The Jaguar Pandemonium at the mini dome presented an opportunity to showcase the talent that the Southern University basketball teams are bringing for the upcoming season. The cheerleaders, Gold and Bluez dancers, and the Southern Human Jukebox all came together to pump up the crowd and set the spirit for a winning record.
The women’s and men’s basketball teams showed off their skills in a three-point shootout, impressing the crowd with their sharpshooting abilities. With 15 wins and losses from the previous season, going 13-5 in conference play, the Lady Jaguars look to make a strong push toward a SWAC Championship.
“We’re going to go out and play extremely hard and hopefully put on a show for the fans. The young ladies have been working since June third, conditioning and doing individual workouts; we’re getting ready for this upcoming season,” states Women’s Head Coach Carlos Funchess.
Averaging 7.5 points per game, senior guard Aniya Gourdine expresses her eagerness to take her team further this season. “I want to get us back to the SWAC and win the championship and finally set history and win the first conference game. We want to get out of the first round for March Madness.” A formidable presence on defense, junior guard D’shantae Edwards, brings unmatched energy and determination to every game.”I’m a very defensive person, so I bring all the energy; I like to sit down and buckle people up.” With her tenacity and focus, she is a key player in the team’s pursuit of championship glory.
The anticipation for the men’s and women’s basketball team’s first game on November 4th is building as they look to build on their successful record from last season. With a strong conference record of 12-6 last year, the men’s team is also gearing up to make a championship run. Like always, I expect to win. We were able to retain six guys from last year, and we added seven new guys who I’m excited about. I love the way we work. I love the chemistry we have, and I think it’s going to be a special year,” Head Coach Kevin Johnson of the men’s basketball team expresses. While averaging 9.3 points per game, senior guard Tidjinae Dioumassi is locked in and poised to dominate the court for our men’s basketball team. His focus and determination make him a key player ready to elevate the game to new heights.
Dioumassi expressed the growth and development of the team, “Just coming every day being disciplined and trusting the process; we know what we need to do to get better.” With an impressive total of over 100 rebounds, senior forward Derrick Tezeno brings a relentless drive and determination to dominate the glass. Tezeno commented on his expectations for himself, “My personal goal is to make the conference team; they counted me out on that; I did not see my name in the media. Doing what I have to do on the court and voicing that to my team—that’s the type of leader I am.”
The men’s basketball team is set to take on the University of South Dakota on November 4th on the road. However, the Lady Jags will take on the University of Oklahoma on November 4th on the road. The men will have their first home game on November 17th against Ecclesia College.
