Northwestern State University’s men’s basketball team has not had the most successful 2025-2026 season. Still, the season’s hardships have imparted the athletes with skills, attitudes and experiences that can be carried forward into next season.
Quentin Bolton, a senior general studies major who plays guard, believes that being on the team has taught him how to handle different aspects of life. “You go through a lot, being on a team … It shows you how people adapt to different situations, and it could prepare you for different stages of life and how you’re going to approach certain things,” Bolton said.
Landyn Jumawan, a senior general studies major who also plays guard, said that one aspect the team is working to improve is communication. “I’d say a big thing [we’re] improving on is communication, on defense in the court … telling people when they’re doing a good job or they see somebody not playing to their standards of how they could be playing,” Jumawan said.
When it comes to personal goals, Jumawan looks to his character and skills. “I’d say just being the best person that I can be on and off the court … and improving my basketball skills, because I want to play [professional] basketball,” Jumawan said.
For J. C. Riley Jr., a redshirt junior sports management major, basketball has taught him the importance of talking with his team. “[It’s] shown me a lot … how important communication is, not only on the court, but in your regular relationships with people,” Riley said. “It showed me a lot about really just how to deal with people.”
Riley mentioned a personal memento that he cherishes when preparing for games. “I have a book by my grandma that she wrote, it’s like a devotional book. So I read one of those before every game,” Riley said.
Despite the losses they’ve been taking, Riley still has hope for the NCAA tournament. “It’s been a real struggle, but I think we can do it if we keep working on communication and playing together,” Riley said.
NSU’s Demon Basketball is working to improve this season and remains hopeful of making it to the NCAA tournament this year. They are emphasizing communication and working better as a team.
