Pronghorns strive to improve everyday during the season

By Lethbridge Herald on October 31, 2024.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward U of L men's basketball's Shaye Gibb attempts to run by Sebastian Perez during practice on Thursday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team are looking to always improve and some leadership to help them along this season.

“It’s been good,” said Kenny Otieno, Horns head coach on preparation.

“It’s been super competitive; guys are realizing what guys that we’ve added. Nobody’s spot is safe. Like  even with our top six, seven guys (from) last year, in terms of minutes, they’re competing as well for maintaining their minutes. So I think that has upped our level of intensity and competition in practice which has helped us with a lot of different things in preseason (in) just being ready to compete this season.”

The strengths, in Otieno’s mind, will come from paying attention to detail and intentionally placing a focus on continually becoming better every day.

“It’s just a process of when we’re in here getting better with the little things that we keep struggling with game-to-game and just focusing on that and I think the rest will take care of itself,” said Otieno.

Otieno will rely on the leadership from players like Angelo Mbituyimana.

“I feel like his energy and his leadership, in terms of just how guys gravitate to him with his experience, definitely will help us have an edge on a lot of different things,” said Otieno.

Another senior, Shae Gibb, will be called upon to lead as well.

“Definitely a big piece in terms of our anchor for our defence,” said Otieno.

 The team have added key pieces to address some holes including Mason Hoffman, who transferred from Lethbridge Polytechnic, Lu Dalil from Okanagan College and Bryce Solis from the University of Alberta.

“With Lu, he definitely gives us more size, which is something we lacked quite heavily last season,” said Otieno.

“But with the other two, it just gives us more dynamic options on the wing ( also known as the shooting guard  and small forward player positons).”

U of L hosts the University of Regina Cougars tonight at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 7 p.m. to open the season.

“They have a very solid front core in terms of their bigs (taller players),” said Otieno.

“They run the floor well, they do a good job of being physical, they have some skilled bigs as well in terms of being able to score from the 3 (small forward), 4 (power forward) and 5 (centre) position.”