Troy hoops facing high expectations

Thanks to last year’s success, Troy’s men’s basketball team is in an unfamiliar situation during the preseason.

The Trojans aren’t picked last again in the Sun Belt; in fact, far from it. Troy was picked second in the Sun Belt East, ahead of normal league powers like South Alabama and Middle Tennessee, and even had a first-place vote.

Troy returns four starters and three all-conference players from last season. Head coach Don Maestri said Wednesday during the Sun Belt’s media day teleconference that the extra pressure won’t get to his team.

“I don’t even think they know,” Maestri said. “I don’t think they know when they have their jerseys on backward at practice. You play so many basketball games that you really have to focus on the team you’re playing.”

Maestri said senior guards Brandon Hazzard (first team all-conference), Richard Delk (second team) and Michael Vogler (third team) have all gotten better since last season.

“They didn’t just lay back and think they’d have a better year automatically,” Maestri said. “Vogler is much stronger. Delk is in the best shape he’s ever been and Hazzard’s in great physical shape.”

The focus for opponents will be on Hazzard, the 6-foot-2 guard who scored 16.2 points per game and stepped up in big games, scoring 35 in a win over league favorite Western Kentucky late last season and hitting clutch go-ahead or game-tying shots in wins over UL-Monroe and Denver.

“He’s probably the hardest worker on the basketball team,” Maestri said. “He worked the whole summer on getting a little quicker. He’s in phenomenal shape.

“The challenge this year for him will be to hit those shots with people keying on him. Teams won’t be giving him a lot of those shots.”

Center spot has depth: With four returning starters, the challenge will be replacing 7-footer Tom Jervis and his backup, Mario Telfair.

Three players are vying for that starting spot, and two will play most of the minutes. Senior Yamene Coleman transferred from Alabama for his final season. Juniors Trayce Macon and Bernard Toombs redshirted last year.

Coleman is 6-foot-9 and has lost 15 pounds since coming to Troy, weighing 225 pounds. Toombs is 6-foot-8 with a slender frame and Macon is 6-foot-6 and more of a face-the-basket center.

“They can all three compliment each other,” Maestri said. “Toombs is the most athletic. Coleman has a great feel for basketball and he’s played in the SEC. Macon is the best shooter.”

Newcomers set to play a big role: Troy will count heavily on junior college transfers Vernon Taylor, a 6-foot-2 guard, and Levan Patsatsia, a 6-foot-6 wing player. Both will come off the bench but could still see big minutes.

“Vernon Taylor is one of the best athletes on the team,” Maestri said. “He’s much like (Leandro) Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns. He can outrun backwards most of our guys (running) forward.

“He’s shooting the three better.

“Levan Patsatsia has a good feel for the game of basketball. He’s the typical European player who understands when to pass and how to pass.”

Season starts soon: The first chance fans will get to see the Trojans will be Nov. 9 in a 7 p.m. exhibition against West Alabama. Troy opens the regular season Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. against Piedmont.