BALTIMORE – It didn’t take long for Towson to go from outhouse to penthouse, at least in terms of perception. It was only a couple of years ago that Pat Skerry had taken the job and started off with a depleted roster for the ages, then had a record to match it. Now, the Tigers are the pick to win the CAA title this year, and although there will be some fierce competition, it’s an understandable selection. It’s also the latest indication that the program may be on the verge of turning a corner at last.
For much of their CAA existence, Towson has struggled. The Tigers never had a winning conference record until last season’s 13-5 mark, and had bottomed out the prior two seasons with records of 0-18 and 1-17. The last time they had a winning conference record (and overall record as well) was in their first season in the America East Conference in 1995-96, when it was still known as the North Atlantic Conference.
When Skerry, known as a relentless recruiter, took over for Pat Kennedy, it was easy to figure the first year wasn’t going to be pretty. There was very little returning from the prior season – a team that didn’t win a single CAA game – and he didn’t get much time to bring in players at the last minute who would be good enough for them to win games. They lacked depth as well. Sure enough, the Tigers went 1-31, with the lone win coming against UNCW in late January.
Last season’s turnaround set the stage for now, where everything seems to be coming together for Towson. They return the reigning CAA Player of the Year in Jerrelle Benimon, along with three other starters, and add several impact newcomers. They also open the new SECU Arena, which they have long awaited and should greatly boost the program. And on top of that, the conference tournament is now in their backyard at First Mariner Arena in downtown Baltimore.
“I’m pumped up that the tournament is coming to Baltimore,” said Skerry. Of the new facility, he added, “I get jacked up every day seeing it.”
Skerry was downplaying being picked to win, noting as many coaches do that it doesn’t gain them anything, save perhaps for a little more attention and a bigger target on their back. He used a lot of cliches in talking about it, and some of that is natural and some of that is who Skerry is as a no-nonsense coach. Still, you can be sure he’s fine with his biggest problems being pleasant ones, like managing expectations and depth, as that beats the problems he had a couple of years ago.
I think our team is versatile and we’re deep, so that’s something we’ve got to figure out how to best fit us, while remembering at the end of the day that winning is all that really matters,” said Skerry.
Benimon is the guy around whom this team revolves, but he has plenty of help. Classmate Marcus Damas is a two-year starter and will start alongside Beninmon up front, and perimeter starters Mike Burwell and Jerome Hairston are back as well. Sophomore Timajh Parker-Rivera might slight into the vacated starting spot for a three-forward lineup, as could Vermont transfer Four McGlynn for three perimeter players. McGlynn figures to give a shooting boost to a team that didn’t exactly shoot the lights out last season.
The depth comes from players up front like true freshmen John Davis and Walter Foster and redshirt freshman Barrington Alston, the latter of whom showed promise early last season before an illness ended his season early. Davis has been a pleasant surprise to Skerry and will be too good to keep on the bench. Junior Jamel Flash is also back up front, and Skerry said he’s improved enough to be in the mix as well, so in all they won’t be hurt much by the graduation of Bilal Dixon. In the backcourt, more depth comes from senior Rafael Guthrie and freshmen Ben Mesuda and Marquis Marshall, the latter of whom redshirted last season and is the son of former NBA player Donyell Marshall.
Skerry has worked for a variety of coaches prior to becoming the head coach at Towson, and it shows in what he talks about. He wants the program to be like Pittsburgh in that a team can beat them, but they have to play very well to do it. He speaks of the process of getting better and winning, something former boss Jim Baron speaks of constantly. And he has a competitive streak like few others, noting he’s been cut from a lot of teams and had to work his way up to where he is now.
With his team now a favorite, he’s mainly sticking to what got them this far, but adding new things that help with the message. He noted that the staff has shown analytic data to the players to help explain last year’s success and what they must do better. Towson was the best defensive team in the CAA last year, leading in field goal percentage defense and rebounding. The trouble was offensively, where they didn’t shoot well from long range and also gave the ball away too often. Still, the defensive effort helped spur the offense and that wasn’t lost on the coach.
“In my first year we were last in the country in scoring,” Skerry noted. “Last year we led the conference in scoring, and we didn’t change a play. We might have executed better my first year.”
Skerry said the staff scheduled for this year with the idea that they will have a team that can win some good non-conference games, although that’s not the big news. They will open the new arena in style with eight home games, including a visit from Temple. It’s on the road where they’ll have the best RPI potential, as they visit Villanova, Kansas, Oregon State and North Dakota State. While it’s not a loaded slate, it has chances for quality wins, and that’s what a team like Towson needs.
The Tigers have a target on their back now, which means they have to be ready for everyone’s best shot more than ever. It’s uncharted territory for the program since its brief days in the Big South, where they won two straight regular season titles right away. While being picked to win brings its own challenges, it’s a change they welcome, and with the new arena and new tournament location a lot of things appear to be coming together at just the right time.
