The team from Macon have some good players and some average players.  They do not have any superstars as the Bears are what college basketball has become.  Too many non-descript programs who struggle with mediocrity trying to break out of the mold that has been created.   And the people of Macon do not seem to mind.  Then again they do not seem to care that much either.  The Bears have not had a sellout against anyone but rivals Stetson and Georgia Southern since they left the 500 seat Porter Gym a few years ago.  If things don’t get better they probably won’t for awhile.  Unless of course the ‘Mad’ Hatters are coming to town!  Then things get crazy! 

The Bears do have one player who stood out at least a little above the rest for his unbelievable work ethic even on this blue-collar team.  Sophomore Sam Mitchell became the main man for the Bears last year and he earned that title every time he did battle on the court.  Mitchell comes off as the quintessential role player but has the work ethic of an Egyptian slave.  Coming from just up the road in Columbus, Mitchell was not recruited by any of the big-time programs though he has a stellar high school career at Columbus High.  At six foot six he was undersized as a power forward which is what he was projected as being coming out of the preps as that in the paint game is what he loves.  But one thing about Mitchell is that he is nowhere near what he seems to be.  He is as intelligent as they come and knew he would have to transform himself into something more than your prototypical lunch pail power forward if he wanted to achieve his goals.  And that goal is playing at the next level while turning the Bears into a winner.  And nobody plays at the next level coming from a small program if they are not a terrific scorer no matter how good they are at the dirty work.  He made himself the go to guy for the Bears.  This was no easy task but Mitchell is not afraid to do the time in the gym and in the classroom which for a basketball player is the film room.  He is quickly developing a complete game and is only getting better.  He is solid on the boards and can post up just about anyone in the league not named Gilmore.  His best attribute for now might be his intense defense.  Mitchell is a shut-down defender at two positions for the Bears and at times mixed it up trying to guard Chester Webb or Robert Parish.  This did not last long but besides those two behemoths he is the best defender in the TAAC.  His defense might define him but he is fast becoming an offensive weapon with a great arsenal which has always included an ability to get to the hoop and then finish with flair or a flush.  He added a nice jump shot to his game this year from 18 and in which made opponents trying to guard him pull their hair out.  He is a warrior and loves this game and will do whatever it takes to succeed.  He may be a long shot but Mitchell has the drive and the smarts to make it to the next level if he improves as much as he did from his freshman to sophomore year.  I wouldn’t bet against him!  He is the man in Macon and is more than ready to make the run to become an elite player at this level and beyond. 

Senior Tommy Mixon started last season as the main man in Macon.  He took over that role after Glenn Wilkes left to coach rival Stetson a few years back.  Also, fellow senior Jud Roberts missed all of last year after suffering a major knee injury.  Coach Bill Bibb moved Mixon from the point to the two as he needed his scoring with these two gone.  He looked to have a fabulous year in a town where he is almost a legend.  Mixon hurt his shoulder early on and it affected his game but he played through it knowing how bad this team needs him on the court and not just for leadership.  The team captain, Mixon was not quite athletic enough to guard some of the great athletes on the wings in this conference who are coming in and ended up splitting time with some underclassmen.  Mixon is a heck of a baseball player as well and was drafted by the Dodgers and is all set to join them after the season ends.  Mixon still produced offensively but finally tired of the platooning and did not want to jeopardize his future with the Dodgers so he shut it down.  Juniors Stewart Reese, Leonard Hardin and Teko Wynder are three shooting guards who can flat score but were kind of left out of the mix.  All three have size and are natural wings and rotated often at the three spot.  Sadly, Wynder decided to transfer to Tulsa midway through summer workouts.  Too bad because he could help with the team’s biggest weakness which is three-point shooting.  Reese could help there but Hardin is more of a slasher so that will be a good battle for the other wing.  Hardin came on strong the 2nd half averaging over 12 points a game and is the favorite to start.

As for point guard with Mixon gone Bibb tried out several options to fill the void though Mixon did get minutes at the one.  Juniors Geary Taylor, Steve Hendricksen and Sophomores Elston Harris and Peter Geter got their shots either on varsity or on JV. Taylor is more of a combo guard at 6’1 while Hendricksen is only 5’9 and more of a scorer then a distributor but both did get some valuable minutes. Geter was a big recruit who is a 6’4 wing but started getting some decent minutes at point down the stretch.  Harris is a true point guard who dropped off after a terrific start.  Harris got passed up after beginning the season in the starting lineup and ended up on the deep end of the bench. The kid can play but it became obvious as the year progressed that Bibb needs to find someone who can run this team especially with Mixon switching to the two.  He has recruited a bunch of juco point guards as he feels this team could have won a few more games with someone who could run this team a bit better. 

The Bears rotated several in trying to find a real big man to complement Mitchell.  Seniors Steve Moody, Norman King Carter Jr and Woodrow Richardson started the year platooning and all three are solid on the boards.  Moody is limited offensively is are nowhere near big enough to compete at this level.  Neither are Carter or Richardson but they can score in the paint.  This will be another good battle but none of these guys are close to Parish or Gilmore is talent or stature.  Junior Billy Smith is also in the mix and was a little better offensively but the Bears needed a presence underneath who intimidated the other team like uh let’s say a Grizzly Bear.  Yeah That’s it!   Smith is only 6’6 198 but this Miami product is tough as nails inside.  Junior Andre Brown brings some of that intimidation and at 6’9 has the size to back it up.  He does not have much of an offensive game but man can he board.  Sophomore Chris Moore is a developing project who was stuck on the JV but came on strong.  He has real size (6’9) and toughness and can board but has a way to go offensively to get more minutes.  Sophomore Tony Gattis is the best of these and played often this year.  He is a solid all-around player who can score and board and gives the Bears solid depth.  He played at the three and four and would have played more if he did not share the same position as Mitchell.  Tony Bolds and Scott Bailey are two more sophomores who can play but were stuck on the JV with a slew of forwards trying to break through but are kind of stuck.  Junior Jerry Thruston was also in this group and though he played often last year but was not as productive as he wanted to be though the kid can definitely play.  Senior Robert Belloir was similar as he was a star here in the old lower Division days but his days have come and gone in Macon but is still on the roster! 

The Mercer Bears played with loads of heart and showed that talent is sometimes overrated.  The Bears made huge progress this year with a group of average players who worked hard and became a cohesive unit playing team ball.  The Bears future is bright as all of the key components are coming back.  If the rest of the team makes the kind of progression Sam Mitchell made in his freshman year then the stars are the limit.  The role players are also in place and provide the work ethic and the leadership but they do need more size and better three point shooting.  This team could be really good season next year in Macon if Bibb can find a big man who can compete down low with the monsters in this conference and if they can find some three point shooters.  Of course that is a big if but after the progress the team made this year anything is possible in Macon!  One thing is for sure is that the Bears and the Stetson Hatters will keep having one of the great unsung rivalries in all of basketball.  Coach Glenn Wilkes of the Hatters was a star player for the Bears but that does not get in the way of the pure venom these two programs have for each other.  They played three times this year with many brawls and each time the game was decided by one point with the Bears winning the rubber match in the conference tournament in a double overtime classic.  If the Bears fans had as much passion playing the Dolphins or the Yellow Jackets as they do the Hatters maybe this program would maul their opponents a little more often?