Tigers expect big things from Lawrence this season
The sophomore guard is not the typical dunker.
Published Nov. 13, 2007
Sophomore guard Keon Lawrence had something to prove. During Thursday's game against Missouri Western State, the sophomore guard threw down a dunk with about seven minutes and 27 seconds to play to in the first half.
"Everybody was saying they don't think I can jump anymore like I used to," Lawrence said. "So that was just to show them that I still can jump."
Lawrence said he will continue to dunk throughout the year.
"I'm more healthy, more ready this year, so I'm ready to go," he said.
At six feet, two inches, Lawrence is not the typical dunker. Lawrence has six teammates that are at least five inches taller than he is. But this season he will be expected to do other things that don't seem to match his size.
During the exhibition opener this past Saturday, the Tigers were out-rebounded by the UM-St. Louis Griffons. Coach Mike Anderson called on his guards to help pick up the slack. Lawrence said that day he was going to heed his coach's words and focus more on rebounding.
On Thursday, Lawrence did not disappoint. He led the team with nine rebounds in the win against the Griffons, and had fifteen points and nine assists. For Anderson, this was a sign that his team is not too dependent on any one player.
"I think you see a team that's going to be balanced," Anderson said. "You don't know who's going to be that guy tonight. Keon tonight, this guy almost had a triple double. He came off the bench."
Junior forward Leo Lyons said he was happy for the help on the glass.
"That says a lot," Lyons said. "When the guards get the rebound, that helps us a lot because they can just push it up the floor and we get easy baskets."
But Lawrence said he is not content to have led the team in rebounding for the one exhibition game. He wants to see the trend continue and has made it a top priority on his to-do list.
"Just keep rebounding," he said. "Keep rebounding, keep my defense going, just stay in attack mode no matter what, like coach wants me to do."
Although Lawrence is serious about improving his rebounding, he has had some fun on the court during the exhibition season. A highlight was the alley-oop he threw to freshman forward Justin Safford during the first half of the Missouri Western game.
"I let it go, I was like, 'Ah, man, I should have just pulled up,'" Lawrence said. "But then when I saw him come out of nowhere, I was like, 'Man, that was a good pass.' He went to go get it, because I threw it kind of high, and he went to go get it. I'm glad he went to get it and kept me out of trouble."
With the regular season beginning, Lawrence said he is looking forward to playing games that count.
"We're going to definitely be ready," he said. "We're going to turn our defense up some more."
He said he will continue to chase rebounds with the goal of leading the team this season.
"I'm going to try, do what I can," he said. "Coach wants me to go get some rebounds, I'm going to get them."
