BRCC basketball teams on the road to face Pearl River CC
“We have a really tough schedule this year. It’s a situation where I’m putting these guys in a situation to see what we have early and I think it is really going to prepare us for the conference season.” ricky wilson, BRCC men’s coach
Both the men’s and women’s Baton Rouge Community College Basketball teams are set to start their 2012-13 campaigns Thursday night as they travel to Mississippi to take on Pearl River Community College.
“The season is right around the corner,” said women’s coach Paula Lee. “We are excited to be traveling to Pearl River and getting this started.”
Lee’s women are set for a 7 p.m. tipoff, but it may be pushed back depending on how late the men finish their game. The men are slated for a 5 p.m. start.
The opener on the road is the start of a strenuous schedule for the men. Starting with PRCC, the men will embark on a three game stretch, including a showdown in Baton Rouge with fourth-ranked Chipola College.
The Bears also have ranked opponents East Mississippi Community College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community on the schedule before starting conference play in early January.
“We have a really tough schedule this year,” said men’s coach Ricky Wilson. “It’s a situation where I’m putting these guys in a situation to see what we have early and I think it is really going to prepare us for the conference season.”
In addition to the strength of their schedule, Wilson’s squad is expecting to go through a bit of growing pains as well, taking on nine new players this season, most notably, former-LSU shooting guard John Isaac.
“This is a team that is rebuilding but we are still trying to do big things,” said Isaac who comes to BRCC after seeing action in 31 games for the Tigers last season. “I expect to get better and have everybody on this team come together.”
Unlike the men, the Lady
Bears return nine players from last year’s team and are expected to compete for The Miss-Lou Conference title and qualify for NJCAA National Tournament this season.
“What’s great about having a veteran team is that anybody on any given night can step up for us,” Lee said. “Without a doubt though, the success of our team is going to hinge on our post players.”
Led by 5-foot-11 forward Talaih Roberts, The Lady Bears boast one of the bigger and more physical teams in their conference and are hoping that will play a role at PRCC on Thursday night.
“We have some big girls,” said Lee. “We are really going to key on that and make sure to get the ball inside this season.”