January 18, 2007

JACKSON -- The Millsaps Majors started slowly this season, a bit puzzling for a team that returned a wealth of experience from a year ago.

But since the semester break, the Division III Majors (9-6) have gained momentum, winning five of six overall and starting 4-1 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

"The first semester, we struggled at finding our niche," said Millsaps coach Tim Wise.

Minus the graduated Tyler Warren, the top scorer from last season and a 1,000-point career man, the returning Majors had to adjust their roles.

"Maybe it was just figuring out how to respond in situations without Tyler out there," Wise said. "He took a lot of the big shots. The other guys played off of him.

"They've had to find their niche this season. Hopefully we're making progress."

That would certainly seem to be the case for junior Rodney Rogan, who scuffled early but has come on of late, earning SCAC player of the week honors this week.

The versatile 6-foot-4 Texan, who can play inside or out, averaged 19 points and 4.5 rebounds in two wins last week and is at 13.5 and 4.9 for the season.

"He was one of the top returning players in the league, and maybe he's regaining his confidence," Wise said. "We have to have him continue to improve."

Rogan, along with fellow veterans Lorenzo Bailey, Allen Odum and Edrick Montgomery (who returned after a year at Tougaloo), will be counted on to step up for a big stretch of league games the Majors face the next two weekends.

They are at Austin College on Friday and at Hendrix on Sunday, then welcome SCAC powers Centre and DePauw to the Hangerdome next weekend.

"The next two weeks, we need to make hay," Wise said.

The schedule favors a strong finish for the Majors, who went 6-8 in the league two years ago and 7-7 last season. Five of their last seven games (including the Centre and DePauw contests) are at home.