As I sit here watching the Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions prepare for their upcoming season, I can't help but reflect on what it takes to build a championship-caliber program. Having followed collegiate basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen countless teams rise and fall, but the ones that consistently dominate share certain strategic approaches that separate them from the pack. The Golden Lions have shown flashes of brilliance in recent years, and I genuinely believe this could be their breakthrough season if they implement these five key strategies effectively.
Let me start by emphasizing the importance of defensive intensity, something I've always valued more than offensive fireworks. Defense wins championships—it's a cliché because it's true. Last season, the Golden Lions allowed opponents to shoot 45% from the field, which ranked them in the bottom half of the SWAC conference. They need to cut that number down to at least 42% to compete for the title. I've noticed during preseason practices that Coach Solomon has been drilling them on close-outs and help defense, and I think this renewed focus will pay dividends. When I played college ball myself, our coach would make us do defensive slides until our legs felt like jelly, but that foundation carried us through tight games when our shots weren't falling.
Building team chemistry might sound like another sports platitude, but I've observed firsthand how it transforms good teams into great ones. The Golden Lions returned eight players from last year's squad, which gives them a significant advantage in terms of familiarity. They've been spending extra time together off the court, organizing team dinners and film sessions without coaching staff present. This reminds me of what makes championship programs special—that intangible connection where players instinctively know where their teammates will be. I recall watching National University's volleyball team complete their three-peat last season, and their captain Lamina mentioned how their off-court bond translated to on-court success. That's the kind of culture Arkansas Pine Bluff should emulate.
Now let's talk about tempo control, an aspect I feel many mid-major programs overlook. The Golden Lions averaged 72 possessions per game last season, which placed them in the middle of the pack nationally. However, with their athletic roster, they should be pushing that number to at least 76 possessions. I've crunched the numbers from their last five games of previous season, and when they played at a faster pace, their scoring increased by nearly 8 points per game. During their recent scrimmage against Oral Roberts, I noticed they were pushing the ball aggressively after defensive stops, which tells me they're working on this exact strategy.
Player development is where coaching staffs truly earn their paychecks. I'm particularly excited about junior guard Kaleb Higgins, who increased his scoring average from 11 to 16 points per game last season. If he can make another similar jump while improving his assist-to-turnover ratio from 1.8 to at least 2.3, he could become an all-conference player. I've spoken with several coaches who believe he has professional potential if he continues developing. The way I see it, individual improvement often separates good teams from great ones—just look at how Lamina developed from a solid contributor to the centerpiece of National University's championship volleyball team.
Finally, let's discuss mental toughness, something I believe is cultivated through challenging non-conference scheduling. The Golden Lions have games scheduled against Arkansas and Texas Tech this season—tough matchups that many would consider guaranteed losses. But I love this approach because it prepares teams for conference play better than padding wins against weaker opponents. Last season, teams that played at least three power conference opponents in non-conference play won 62% of their conference games compared to 54% for teams that avoided such challenges. These difficult games build resilience that serves teams well during the grind of conference play and tournament time.
Watching the Golden Lions evolve over recent years has been fascinating, and I'm optimistic about their direction. The strategies I've outlined aren't revolutionary, but their consistent implementation separates perennial contenders from the rest of the pack. As we've seen with championship programs across sports—from National University's volleyball three-peat to the consistent excellence of programs like La Salle and UST—sustained success comes from mastering fundamentals while adapting to new challenges. The foundation appears to be in place for Arkansas Pine Bluff; now it's about execution and maintaining that competitive edge through the inevitable ups and downs of a long season. If they can embrace these approaches while developing their unique identity, I wouldn't be surprised to see them playing meaningful basketball deep into March.