Q&A with Morgan State men's basketball coach Todd Bozeman

I thought all the guys did well there. I thought Blake [Bozeman] shot the ball well, particularly in the last game. I thought that Shaquille Duncan got up and down the floor really well. They just played well together. It was good. Every game we got up and down the floor. Ian Chiles got himself in good position and scored. It was hard on the bigs because of the foul calls over there, but they persevered through it and I thought it was a good trip. I’m encouraged. Anytime you get your team that early practice, 10 days to practice and develop good chemistry and you can go to a different type of setting, it’s always a good thing. I was encouraged by that.

How about DeWayne Jackson? What have you seen from him during the offseason?

DeWayne, he practiced with us but didn’t go on the trip. I didn’t take him on the trip, but clearly he is going to be an important cog. I’d like to see him get back to being a consistent player. I think that he has the ability, definitely, to affect the game in a lot of different ways. He can guard anybody, really. He’s been a huge part of the success in the early part of his career. I think it’s important for him to get back to that. Since we’ve been back in school, just lifting weights and working out, he’s been a real solid contributor as far as that goes. I look for him to have a big year. It’s his senior season, so we want him to go out with a bang. And that means getting back to winning – and that’s all he knew when he first got here. Winning. I think he’s in the right frame of mind to do it.

How big of a bounce back are you expecting this year?

I don’t know. I don’t really do predictions. I know last year [I said it] was the most talented team, but clearly talent is not the only thing that gets it done for you. You have to have chemistry, you have to have commitment. That was probably the biggest thing last year. When you’re going through tough times, you have to really be together. If you’re not, it can kind of affect you. I definitely think this year’s group is one that will get back to the way that we’ve been playing at Morgan. The Morgan way. The Morgan basketball way. It’s a good group. I just want to make sure every day we come out, we’re trying to get better that day and take it one at a time. Who knows what will happen. We’ll just come out and play hard and let the chips fall where they may.

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