Diary Series: Kareem Richardson, Asst. Coach - Xavier

As I began writing my first entry of the new season, I was really contemplating what to write about and then it dawned on me.  It was Sunday, the first full day for the clocks to change and fall back one hour.  The change of the clocks was very symbolic for me since my last entry.  Many things have changed for me personally as well as the world we live in. 

The biggest for me personally and for my family has been the transition from Drake University (Des Moines, IA) to Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH).  It’s always very difficult leaving great friendships, colleagues, players and, mostly, uprooting my kids to a new area.  The three years spent at Drake University were fantastic years.  I was blessed to better myself professionally by working with an outstanding head coach, Mark Phelps.

Now with roughly five months under my belt at Xavier University and working under one of the best head coaches in the business, Chris Mack, the change has been better than I could have imagined.  One of the most exciting and difficult changes that I will face along with everyone else in the program is being the program with the X on our back (no pun intended).  Everyone in the profession knows anytime a school is picked to win their conference, that team will receive every other team’s best shot. 

We have a solid core of players that will be ready for the challenge.  We return one of the most complete point guards in the country, Tu Holloway.  The most amazing stat for Tu, in my opinion, is that he had two triple doubles last year.  Triple doubles in college basketball don’t happen very often and the fact that he posted two last year truly speaks on how complete of a player he can be.  In the back court with Tu is a dynamic guard, Mark “Cheeks” Lyons.  Cheeks is one of the most explosive guards at his size that I’ve been around.  Cheeks has the ability to have great leadership skills.  We will need Mark to bring that aspect of his game to the table every night to help us get where we want to go.  The anchor of this year’s team will be our 7-foot center, Kenny Frease.  Kenny gives us the ability to have a dominant post presence.  Frease doesn’t necessarily have to score for our team to be effective but he has to touch the ball because of his ability to make his teammates better by being such a great passer.

Change can be as good or bad as I make it.  I look forward to making this change not good but great!  I wish everyone a healthy and successful season!

* * *