game and was instrumental in a leadership role and helping other guys," Ingle said of the Canada trip. "Right now we're trying to figure out who goes where. We're putting things together. Simply put, the five best players aren't always on the floor together. It's the five guys who play together best.
"You've got to have eight or nine guys who are solid. You've got to have depth."
Cummings is the returning star. Last season as a freshman, the 6-7, 230-pounder led the team in scoring (17.4 points per game) and averaged 6.1 rebounds. Dixon played the point, averaging 8.6 points and contributing a team-high 95 assists. Green led the team with 7.9 rebounds per game, ranking fifth in the conference.
Because of his size and athleticism, Cummings shouldered an out-sized burden.
"We need to take some heat off Markeith," Ingle said. "We asked a lot of that young man last season. He was adjusting to Division I basketball and facing double- and triple-teams. We're trying to get some other guys some opportunities."
Osemhen and Anderson could help considerably. Osemhen can provide a much-needed presence inside and Anderson, a 6-7 forward, can be active on the wing.
"Andrew Osemhen really came around," Ingle said, referring to the Canadian tour. "He gives us some bulk, some muscle inside. He has a chance to get in the starting lineup. I was really impressed. He's got a lot of work to do, but he's so big, he's got a chance."
And there are the things that Ingle -- and every other coach -- will harp on from now until the end of the season.
"Our defense has to get better, defense and rebounding," he said. "And obviously you hope your shot selection is going to be better."
Next for KSU
Nov. 2: LaGrange (exhibition) at KSU Convocation Center 7:30 p.m. (Radio: 920 AM)
Nov. 12: Georgia Southwestern at KSU Convocation Center 7:30 p.m. (Radio: 920 AM)