Wake-App insider experience
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2022 2:52 pm
AN INSIDER'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE APPALACHIAN STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
Opinion
By BRIAN HOAGLAND
NOTE: Recently I won a bid auction to spend two days with the team as they
prepared for and played Wake Forest. I used to be a sportswriter, so I
wanted to share with everyone my experience and see if I still had the "old
scribe" left in me.
Inside the team bus after a gut-wrenching 67-66 loss at Wake Forest, all was
fittingly dark. The only sound idling outside Joel Coliseum was the
windshield wipers streaking across glass. Shadows from a parking lot light
exposed ASU head coach Dustin Kerns in the front seat. He sat rubbing his
temples, no doubt in tormenting contemplation.
On the journey up 421 North, he tried to sit back and rest, but the
restlessness won over. He squirmed in his seat, finally turning on his
laptop to watch a play from the game.
We had come so close. A late 7-2 sprint gave ASU at 66-65 lead with 14
seconds left. With the tenacity it displayed throughout the game
defensively, ASU refused to surrender a bucket and gained possession with
1.3 seconds to go. Unfortunately, the Apps turned the ball over on the
ensuing inbounds pass, giving the Deacons one last chance. Andrew Carr
swished a contested turnaround jumper at the buzzer to give the 12.5-point
ACC favorite the win.
On the second row of the bench, I stood rejected. An assistant coach
angrily slapped his seat. Some players were overcome with tears. Hours of
hard work had almost culminated in a great upset, only to fall agonizingly
short.
A day earlier, I arrived at the Mark E. Harrill practice facility. I texted
Director of Basketball Operations Bradley Fey before stepping inside, as we
had planned. He was on the way with Kerns. Immediately, Director of
Recruiting Raheem Martin hustled across the court and gave me a welcoming
handshake. Shortly after, Kerns huddled up the team at midcourt and
motioned me to come over. I was introduced, every player giving me a fist
bump.
"You are going to be in on everything," Kerns told me. "I want you with us
when we break down film. Everything. I want this to be worth your
investment."
I pulled up a chair to watch practice. The Mountaineers worked on additions
to the offense specifically designed to attack Wake Forest. A big focus was
also placed on defensive formations. Practice concluded with shooting free
throws. I kidded team leader Donovan Gregory about missing a few. "That's
going to be 10 for 10 at Wake, right?" I said. He laughed and said, "Yes,
sir."
After practice, we ate a quick barbecue dinner and loaded the bus. We
arrived in Winston-Salem at 9:30 and as promised, Kerns invited me to a film
breakdown. Tired, I politely declined as he told me there would be another
opportunity the following morning. After a breakfast buffet in a banquet
room, I joined the staff for a film session at 10. ASU's coaches use former
NBA players' names as a code word for things such as a good outside shooter,
a physical player, etc. It makes it easier for the players to pick up on
opponent's individual tendencies.
After the film study, I had a brief one-on-one discussion with Kerns.
"We need to hit eight to nine 3s to win tonight," he said. But the
conversation quickly turned to defense, something ASU prides itself in.
"Defense is all about adjustments," Kerns said. "A player can get two fouls
quickly or an ankle injury and you have to react."
Early in the afternoon we arrived by bus to the coliseum for shootaround.
There was a brief session with players before hitting the court. Assistant
coach Frank Young told them the importance of driving inside. "Once we
touch the paint, we hit 46 percent of our three-pointers," he said.
The shootaround lasted an hour and was loosely run. The goal was to get the
players comfortable in their surroundings. I watched intently as assistant
coach Bob Szorc fired continuous passes to sophomore sharpshooter Chris
Mantis. He rarely missed. Szorc sought me out later, mentioning my eye on
them. "He's fun to watch isn't he?" he said.
Later after lunch back at the hotel, the coaches broke down film with the
players. Strategies were discussed without over-complicating things.
Satisfied, Kerns dismissed the team and told them to be on the team bus by
5:14. I quizzed Fey about the odd specific time and he explained that it
made it easier for players to remember. Later in the lobby, Szorc joked
with me. "With coach, we'll be gone by 5:09," he said.
I chuckled afterwards as I looked at the bus clock when we left. It read
5:09.
