Chris Raimondi—Sports Editor
After traveling across the country to New York and California for their first two games, the Kennesaw State men’s basketball team returns to the Peach State on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. to play the former Atlantic Sun Conference and in-state rival Mercer Bears in Macon, Georgia.
KSU (0-2) is coming off a brutal two game road trip that saw consecutive blowouts to Syracuse and Cal, 89-42 and 93-57, respectively. The Bears (1-1) won their opening game against Division III Piedmont 88-48 before falling on the road to Seton Hall 63-47.
The Owls are looking for their first win of the in-state rivalry since the 2012-13 season, while Mercer is hoping to build some momentum before the team begins its cross-country trip to Colorado for a matchup with Colorado State, and then Alaska for a Thanksgiving tournament.
Here are some keys to the game for the Owls:
LATE TO THE PARTY:
The Owls need a quick start against the Bears to have any chance of winning. KSU has been outscored scored 77-31 in the first half through the first two games and has coughed up 26 turnovers. KSU can’t afford another sluggish start on the road. Confident play early will be essential for the Owls to take control of the rivalry, especially in front of what will probably be a sold-out crowd.
STAY OUT OF TROUBLE:
KSU’s junior center Willy Kouassi fouled out of Sunday’s game against Cal after only playing 10 minutes. The 6-foot-10 Auburn transfer also picked up two early fouls in the season opener at Syracuse, which forced freshman Justin Diecker to enter the game in the first half for his first-ever appearance. Cal and Syracuse had significantly bigger lineups, but If Kouassi can stay on the court for more than 25 minutes against Mercer, KSU’s smaller roster will surely benefit with his presence in the paint.
FEED THE HOT HAND:
Nigel Pruitt has easily been the Owls’ standout player thus far. The junior forward scored 11 points against Syracuse, 16 at Cal and is shooting above 50 percent from the 3-point line.
RETURNERS:
Senior forward Nate Rucker is expected to make his season debut for KSU on Wednesday and it couldn’t come at a better time. The Owls missed Rucker’s physical play in the paint through the first two games with Kouassi being the only viable option against much taller opponents. Rucker averaged nine points and nearly four rebounds in 20 games last season. Head coach Jimmy Lallathin will also return to the team after having to sit out of the Cal matchup as part of a one-game suspension handed down by the NCAA for a self-reported violation. Associate head coach David Rivers headed the Owls during Sunday’s contest.
SHARING IS CARING:
It sounds obvious, but the Owls need to play unselfish. The team played a solid second half against Cal when they scored 44 points, but they only recorded five assists, nine total for the game. The length of Syracuse and Cal undoubtedly disrupted the flow of KSU’s offense, but players settled for tough-contested jump shots several times. Mercer is in its first year removed from the A-Sun, so seeing a lineup more similar to their own should help the Owls spread the ball.
BE YOURSELF:
Memphis transfer Damien Wilson shot a combined 4-20 from the field in the first two games and only dished out two assists. The 6-foot-7 forward can undoubtedly help the Owls this season with his athleticism and scoring ability, but he can’t try to play the hero after transferring from a bigger program. Outside of Pruitt, no one was consistently scoring or spreading the ball well against the big name programs the Owls have played so far. Many players seemed to try and do too much, so look for Wilson to settle into his role against a more equivalent opponent in Mercer.
