2018-19 #HLWBB Preview: Detroit Mercy
Detroit Mercy Titans
Last season: 2-28 overall, 2-16 Horizon League
Head coach: Bernard Scott (4th year)
By Joey Yashinsky, Horizon League Contributor. Follow on Twitter @OneSeatOver
While it is always important to learn from mistakes and use the past to help inform the future, sometimes it’s simply better to turn the page and start completely fresh.
That’s what Bernard Scott and his Detroit Mercy Titans are looking to do in 2018-19.
“What we’ve tried to do is just move forward,” said Scott. “We haven’t even talked about last year. We have five new players, six returners, and it feels like we have a whole new team. Our main focus is getting back on track.”
While the Titans do lose their top three scorers from last year, including All-Conference forward Brianne Cohen, Coach Scott brings back the next six from Detroit Mercy’s scoring chart.
Lexey Tobel burst onto the scene last season, being named to the All-Freshman team and establishing herself as one of the Horizon League’s top 3-point threats. The Titans’ coaching staff will look for more of the same from Tobel in year two.
“We are expecting big things from Lexey,” said Scott. “We’re looking for her to build on the solid year that she had as a freshman and really start to show her all-around game.”
The Titans will also bring back a pair of dynamic point guards in senior Brittney Jackson and redshirt freshman Kayla Brown. The 5-foot-5 Jackson is one of the quickest guards in the Horizon League and has been an integral part of Detroit Mercy’s rotation all three years of her career. Brown was expected to be one of the conference’s most exciting first-year players last season before an injury derailed her season after just five games.
“We’re playing them together a lot right now,” said Scott. “Brittney is one of those players that we’ll depend on for quite a few things: running the offense, keeping the team under control, and knocking down shots when we need ‘em to go. Kayla is close to being back where she used to be, so that’s a big thing for us. Any of our guards can be on the court at the same time with what we’re doing offensively this year.”
The graduation of Cohen will open up more opportunities inside for juniors Ashley Miller and Zoey Oatis, as well as promising freshman Paige Bellman.
“Losing Brianne is huge for us, but we are expecting more from Ashley and Zoey, who’s having a great preseason,” said Scott. “Paige is one of our freshman that jumps out as a four-five player, and she’s been very productive so far. It will be a committee thing for us, but I believe if everyone does what we need them to do, we should be OK.”
It was just two years ago that the Titans gave Horizon League powerhouse Green Bay all it could handle in the Motor City Madness championship game. After last year’s struggle to find victories, Bernard Scott and his motivated women are hungry to get back on the court to flip the script in 2018-19.
“We’re not worried,” said Scott. “Last season, I think I just scheduled us way too tough. We lost our confidence and could never really get it back. But that’s in the past.”
“We’ll be ready this year.”