Buzz to ASU: Take

care of the ball

By Steve Behr
A big problem for Appalachian State’s men’s basketball team during the 2008-09 season was turning the ball over.

Taking care of the ball, conditioning and playing tough defense are just some of things new coach Buzz Peterson has had his team concentrate on during their first weekend of practices. The Mountaineers are getting an early start on the 2009-10 season because of two exhibition games they are playing in the Bahamas, one on Aug. 19 and another on Aug. 21.

“I’m enjoying it,” senior guard Kellen Brand said. “Everybody is. It’s just us. We're getting used to him and he's getting used to us. The most exciting thing is we’re getting used to his system and there is time for it.”

Peterson said the Mountaineers are not in great condition, but felt confident that would eventually change after one day that consisted of a 12-minute run and two weeks of mostly two-a-day practices. Appalachian State junior guard Donald Sims said the emphasis of taking care of the basketball and playing better defense were obvious points stressed by the new coaching staff.

“It's been fun so far,” Sims said. “There’s been a lot of emphasis on defense. There’s also a lot of on turnovers, so he did his research. He knows what we can do. Now we have to work on getting better.”

“We're trying to value the ball,” Peterson said. “Take care of the ball and on the defensive end play good solid defense.”

Peterson also is trying to get the Mountaineers to start sweating the small things. In one conditioning drill that had the team running the length of the floor two times in 22 seconds, two false starts forced the Mountaineers to do the drill in 20 seconds.

It’s a small detail, but it’s part of a philosophy that makes the Mountaineers pay attention to detail that eventually may win a game.

“We’re working on fundamental stuff,” Peterson said. “We’re doing a lot of skill-work stuff. For this trip, you’ve got to throw some things in pretty quick, so you try to make things as simple as they can be.”

Peterson also said the Mountaineers are in the process of experimenting with different combinations of players on the court at the same time. Saturday was the first day the team did full-court work.

“We’re trying to see what different lineups go with what,” he said. “We’re trying to find out if this offense or this defense will work. There’s a little trial and error going on. When we get off this trip, I’ll be able to tell who can do what and detect who can work with who, who can handle the ball better and who can ball screen the best. It gives us an idea of who can do what.”

Peterson said the team is not in great physical condition, but feels they will improve as practices go on.

“That’s the hard thing is that you can’t wear them out so they can’t do anything,” he said. “It’s kind of a gradual process. We’ll work them into shape. They’re not there yet.”

Notes: Two Mountaineers from last year, guard Donterious Hughes and forward Quinche Dowdell, are not on the roster this year. Hughes struggled academically and is at a junior college to improve his classroom performance with the idea of returning to Appalachian State. “Donterious is going to be what you all a four-two-four,” Peterson said. “He’ll transfer to a junior college because of academics, graduate there, then he’ll come back.”

Dowdell did not enroll into Appalachian State and, according to Peterson, may transfer to another program.

Peterson said he would hang on to the scholarship made available by Dowdell’s departure and use it later.

• One Mountaineer who returned to the program is Ryann Abraham. The senior guard was suspended late last season by coach Houston Fancher and did not return to the team. He is practicing with the rest of the Mountaineers.