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TSU's Johnny Jones: "I don't have any pre-conceived idea in terms of where we'll finish."

October 20, 2018 -- 9:18 a.m.

Texas Southern men's basketball has a new head coach. Exit: Head Coach Mike Davis is coaching at Detroit Mercy. Enter: new Head Coach Johnny Jones.

With Johnny Jones in charge, the expectations have not changed. TSU was picked second in the 2018-'19 SWAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Coach Jones is expected to continue the winning-tradition Mike Davis established.

However, Johnny Jones is not big on preseason predictions. His goal is to get his team ready to compete night in and night out on offense and defense.

"I don't have any pre-conceived idea in terms of where we'll finish," Coach Jones said during the SWAC coaches' conference call. "I know they've got great coaches in this league. I think you can see the parity. A lot of guys returning from last year; then, where the teams were voted in terms of Grambling and Prairie View and Pine Bluff sitting at the top of the league. Coaches have done a tremendous job; so, it's going to be a challenge. And, I know every night we're going to have to be prepared in conference play but even in the preseason. I have to have these guys ready to play. It's certainly going to be a challenge to compete night in, night out on the road like we'll have these nine preseason games out there.

"My expectation is for this group to go out and play as hard as they can night in and night out," Jones said. "That's what we're trying to build them to and that's on both ends of the floor."

Once again, Texas Southern has a tough non-conference schedule; however, unlike the non-conference schedules Mike Davis put together which had zero home games, Coach Jones did squeeze in two home games.

"We're fortunate that we're going to have an opportunity that we're going to have a couple of non-conference games here at home and break it up," Jones commented. "Mike (Former Head Coach Mike Davis) played 13 straight on the road last year. His first home game was a league game."

Jones hopes the two home games will give Texas Southern's fans and supporters an opportunity to connect and identify with this year's team before conference play begins in January.

"Two D-2s (Huston-Tillotson, November 29, and Concordia, December 8) that we'll play here this coming season is going to give our fanbase an opportunity to see us in action prior to getting into conference play."

"We're excited about that; but, like Mike, I want to challenge these guys. The guys on this team want to play against some tough competition. Guys they've seen growing up AAU basketball and having great challenges against. It's going to give them an opportunity going on that floor and having an opportunity to be at their best on those nights."

Jones continued, "We'll play 9 on the road; then, we'll have a couple of home and homes which we'll start a series with Lamar University on the road this year with the hope of getting them back here as well.

"We'll play Evansville on the road; and, hopefully, we'll get them back here."

Jones joked, "If I had my druthers, I'd have all my non-conference games at home. I'd like to play all 13 of them at home (laughing). I understand that we do have to play some road games; and, with that being said, we look forward to the challenge."

Coach Jones and his Texas Southern University men's basketball squad tips off the season Tuesday, November 6, in Waco, against the Baylor Bears.

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