December 14, 2011
2011/2012 Team Preview: |
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Senior guard Daren Carr and the Lions look to rebound from a 6-16 season. (Photo: Jason Bernstein) |
| Lincoln Lions Photo Gallery |
By Jason Bernstein Editorial Director |
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This is the chance Mike Brown has always wanted. After serving as an assistant coach for the previous eight seasons (highlighted by a Group II championship in 2008), Brown will take over as the new head coach at Lincoln.
The Lions have been unable to reach the heights of the mid-2000s in recent years, Brown knows the bar has been set high by former head coach and mentor Troy Smith.
"I learned from one of the best coaches that I've ever been around in Troy Smith," Brown said. "Having to fill his shoes is tremendous. I feel like I can't let him down, being his predecessor. The level of competition between me and him is never going to stop."
Brown said not much will change in style of play from the past. The same can't be said for his roster as Lincoln returns just one starter from last season's squad, which went a disappointing 6-16.
"They are jelling," Brown said about his overhauled roster. "It took two or three days for them to realize that working together is what's going to make us successful. In the past scrimmages they've realized they need each other in order to move forward."
In particular, Brown will have to rely on shooting guard Zakee Adams, the team's lone returning starter. A three-year starter, Adams will be asked to lead on the floor after playing a complementary role the previous two years.
"He's very disciplined on the court," said Brown about the 5-foot-10 guard. "He knows when to speed the game up, when to slow it down, find out what defense the other team is running."
Adams will be joined in the backcourt by seniors Dion Smalls (5-foot-8) and Daren Carr (6-foot-0). In a much-appreciated change for Lincoln, the Lions will have plenty of size on the floor starting with senior forwards Johnny Brown and 6-foot-5 Samad Session.
"That's the one thing I'm happy with this year, we have height, more height than we've had in the past eight years," Brown said. "With that height we have a little speed with it, we'll still have that run-and-gun style."
In addition to Johnny Brown, Carr and Session, Lincoln will have five more players standing 6-feet or taller ready on the bench. Six-foot-one senior Brandon Morris will provide depth at the guard and forward spots.
Two reserves that Coach Brown is particularly high on are 6-foot-3 sophomore Whyheed Riddick and 6-foot-3 junior Onaja Tonge. Brown described Riddick as "a ball hawk" going for rebounds. Tonge, who only started playing basketball eight months ago has the potential to be Lincoln's centerpiece next season.
Six-foot senior David Serrano and 6-foot-1 sophomore forward Aliquan Jackson round out the rotation for Lincoln.
2011-12 Lincoln Overview |
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