Will Martin sees higher ceiling with junior Fields
By Jacob Meikel
Missouri Western’s do-it-all guard showed more of his scoring capabilities in Saturday’s win over Nebraska Kearney, and head coach Will Martin still thinks there’s more to come.
“He had 22 points and 10 rebounds and I still don’t think that’s the best version of Taye [Fields]. I still don’t, but you got a glimpse of it [Saturday],” Martin said.
Fields’s 22 points against the Lopers was a season-high, and the only game in which the junior has scored over 20 points. HIs production in games typically lies in the paint where he’s grabbing rebounds in bulk and locking things down as an undersized player inside. His signature moment this season came on a game-sealing block against Central Oklahoma.
After the win against the Bronchos, Martin spoke highly of Fields’s play this season, but added that he would like to see Fields be more “selfish.” And after the win on Saturday against the Lopers, Martin made his stance clear on what he means by wanting to see the junior be more selfish.
“You understand why I want him to be more active for us. He’s such an unselfish individual and player, and sometimes the most unselfish thing for him to do is to go score the ball for us. And I thought he did that [Saturday],” Martin said.
Fields’s uptick in scoring in the Griffons’ last game isn’t coincidence, as he affirmed after the win that there wasn’t a conversation in the days leading up to his 22-point performance, but that there’s a conversation about the junior being more aggressive on a regular basis.
“He talks to me about that almost every day,” Fields said. “He just tells me to be more involved and try to score more. I think it just came. I try to flow with the game. I don’t try to force my shots and be selfish. I think [Saturday] was just my night,” Fields said.
Fields’s performance was able to help Western shake off a three-game skid they had been on before the win over UNK. They will hit the road this week as they look to continue to climb the MIAA standings, where they currently sit at fourth place.
