Golden Eagles motivated

The John Brown University men's basketball program suffered through its first losing season in eight years in 2015-16, finishing with a 13-19 record overall and 5-13 mark in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

It's the worst the Golden Eagles have finished since going 10-21 (3-19 SAC) in previous head coach Clark Sheehy's first year in 2007-08.

And the difference between winning and losing -- at times last year -- came down to one or two possessions late in a game.

In JBU's first 13 games of the season, the Golden Eagles lost six games by five points or less. They lost a couple more close ones at home -- 61-59 against Southwestern Christian and 80-76 versus last place Bacone -- in Sooner Athletic Conference play.

A different result in a few of those games could have made for a different kind of feel to JBU's season, according to third-year coach Jason Beschta.

"I think last year's start -- those first several games where we lost one possession game after one possession game against good teams -- ended up setting the tone for the rest of the year," Beschta said.

Finding a way to win the battles late in ballgames has been a point of emphasis this offseason for a team that hasn't been to the NAIA Division I National Tournament in Kansas City for three years after two-straight appearances in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

Eleven of the Golden Eagles' 15 returning players on the roster from last year's team saw action and experienced the tough times of last season and another was redshirted. It's helped provide motivation for this season.

"The nice thing about having a team that has guys with returning experience is we talked about what does it take to get to Kansas City?" Beschta said. "When we're not doing those things, our guys can point to them and say those are the things that got us 13-19."

JBU will look to get its season started on a strong note Saturday when it hosts the 36th annual Toilet Paper Game against Central Baptist College at 7 p.m. on Saturday in Bill George Arena. JBU is 34-1 all-time in the TP game, which is famous for thousands of rolls of toilet paper being thrown onto the court by an overflow crowd of more than 2,000 people after JBU's first made basket of the season in its first home game. JBU is issued a technical foul for the delay of game, and the TP toss has been labeled as "the best technical foul in all of sports."

"It's not hard to get your guys up for that game," Beschta said. "You throw in a crowd like that and the great tradition -- I'm sure there are a lot of nerves going around. Once that toilet paper is flying it's 'lets get down to business.'"

In reality, JBU got down to business before last year officially ended.

Beschta said he and his coaching staff talked to the returning players in the spring before leaving campus for the summer and let them know that things were going to be different when they returned in August.

"We told them the preseason was going to be tougher," Beschta said. "We're going to be tougher. We're going to execute better. Those have been two really big focuses so far."

"We're working a lot harder than we have before. Expectations are higher, and I'm not just talking about expectations of the outcome, but the expectations of what goes into the process, because that's what leads to the outcomes. I think last year's team was focused on the outcome rather than the process."

JBU loses two of its top three scorers from last season in last year's seniors Luke Moyer (15 points per game) and Griffin Brady (14.6 ppg).

JBU will play a three guard lineup most of the time and there's been plenty of competition so far, Beschta said.

Senior guard Ricky Roberts (6-foot-3) returns after averaging 14.6 points and 5.1 rebounds as a junior last year. At times, Roberts was JBU's best offensive player a year ago.

"Consistency is going to be a key for him," Beschta said of Roberts. "He's hungry. He's worked extra in the gym every single day. He's worked on his shot this offseason. He's working on his efficiency. He does a good job of creating for others and himself. He's certainly got the ability because he's so strong and he's really shifty and quick."

Senior guard Zach English (6-2) started 16 of 20 games last year and averaged 6.2 points per game and hit 41 percent (22 of 53) from behind the 3-point line.

"Zach's playing well," Beschta said. "He shoots the ball so stinking well. We've just got to get him to shoot more."

English and sophomore Jake Caudle (4.4) of Bentonville are battling for playing time at a guard spot.

Caudle is one of JBU's best all-around players, Beschta said.

"Jake can shoot, drive and defend," he said. "He's our heart and soul guy right now. He tries to win at everything, every drill, every sprint.

Sophomore Brandon Joseph started three games at point guard last year and averaged 3.9 points per game.

"Brandon plays extremely hard," Beschta said. "He has a motor that doesn't run out. It's channeling that. He just wants to get out and go and sometimes you have to tell him to slow down."

The Golden Eagles had signed another point guard, D.J. McGee, who helped Prestonwood Christian Academy win four Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state titles in high school. But McGee left the school midway through October.

Sophomore Marquis Waller (6-4) can play a guard or a forward position after averaging 5.2 points as a freshman.

"Marquis finished so well last year in the last six to seven games," Beschta said. "He averaged double figures. He's fully capable of playing well in this league. ... We expect him to play a big role with this team. We think he can do a lot and play well in this league."

Other guards include juniors Austin Fox of Springdale Har-Ber and Matt Ledford and sophomore Joshua Rhodius.

Ledford (6-5) tied the single-game program record with nine 3-pointers and scored a career-high 29 points against Dallas Christian as a freshman, but struggled to see playing time as a sophomore last fall after starting 10 games early in the season.

At the forward positions, the Golden Eagles have options in sophomores Josh Bowling (5.1 ppg) and Ben Smith of Bentonville.

"Ben was our leading rebounder per minute," Beschta said. "He just finds ways to get rebounds."

Newcomer Samuel Egedi (6-4) after playing at a pair of junior colleges, Camden County College (N.J.) and Trinidad State (Colo.) could also help at guard. Egedi is a native of England and could end up being one of the best defenders on the team and in the conference.

"Sam, if he'll buy in, could be the best defender in our conference because he can guard (positions) one through five," Beschta said. "If he doesn't earn that this year it's because he decided he didn't want to put a lot into defense."

Freshman Brenton Toussaint (6-5) has made quite an impression already with his physical play.

"Brenton has a chance to be special player here," Beschta said. "Our guys think of him like a linebacker. He just runs through you. He's really athletic for as big a guy he is."

Senior Miguel Martinez (6-7) started 12 of 30 games last year and looked to be on track to be a starter at center until he broke his nose.

Dwayne Hart (6-9) is another option at center and gives the Golden Eagles a shot-blocking presence. Hart redshirted last year for JBU.

"Dwayne's a guy where it's just a matter of how soon he gets it," Beschta said. "He can really block some shots."

JBU was picked to finished eighth in the Sooner Athletic Conference, which features defending national champion Mid-America Christian.

"MACU's got to be the favorite after winning it all," Beschta said. "Oklahoma City is going to be good. Texas Wesleyan (defending league champion) is loaded up with a couple of stud transfers. SAGU (Southwestern Assemblies of God) just always finds a way to compete, and Science and Arts has the best guard in the league in Taran Buie (24.7 points per game).

"It's going to be interesting."