Junior swingman Jonathan Simmons will debut for the Cougars in their exhibiton against Concordia tonight. | Aaron Cisneros/The Daily Cougar
Stan Bonewitz is Concordia’s head coach, but earlier in his basketball career he was a freshman point guard for head coach James Dickey at Texas Tech in 1995.
Dickey remembered him for his abilities as a passer and shooter. Today he is expecting Bonewitz and his Tornadoes to challenge the Cougars in an exhibition.
“They’ll come in here, play fast and press,” Dickey said. “They’ll give us a lot of different looks. That’ll be good for us. We’ll have a size advantage but they’ll have a lot of athletes.”
New-look Cougars
With 14 players on the roster, only five were from last year’s squad.
The Cougars are eager to prove they are an improved unit.
“We like the guys that we have,” Dickey said. “We know that we’re going to have to go through some experience as far as getting the guys tested in game conditions.”
With approximately four weeks of practice, competing against someone besides their own teammates gives the Cougars a lone preseason tuneup.
“We’re ready to play someone else,” Dickey said. “We’re ready to get under the lights.”
UH and Concordia will take the court at 7 p.m. today at Hofheinz Pavilion.
The season officially tips off against Grambling State at 7 p.m., for the home opener.
