They make a huge difference at our level. We are not going to get talent like the money conferences, but the things that go to make a good team can be pieced together.
Maturity. That we have, at least chronologically. We have one second-year player on the roster, and everyone else is in at least his third year of college basketball, so this is not a bunch of raw kids in the usual sense of the term in college basketball.
Experience. There are 18 years of D1 experience on the team (19 if you count J. T.'s partial year that he got back). Granted, eight of the players one or zero years at D1, but because Shields played so many people the last couple of years, the ones who played got more minutes than they might have in another situation. And even though juco is not D1, it is still college basketball, and sometimes those guys play against players who are headed to D1, so it is worth something in terms of experience.
Leadership. This is where we have to wait and see. J. T. has already shown his leadership, even though he has only played four games. Expect that to continue. Josh also seems to be a vocal leader. Gus and Ben, two of our seniors, are more low-key, but often the quieter guys exert a lot of leadership by example and just a few words. We need them to do that.
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