Friday Features: Stramaglia waits long time to do long-range damage for UWF
By Maurice Patton
After averaging 1.4 three-point baskets as a sophomore two years ago,
Mario Stramaglia has a simple explanation for his increased output.
“I’m shooting better, obviously,” said the
West Florida redshirt junior guard, who leads the Gulf South Conference in 3-point accuracy (.514) and is second in 3-point baskets (3.6).
While the explanation may be simple, the improvement may have been a bit more complex. Stramaglia, who transferred to West Florida after spending his freshman year at
East Tennessee State, shot 34.8 percent from behind the arc as a sophomore two years ago while averaging 7.2 points per game, playing in all 27 contests for the Argos and starting 20 of those.
Stramaglia redshirted last season, but continued to work on his game, and his return to the floor this season coincided with the arrival of coach
Jeff Burkhamer.
“You love to have guys that can make shots,” Burkhamer said of Stramaglia, who’s scoring at a 16.2-point clip and has had 12 or more points in each of UWF’s five games. “He worked really hard this last year when he was out to become a better shooter. We’re happy he’s getting good shots in games because he deserves it, because of his work ethic.
“We try to take advantage of guys’ strengths. Any time he’s open, we want him shooting it – in transition, in our sets, in the halfcourt – and he’s grasped that pretty well. Our guys know if we get him open, he’s capable of hitting shots.”
Throw out an off-night against Fort Valley State when he was just 1-for-6 from 3-point range, and Stramaglia has connected on at least four treys in each game of the Argos’ 2-3 (1-1 GSC) start, including a 5-of-10 outburst against Alabama Huntsville.
“It’s a credit to my teammates for finding me in transition and in the halfcourt offense when I’m open,” he said. “They have confidence in me, I’ve got confidence shooting it and they’re going in."
“I redshirted last year, and I spent hours and hours working on my shooting – working really hard, every day, putting up a lot of shots every day.”
That work ethic ramped up another notch with Burkhamer’s arrival from
Lander (S.C.) University to replace the retiring
Bob Stinnett.
“He’s a terrific coach, on and off the court,” Stramaglia said. “He’s building a lot of confidence in us. We worked really hard in the offseason, putting in our time individually and in the weight room. We’re trying to change the culture here at UWF. You can see a difference in our demeanor when we step on the court. He’s pushing us really hard.”
Stramaglia has taken advantage of Burkhamer’s up-tempo offensive approach through the early going, the coach knows things will tighten up as the season progresses.
“We’re playing much faster (than previously),” Stramaglia said. “It opens up the floor when we’re running, pushing in transition. In the halfcourt offense – penetrate and kick, screens – it opens up the floor and you find open looks. My teammates are finding me and everyone else for open looks.”
“Scouting reports will get around,” Burkhamer said. “They’ll start guarding you, taking things away. We have to do a better job of getting him shots, because we feel like if we do, he’ll continue to make them. He’s shown he can make shots, and if he continues to do so, it certainly helps us offensively.”
Follow Patton on Twitter at:
@mopatton_sports. E-mail comments to:
mopattonsports@gmail.com.
Join in on the conversation using #FridayFeatures on
Twitter and
Facebook.
2015-16 GSC Friday Features
9/04/2015 - FIT's Hughes Inspired by Former GSC Standout.
9/11/2015 - Veteran UNA Coach Bobby Wallace Enjoys His Time With Young Lions.
9/18/2015 - Mississippi College Looks to Sustain Quick Start.
9/25/2015 - UAH's Winslow Races Way Back to Top After Injury.
10/02/2015 - Union's Morris Not Ready for Rocking Chair.
10/09/2015 - UWA's Mark Grant Learning Lessons From Both His College Sports.
10/16/2015 - Perez Sets Tone for Nationally-Ranked Lee.
10/23/2015 - Jessica Codato Finds Friends, Volleyball Success at Valdosta State.
10/30/2015 - Delta State Safety Looks to Avoide School of Hard 'Knox'.
11/06/2015 - Shorter's B.J. McCoy Runs Hard, Is Thankful for Every Snap.
11/13/2015 - Consistency Leads Union to XC Nationals Again.
11/20/2015 - Will Hall Making Waves at West Georgia, Throughout GSC.
11/27/2015 - National Tourney Awaits MC After Month-Long Hiatus.
12/04/2015 - Harlon Hill Finalist Wingo Leaves UNA with Pocket Full of Records.