Six day after coaching the longest game in Sun Belt Conference Tournament history, UALR’s Steve Shields still stings from the loss.
He stings for Leroy Isler, the senior who played his final game in the Trojans’ 116-114 four-overtime loss to Arkansas State in last Friday’s quarterfinal matchup, and for senior Will Neighbour, who didn’t get a chance to play in the game because of a shoulder injury.
“When it comes to an end like that, it’s a pretty dramatic thing,” Shields said by telephone Wednesday while driving through Oklahoma after watching a junior college tournament Tuesday in Kansas.
Shields tried to move on quickly after his team went 3-7 over the final five weeks to finish 15-17 in his 11th season at UALR.
After the team pulled into Little Rock late Saturday night, Shields started laying the groundwork for the 2014-2015 season when he met with seniors to-be J.T. Thomas, Gus Leeper, Ben Dillard and DeVonte Smith. The focus was to put the tough ending behind them and ensure a positive start for off season conditioning, which begins today.
Shields said he isn’t worried about his own uncertainty as he enters the final year of his contract.
He signed a three-year extension in 2011 after leading UALR to the NCAA Tournament, and that was extended by one year after winning the Sun Belt West Division title in 2012.
Shields said he hasn’t met with Athletic Director Chris Peterson, which is the norm after every season, but expects to by April 1.
“You concern yourself about the things that you can control, which is us having a great off season, us getting prepared for next year and being the best that we can be,” Shields said.
Shields said he hasn’t thought about the what-ifs from this past season.
UALR played most of the season without Thomas, who started the first four games at point guard but didn’t play again. The Trojans absorbed that loss thanks to the emergence of Smith, but it didn’t end there. White or Neighbour - and sometimes both - were hobbled for the final 14 games.
White missed four games with an injured ankle, while Neighbour missed two games with an injured ankle. Neighbour tried to play through it for two games, then dislocated his shoulder against Texas-Arlington on Feb. 22. Guard Kemy Osse also suffered a fractured kneecap Jan. 30 against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Shields said Thomas will have surgery this spring to repair a sports hernia, and Neighbour - who Shields said was never close to playing in the Sun Belt Tournament - is undergoing physical therapy to avoid having surgery to repair ligament damage in his shoulder.
Shields wouldn’t even entertain the notion Wednesday of what might have happened if the Trojans had been at full strength.
“It’s not something that you can put into play,” Shields said.
“That’s the way it goes. I’m never going to use that as an excuse for our team, because I think what you do is set scenarios while you’re still playing for your team.”
Instead, Shields will turn his attention to next season. Only Isler and Neighbour have exhausted their eligibility, meaning UALR is expected to return 72.8 percent of its scoring and 76.6 percent of its rebounding.
UALR will return eight players who averaged 12 minutes or more per game. That group is led by Josh Hagins, who averaged 12.4 points per game. It also includes the team’s second-, third- and fourth-leading scorers, as well as its second- and third-leading rebounders.
“This is an important offseason for us,” Shields said. “I’m excited about this offseason.”
UALR MEN (15-17, 9-9 SUN BELT)
DATE OPPONENT TIME/RESULT
Nov. 11 North Florida L, 72-70
Nov. 16 at Florida L, 86-56
Nov. 18 at Middle Tennessee L, 76-59
Nov. 22 at Southern W, 85-82 (OT)
Nov. 26 Southern Arkansas W, 90-58
Nov. 29 at Oklahoma L, 101-81
Dec. 3 Ark.-Fort Smith W, 88-74
Dec. 10 at Tulsa L, 78-64
Dec. 13 at Memphis L, 73-59
Dec. 20 Jacksonville State^ W, 75-70
Dec. 21 Southern Miss^ L, 74-60
Dec. 30 Grambling State W, 88-68
Jan. 2 at Texas State* W, 63-59
Jan. 4 at Texas-Arlington* W, 72-70
Jan. 9 South Alabama* W, 65-60
Jan. 11 Troy* L, 75-62
Jan. 16 at W. Kentucky* W, 87-83 (OT)
Jan. 18 at Georgia State* L, 99-73
Jan. 23 Texas State* W, 69-64
Jan. 25 at Arkansas State* L, 77-49
Jan. 30 La.-Lafayette* W, 80-69
Feb. 1 at South Alabama* W, 62-58
Feb. 6 Georgia State* L, 68-57
Feb. 8 W. Kentucky* L, 79-78
Feb. 13 at La.-Laf.* L, 93-87 (2OT)
Feb. 15 at La.-Monroe* L, 65-49
Feb. 22 Texas-Arlington* L, 75-71
Feb. 27 at Troy* W, 62-55
Mar. 1 Arkansas State* W, 74-67
Mar. 8 Louisiana-Monroe* L, 66-65
Mar. 13 vs. Troy# W, 74-61
Mar. 14 vs. Ark. St.# L, 116-114 (4OT) *Sun Belt game ^BVI Tropical Shootout, at Tortola, British Virgin Islands #Sun Belt Tournament, New Orleans
Sports, Pages 21 on 03/20/2014