Based on the Western Athletic Conference Basketball Media Preview Polls released in early October, California State University Bakersfield’s Men’s Baskeball team is expected to finish sixth of eight in the WAC this season. As reflected in the polls, many people do not know what to expect from the Roadrunners this season whereas they have recruited a total of seven new players from across the country.
Despite having a team composed of half returners and half newcomers, California State University, Bakersfield’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rod Barnes is expecting a promising season for the Runners.
“There’s some excitement around our team because we have a lot of new guys in our program,” Barnes said. “They always bring fresh, exciting energy but our team is a team that is very versatile. I think when fans come to watch us play, they will see a team that plays very tough. A disciplined team and it’s going to get better throughout the year because we’re going to get to know each other better than what we do right now. It’s a team that I think people will feel good about coming to see because they are hard workers; they’re a dedicated team. Obviously, every year our goal is to have a winning season and be very competitive. They are hard workers and very dedicated. I like the way this team is working. Again, they’re a new team. We are having a lot to work on and teach. But they seem to be handling things very well.”
One Runner, without a doubt, is handling things very well. Junior center Aly Ahmed from Alexandria, Egypt was selected to the preseason All-WAC second team in the media poll last month. Last season, Ahmed was a member of the WAC All-Defensive team and is expected to be a huge impact this year in scoring. Last season, Ahmed nine points and over six rebounds each game.
Two other key returners for this season are senior forward Kregg Jones and senior guard Javonte Maynor. They plan to step as team leaders and help guide the new and returning Runners to a better season. Both players seem confident in the progress of their team and the athletics program overall.
Jones has already set goals for this season and plans to be more optimistic.
“Individually, I’m trying to stay more positive,” Jones said. “I kind of get negative sometimes on myself. I want to play well and make sure everyone is playing well together and team wise I need to make sure everyone is on the same page. We have a lot of new guys and they are new to Coach Barnes. So I just want to make sure they know what’s going on.”
Maynor explained his mind set going into the season and what his focuses are.
“Our unity is there,” he said. “There is no animosity within our team. The only bad things is that we start school in September. Other schools start in August so they have a whole extra month of practice that we don’t. We are behind the eight ball a little bit. We have multiple practices a day so the only thing is the amount of time we have to prepare for the season. I feel like I have more of a leadership role this season. I need to communicate with the team and just help them out because for most of them it is their first time playing at this level and it’s different within each level that you play on. Individually, I just want to do better than I did in years before. I want to go and play professional basketball and thats what they’re looking for, improvement.”
Maynor also believes the whole athletics department is improving along with his team.
“Yeah when I first got here, I came from Georgia State, there wasn’t even a locker room,” he said. “There was only weight training coach for all teams and you had to come way early if you needed extra work. I see the program improving. They are hiring a lot of people and putting them in positions for student athletes to succeed.”
The Mens Basketball team is striving to improve themselves all around making an impact both on and off the court this year. The team has been spotted many times at various community service events and supporting fellow students at campus events. Rod Barnes agreed and said that was their intent.
“That’s one of the things we tried to develop in our program,” Barnes said. “We want to give back to our fellow student athletes but we also want to be involved on campus. I believe as the head coach, the more we are involved with people and what they do, the more they will be involved in our program. We want to do as much as much we possibly can for others, and not just our student athletes but all students. I believe the more that you serve others, the more appreciative you are of the opportunity that you have. Our guys are on full scholarships so the taxpayers in Bakersfield, I think would appreciate a team that wants to be a service to the community. Also I think it helps our guys mature. Hopefully it is something they continue to do for the rest of their lives in their communities after they leave the university. We try to teach life lessons.”
