The number two comes up frequently when discussing the Hannibal Pirates boys basketball team.
Head coach Matt Pugh is entering his second year at the helm of the Pirates. After a 3-23 season that saw Hannibal go 2-10 in North Central Missouri Conference action, Pugh has high hopes for a turnaround campaign.
“I’m pretty excited,” Pugh said.
As a first-year man, Pugh never had a real offseason to work with the players, giving last year’s squad a late jump on learning the new head coach’s system, terminology and overall coaching philosophy. With it being his second year as the head man, Pugh has been able to work with the boys for a full 12 months. The players are comfortable with him and vice versa.
“I think one thing being a really key for us, has been having an entire year, along with an offseason to have some of these guys in the gym and having them work on some of the things we do and get familiar with it,” Pugh said.
With almost two weeks of practice in the books, Pugh is noncommittal about naming his starting five or key reserves — it’s still too early in the process. Still one thing Pugh will say about the makeup of his team, it will be young.
A group of sophomores, or second-year students, are expected to play a big role for the Pirates. Pravon McBride, Derek Hicks and Christian Williams received significant action last year on the JV and varsity squads and will be counted on this year at the varsity level. Not to put too much pressure on the kids, but Pugh said the team will go as the sophomores go.
“I think a big key to our season is how long we play like sophomores,” Pugh said.
Just because Pugh will be leaning on second-year players, doesn’t mean the team is lacking upper-classmen. Seniors Mat Sims and Zach Roisum return to the Pirates along with junior Paul Trenhaile. Several other players will also see some playing time giving Pugh plenty of options.
“We’re going to be deeper than we were last year,” he said. “That will help.”
Trenhaile, along with Williams, figures to be the back-bone of the Pirates offense.
The duo of big men give the team size down low in the paint. Williams, despite his size, has a shooters touch away from the basket, as evidence by his half-court shot that hit nothing but twine at the end of Wednesday’s practice.
“Those two can be a big force for us inside,” Pugh said.
Getting the ball down low will be a priority on offense, but so will running. Pugh wants his team to push the ball and up the tempo, but not get too out of control.
“Our overall team quickness is going to be one of our strengths,” Pugh said. “... There is always fine line whenever you put that in place, we don’t be so up tempo where it’s just chaos. I like to think of us as a run and execute team than a run and shoot type of team.”
One of the upsides to an up-tempo offense is more possessions a team has to score. The downside of a quick offense, it gives the other team more chances as well. If the Hannibal offense is working — if the post players are hitting their shots and can spread the floor for uncontested jumpers, the Pirates could put up some points. But Pugh isn’t looking to get involved in a shootout.
Defensively, the Pirates want to shut down the opposing team. Pugh said he would rather win by shutting the other team down than by simply outscoring them for four quarters. In fact, Pugh wants his defense to pace his offense.
“We want our defense to create our offense,” Pugh said. “... Looking at the final score, people may say that we are just trying to outscore the other team, but we really stress the defensive end of the floor a lot.”
While the rest of the area schools still have a few more days off to get ready for the season-opener, the Pirates will be in action Tuesday at the Pitsfield Tournament in Pittsfield, Ill. The Pirates will open the Tournament with an 8 p.m. game against Liberty.
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The number two comes up frequently when discussing the Hannibal Pirates boys basketball team.
Head coach Matt Pugh is entering his second year at the helm of the Pirates. After a 3-23 season that saw Hannibal go 2-10 in North Central Missouri Conference action, Pugh has high hopes for a turnaround campaign.
“I’m pretty excited,” Pugh said.
As a first-year man, Pugh never had a real offseason to work with the players, giving last year’s squad a late jump on learning the new head coach’s system, terminology and overall coaching philosophy. With it being his second year as the head man, Pugh has been able to work with the boys for a full 12 months. The players are comfortable with him and vice versa.
“I think one thing being a really key for us, has been having an entire year, along with an offseason to have some of these guys in the gym and having them work on some of the things we do and get familiar with it,” Pugh said.
With almost two weeks of practice in the books, Pugh is noncommittal about naming his starting five or key reserves — it’s still too early in the process. Still one thing Pugh will say about the makeup of his team, it will be young.
A group of sophomores, or second-year students, are expected to play a big role for the Pirates. Pravon McBride, Derek Hicks and Christian Williams received significant action last year on the JV and varsity squads and will be counted on this year at the varsity level. Not to put too much pressure on the kids, but Pugh said the team will go as the sophomores go.
“I think a big key to our season is how long we play like sophomores,” Pugh said.
Just because Pugh will be leaning on second-year players, doesn’t mean the team is lacking upper-classmen. Seniors Mat Sims and Zach Roisum return to the Pirates along with junior Paul Trenhaile. Several other players will also see some playing time giving Pugh plenty of options.
“We’re going to be deeper than we were last year,” he said. “That will help.”
Trenhaile, along with Williams, figures to be the back-bone of the Pirates offense.
The duo of big men give the team size down low in the paint. Williams, despite his size, has a shooters touch away from the basket, as evidence by his half-court shot that hit nothing but twine at the end of Wednesday’s practice.
“Those two can be a big force for us inside,” Pugh said.
Getting the ball down low will be a priority on offense, but so will running. Pugh wants his team to push the ball and up the tempo, but not get too out of control.
“Our overall team quickness is going to be one of our strengths,” Pugh said. “... There is always fine line whenever you put that in place, we don’t be so up tempo where it’s just chaos. I like to think of us as a run and execute team than a run and shoot type of team.”
One of the upsides to an up-tempo offense is more possessions a team has to score. The downside of a quick offense, it gives the other team more chances as well. If the Hannibal offense is working — if the post players are hitting their shots and can spread the floor for uncontested jumpers, the Pirates could put up some points. But Pugh isn’t looking to get involved in a shootout.
Defensively, the Pirates want to shut down the opposing team. Pugh said he would rather win by shutting the other team down than by simply outscoring them for four quarters. In fact, Pugh wants his defense to pace his offense.
“We want our defense to create our offense,” Pugh said. “... Looking at the final score, people may say that we are just trying to outscore the other team, but we really stress the defensive end of the floor a lot.”
While the rest of the area schools still have a few more days off to get ready for the season-opener, the Pirates will be in action Tuesday at the Pitsfield Tournament in Pittsfield, Ill. The Pirates will open the Tournament with an 8 p.m. game against Liberty.
