R.J. Allen, Newman hope to grow from Wichita State exhibition

For his first game as coach at Newman, R.J. Allen couldn’t think of a better opponent than Wichita State.

The two Wichita programs will play an exhibition game Monday at 7 p.m. at Koch Arena with all proceeds being donated to the Red Cross for hurricane relief. Allen is thrilled to be involved in a good cause, and for the chance for his inexperienced team being able to observe a top-10 team in Wichita State.

“We look forward to going over to compete with one of the best programs in the country,” Allen said. “It will be a great learning experience to see that program up close and how they go about their business and how they execute, how hard they play, how unselfish they are. I think it’s going to be great for our guys. Sometimes that experience can be the best teacher when you’re trying to get those points across to your guys.”

Allen, an assistant at Newman for the last six seasons, took over the program after longtime coach Mark Potter retired following Newman’s 9-19 season. His first offseason in charge has been a busy one.

“The biggest challenge has just been the amount of decisions you’re constantly making as a head coach,” Allen said. “No longer am I in the position to give suggestions. I’m the one who is making the ultimate decision.”

Another challenge this season will be replacing three of Newman’s top four scorers from last season, including three starters.

Kevin Bryant, a 6-foot-5 forward, is the team’s leading returning scorer with his 10.1 average. He was also the team’s leading rebounder with an 8.0 average. Andover Central graduate Christian DeYoung started 17 games a season ago and averaged 5.2 points.

Allen said the biggest surprise this fall has been the play of two foreign-born players — Cameron Goldfinch, a 6-6 freshman from Australia, and senior Andre Sands, a 6-7 forward from the Bahamas who previously played at Sam Houston State.

“Cameron has been really good for us so far and he’s just taken his game to the next level,” Allen said. “I think he’s a kid that could be really good in the future and he’s gotten off to a really good start. Andre has really come around and had a great summer. He’s lost some weight and has been working really hard.”

Last year Newman had two players average a combined 34 points in Daniel Nwosu and Taylor Schieber. Allen doesn’t see a scoring tandem like that happening again this season.

“I think with this group it’s going to be by committee and we could have a different leading scorer every night,” Allen said. “We have a handful of guys that can score it a little bit, but I don’t know if we have a flat-out scorer like we had a year ago. We have three or four guys who are going to help carry the load. We have to keep improving and defend and be able to rebound it well. That’s been our focus coming into the season and we hope to improve on it.”

Newman was selected to finish eighth in the nine-team Heartland Conference in the preseason coaches’ poll.

“Our goal is to grow every single day,” Allen said. “That’s been our approach. If we come in every day with that approach, over time you’re going to improve. We don’t really get caught up in the preseason rankings. We’re hoping we can come out and shock some people and surprise them with our play.”

This story was originally published November 5, 2017 at 6:38 PM with the headline "R.J. Allen, Newman hope to grow from Wichita State exhibition."