Tegtmeier: Hornets don’t want to be embarrassed in exhibition against A&M
By Jesse Newell
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Caleb Tegtmeier has a simple goal for the Emporia State men’s basketball team in its first exhibition game Thursday against No. 14 Texas A&M.
Avoid looking like an overmatched Division-II team.
“You just want to go out there and maybe gain some respect,” the ESU senior said, “not so much trying to outscore them or outplay them or out-athletic them, but just to gain respect by playing hard and competing with them — and showing everybody we’re not a bunch of bums.”
It might be tough to avoid looking foolish against the Aggies, as A&M was picked to finish third in the Big 12 this year behind powerhouses Kansas and Texas.
First-year coach Mark Turgeon’s team even received a pair of first-place votes in the preseason poll.
“They’re so athletic, they’re so talented, they’re coached so well,” Tegtmeier said, “that keeping it close like that is definitely one of the main goals.”
ESU has done it before, though.
The Hornets hung close in their second exhibition game last year against Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, trailing just 41-37 at halftime with the help of 13 first-half points by DeAndre Townsend.
ESU ended up losing, 90-55, but still was able to earn some admiration. The 5-foot-8 Townsend finished with 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting, and KU coach Bill Self called him the best player in the first half.
“If any game fuels me and gets me pumped up and ready,” Townsend said, “it’s definitely these kinds of games.”
The biggest challenge for ESU — as it will be all season — will be trying to compensate for its lack of size.
The Hornets lost 6-9 forward Ed Desir to graduation and don’t have a center to replace him inside.
ESU has no players 6-8 or taller. A&M, meanwhile, has six players at least that height, including second-team Big 12 selection Joseph Jones.
“This year, we’re a little little,” Townsend said, “but I’m OK with that.”
The Hornets will once again look to push the tempo this season in their motion offense.
It all starts with Townsend, the returning first-team All-MIAA pick who averaged 17.2 points per game last season.
“Not too many people, in our conference especially, are going to be able to guard him. He’s so quick,” Tegtmeier said. “He’s definitely the leader when he gets the ball. If we all just run with him and let him make plays, we can make plays off of him.”
Also returning to the starting lineup are Tegtmeier (8.1 ppg) Wes Book (13.6 ppg) and Jordan Fithian (7.3 ppg).
ESU also will get its first look at Binghamton transfer guard Marvin Lee, along with incoming freshmen Jordan Stout and Matt Boswell. Lee could start, while Stout and Boswell should battle for minutes.
Wasp (anonymous) says...
Sounds like the ESU Midgets have their work cut out!
October 31, 2007 at 8:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )