With each new season comes new lessons to learn, and Billy Lange and his team are ready to learn all that the 2022- 23 basketball season has to teach them.
“We are going to learn a lot about ourselves over the next three or four months,” Lange said at the St. Joe’s Men’s Basketball Media Day on Oct. 25.
Last season, the Hawks went 11-19 and tied with LaSalle University for second to last in the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Conference, going 5-13 in conference play. Lange, entering his fourth season as head coach of the St. Joe’s men’s basketball team, said he knew that the program’s development was not going to be a linear process. Instead, he is looking forward to what the season holds for this current team.
“I could not be more excited about the group that is in front of us right now,” Lange said. “How we got here is not what I’m focused on.”
Senior guard Cam Brown said that he is also focused on the potential of this year’s team.
“The ceiling is high for this group,” Brown said. “We can be as good as we let ourselves be.”
Brown said that the program’s development has become more apparent in the team’s culture.
“This year is where I really started to see the difference,” Brown said. “It has been a culture shift from year to year.”
Along with Brown, junior center Anton Jansson, sophomore guard Erik Reynolds and fifth-year forward/center Ejike Obinna have been named captains for this season. Lange said the team has found balance in using returning players to expedite the growth of the new players on the team.
“We asked those guys to take their shared experiences and use it to lead,” Lange said. “I have been impressed with what they have done so far.”
According to Lange, the team has been focusing on creating a more fast-paced style of play.
“This team has a lot of speed,” Lange said. “It is probably the most we have had since we have been here.”
Lynn Greer, a sophomore guard who transferred to St. Joe’s from University of Dayton in January, said he has seen the team’s speed improve both their offensive and defensive play.
“I think we’re a fast-paced team,” Greer said. “We play very fast. We moved the ball very well. And we shoot the ball very well.”
Brown credits the team’s strengths as products of Lange’s recruiting efforts, which are starting to make an impact.
“Guys fit in the right position,” Brown said. “Everybody wants to win.”
Lange said that the team is young this year, and their improvement will come with time and experience.
“I don’t want any fear,” Lange said. “I want these guys to play from their heart.”
According to Lange, in order to play elevated, the focus is on mentally preparing players to play with a necessary passion.
“I want them to be passionate about the opportunity they have to play at St. Joe’s,” Lange said. “It’s all about passion.”
Greer said he has already seen personal improvement from working with the team and coaching staff at St. Joe’s.
“They helped me with my shooting ability,” Greer said. “[Lange] helped me to understand where to put people on the floor.”
Brown said the program’s progression has been apparent in the way the team has been on and off the court during practices this season.
“This is what [Lange] has always envisioned the program to be,” Brown said.
