Columbus State ready for Peach Belt Conference opener
Every year, Columbus State men's basketball coach Robert Moore divides his team's season into three parts.
There is the preseason -- the six or seven non-conference games that open the year. Then there is the regular season -- conference play, arguably the most important time for the team. And then, of course, the postseason -- tournament play, where championships are won or lost.
After finishing the "preseason" with 6-1 record, a period that Moore said he would give his team an "A" grade, the Cougars are set to open the second phase of their season on Thursday when they host UNC-Pembroke to begin Peach Belt Conference play.
The women tip off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.
"We feel like now is what really matters," Moore said. "We have to go in with a lot more intensity, a lot more enthusiasm and focus on getting some wins."
Just because the team has started out so well doesn't mean there are any guarantees about what comes next. Yes, the team won its first six games and is among the national leaders in field goal percentage. Yes, the group's scoring average -- 91.7 points per game -- more closely resembles an NBA team than a college one.
But the defense has also allowed 81.4 per game, and Moore knows that if that number doesn't come down, the team can't progress in conference play. The players reflect that mentality.
"I do think we need to work on defense," point guard Cam Baker said. "We tend to lose our man, get a little lazy on defense. I think we'll keep getting better, though.
We have to. We have to keep working."
Still, Moore said the team has vastly exceeded his preseason expectations. The roster experienced a near complete turnover from last year's team. Gone are leaders like Kenney Funderburk, Shane Heyward, B.J. Battle, Tim Dixon and DeAngelo Kirkland.
Enter Baker, Brent Jackson and Brentine Taylor, among others. Those three, plus DeMarcus McVay and JaCori Payne, all average in double-figures so far for the Cougars this season.
"No, not at all," Moore said when asked whether he expected this level of success. "But the guys jelled together through the preseason and conditioning, and they just kind of came together at the right time. But we really emphasize that you don't win championships in November and December, you win them in late February and early March. So we're just trying to keep getting better.
The women will also open conference play against UNC-Pembroke on Thursday. The Lady Cougars are 5-1, with the lone loss coming by two points to Carson Newman.
Unlike the men, they have a familiar face in Michelle Mitchell leading the way again this season. Mitchell is averaging over 20 points per game again this season, but she said the level of competition is about to get a lot harder.
"We've got a target on our backs," she said. "They all picked us to win (the conference) again, so that means a lot.
"But it also means that everyone wants to beat Columbus State. We just know that as a team, we have to stay focused. We have to be ready to go each and every game."
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 10:55 PM with the headline "Columbus State ready for Peach Belt Conference opener ."