The opening tipoff of the season is just around the corner for the Robinson boys basketball team, who opens up their season on Monday, Nov. 16 at home against King. With a deep roster in place, head coach Steve Smith sees potential in his team.

Q: What are the team’s biggest goals this season?

A: The #1 goal is to improve every day of the season and be playing our best basketball as a team come district tournament time. If we do this, we will have a chance to win the district title and advance to the state playoffs, which is the goal every year.

Q: What do you think makes this year’s roster special?

A: We have very good guard play, which we hope will translate to an exciting brand of up and down transition basketball. This year’s team is very unselfish and shares the basketball, which is a team strength.

Q: Who do you foresee as being the team’s impact players?

A: Returning starting guards Iyan Mitchell (’16) and J.J. Henderson (’16) have a chance to really have great years with continued hard work. Depth is a real strength this year and I could see many guys having a great year for [us].

Q: What does your team have to do to finally get over the hump and win the district?

A: Just work hard every day and continue to get better as the season progresses.

Q: As a coach, what do you see as the team’s biggest strengths and weaknesses? How are you going to try to get the team to play to their strengths and improve in the weak areas?

A: [Our strengths are] defensive pressure, pushing the ball on the break in transition and our depth as a team. We feel the second five guys off the bench can contribute as much as the first five. We have to continue to become tougher both mentally and physically. We will learn to fight through adversity and become stronger mentally when down.