Men's Basketball Season Preview with Head Coach Rashim Lettsome

Rashim Lettsome, Head Coach, Men's Basketball, stands on the basketball court. He is holding a whistle in his right hand and a basketball in his left hand.

Posted: Oct 17, 2023

An Interview with Head Men's Basketball Coach, Rashim Lettsome

Q: Last year you played Milwaukee Area Tech Stormers (32-4), and they went on to win the national championship, what traits do you see that you have in your current team like Milwaukee, and what does a team learn from playing a team like this? They were one of the best running teams I saw all of last year.

I know the coaches at Milwaukee well, even before I started coaching. They really built that program into a powerhouse by doing it the right way. I am proud of them and happy for all their success, especially the last handful of years. What makes them really good is not only their talent but also their pace and commitment to their system. Regardless of what the score is, they all buy in and are relentless in their approach. Some similarities we may have are our versatility and athleticism. I think they are one of the nation's best in that regard, but in our own way, we have the same.

Q: Can you let us know the strengths and weaknesses of this team? You always have great players, what is the one strength you need to build on for this season and the following seasons?

I have enjoyed coaching this group in the short time I've had them because they enjoy playing with one another and have trusted what we have implemented as a system. We have a lot of sophomores which helps in experience, leadership, and chemistry. I like that we have multiple guys that can produce, hopefully, if we stay injury-free our depth will be something that we can lean on to help us be successful.

Q: Basketball is more physical than people think, what do you do to prepare them for the rigors of a full college season?

We have had a wide range of different ways to prepare us for the season within our strength and conditioning regimen. Guys have worked hard to improve physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Q: Do you feel your team has a style of play? If so, how do you build on this style to make this team successful? Some teams love to run and get up the court and others are best playing in sets. Let us know about this team and their style.

With our versatility, I think it's important for us to play fluid within structure. I allow the players to be themselves within the confines of what we are looking to do. They have all done a good job adjusting and transitioning well.

Q: Hard question. What freshman do we need to keep our eye on? What recruit is currently surprising you in off-season workouts?

Freshman Class:

All these guys will help make an impact not only within our team but also the season. They have come in and adjusted quickly while competing and showing me that they can play at this level. Not all incoming freshmen can transition this way, but I think it's great that these guys have the skill set and talent level to do so.

Have all made huge strides in not only their game on the court but also everything off the court. Their leadership has been huge for us as well as all the other sophomores who have returned and led by example in many facets.

Q: What is the one thing you need to build on from last year's victories?

Definitely consistency. Basketball is one of the longest seasons and it's challenging from a lot of different aspects. If we can find a way to be consistent throughout the course of the season, I think we will be in solid shape.