Time for Bright to shine

The best start in school history since joining Division I had Sam Houston State basketball fans feeling good about the start of Southland Conference play and the potential of another trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Bob Marlin. Following a 2-2 start against SLC foes, the unbridled optimism has been replaced by many with tempered concerns.
The difference between perfection and impending panic is slim. SHSU's three losses are by a total of seven points and two overtime periods on the road. Assuming Saturday's defensive performance at Lamar was an exception to the rule, the Kats have proven to be an excellent defensive team. As long as that trend continues, the Kats can expect to win more than their share of conference games (and fans can continue to keep the Maalox in hand).
To say that Thursday night's showdown with rival Stephen F. Austin — which has its own legitimate conference title aspirations — is a "must-win" game is probably too dramatic. While a victory at home would pull the Kats into a tie with SFA at 3-2 in SLC action, there is still way too much basketball left to be played for Thursday's outcome to define the season.
But this much we do know. Sam Houston State is a different team than the one that started the season 10-0. The loss of James Barrett's presence in the post is huge; bigger than most people realized. The Kats don't miss Barrett's eight points and four rebounds per game as much as they miss his attitude. The Brooklyn native was New York tough. Much like former Bearkats Jay Oliphant and Wilder Auguste, Barrett was an undersized post player who excelled at doing the dirty work. Without him, center John Gardiner is the only established force on the inside. Lamar exploited that weakness over the weekend, and once Gardiner was in foul trouble, the Kats didn't have enough to answer with.
The good news is that a struggling offense may be rounding into form. Lost in the disappointment of the overtime defeat in Beaumont is the fact SHSU has shot 46 percent, 55 percent and 51 percent from the field in the last three halves of basketball, dating back to the final 20 minutes of a 64-49 win at McNeese State on Jan. 17.
The one glaring concern is senior Ryan Bright's pair of five-point games in conference play. It's almost impossible to criticize a guy who's averaging a double-double for the season (10.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game), and with everything else he brings to the table, Bright's inexplicable career-long struggle from the free throw line can be forgiven.
The SFA game isn't a must-win contest, but it is a major statement game — for the Bearkats and Bright. It's time for Bright to take his game to the next level and keep it there for the next eight weeks. And it's a reasonable request because his career body of work is evidence that he's capable of more.
As a team, the 2007-08 Bearkats have an identity on defense. They're quick, they pressure the perimeter, they scrape and claw for everything they get on the inside and crash the boards hard, beating opponents by an average of 7.4 rebounds per game.
The offense is still undefined. If the Kats can find the scoring to supplement its defense, this could become the special season everyone was hoping for. Bright has shown before that he can be an offensive force, and this team needs him now more than ever.
Thursday night would be the perfect setting — at home, in front of rowdy crowd against SFA in an "important" game — for Bright to put his stamp on this his senior season.