Patriots continue to evolve under Edwards

By: Shawn Singleton/Morning News | SCNow
Published: November 14, 2007

For the second straight season, the Francis Marion men’s basketball team has undergone a change.

Last year, Gary Edwards replaced John Schweitz as coach.

But Edwards’ first season was a rough one as the Patriots finished 9-19.

In round two of the Patriots’ extreme makeover, FMU has added 10 players to the roster. Four of them are junior college transfers and four others are transfers from Division I programs.

Edwards said the newcomers will add firepower to a squad that sorely lacked it in 2006-07, especially in Peach Belt play where the Patriots finished 5-11.

“With the new guys, we have more size and more strength,” he said. “The Peach Belt Conference may be the best conference in Division II basketball, maybe better than some Division I conferences.

“If you don’t have the size and the strength, you can’t compete.”

Edwards brought in two Hampton University transfers in junior forward Kevin Clark and sophomore guard Michael Laney. Sophomore forward Andy Hampton transferred to FMU from IUPUI in Indiana, and senior center Carter Stiglbauer comes to the Patriots from Charleston Southern.

“My experience with Division I players is that they know how to win,” Edwards said. “But these guys didn’t play a lot at their former schools, so it’s going to take a while for them to get back to a competitive mode.”

With that in mind, Francis Marion will rely heavily on junior college players like guard Houston Power and forward Ziyadah Carter until the rest of the team gets into playing shape.

Edwards said those players have to be ready, but he cautions Peach Belt action is different from what they’re used to.

“We’re going to lean on our four junior college transfers a lot in the early going, but Division II ball is different that JUCO ball,” he said. “There are some great JUCO conferences with great players, but there is a different level of defensive intensity in the Peach Belt.”

Along with the new faces, FMU returns three players from last season. Senior forward Rodrick Burton is the leading scorer of the returnees, having averaged seven points per game. Senior guards Cortne’ Baker and Nate Morley combined to average nearly 12 points per game.

Edwards said their roles will change this year, however.

“We definitely don’t have a lot of scoring and rebounding returning this year for us,” he said. “Cortne’, Nate and Rodrick did a great job for us last year, but they will be coming off the bench for us this year.”

Patriots continue to evolve under Edwards

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