Wednesday, October 19, 2005

By Nate Rau, nrau@nashvillecitypaper.com

The Belmont men’s basketball team is off to a relatively disappointing first few practices, according to coach Rick Byrd, as a bevy of new players struggle to learn the Bruins’ patent motion offense.

Opposing coaches routinely praise the BU offense for being well-run and difficult to defend. But, stand-by guards Jese Snyder and Nick Otis have graduated, and Byrd is mixing in seven new players.

Three of those players _ Boomer Herndon, Andy Wicke and Henry Harris _ practiced with Belmont while sitting out last season. Herndon was a transfer from Tennessee, while Wicke (Hendersonville) and Harris (Stratford) redshirted. So all three players primarily spent practice running opposing teams’ plays.