Listening to Ball State University men's basketball coach Billy Taylor, one gets the sense that training freshman guard Melvin Goins to become a productive point guard is something of a pet project.
Goins began manning the point before junior forward Anthony Newell's return from injury and now runs the offense regularly when he is on the floor.
"The transition wasn't easy," Taylor said. "What I've liked about the way Melvin's handled it is, he's always had a good attitude. He's very coachable."
Taylor said Goins, who leads Ball State with 59 assists this season and has tallied 2.54 assists a game since Mid-American Conference play began, is always working to become a better player.
"He's been very diligent in trying to understand how to get better," Taylor said. "It's going to help him be successful in the long run."
Goins was primarily a scorer in high school in Dallas. While he still looks for his own shot on occasion, Taylor said his point guard has made strides in becoming a playmaker instead of simply a scorer.
"I think he's improved tremendously in terms of his floor management," Taylor said. "He's still got a lot of room for growth, but I think he's got potential to be a terrific point guard."
As the Cardinals prepare to play at Eastern Kentucky University at 7 p.m. Saturday, Goins' recent record should contribute to the team's effort. Although he scored four points Wednesday night in a loss at Central Michigan University, Goins had been in double figures in scoring in five of the previous six games.
As a true freshman, Goins has had to adjust not simply to Division I basketball but also to college life.
"You're taking a kid from the South and putting him in a completely different atmosphere," Taylor said. "The demands of Division I basketball on and off the court are never easy. Then you have a new coach, so you throw all that into the mix, so there were a lot of obstacles for him to overcome."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
