Updated 6:00 p.m. CST, 1/21/2014
The Bisonbasketball team isdown to eight playersheadinginto the rest of their conference schedule as four Bisons brokeuniversityrules.
TheBisonsare7-6 overall and4-3in conferenceplay. Twelve GAC games remain.
“Our message is the same as it (has)always been,” HeadCoach Jeff Morgan said. “We are going to prepare and work as we always do;we will go out on the floor expecting to win and expecting to compete hard.”
Since the departure of the four Harding athletes,the team has gone 2-1.All threeof those games were against Great American Conference opponents.
“As far as goals(go),everything is still out in front of us,” Morgan said. “It’s more about staying sharp and staying physically fit to get ready for the next game.”
With the loss of two Bison starters, freshman guard Will Francis and sophomore guard Blake McNair have stepped into the starting roles for the Bisons.
Francisledthe Bisons in scoring three out of their14games this season. Now playing a more demanding role for the team, Francissaid hewill lookto havemore of thosehighscoring nights.
Francissaid his biggest challenge will be adjustingto thespeed and physicality thatthe gamesdemand of him every night.
McNairhas been with Harding basketball since2012.He averaged over tworebounds per game while scoring just under fivepoints pergame.
”Not only myself and Will,but everyone, hadto stepupfor our team and our seniors,”McNair said. “I am very confident.We still have a good group of guys and we can go out there and winany game.”
Both Francis and McNair have played multiple positions throughout the season, playing the role of utility players and giving Morgan options on where and when they can help their team.
”Those two guys have come off the bench and have given us great minutes,” Morgan said. “Thoseguysare ones whocan play a couple differentpositionsand help us in a lot of different situations.”
Morgan said he is focusing on the present and taking the remainder of the season one day at a time.
“I tell my guys:let’s focus on what we can do today to be a better player and team tomorrow,” Morgan said.
TheBisonsplay at home tonight against Southern Arkansas University. After tonight, theirnext three conferencegamesareaway.
Morgan said the Rhodes Rowdies are even more significant now thanthey werebefore.
Coaches are unable to release any information regarding the suspension of four players recently.
