2011-2012 MCC Men's Basketball Preview

From School Reports & The Meridian Star

Nathan Courtney enters his first season as the head basketball coach at Meridian Community College and the excitement is building for the open of the 2011-2012 season for the Eagles. The Eagles finished the 2010-2011 season with a 19-11 overall record and the picture is a little unclear for MCC coming into the new season, but Courtney is pleased with the support for the program.

“Anytime you come into a new situation, it’s important to have the support and the backing of the people that have hired you,” Courtney said. “I’ve had unbelievable support from the people.”

Courtney comes to Meridian from Indian Hills Community College where he served as assistant coach for the Warriors. IHCC won 84 percent of its games and averaged 29 wins a season while Courtney was on the staff, and made a pair of appearances in national tournament.

Now with the Eagles, Courtney has set about changing the image of the Eagles basketball team, and it begins in the classroom.

“When you are at a new program, the biggest thing is changing the culture,” Courtney added. “When we wake up we do breakfast check and I personally run study hall for the guys that aren’t in class. I make sure they’re doing the academic side of it and it’s not just basketball here.”

Heading into the 2011-2012 season the Eagles will take a multi-dimensional approach on the hardwood. Defensively, MCC will use a variety of defenses, ranging from a zone to a man-to-man.

"You better be able to do everything," Courtney said. "We will be, primarily, a man-to-man defensive team, get back and protect the basket. However, if you have to press, you press; if you have to play zone, you play zone. We have all that in now where we can press, man, zone, three-quarter court press; 2-2-1 press; Diamond and one press.

"You got to be able to run, jump, scramble. Physically, you put in what you think your players can take. Mentally, you pack as much as you can into their brains because you don't know what you're going to need at a particular time.”

The 2011-12 Eagles team will feature a mixture of veteran and newcomer talent. This year's team will be led by a trio of sophomore transfers — Kaylim Noel, Kevin Williams and Giovanni Smith.

Joining them are a couple of guys that sat out last year, Trent Tucker and Gentry Hinds. Throw in a freshman class led by former Meridian High guard Nick Waters and the team will be exciting to watch this season.

"I'm really excited about Nick,” Courtney said. “He's easily one of our better guards.

"The thing about Nick is he understands pace. He's not a ‘Go, Go, Go’ type of player or running around like a chicken with his head cut off. He can stop, pivot, find a shooter that's spotted up on the perimeter. He doesn't turn it over a lot and has an unbelievable control of the game."

The Eagles are scheduled to begin the home portion of its 2011-2012 schedule November 7 against Alabama Southern at Graham Gymnasium. The Eagles will tip-off at 8p.m.