Alaska men's basketball team is confident about Hawaii
Published Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — Now the Nanooks have a pair of former NCAA Division I guards in their starting backcourt, and they’re counting on increased intensity to produce some wins during a trip to Hawaii.
Following an eye-opening 0-3 visit to California to start the season, the men’s basketball team knew it needed to make immediate changes.
So they switched Kevin Buggs, who had been coming off the bench, to starting point guard, and shifted Emmanuel Jenkins to shooting guard. Jon Moe and his team-leading 21.3 points per game, will thus slide to the 3 spot, Colin Matteson will move to the power forward position and Nashorn Maynard becomes the center. Kyle Rische will now come off the bench.
“We’ve installed Kevin Buggs at point in hopes that now we can free Emmanuel up to do more shooting,” Alaska coach Clemon Johnson said Saturday at halftime of a Nanooks women’s tournament game. “We’re finding out that Emmanuel is a heck of a scorer.”
Jenkins, who poured in 25 points in an overtime loss at Cal State Monterey Bay and averaged 25.3 points last season for Tacoma Community College, welcomes the change.
“Coach kept telling me ‘You need to score more,’” Jenkins said Saturday. “J Moe was scoring, Nash was scoring and I was just trying to make sure that we were running the plays right. … I told coach, ‘It’s hard to score from the top of the key.’”
Jenkins, formerly with Portland State, will now have more freedom to create from the wing while Buggs, a junior who started his career at San Jose State and played last year at Compton Community College, will be the primary facilitator.
Buggs and Jenkins grew up playing against each other in AAU club ball and are now roommates.
On defense, the speedy Jenkins will still take the opponents’ point guard, while the stockier Buggs will match up with a guard/forward on the wing.
The new lineup will be displayed for the first time on Wednesday night at Hawaii Pacific (1-2).
The Nanooks also clash Friday with Chaminade (0-3, but with a two-point loss to Indiana at the Maui Classic) and Saturday with Hawaii-Hilo (1-1).
“My first year here, someone told me ‘Whatever you do, don’t schedule games in Hawaii,’” Johnson said, explaining that balanced officiating can’t be expected.
In addition to the lineup shuffle, the Nanooks have increased their intensity, Johnson and Jenkins said.
“After Joq (former volunteer assistant coach Jocquis Sconiers) left, the intensity in practiced dropped. It was very, very relaxed,” Jenkins said. “We went to California and had a shock.”
Asked to describe the recent atmosphere at practices, Jenkins said, “Fired up. Fired up. Going at each other. … Now everyone’s hungry, I feel that California was like a blessing, really.”
When the Nanooks returned from California, Johnson said the team needed to refocus and start “basically all over again.” Rebounding, defense and running its motion offense have been primary concentrations, he said. Opponents so far have outrebounded the Nanooks by six per game and averaged 91.7 points.
Johnson also hasn’t hesitated to make the team run sprints after mistakes.
Regarding a potential visit to the beach in Hawaii, Johnson said the team will have to earn one.
“If we don’t win, we will be in the gym and I will lock them down,” he said. “They’re not having any fun if I can’t win any basketball games.”
Jenkins believes the Nanooks will begin to turn things around.
“We knew we had to make changes, so I’m very confident about Hawaii,” Jenkins said. “We have a lot to prove when we get to Hawaii, so we’re excited about it.”
Contact staff writer Matias Saari at 459-7591.
Community Discussion
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We will see..........
No mention of big man Demetrius Love.
He's been struggling with academic and personal issues.
Probably didn't even make the trip to Hawaii.
He wasn't doing much anyway, and needs to stay in Fairbanks.
Take someone who wants to dedicate themselves.
On to other things.
For anyone who has ever endured the officiating over in Hawaii, you know that it is downright terrible.
For all that complain about the local officiating here...you would learn to love the referee's in Fairbanks after the very one-sided officiating over on the Islands.
Officiating there was a joke 20 some years ago when I played, and from everyone I've talked to, much hasn't changed.
As for the lineup changes, moving Kevin Buggs to the point? Very smart move.
Teams now have to concentrate more on Emmanuel Jenkins scoring abilities, and John Moe can flat out shoot the ball. He can't be left alone either.
That said....the Nanooks are going to get killed on the boards.
Colin Matteson, a small forward playing at the power forward, and Nash Maynard, a small forward playing at center just aren't big enough.
Moving 6'8" Kyle Rische to the bench? Another smart move.
Nowhere near strong enough to deal with Division II post players.
I don't care how high he can jump.
Good luck out there Nooks!
Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade are both tough teams. Even more so on their home floor.
At least the weather's warm, and you're not here.
This team will only win,if Niceguy decides to lace'em up.What a pure jump shot!
Johnson also hasn’t hesitated to make the team run sprints after mistakes.
Regarding a potential visit to the beach in Hawaii, Johnson said the team will have to earn one.
“If we don’t win, we will be in the gym and I will lock them down,” he said. “They’re not having any fun if I can’t win any basketball games.”
Is it me or does coach Johnson need to start letting someone else do the interviews for him? He puts his foot in his mouth almost every time he talks to the media. I have no problem with working the team in practice and it's not always fun for student athletes, but the coach putting himself before the "team" is just wrong. It's not about the coach winning games, it's about the team winning games.
Johnson also hasn’t hesitated to make the team run sprints after mistakes.
Most coaches start this in IYB level. Maybe not in the minor league but the majors for sure. Keep up the good work coach.
thethe3,
My thoughts exactly on Coach J having someone else do the interviews. Kind of interesting how all the crap was going on up at the U pre-Johnson, yet no mention of some of the kids that were ineligible or who have left? Is there a cover up on the hill? I wonder if anyone up there has the balls to say they screwed up? Again, the AD and assistant AD need to be "released".
Bring back Al!!! He can coach, he can develope, he can recruit.
Alaska is not playing the powerful Hawaii Warriors division 1 team. Alaska is playing tiny Chaminade and the even smaller school, Hawaii-Hilo. The title of this article is incorrect.
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