Southern Miss basketball mixing the new with the old
Almost a month after the Southern Miss men’s basketball team took the court for its first official practice of the new campaign, the Golden Eagles are still adjusting to their new look in 2020.
Nine newcomers in Jay Ladner’s second year as head coach as the Black and Gold continue to mix the new with the old.
They’re also mixing in a certain level of uncertainty as it pertains to COVID-19, having already lost a game in Biloxi against Ole Miss and another one against TCU.
On the court, USM is led by just two returning seniors including LaDavius Draine who has the third-most made three pointers in school history.
Southern Miss also brings in three of the top 40 junior college prospects as a part of a home run signing class that has Coach Ladner excited about his team being about 12-deep with eight different players he says could start. “We’re a long way from where we need to be in terms of our basketball, but they’re enjoyable to practice. They’re coachable, and they give you their best effort. And I think that counts for a lot. I like that fact, but it’s just going to take a little time because we have so many new guys, junior college guys, high school guys and then obviously, mixing them in with some of our returning veterans is going to take just a little time before we get to our finished product. But I like – like I said – I like our ceiling.”
Coming off a mark of just 9-22 last season, USM will get the chance to build on that, starting November 28th at Milwaukee.
