Game Notes
Kentucky Wesleyan College will finally get back on the basketball court after a week-long break. The Panthers traveled more than eight hours to reach Salem, W.Va., for their G-MAC game on Thursday.
Getting back in action isn't coming a minute too soon for KWC coach
Happy Osborne.
"If I had my way the league would start in January, and you would get away from playing week before finals (of the fall semester)," Osborne said. "I've talked to our AD about it, and I hope our AD and president get involved with this. I would like to play them all (league games) second semester. I would rather play two games a week."
The Panthers (12-7, 6-1) took a few days off after beating Oakland City 101-65 on Jan. 22.
"We wanted to give them some time off to get their legs back, and I feel like they got refreshed," Osborne said. "And we got a lot of practice time in."?The rest gave Dominique Dawson some time to get a still tender ankle healed. Lonnie Hayes had some of his best practices in a couple of months. All of that will be needed against a Salem team that scores a lot, causes a lot of turnovers, but has struggled to an 8-8 record, 0-6 in the conference.
Salem averages 95 points a game and forces nearly 14 steals a game.
"We've got to find a way to hold them in the 60s or 70s," Osborne said. "If they have their way they want it as fast as they can make it. I want to play fast, but I want us disciplined and to be in the right spots."
KWC worked a lot on transition and trying to keep opponents shooting a lower percentage from the floor.
KWC will likely play a lot of zone against Salem.?"Our detriment has been that I've never had a team giving up 48 percent (from the field)," Osborne said. "We're not making people miss. If we don't turn them over they score."
