Junior guard Tyree Murray, along with sophomore forward Joe Reid, is a big reason why this year's Dustdevils are destined for an outstanding finish to the season. (PHOTO BY JOEY SANCHEZ | JSPHOTOSTUDIO.COM)
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated on the TAMIU men’s basketball team. It’s been an off-and-on month consisting of a nine-day holiday break and four games against cupcakes so that preparatory work is at a minimum while the team focused on finals and improving on last season’s program-best GPA.
However, these Dustdevils being defense of their conference title on Thursday on a record roll. They stand at 10-3, the best non-conference record in the program’s nine years, barely nipping last year’s 9-4 mark. Among those wins are demonstrative tallies against Incarnate Word, West Texas A&M, Abilene Christian, Notre Dame College, and most recently on Saturday, Cedarville.
In my opinion, Incarnate Word was the most impressive of the bunch, with Cedarville a close, close second.
The Dustdevils are beating their opponents by a little less than 18 points per game. They average 78.2 points on 51 percent shooting (including 40 percent from 3) and also compile an unheard of 18 assists per game. There are NBA teams that don’t even sniff that many.
But, as we know, offense is not what drives TAMIU. It’s defense.
On that end, TAMIU allows just 60.5 points per game on 39 percent shooting. Opponents shoot just 32 percent from deep and have amassed 28 more total turnovers than assists against the Dustdevils.
Every aspect of the game has been upgraded for the Dustdevils’ from last year to this year. But what’s the big difference? In my opinion, it’s the fact that TAMIU has some wild cards this year, and I mean that in the best light possible.
Last year, you knew what you were getting when you faced TAMIU. A precise, halfcourt-oriented team that used defense as its fuel. Aside from Brian Schaeffer, who has almost doubled his scoring average from last year to become a primary scoring threat, most of the eight returners are pretty much set in who they are.
However, this year, there is some nice change of pace off the bench in sophomore forward Joe Reid and junior guard Tyree Murray, both junior college transfers. Reid, in particular, is a huge factor, simply because of his versatility, length and shooting ability. He averages 8.1 points on 57 percent shooting. He takes good, smart shots, but he can really frustrate a defense, particularly off the bench.
Murray is a pure scorer, but he’s really improved as a facilitator. He had big trouble with shot selection earlier this season, but he has moved the ball extremely well and seems to have a much better grasp on when and where to get his shots.
I know for a fact both guys had a real tough time acclimating to coach Shane Rinner’s system earlier this season. At one point, I even thought there was a chance they may not be much of contributors after all. It seemed they were fostering a mindset that Rinner’s emphasis on structure, discipline and teamwork was too much to overcome.
But there’s a reason Rinner recruited them. Of course for their skills, but also because of their toughness. And their ultimate acclimation to buying in and sacrificing numbers and glory for the team is a testament to just that. In fact, how quickly they have turned things around is why I’m even more optimistic this team is more than capable of defending their conference title and winning a NCAA tourney game or two. I seriously thought it wouldn’t be until four or five more games until they really hit their strides, but they’ve proven me wrong.
It’s going to be interesting. I think Arkansas-Fort Smith and St. Mary’s are the top threats to TAMIU’s crown, but at this point, having watched the Dustdevils grow and mature over the last couple of weeks, it’s hard to see anyone taking down TAMIU for the title. TAMIU is well equipped to deal with teams of size, quickness and/or versatility. All I needed to see was the wins over Incarnate Word and Cedarville to know they can really play with anyone. And while it’s fine for me to be optimistic about their chances, I know Rinner isn’t even thinking that far ahead.
“I’m pleased, but nervous,” he said about where his team stands at the moment. “Now it really starts.”
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