The University of Southern Indiana held Media Day for its men’s and women’s basketball teams Sept. 18 in the Screaming Eagles Arena. Media members interviewed and recorded content featuring the players and coaches of each time for timeout videos and other media content. 

Although these teams may be on very different paths, their goal remains the same: win as much as possible while having fun and developing as humans. 

Eleven-time NBA champion Phil Jackson said it best in his book, “11 Rings:” 

“Keep your eye on the spirit, not on the scoreboard.” 

This is one of his 11 principles of mindful leadership. 

This concept can be applied to sports and life as well. You need some level of success at the end of the day, but true success isn’t measured through quantitative data but in the satisfaction success brings and the spiritual journey the individual and team experience.

Stan Gouard, men’s basketball head coach, expanded on this sentiment.

“That’s just the love of the game, you got to enjoy and embrace every day, despite circumstances,” he said. “It’s a long season. We always tell everybody, ‘Championships are not put on paper. You got to go out and play the ball game.’”

Following last season’s eight wins and 24 losses, changes were made. 

“We got to shoot the ball better,” Gouard said. “I think that was one of the biggest things. We have to be smart offensively and take better shots.”

Last season, the offense primarily ran through Jeremiah Hernandez, now a senior guard at Ball State University, which had mixed results. Unfortunately, teams started to pressure him, and the offense lost structure and wilted.

Over the summer, Gouard told me the team will focus on playing a more open offensive game this season, perhaps including some triangle sets, which late coach Tex Winter sold Jackson on. Some individuals think the triangle is a bit dated, but I believe implementing certain sets and a system based around it can be successful. (but not entirely reliant)

The triangle is an offensive basketball system that relies on constant movement and offensive players reacting to what the defense shows them. Another bonus is that this system doesn’t heavily utilize plays, which allows more creative freedom on offense. However, that does require trust, which is a major trade-off.

The system relies on the primary ball-handling facilitator, often a point guard, to handle the ball at the top of the key and around the perimeter while two players flank on the left and right-hand sides of the half-court in a triangular formation, hence the name. This provides at least two passing options on both sides of the court and may open up scoring opportunities for other sides.

This system is about reacting and moving naturally to find new scoring opportunities. Talent matters, but basketball intelligence matters even more, so it’s challenging to implement. However, if the team has the drive to watch lots of tape and study opposing defenses, it’s possible to be successful in the triangle.

Painting the Picture

In a spread offense, the Screaming Eagles’ facilitators will likely be Jack Campion, junior guard, and Sam Mervis, senior guard. The primary offensive scoring options look to be Braxton Jones, junior guard; Ryan Hall, junior guard; and Jack Mielke, senior forward, who will act as inside and outside threats. 

Nick Hittle, senior forward, could also feature in the post on one side, which will bring focus to him and allow others to get open.

In my opinion, the primary focus of the offense is Jones, a transfer from Garden City Community College, a Division I institution, who has excellent scoring, passing and dribbling skills. As a transfer student, he has a new environment to adjust to, which he described as “exciting.” 

“I know what it takes, and it’s pretty hard, but it’s nothing that I’m not used to getting done,” he said.

Hittle is a fascinating member of this team. However, as the starting center, he has a tall task ahead of him.

Every offense needs a center capable of setting complex screens, posting up, getting rebounds, making effort plays and occasionally taking a mid-range jumper. Hittle is capable of this when he’s on his game, and this year, he seems extra determined as a senior. He described the process as “stacking days, just trying to get better every day.” 

Hittle was also transparent about his goal this year.

“I just want to do whatever helps us win,” he said.

To accomplish this, he needs to be the anchor of the team, offensively doing what’s necessary, but defense and rebounding will be his bread and butter. 

As a senior, he also takes a significant leadership role on the team, which will be felt on this team, but perhaps, no more importantly, by Josiah Dunham, freshman guard and local Tri-State product, who is the future of this team. 

A six-foot guard from Evansville, Christian Dunham, has solid passing, shooting and dribbling skills but is inexperienced, which shouldn’t be any surprise. He will likely be buried in the depth chart, barring injuries, as Mervis, Campion, and Johnny Semany, junior guard, will play point guard ahead of him. 

Luther Smith Jr, a sophomore guard who played sparingly last season, is also in front of Dunham. To say the team has many point guards is an understatement, but Dunham understands what’s important: the journey. 

“Coaches are more intense, the players more intense,” he said. “Everybody cares a lot more about the game, about winning. It doesn’t matter to me; it is more intense; I actually enjoy it and prefer it.”

One intriguing player I will be buying bulk stock in this team is Stephen Olowoniyi, a 6-foot-8-inch sophomore forward from Melbourne, Australia. 

He played at the Virginia Military Institute last season, which I like because having someone who has a military background is a significant advantage for winning teams. I think Olowoniyi will bring an extra edge and strategic thinking defensively, as he blocked 25 shots last season in 32 appearances, which is solid. I think he could play as a lockdown defender, someone who guards the best player on the other team for long stretches. 

However, he knows the adjustment process is present here, describing the pace as “faster here than it is in Australia.” Once he adjusts, he could be a significant X-factor on the team.

Finally, we have reached the loudest voice in the locker room, other than Coach Gouard, Mielke. Mielke is probably the most critical piece of the team, as he is the team’s QB, relaying the plays and sets from Gouard and getting his teammates into position to win. He’s the Swiss Army Knife of the team, someone who can shoot, post up and, if needed, play center when the team plays small, which worked successfully at times last year. 

Mielke said training camp was better this year, as the team did not want a repeat of last year. 

“I think our team has just been persevering through a lot of stuff the coach has been throwing at us,” he said. “I feel like we’re more resilient this year than last year. Last year, a lot of guys were kind of giving up on stuff and kind of hung their head. We’ve pushed through a lot of tough situations, coach put us in, and that’s going to work wonders for us.” 

Simply put, the Screaming Eagles look to redeem themselves this year. If the chemistry continues to build, they could surprise some who doubt them this season.