Jesus Patino knows the importance of adapting to a new team. He knew it after he lost Joe “King of Memphis” Jackson in 2010. He knew it after he lost Andre Hollins in 2011. And now he knows it after losing six players to college basketball last season including Leron Black and Davell Roby.

“They follow the tradition. Nych [Smith] followed Leron and Roby,” Coach Patino said. “Dillon [Mitchell] will follow Nych. Aaron Strother and Victor Lacey are coming up right behind Dillon.”

As Patino puts it, teams like last season’s only come around every ten years. But with all due respect, Patino is wrong. For the Spartans, this cycle takes place more frequently. Hollins played alongside Jackson five seasons ago. A young Black watched from the sideline as Hollins dominated four seasons ago. Now, many fresh faces are trying to make a name for themselves.

The results of last year have not been forgotten. Being a nationally ranked top 10 team, everyone expected the Spartans to win the state championship. However, they fell short after an early playoff loss to Arlington. With the final buzzer of last season, also came the realization that this team was going to be very different.

The team looks forward to the difficulty of recovering with a much shorter and less athletic lineup.  However, this does not bother Patino.

“I always like the challenge of getting young players to teach them how to play the game,” Patino said. “Trying to win with lesser talent is a challenge and is more fun. It’s special.”

3 Things to Know about the 2014-2015 Spartans:

1. Nych and Dillon are the Key Players

It’s finally Nych Smith’s (12) chance. For the past three seasons, he has been overshadowed by older and more experienced players. Although Smith played a smaller role last season, we saw flashes of what was to come this season. He was criticized by many people of taking too many ill-advised shots and not giving the ball up to the veterans. Patino disagrees with this, though. “The guy shoots 60% from the field. It’s not about how many shots he takes, it’s about how many he makes,” Patino said.

Along with Smith, Dillon Mitchell (11) steps in after his stellar football season ended. Mitchell is still learning the new basketball system and gaining his timing back after missing pre-season practices because of football. But Mitchell is a playmaker and a quick learner. Look to see the ball touch Smith and Mitchell’s hand every offensive possession as they are the pillars of this offense.

2. Experience is Not on their Side

With only two seniors (Smith and Alfonso Peoples), the team lacks much-needed experience in a division that is ruthless. Many new players this season will see extended playing time including guard Victor Lacey (11), Aarin Strother (10) and Marcus Mitchell (11). Lacey has added a nice spark to the offense averaging 16 points in his first two games. Smith and Dillon can only do so much, though, so if the Spartans want to make it far in the playoffs, they need to establish a role for these younger, less experienced players.

3. Lack of Height

This is one of the shortest teams that Patino has coached in his nine years at White Station. With the tallest players Marcus Mitchell and William Schupp (11) only being 6’6”, the team is lacking a true big man. Against some of the bigger teams in Memphis, White Station will have trouble rebounding and defending their basket. Realistically, there are only two things that the Spartans can do about this problem: box out for rebounds and hope to grow a few inches during the season.

I could sit here all day analyzing the team’s strengths and weaknesses, but the outcome of the season all comes down to one factor: winning games. Their lack of height and experience will be overshadowed if they simply win games.

If Smith can dominate games like we have seen so far this season, and if Dillon can match Smith’s efforts, then the Spartans stand a fighting chance. This team will not win games because of their defense; they will win because of their athletic and shooter-friendly offense. With a coach that strives in teaching young players how to play the game correctly, the team understands that this is a learning process. Only time and experience will tell us whether this team can take us to the next level