12-17-2008, 02:53 PM
I found this posted at GoJaxState.com ...
Something to prove
By Al Muskewitz
Sports Writer
12-17-2008
JACKSONVILLE — If Jonathan Toles looks like he's playing with a chip on his shoulder tonight, there's a good reason for it.
He is.
The Jacksonville State senior guard had hoped to follow his pro-playing twin brothers Ronell and Donell Taylor into the UAB basketball program, but, he said wistfully, "the opportunity wasn't there."
Simply, the Blazers signed somebody else.
Tonight, when the Gamecocks (6-1) look to extend their winning streak in the first game of a two-for-one with UAB in Bartow Arena, Toles wants to show the Blazers (5-3) what they could have had.
"It probably will (be emotional) because UAB chose another guard over me," Toles said. "Deep down it will, because they chose Eddie Berrios over me, and I know I was way better than him; I played him in JUCO (while Toles was at Bevill State and Berrios at Chipola).
"Deep down inside it will, but I won't take it to that extreme — I'm going to keep it on the team (level). They chose him over me, so they'll see what they're gonna get."
What the Gamecocks have in Toles is part of a senior backcourt combination with DeAndre Bray that has been crucial to JSU's six-game winning streak and best Division I start. It's a start that includes road wins over a UMass team that beat Kansas and Georgia State, and a home win over a VMI team that upset Kentucky.
Toles has started all seven games, averaging 11.4 points with a 30-16 assist-to-turnover ratio. He leads the Ohio Valley Conference in minutes played (37.4) and 3-point shooting (.529). Bray is averaging only 5.0 points a game, but he leads the OVC in assists (6.7 per game) and is fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (47-19).
Barrios has played in all eight UAB games this year, but had become more of a role player on a team built around quick guards, averaging 12.5 minutes a game with nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and six turnovers. On Tuesday, he was declared academically ineligible, one of four players the Blazers confirmed leaving the team for various reasons.
"I think our guard play has been pretty good with (Bray and Toles)," JSU coach James Green said. "It has given us a chance to go on the road and play against some pressing defenses and things of that nature and them control it for us."
Toles also typically draws the opposition's best perimeter scorer, but don't look for him to exclusively get UAB's Robert Vaden.
The 6-foot-5 swingman is fourth in Conference USA in scoring (19.5 ppg) and among the top 10 in rebounding (7.0), but being 6-2 may keep Toles from staying with him all game.
"We're probably going to have to look at a number of guys on Vaden," Green said. "The size factor concerns me a little bit with Toles right there. I'm sure we're probably going to run a number of people at him and may try some different things."
But Vaden isn't the only threat for the Blazers, playing their first game since an 87-80 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 6. Lawrence Kinndard averages 18.0 points and 8.6 rebounds, and Paul Delaney III averages 17.3 and 4.0.
After tonight's game, the Gamecocks travel to icy Iowa State to complete another demanding two-game grinder and their menu of guarantee games. Earlier this season, they swept Georgia State and UMass on the road.
Instead of looking at this as another chance to slay the dragon, the players say it's just another set of games.
"It doesn't matter if we're favored or not, we're just looking to try to go in and win," forward Geddes Robinson said. "We look at everybody the same way. We've got to go into the game focused, keep our mind right and try to go in and get a win."
Something to prove
By Al Muskewitz
Sports Writer
12-17-2008
JACKSONVILLE — If Jonathan Toles looks like he's playing with a chip on his shoulder tonight, there's a good reason for it.
He is.
The Jacksonville State senior guard had hoped to follow his pro-playing twin brothers Ronell and Donell Taylor into the UAB basketball program, but, he said wistfully, "the opportunity wasn't there."
Simply, the Blazers signed somebody else.
Tonight, when the Gamecocks (6-1) look to extend their winning streak in the first game of a two-for-one with UAB in Bartow Arena, Toles wants to show the Blazers (5-3) what they could have had.
"It probably will (be emotional) because UAB chose another guard over me," Toles said. "Deep down it will, because they chose Eddie Berrios over me, and I know I was way better than him; I played him in JUCO (while Toles was at Bevill State and Berrios at Chipola).
"Deep down inside it will, but I won't take it to that extreme — I'm going to keep it on the team (level). They chose him over me, so they'll see what they're gonna get."
What the Gamecocks have in Toles is part of a senior backcourt combination with DeAndre Bray that has been crucial to JSU's six-game winning streak and best Division I start. It's a start that includes road wins over a UMass team that beat Kansas and Georgia State, and a home win over a VMI team that upset Kentucky.
Toles has started all seven games, averaging 11.4 points with a 30-16 assist-to-turnover ratio. He leads the Ohio Valley Conference in minutes played (37.4) and 3-point shooting (.529). Bray is averaging only 5.0 points a game, but he leads the OVC in assists (6.7 per game) and is fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (47-19).
Barrios has played in all eight UAB games this year, but had become more of a role player on a team built around quick guards, averaging 12.5 minutes a game with nine points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and six turnovers. On Tuesday, he was declared academically ineligible, one of four players the Blazers confirmed leaving the team for various reasons.
"I think our guard play has been pretty good with (Bray and Toles)," JSU coach James Green said. "It has given us a chance to go on the road and play against some pressing defenses and things of that nature and them control it for us."
Toles also typically draws the opposition's best perimeter scorer, but don't look for him to exclusively get UAB's Robert Vaden.
The 6-foot-5 swingman is fourth in Conference USA in scoring (19.5 ppg) and among the top 10 in rebounding (7.0), but being 6-2 may keep Toles from staying with him all game.
"We're probably going to have to look at a number of guys on Vaden," Green said. "The size factor concerns me a little bit with Toles right there. I'm sure we're probably going to run a number of people at him and may try some different things."
But Vaden isn't the only threat for the Blazers, playing their first game since an 87-80 loss at Cincinnati on Dec. 6. Lawrence Kinndard averages 18.0 points and 8.6 rebounds, and Paul Delaney III averages 17.3 and 4.0.
After tonight's game, the Gamecocks travel to icy Iowa State to complete another demanding two-game grinder and their menu of guarantee games. Earlier this season, they swept Georgia State and UMass on the road.
Instead of looking at this as another chance to slay the dragon, the players say it's just another set of games.
"It doesn't matter if we're favored or not, we're just looking to try to go in and win," forward Geddes Robinson said. "We look at everybody the same way. We've got to go into the game focused, keep our mind right and try to go in and get a win."