2008 Woodie Awards
Bears basketball pounces on competition
Christina Garza
Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: Sports
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In their first preseason game against Stephen F. Austin junior varsity Nov. 2, the Bears won 139-85. Mike Love, arts sophomore, had six points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Craig Green, arts sophomore, scored 18 points, four rebounds and two assists. As a team, the Bears had 41 rebounds, 13 turnovers and forced 31 turnovers.
With players like Green, a first-team All-American according to the NJCAA Web site, it is obvious why the Bears are stepping up their game this season.
"I was honored and excited when I found out I was a preseason All-American," Green said. "But I know I can't let it go to my head; I know I could not have been named preseason All-American without the help and support of my team."
Kevin Hurst, head coach, said the men are playing unselfish basketball. He said he can tell by the way the team members are playing, they know and understand what it means to be a team.
"The guys are working really well with each other; they just meshed," Hurst said. "But they also realize what their weaknesses are and are willing to work on them to make the whole team better."
After the first two games, Hurst said he realized what he needs the guys to work on more, and has emphasized those things in practice.
Hurst said he is very proud of the guys so far and is impressed with their averages across the board. This season the Bears are making 55 percent of their free throws and are shooting 67 percent from the field.
"This season is starting off pretty good," Kerry Gee, arts sophomore, said. "But we know if we want to make it to nationals we need to step up our game and keep our head in the game."
Part of keeping their head in the game is remembering they are student athletes and knowing the importance of making sure the student part does not become an issue, Hurst said.
"Coach makes it clear that we are student athletes and he penalizes us if we do badly," Malcolm Greer, arts sophomore, said. "It's no pass, no play."
Hurst said he makes the players sign in at his office 10 minutes before their class to make sure they are on time. He walks the campus to make sure the players are in class, sends out grade checks every four to five weeks and enforces a mandatory study hall every week.
Some might find this a bit obsessive, but Hurst said it is just part of his job and he is proud that last year he did not lose a single player to grades at the end of the semester.
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