The evolution of a center and a program

          Anytime there's a changing of the guard at the head coaching position, growing pains are expected. However, Georgia State center and block specialist, James Vincent, said he feels that the 2011-2012 season will have a lot of the growth without so much of the pains.

        With the hiring of Ron Hunter, Vincent is sensing a new morale among his teammates, and the expectations of creating a winning culture are beginning to spread through the program.

       "I see a whole lot of change," Vincent said. "My team, we've always been hyped up, but I've never seen them this hyped before. It's a whole new experience with them now. They're ready to go to practice, ready for the games, [and] they're not nervous. They're just straight and cool, and they just enjoy them- selves now. They're actually having fun."

       This new team-wide attitude isn't just for show. Georgia State and Vincent are expecting it to spread to their performance on the court this year. A repeat of the Panthers 12-19 campaign of last year is unacceptable.

"We have an expectation of going really high in the tournament and actually [coming] out with the trophy," Vincent said. "The whole team feels the same way. We feel like we can go further than we did last year and actually break our old tradition and become a winning team."

       The change won't be limited to a shift in mental philosophy. Coach Hunter brings a whole new style of offense to the table.

         Hunter's offensive style is a run- and-gun similar to the Amare Stoudemire/Steve Nash era Phoenix Suns, fitting considering Stoudemire was Vincent's childhood hero who he modeled his game after.

        This means a focus on layups and threes, and it means that Vin- cent and the rest of the team have been doing lots and lots of running in order to gain the stamina to perform this offense properly.

        "It's a whole lot different because it's faster," Vincent said. "Last year under coach [Rod] Barnes, we were more of a take it easy, slow down and see what you got type team, but that's a whole different thing."

While changing the gameplay style ,Vincent has focused on his own personal evolution to keep up with it.

         "My role, I have to be a dominant force in the post because most of our offense runs inside out," Vincent said. "So I have to do more of my post game. I've gotten faster thanks to coach Hunter's running, a whole lot of running really. I'm a whole lot quicker on my feet, and I'm jumping higher. I'm a lot stronger than I used to be so my role down there has to be a force to be reckoned with down in the post. So I have to do alot more than usual."

        Vincent averaged 3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game last season in limited minutes but has shown the potential to be a key and maybe the most dominant, post player on the Georgia State roster.

Vincent's conditioning and willingness to embrace his role in the new offensive philosophy Hunter has brought to the team, has all the makings of a breakout 2011-2012 season for the big man.

       "There's no school on my schedule that I'm not hyped to play against. They're all very good teams, and I'm ready for a challenge."

#22 James Vincent

Position:  Center

Height: 6'10

Weight: 267

Year:  Junior

Hometown:Columbus, GA

High School: Northside HS