Q: How are you going to be able to replace Rashad Green (transferred to University of San Francisco), one of the best rebounding guards in the league in my opinion, and statistically the best rebounder on the Jaspers last year?
Coach Rohrssen: Well, on every team for different reasons things have to be replaced, whether by graduation or whether by transfers. In this particular case it will be more rebounding by committee.
We don’t want to just look to one individual person and go out and say, hey you, grab eight rebounds. We actually as a team need to do a better job in rebounding.
Statistically he was our leading rebounder. There is always a value in that someone who can rebound the basketball. That is one of the areas we highly emphasize in practice and in games, so they hear it a lot, but individually and as a group they have to execute it.
Q: Opposing teams shot 47.5 percent from the field against you last year. Have there been any changes from the defensive strategy, or is it still the same scheme and you just need to get the players to work harder at it?
Coach Rohrssen: Well, defense is an aspect of the game that if you commit to it and you do it properly, you should always be in the game. There are going to be nights when your shot isn’t falling, as an individual, as a team, but if you can defend and guard people and stop people, you more than likely have a chance to be in the game.
For you, being a Boston guy, for all that was said about the Big Three, let’s not ever lose sight that Kevin Garnett was the defensive player of the year last year. All that seems to go under the radar screen, but having a good defense and playing a good defense keeps you in games.
Teams that are good defensively and take pride in it are winning teams, and teams that master it and excel at it become championship teams.
Q: You have two new players on the team, Djibril Coulibaly and Marty Higgins. What does each of them bring to the team?
Coach Rohrssen: Djibril provides us with another body at the center position, which is a very important position on the court. He also brings a different look in the position for us. He has an ability to run up and down the court and appears to have a knack of being able to block some shots. He will be a big help to us if he stays healthy and progresses.
Marty Higgins is a walk-on who has appeared to be a very hard worker, a diligent worker, and a good student. He seems to have a good understanding of the game and how it's played and should be somebody that can help us in practice and be a good member and part of our team.
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