Injury to Delk a Troy setback

TROY — Troy head coach Don Maestri was optimistic about the Trojans’ season opener against UAB Nov. 15, until two unforeseen things happened.

The first was Hurricane Ike, which forced Troy’s football game at LSU to be moved to the 15th and likely will have an effect on attendance. The basketball game is set for 2 p.m. and the football game for 7 p.m. UAB is expected to be in this year’s NCAA Tournament and the Blazers will likely be the best team to ever come to Trojan Arena.

The second was an injury to his star player, 6-foot-4 guard Richard Delk, who sat out last year as a transfer from Mississippi State. Delk broke his right (shooting) hand a few weeks ago while going up for a rebound and hasn’t practiced since, except for some conditioning drills.

Delk likely won’t play in the exhibition opener against West Alabama next Monday, and is questionable for the UAB game because the fracture hasn’t healed yet.

“I’d rather plan for the worst,” Maestri said. “I’ll be happy if he can play. He wants to play and we’ve got to have him. The main thing is that he gets back, because for us to have a chance to be competitive, we’ve got to have Richard.”

Delk isn’t the only new face who could make an impact. Junior college transfer forwards Antywan Jones and Chris Leggett and guards Regis Huddleston and Travis Lee could all push for starting spots on a team that lost its top three scorers.

Maestri said he was changing the team’s offense to a more European-style attack. Troy hasn’t seen much success since it entered the Sun Belt three years ago and the Trojans were picked to finish last in their division this year.

“We’ll still shoot threes, but we’ll drive to the hole more and get to the line more,” Maestri said.

“We’ve got some better basketball players now, and that style of play gives us great hope. We think we can see down the road where this thing can get better and better.”

The only local player on the team is senior Josh Williams from Malone, Fla. He’s one of four seniors along with nine juniors on scholarship. The Trojans have no freshmen or sophomores.

“As far as competition and hard work, it’s the best team I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Williams said.

Maestri hasn’t settled on a playing rotation yet. Delk and returning point guard Michael Vogler and 7-foot center Tom Jervis are sure to play big roles. Returning forwards Kenny Ware and Mario Telfair are in the mix as well.

“We’re going to run down the court 100 miles per hour,” Maestri said. “Or that guy will be sitting on the bench next to me.”