Tigers sign two for future, now focus on present
By: Megan Harris
Issue date: 11/14/09 Section: Sports
Mack lost his starting position against both LeMoyne-Owen College and Christian Brothers University after arriving late to two team meetings. He said he wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"Coach has to set examples with the older guys for the younger players so they see how to act," he said. "Going into the season, we can't be breaking rules, unlike last year when we as a team had a lot of freedom and (former coach John Calipari) let us do a lot. It's a team thing, and I'll step it up."
Building a team dynamic is what junior forward Will Coleman said he's looked forward to the most. The Miami-Dade transfer will don the blue and gray for his first official game for the Tigers Friday night.
"I think if we get this win, it'll show people we're still the same Memphis we've always been," he said. "It's not going to be easy to take us out. We're still fighting. We're still going strong."
Coleman said slow starts like the ones seen in their exhibition games shouldn't be an issue.
"I think we're ready," he said, noting a spike in intensity in practice following Tuesday's win over CBU. "It's really been the main focus for us - rebounding and controlling the ball."
Sophomore guard Elliot Williams, who transferred from Duke University earlier this year to be closer to his family, said he's excited to get the season started off in the win column.
"It's going to feel great," he said. "It's different than an exhibition game. They warmed us up for this moment, and we're going to make everyone proud."
Although bigger games lie down the road for the Tigers, both Coleman and Williams said their main focus was JSU.
The Tigers take on preseason No. 1-ranked Kansas in the Hall of Fame Showcase in St. Louis, Mo., next Tuesday, Nov. 17. While the Tigers claim they haven't gotten much respect in the marquee match-up, they said it's something the team will focus on when the time comes.
"We have to take it one game at a time," Coleman said. "If we look past (Jackson State) and focus on Kansas, we could lose."
"Coach has to set examples with the older guys for the younger players so they see how to act," he said. "Going into the season, we can't be breaking rules, unlike last year when we as a team had a lot of freedom and (former coach John Calipari) let us do a lot. It's a team thing, and I'll step it up."
Building a team dynamic is what junior forward Will Coleman said he's looked forward to the most. The Miami-Dade transfer will don the blue and gray for his first official game for the Tigers Friday night.
"I think if we get this win, it'll show people we're still the same Memphis we've always been," he said. "It's not going to be easy to take us out. We're still fighting. We're still going strong."
Coleman said slow starts like the ones seen in their exhibition games shouldn't be an issue.
"I think we're ready," he said, noting a spike in intensity in practice following Tuesday's win over CBU. "It's really been the main focus for us - rebounding and controlling the ball."
Sophomore guard Elliot Williams, who transferred from Duke University earlier this year to be closer to his family, said he's excited to get the season started off in the win column.
"It's going to feel great," he said. "It's different than an exhibition game. They warmed us up for this moment, and we're going to make everyone proud."
Although bigger games lie down the road for the Tigers, both Coleman and Williams said their main focus was JSU.
The Tigers take on preseason No. 1-ranked Kansas in the Hall of Fame Showcase in St. Louis, Mo., next Tuesday, Nov. 17. While the Tigers claim they haven't gotten much respect in the marquee match-up, they said it's something the team will focus on when the time comes.
"We have to take it one game at a time," Coleman said. "If we look past (Jackson State) and focus on Kansas, we could lose."