Peach Belt Conference to play 16-game schedule for 2020-21 basketball season
Senior Troy Cracknell (21) is a returning sharpshooter for the Augusta men’s basketball team; he and his teammates will play 16 regular-season games. (photo by Carlos Rodriguez)
By Carlos Rodriguez |
Sports editor
The Peach Belt Conference will play a 16-game schedule for the upcoming basketball season, the league announced on Oct. 29.
The PBC Board of Directors voted that teams will have the 16-game conference schedule starting in January, that will go on until the beginning of the PBC Tournament, which will be played March 6-7, at a location to be determined. The top four teams on the men’s and women’s side will advance to the tournament unlike a normal season where the top eight teams advance.
“I am happy to play games this year and hopefully we can get a full league slate in,” said AU men’s coach Dip Metress. “I am a little disappointed that we decided to reduce our league schedule to 16 games and backed up our start date to January. The coaches voted for 22 games and starting in December, but the athletic directors decided 16 was an appropriate number.”
Aside from having the 16-game conference schedule, NCAA Division II teams are allowed to play up to 22 games. This means Peach Belt teams to can play a maximum of six non-conference games. Teams are also allowed to play up to three scrimmage or exhibition games that will be exempt from the 22-game total.
“We will try our best to schedule the maximum of 22 games,” said AU women’s coach Millette Green. “It has been very challenging to find games with other regional conferences playing only league games or two non-conference games, travel distance, testing protocols and so forth.”
PBC basketball programs just started official team practice as they were delayed until Sunday, Nov. 1, a decision made earlier in October by the conference.
“Since official practice each year usually starts on Oct. 15, these extra two weeks has gotten everyone itching to start playing,” said men’s basketball senior Troy Cracknell. “We are all amped up for this year and want to add another banner and ring to our collection.”
Last season the women’s team finished seventh in the conference standings, finishing the regular season 9-11 in conference play. The team was able to make the conference tournament for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
This year the team returns an experienced group, bringing back nine players. These include two seniors, five juniors and two sophomores. In addition the team brings in four newcomers, welcoming in two junior transfers in Whitney Watkins and November Morton, and freshmen Michaela Lane and Felesia Ondongo. Watkins will have to sit out the season due to an achilles injury.
“Everyone brings something special to the team that we can build upon,” said senior Zariya West. “With us returning a lot of players, we have built that core and chemistry that we have to continue to build.”
Last year West played her first season at Augusta after transferring from Norfolk State. After a year of getting experience in the PBC, she believes it’ll be an advantage and help this season.
“Now that I have gone through the PBC and I see what it’s like, I am extra prepared and extra hungry to work and earn that top four seed,” West said.
After getting the seventh seed last year for the PBC Tournament, Green knows it’ll be more challenging this year fighting for a top-four spot, but she believes it will serve as extra motivation for the team. Along with motivation, Green pointed out key things that will help the team secure a spot in the tournament.
“First and foremost, we must stay healthy,” she said. “We must improve our offensive field goal percentage, defensive field goal percentage and rebounding from last season.”
Last season, the men’s team posted a 21-8 record, finishing second in the conference standings at 16-4. In the PBC Tournament Quarterfinals they were upset by #7 seed Georgia College but despite the early tournament loss, the Jags were set to play in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals as the No. 4 seed against No. 5 Lander. The Jaguars were on their way to the regionals in March when they playoffs were cancelled due to the pandemic.
The team loses a key player in Rafael Monteiro, who graduated in May and now plays professionally in Brazil, but bring in a strong recruiting class with the freshman trio of Adonnis Easton-Tolbert, Daniel Allen and Tre Whitehead along with sophomore transfer Timmy Sellers from Charleston Southern. Along with the recruiting class, the team returns key players who have played big roles in the success of the program over the past two seasons.
“This year we have a lot of talent with the new guys coming in and the returners having another year under their belt,” said Cracknell. “We’re going to be able to to go deep in our bench and rotate many guys around the court for multiple different looks.”
Metress has had many successful teams over the years here at AU but knows this year will be a very challenging year with rules being implemented this season along with different protocols. Even with new rules, Metress still has some questions unanswered.
“Managing COVID will be a big separator,” said Metress. “No one has given us an answer on what happens if a player tests positive during the season.”
With an abnormal season set to begin, Metress has a saying at the bottom of his practice plan for his team this season: “What is now, not what is next. We go out to the gym to get better, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”
The AU men will have their practice on Thursday, Nov. 5, streamed live by SUVtv, which does all AU home basketball games. The practice will begin at 3:30 p.m. The live stream will be available through the Augustajags.com website.
Zairya West (0) is the top returning scorer for the Jaguar women’s basketball team. (photo by Carlos Rodriguez)
