For first-year coach Mike Hunter, Elkin Ramirez is more than a player that knocks down 3-pointers for the Pomeroys.
After hitting five more triples Friday night in an 88-77 win at Miami (Ohio) Middletown, Ramirez is hitting 43.7 percent from long range. Going into Sunday's home game against Brescia (4 p.m., Knoerle Center), where SMWC seeks a second straight River States Conference victory, Ramirez leads the RSC with 3.2 3-pointers made per game during RSC-only action.
As one of only a handful of players remaining in a key role on the court from last year's team, Ramirez has also been a guy that Hunter has relied on in other ways.
"Elkin was actually vital in me learning about the campus. He's pretty much my go-to," Hunter said. "He's really been a bright spot for us. He came in and worked out during the summer with me as soon as I got here."
Ramirez, who grew up in Indianapolis, has gradually found his place on a team with nine newcomers that are having a big impact on the Pomeroys' quest for success. With a victory Sunday, SMWC has a chance to triple last season's win total with a lot of basketball ahead as the calendar flips to 2023.
SMWC went winless in RSC play last season. So that 89-84 victory at Oakland City last weekend was many things for the Pomeroys: a confidence booster, a team coalescing as a unit and also a relief of sorts for Ramirez and those teammates that endured an empty inaugural venture through the RSC schedule in 2021-22.
While it was a relief to get that first RSC victory, Ramirez knew it was inevitable for this team, considering the talent and athleticism the additions of Keith Germain, Tarik Dixon, J.R. Lumsden and others have provided.
"I think we're taking a step in the right direction. We just go in there focused. We'll work together as teammates. We know we can go out and compete with anybody," Ramirez said.
Ramirez is not quite averaging the 13 points-per-game he posted last season, but his efficiency is improved.
"He's always done what we asked," Hunter said. "We needed him to get in better shape so that he can be more efficient and he has done so."
Ramirez gives credit to his teammates for believing in him. Dixon (44 percent from 3 this season), Edington and Dakota Sampson have also been strong shooting threats.
"Coach has confidence in me, tells me to shoot it whenever I'm open. My teammates have confidence in me as well, finding me in open spots. That utmost confidence from my teammates goes a long way. I'm just comfortable shooting it, letting it fly with nothing else on my mind. It's natural," Ramirez said.
SMWC goes into Sunday's game 5-7 overall. Two losses have come to NCAA Division I opponents and one to NAIA No. 5-ranked Marian.
On Thursday, SMWC took some positives away from the 84-42 loss to Southern Indiana. Davin Miller had a strong game in the post with eight points and nine rebounds and the Pomeroys defended pretty well a good portion of the game.
USI coach Stan Gouard described Ramirez as a focus of his team's defensive gameplan considering the SMWC guard has made 24 3-pointers in the past seven games alone. The game at USI is the only one of the past seven Ramirez was held to less than two 3-pointers.
Those games are a chance to get better.
"We never think about it as oh, we're playing a D-I. They're just our next opponent. They may have bigger guys. It gives us a test on how to be physical. We go into every game thinking we're going to win," Ramirez said.