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Friday, November 07, 2008

Alford Likes A Blend in Preseason

By Mark Smith
Journal Staff Writer
      It's time to play ball. Well, sort of.
       The University of New Mexico men's basketball team suits up Saturday afternoon for the first time this season when it plays host to Western New Mexico in the Pit.
       However, because the contest is an exhibition, it doesn't count on either teams' record. But it is still played with full NCAA rules, and in front of fans — which is a far cry from a week earlier when the Lobos played host to Arizona State in a scrimmage.
       “I like having one exhibition and one scrimmage,” says University of New Mexico coach Steve Alford. “I've thought about going to two scrimmages, but they don't give you the game-type of atmosphere. You don't get to do the pregame meal, you're not doing a walk-through. And I'd like for our guys to, at least, have one of those before we get going.”
       The Lobos officially open their season Nov. 14 at the Pit against Southeast Missouri State.
       By NCAA rule, a team can play one exhibition and one scrimmage, or two exhibitions, or two scrimmages — in addition to its regular-season schedule.
       The outings may be held any time between the first allotted official NCAA practice in the fall and the conclusion of the basketball season.
       During scrimmages, opposing coaches agree to run different situations against each other, such as having the ball with a few seconds left and trailing by two, or working against a certain type of defense, etc.
       By NCAA rule, no score can be kept and neither fans nor media are allowed into the scrimmages. The sessions cannot even be publicized.
       “I don't know why they do the rules that way, but scrimmages are good from our standpoint because we (as coaches) get to dictate everything,” Alford says. “We can do something in the morning, we can work in the afternoon, we can come back at night. The coaches can get together and say, 'Let's work on zone for an hour, or let's do man-to-man for an hour. '
       “But as far as the rules, I don't know why they have them.”
       The NCAA states that because a scrimmage is an exemption played against another team, “the membership wanted to ensure that it didn't look and feel like a regular game. The way to ensure that was to say that it must be conducted without an official score and with no publicity.”
       If not for the rules, schools could basically turn the scrimmages into extra games on their schedule, charging fans admission.
       Another problem with a public scrimmage could be the stigma of winning or losing such a game in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament selection committee come March. Teams would try to shorten their rotations and go all out to win, hoping it could make a difference down the road. That would prevent coaches from accomplishing what the scrimmages are designed to do — allow teams to work on various aspects of the game against other Division I competition.
       “That's true,”Alford said, when given that theory by a Journal reporter. “Both coaches would be trying to win the game instead of just working on things they need to work on.”
       One thing's for certain — a game, by any other name, is still just as sweet for Lobo players, who finally get a chance to bang bodies with someone else.
       “It's going to be real fun,” says freshmen point guard Nate Garth, who has been battling sophomore Dairese Gary day in and day out in practice. “Having him going against somebody else and me going against somebody else (will be a nice change).”
       NEW ADDITION: The Lobos added another walk-on to their roster. Dion Williams, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound freshman guard, is now part of the squad.
       Williams is from Albuquerque but graduated from Willow Canyon High in Surprise, Ariz. He joined the team Wednesday and practiced with the Lobos the past two days.
       Williams is the brother of former UNM football player Martinez Williams.
       

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