By Tyvez Monroe |Sports writerDip Metress and the Augusta University men's basketball coaching staff held an open basketball practice on Oct. 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.Coaches for all levels were invited to attend, and admission was free. Spectators had the opportunity to watch an AU men's practice. The purpose of the open practice was to assist area coaches in the development of their teams. Some of the coaches in attendance brought their teams with them.The last time we saw AU men's basketball on the court, it was March, and the Jags were falling to Queens in Charlotte in the regional final to finish 28-6 (which included both the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles). Fast forward to today, and it's a new year for the Jaguars.This season's version will be different as they'll need to fill the void left by Deane Williams, who was the go-to guy a year ago and the Peach Belt player of the year.Yet the Jags are still loaded with talent. Metress realizes getting it done on the defensive end of the court will make all the difference in the world."We address rebounding every day," Metress said. "We still have a good vibe about us. We have good youthful enthusiasm. We only have one senior; he's our workhorse, in Rafael Monteiro. I like our pieces, and hopefully we'll keep getting better every day."This is Metric’s 16th year as the Jaguars' coach. Metress was pumped up as every for practice and described opening practice like “Christmas” for him.“I have high expectations for this year because we pretty much have the same team returning," he said. "Considering what we accomplished last year, we have to get back there,."One of the key players this season for the Jags will be 7-foot transfer Tyshaun Crawford, who Dip Metress compared to former AU 7-footer Garet Siler. Returner sophomores Miguel Arnold and Tyree Myers, along with Monteiro, will have to set the tone for the team to be good this season. Arnold was co-freshman player of the year in the Peach Belt and led the Jaguars in made three-pointers, and Monteiro was second team all-conference with 15 points per game and nearly six boards an outing.Overall, the Jags are filled with talent. Darren Lucas-White is one of the best defenders in the Peach Belt, and Troy Cracknell was a reliable outside shooter for the Jags last season. Six-foot-eight Robert Barlund provides punch inside.AU is ranked 10th nationally in the preseason NCAA Division II men's poll.The Jaguars will open with a scrimmage on Oct. 27 against Division I South Carolina State University at Christenberry Fieldhouse at 7 p.m. The 2019-20 season officially starts on the road for a neutral-site game against Mount Olive on Friday, Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. The Jags' first home game is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19 when they battle Catawba at 7:30 p.m.
Contact Tyvez Monroe at TMONROE@augusta.edu.