New season brings high expectations at Bob Jones

MADISON- Bob Jones Head Basketball Coach Luther Tiggs is ready to turn the page after last year’s eight-win season. And he thinks he has the right combination of experience, size, and attitude to do just that.

“Last season was a disappointment but we’re not going to let that define us,” Tiggs said at FCA Media Day on Sunday, Nov. 4. “We’re looking forward to the season. Dante (Emanuel) and Tasean (Hicks) have been voted team captains by their peers. We’re trying to get better team chemistry and better leadership out of these guys. We have more depth than in the past. Collectively we have more size this year and guys who can play multiple positions.”

Also returning is 6-foot-6 Jalen Myers. Tiggs is excited about Jadan Coleman who can light it up from outside. Coleman, 6-foot-4, averaged over 30 points per game on JV last year.

One thing Tiggs is not changing is the fast break style of basketball he coaches.

“Fans enjoy watching that style of play and I enjoy coaching it that way. It is the way I played. To be successful though you have to have the players who can play that style. We are going to push the ball.”

Bob Jones struggled scoring last year. Most of the games they scored in the 50’s and some below 50 points.

Tiggs said that the problem was shooting.

“The guys have really worked hard on their shots. This may be the best shooting team I have coached. We’ve got more shooters than we had last year. One through five can put the ball in the bucket from the three-point line.”

But still there are things to work on.

“We have to get better on the defensive end and more physical rebounding.”

Tiggs is ahead of where he has been the last two seasons in that he is not waiting on football to end to put together his team. Eleven of the twelve players on varsity have been practicing since Oct. 15. Bob Jones opens on Tuesday at home against Huntsville.

Bob Jones is in Class 7A Area 8 with James Clemens, Florence, and Austin.