Jaguar Basketball Resurrected: The Woods Era

With the Men’s Jaguar Basketball season about to start, the Jags are preparing themselves for the Road to South Western Athletic Conference Championship. Last season, the Jags weren’t able to fulfill a complete schedule due to the COVID-19 virus. The Jaguar’s record was 8-11 overall, and 8-6 SWAC for the 2020-2021 season before abruptly closing the statistics books. The average points per game were around 70 points, their shooting percentage sat at 43%, and they cleaned the glass with approximately 36 rebounds per game. Southern basketball was elected to finish fifth by the conclusion of preseason play.
When speaking with Men’s Basketball Head Coach Sean Woods, he compares this upcoming season to the last. “This year, we were able to practice, have summer workouts, have summer practices, and also a preseason, so we are able to gel. From a personality standpoint, these new guys fit who we are more so than the guys we got last year. They all bought into what we’re doing, and it’s a sense of normality. The new guys never knew what it was like to be at Southern University. Unlike last year, we just could never catch up and get to know each other because of COVID. Every other week we were in quarantine, so we just could never get in the groove.”
Team chemistry is a big part of sports, and the jags can gel. Woods said, “The vibe and the flavor within our camp, it’s so positive,” when asked what the chemistry was like amongst the returning players and newcomers. “I know a lot more about than I did last year,” said Coach Woods.
This year, the Jags newcomers line up contains 6-foot-9 forward transfer student J’Quan Ewing, a 6-foot-7 forward transfer Damien Sears, and returning center Kirk Parker to secure the frontcourt. At the same time, guards Brion Whitley and Jason Holliday secure the perimeter. Jayden Saddler, the senior guard, says, “I feel like this year we’re really going fast in the transition with new players.”
Returning players include Delor Johnson, Terrell Williams, Isiah Rollins, Desean Woods, and Brendon Brooks.
When Woods was asked about the team’s preparation for the first upcoming game, he replied, “We’re getting there. We had our first scrimmage (October 27) and we did really good. I’m very excited where we are right now.”
The Jaguars are scheduled to play against the University of Louisville on November 9, 2021, to begin their thirteen-game pre-conference schedule in Louisville, Kentucky.