By J.T. Keith
This season is all or nothing for men’s basketball coach Andrew Helton.
Helton has a 49-59 record in his five years at Eastern New Mexico University but hopes to see his fortunes change with nine seniors returning.
“Having as many guys back that we do is always nice, especially in Division II,” Helton said. “To have some continuity and experience is really a good thing. As always, the league will be difficult, and every game will be tough.”
The ‘Hounds have been beset with injuries and NCAA infractions the past two seasons.
ENMU is picked to finish sixth in the Lone Star Conference this season.
Helton needs to answer two questions before the games start—before the ‘Hounds have the ball down by a point with the game on the line: Who is the alpha dog? Who takes the last shot?
Point guard Devone Davis is back to run the position after missing last year. Davis can create his own shot along with all LSC first-team guard Rodney Blackmon.
“You run some actions where you don’t necessarily know who is going to take it,” Helton said. “I’d have to be a fool to not somehow involve Blackmon in that mix. He won three games for us last year.”
Helton likely will start three guards: Davis, Blackmon, and second-team all-LSC Rafael Love. Forward Phil Henry also will start. Helton has yet to determine the fifth starter.
The three-guard look will allow the ‘Hounds to run at every opportunity.
What remains to be seen is who will be the enforcer—the inside presence to do the work in the paint.
Which player will step up and do the dirty work such as diving for loose balls, setting picks, giving hard fouls, and contesting easy baskets? Max Carrier and Greg McFarland have performed those duties the last two years.
There should be a fluid rotation at the forward position. Helton can go to Cornelius Cammock, a transfer from Abilene Christian University, as well as last year’s starters Lawrence Domingo and Dennis Hardwell. Mike Torrez has impressed in early camp and figures to be in the mix for playing time.
The ‘Hounds should continue to play man-to-man defense with a full-court press to create more turnovers and easy baskets.
“We want to improve and get better and win every game,” Helton said. “What we want to do is win a championship. The thing I’m most proud of is we were 3-6 the first half of the league, and in the second half, we turned that around and were 6-3 to finish 9-9 in the league, which was a marked improvement.”
The Greyhounds first game is November 16.