Friday, Jan. 2, 1998
By BRANDON FRINK
Enterprise staff writer
It's hard to come up with a suitable encore after you've beaten the No. 1 team in the nation.
But encores aren't exactly what the UC Davis men's basketball team is looking for right now.
Instead, the Aggies are looking for a return to normality this weekend as they travel to face Seattle Pacific and Central Washington today and Saturday in the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Holiday Classic at Brougham Pavilion in Seattle. KDVS 90.3 FM will broadcast both games.
``We're anxious to get back on the court. It's been a while,'' UCD senior forward Justis Durkee said. ``We're anxious to get out there and see some different faces.''
Following their first win over Cal State Bakersfield, the Aggies took five days off before resuming practice Dec. 26 to work off the rust and prepare for this weekend.
Although the win over the Roadrunners was a proud moment for the squad, this weekend's games will provide an equally important test. The Aggies have shown they can play on the home floor, but now they'll get the opportunity to see what they can do against two solid teams in a back-to-back situation on the road.
``It's going to be really tough to go up there. If we play as well as we have, we should do well. Whether or not we'll get two wins, I don't know,'' UCD coach Bob Williams said. ``If we could get two wins, it would probably be our best weekend of the year.''
Williams typically schedules a road tournament just prior to conference play to try to bring the team closer before the important games start. Not only does playing top-notch competition on the road provide a good challenge before conference, but it also forces the team to concentrate only on basketball.
Two years ago, UCD played in Bakersfield's tournament right before conference; last year, the team traveled to Arizona for Grand Canyon's tournament.
``It's something I like to do. I like our team to be together, to travel, to be focused and to be playing our best basketball before league starts,'' Williams said. ``I think it creates an environment when you're on the road. When you're on the road, you're there for a reason, you're there to play basketball.''
While the Aggies will have a tough contest against a quick Central Washington club on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., the most important matchup will come today at 7:30 p.m. against Seattle Pacific.
The Falcons are 6-5, including a 102-95 win over Chico State. Led by 6-foot-5 forward Jeff McBroom, who averages 18.7 points and five rebounds a game, Seattle Pacific will be one of the most disciplined teams UCD faces all year.
``They do as good a job as anybody at isolating the low post,'' Williams said. ``Offensively, they run as good stuff as anybody.''
The Falcons add to an efficient offense with size. In addition to McBroom, Seattle Pacific has another 6-5 forward in Ajene Robertson and a 6-9 center in Chuck Carter.
``Bakersfield is the type of team that dazzles you with quickness; Seattle Pacific dazzles you with size,'' Williams said.
While the Aggies are eager to get back on to the court, the team is even more anxious for the Northern California Athletic Conference to start.
With the Bakersfield win in their pocket, the Aggies are looking to win the NCAC and be in the position to possibly host the West Regional.
``I think we enjoyed that night, but the next day we realized it didn't mean much without league,'' Durkee said. ``That game won't mean anything unless we can win league. Then it can help us.''
[ Home | News | Sports | Features | Weekend | Columns | Subscribe | Advertising ]