While basketball coach Rick Samuels is watching the likes of Emeka Okafor and J.J. Reddick at the Final Four in San Antonio, current players like Aaron Patterson, Josh Gomes and Cortez Forte are already busy preparing themselves for next season.

Toward the end of the horrific basketball season, I occasionally saw Forte, Joey Cortez, Gomes, Patterson and Derek Hollyfield working on their games at the rec. I think they knew their season was over and were there working to improve for next season. After a 6-21 season, they can only improve.

For the 12 loyal fans who attended every home game this season, I don’t have to tell you why the Panthers had such a rough season. The rest of you (11,148 to be exact) have no way of knowing why.

Let me fill you in.

We lacked a go-to guy, the kind who can step up and score 20 points nightly. Samuels said on many occasions during the season he expected Gomes to be that guy. Gomes had some decent performances and a break-out 40-point game, but was unreliable.

Jesse Mackinson, the Panther’s only senior was supposed to be a post presence. Samuels preferred Mackinson to play more of a perimeter game and step in and take his 15-18 foot jumper. Mackinson has one of the most perfect looking jump shots I have ever seen, but when you’re listed at six foot eight you really should be in the post.

Patterson was the only true post player the Panthers had. He was intimidating and did his best down on the block, but struggled when pitted against guys a head taller than him. Also, he was not the best free throw shooter. Patterson’s 9.8 points-per-game would be better helped if his perimeter players could get him a decent post feed.

Hollyfield was guilty of so many turnovers (77 to be exact) and seemed to have two speeds on the court. It seemed he would lay it all on the line when the Panthers were in the game, but seemed to dog it when they were down.

Forte is a guy I think everyone expects to be a scorer. He showed signs of it, but it’s hard to score sitting on the bench. Forte, a gym rat, is a solid defender who I see competing for a starting spot next year.

Emanuel Dildy, Jason Wright and Cortez didn’t play up to their potential. Come to think of it, I will go out on a limb and say the Panthers as a whole underachieved, despite their youth. These three players in particular will have to step it up next season.

That’s why these guys are in the gym already. They realize they drastically underachieved and have to do something about it. They refuse to repeat last season and are working on their games day in-day out at Lantz Arena. Watch out for the Panthers next year.