TXST MBB
Conference play is here for the Bobcats in their final season in the Sun Belt.
With Texas State snapping their three-game losing streak to Southern last Wednesday, Head Coach Terrence Johnson is happy to enter the Sun Belt with at least a win “It’s huge [because] you don’t want to go into conference play on a four-game losing streak,” Johnson said. “For some of our guys [it’s about gaining] some confidence and getting some excitement about it. Now we have a little couple of days to kind of work on ourselves, to heal up and it’s just to focus on the Sun Belt Conference because we know it’s going to be a beast.”
The Bobcats finished non-conference play with a 7-5 overall record and now find themselves in the middle of a very competitive Sun Belt title race.
Though the Bobcats are not what he considers a finished product, Johnson is content with where Texas State is at currently.
“This team is a work in progress for sure,” Johnson said. “We’ve got a lot of dudes that are capable and we have to find some level of consistency. If you want to know what we can improve on, that’s just having a consistent three or four guys that we can count on every night to either defend, rebound, bring some level of toughness and competitiveness, and some guys that we can count on to make some shots.
“We’ve improved in the fact that we found a way to play harder in spurts and play a little bit more together when challenged on that so it’s certainly a way to go. It’s not a finished product, but nobody in the country is a finished product right now.”
It’s been a very up and down year for the Bobcats. Texas State is currently undefeated at home with a 7-0 record with wins over Abilene Christian, UTSA and Southern but 0-3 on the road and 0-2 in neutral site games, with losses to Bowling Green, Tulane, Rice and Seattle.
For Johnson, the key to the Bobcats success in conference will be finding not only ways to win on the road, but to continue to improve on the little things.
“That’s something that we still have yet to figure out,” Johnson said. “The good thing is that the first couple of games of conference play are at home. We have to figure out a way to be competitive in both of those [games] and be determined to do the things that we need to do to win. When we approach our next home challenge, hopefully we’re a better team in all facets. If we’re a better team at all facets, more connected, playing harder and we have the right amount of mental and emotional toughness, then we get ourselves a better chance to win the game.”
Junior Kaden Gumbs leads the team in assists with 3.9. Gumbs, a former San Marcos Rattler, is also averaging 5.9 points and 4.6 rebounds. Daily Record photo by Gerald Castillo
Senior Mark Drone leads the team in scoring with 13.2 points per game followed by freshman D.J. Hall with 11.8 points. Hall also leads the team in rebounds with 7.3.
Junior Kaden Gumbs, a San Marcos High School alum, leads the team in assists with 3.9.
The Bobcats open conference play at home against Arkansas State and South Alabama with both the Red Wolves and the Jaguars sitting on top of conference with the highest KenPom NET ratings in the Sun Belt.
With both games being at home where the Bobcats boast a perfect record, Johnson is excited for the opportunity to compete against the top half of the Sun Belt.
“It’s just something that the luck of the draw is for whether or not you’re going to get conference games at home,” Johnson said. “But all games at home are critical, especially if you look at our records. So we’re excited about the opportunity and we’re going to work our tails off to be ready to compete.”
Tip-off for Texas State-Arkansas State is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Strahan Arena.
