Men's Basketball position breakdown: 2s and 3s

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The exit of Reggie Upshaw and JaCorey Williams from last year's Middle Tennessee men's basketball team has created a need for new senior leaders to step up.

It appears two guards – Giddy Potts and Edward Simpson – have taken over as the senior leadership council for this year's team, and they lead a talented group of twos and threes.

"Giddy and Ed have been here for four years together," head coach Kermit Davis said, "and they know the program as well as I do. They know the ins and outs and what to expect. I think they've really gotten better at relaying that message to our six newcomers about how things are going to be and what the expectations are."

Simpson and Potts figure to maintain their holds on starting spots alongside fellow returning starter Tyrik Dixon. Along with their leadership in the locker room, Simpson and Potts will anchor things on the court both offensively and defensively.

Potts, the reigning Conference USA Tournament MVP and a C-USA Third Team member, was second on the team in scoring last season with 552 points (15.3 per game). He's just 568 away from tying Desmond Yates' school career record and figures to be a preseason frontrunner for conference player of the year.

While scoring will be a main focus for Potts with the loss of Upshaw's and Williams' combined 31.7 points per game, he's been working this offseason at being more of a playmaker.

"Coach has been preaching to us to make more plays on our own, since we don't have JaCorey and Reggie anymore," he said. "We have to help get the fours and fives involved and help the new guys learn the plays and get more involved."

Simpson will anchor the group defensively. Davis has often called the Conference USA All-Academic Team member the best defender on the team, and he'll likely draw matchups against the best perimeter players on opposing teams.

Potts led the team with 47 steals a season ago, and he's also the top returning rebounder for the Blue Raiders (5.3 per game in 2016-17).

"Ed is our best defensive player, and Giddy should be up there towards the top of the league in steals and he's a great rebounding guard," Davis said. "We just bring a great physicality on the defensive side from those spots."

Not only do the twos and threes include the team's two senior leaders, but they also may be the two positions on the team with the most depth.

Junior Antwain Johnson, who had career highs with 19 points and six assists in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, will surely see an uptick in minutes from his 13.2 per game last season. Newcomers James Hawthorne (junior), David Simmons (junior) and Therren Shelton-Szmidt (freshman) could also be in line to see quality time.

The depth and diverse looks that can be created at the two positions have Davis excited about what his team could look like if the group can play to its potential.

"I really think this could be one of the most balanced scoring teams we've had," he said. "I like our depth and our length, and I think this could be one of our most athletic teams."

Here's a breakdown of the twos and threes:

Returners
2 Antwain Johnson [6-2, 197, Jr.]
2016-17: Played in all 36 games … 13.2 minutes per game … 4.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per outing … notched double-digit scoring outings at Belmont (Dec. 14), at UTSA (Feb. 2) and against UTEP (Mar. 10) in the C-USA Tournament … career highs in points (19) and assists (6) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against Butler (Mar. 18)

11 Edward Simpson [6-2, 195, Sr.]
2016-17: Earned 24 starts and played in all 36 games … averaged 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game … third on the team with 78 assists … led the team 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio … shot 37.8 percent from the field and from 3-point range … NABC Good Works Team nominee … voted to the C-USA All-Academic Team … member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll

20 Giddy Potts [6-2, 217, Sr.]
2016-17: Named the Conference USA Tournament MVP and to the All-C-USA Third Team … second on MT in scoring (15.3 points per game) and third in rebounding (5.3 per game) … led the team with 47 steals … shot 48.2 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from 3-point range and a team-high 80.8 percent from the free-throw line … named to the Challenge in Music City All-Tournament Team … became the 33^rd member of Middle Tennessee's 1,000-Point Club

Newcomers
4 James Hawthorne [6-7, 205, Jr.]
Southwest Mississippi Community College: Team-high 5.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore to go with 7.8 points, 1.7 blocks and 1.6 assists per outing … shot 53 percent from the field and 68 percent from the free-throw line

12 Therren Shelton-Szmidt [6-5, 190, Fr.]
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy: Started all 37 games as a senior, averaging 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game … shot 44 percent from the field, 38 percent from three and 73 percent from the free-throw line … scored a career-high 41 points against Wesley Christian on 15-of-28 shooting and 6-of-12 from three … averaged 17 points and six rebounds per game as a junior

21 David Simmons [6-3, 195, Jr.]
Tallahassee Community College: In 66 career games, averaged 13.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.1 steals … 12.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore … second First Team All-Panhandle Conference nod in 2017 ... 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a freshman … 2016 Panhandle Conference Freshman of the Year … First-team FCSAA All-State and First-team All-Panhandle Conference by both the coaches and media … Panhandle Conference All-Freshman Team

Middle Tennesee State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Tyrik Dixon

James Hawthorne

Antwain Johnson

Giddy Potts

Therren Shelton-Szmidt

David Simmons

Edward Simpson

Reggie Upshaw

JaCorey Williams

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