Back at the arena, Fey handed me an all-access pass that allowed me to sit
on the team bench, roam courtside and enter the players and coaches locker
rooms. I couldn't help but feel like a team member. There was more
specific game plan discussion with the team. "Won't it be fun to piss them
off as they struggle to score against us?" Patrick Moynihan said. Again,
heavy emphasis that defense was the key to success. The team was let loose
for warmups. Each player fist-bumped me as they exited the locker room
door.
In the game, Appalachian's gritty defense indeed made it tough for Wake
Forest to score. The first half was a back and forth affair, but Mantis
closed it with a dunk and a typically accurate three-point to give the Apps
a 37-31 advantage at intermission.
In the locker room, Kerns praised the Mountaineers' effort but warned more
defensive pressure on the perimeter was needed to hold off the anticipated
frantic effort by the Deacons to retake control of the game. It came as the
Deacons went on a 10-2 run to take a 48-39 lead with 13:52 left. Kerns
called timeout. Coaches encouraged players in the huddle for all-out
hustle. The Apps responded. Diving for loose balls, tussling with the
bigger Deacons inside, the Mountaineers refused to go away. Mantis and
Tyler Boykin hit key baskets.
Terence Harcum made a three-pointer to give Appalachian its last lead with
14 seconds left, setting up the final heartbreak.
As the bus neared Boone, Kerns finally stretched and started to walk the
aisle. He quietly said to me, "Thank you for coming." "Keep your head up,"
I said. "This isn't an ending. It's the beginning of something great. You
guys are going to win a lot of games." Kerns tapped me on the shoulder,
turning to thank the team once more.
We got off the bus and as I was unlocking my car door, two teammates I
couldn't identify in the dark shouted something. I yelled, "You guys keep
your heads up. You're going to win a lot of games this year." "Yes, sir!"
they shouted back.
Already they were rising from the disappointment and rekindling their
spirit. I sensed their fire to reach other goals.
After all, March is coming.
Opinion
By BRIAN HOAGLAND
NOTE: Recently I won a bid auction to spend two days with the team as they
prepared for and played Wake Forest. I used to be a sportswriter, so I
wanted to share with everyone my experience and see if I still had the "old
scribe" left in me.
Inside the team bus after a gut-wrenching 67-66 loss at Wake Forest, all was
fittingly dark. The only sound idling outside Joel Coliseum was the
windshield wipers streaking across glass. Shadows from a parking lot light
exposed ASU head coach Dustin Kerns in the front seat. He sat rubbing his
temples, no doubt in tormenting contemplation.
On the journey up 421 North, he tried to sit back and rest, but the
restlessness won over. He squirmed in his seat, finally turning on his
laptop to watch a play from the game.
We had come so close. A late 7-2 sprint gave ASU at 66-65 lead with 14
seconds left. With the tenacity it displayed throughout the game
defensively, ASU refused to surrender a bucket and gained possession with
1.3 seconds to go. Unfortunately, the Apps turned the ball over on the
ensuing inbounds pass, giving the Deacons one last chance. Andrew Carr
swished a contested turnaround jumper at the buzzer to give the 12.5-point
ACC favorite the win.
On the second row of the bench, I stood rejected. An assistant coach
angrily slapped his seat. Some players were overcome with tears. Hours of
hard work had almost culminated in a great upset, only to fall agonizingly
short.
A day earlier, I arrived at the Mark E. Harrill practice facility. I texted
Director of Basketball Operations Bradley Fey before stepping inside, as we
had planned. He was on the way with Kerns. Immediately, Director of
Recruiting Raheem Martin hustled across the court and gave me a welcoming
handshake. Shortly after, Kerns huddled up the team at midcourt and
motioned me to come over. I was introduced, every player giving me a fist
bump.
"You are going to be in on everything," Kerns told me. "I want you with us
when we break down film. Everything. I want this to be worth your
investment."
I pulled up a chair to watch practice. The Mountaineers worked on additions
to the offense specifically designed to attack Wake Forest. A big focus was
also placed on defensive formations. Practice concluded with shooting free
throws. I kidded team leader Donovan Gregory about missing a few. "That's
going to be 10 for 10 at Wake, right?" I said. He laughed and said, "Yes,
sir."
After practice, we ate a quick barbecue dinner and loaded the bus. We
arrived in Winston-Salem at 9:30 and as promised, Kerns invited me to a film
breakdown. Tired, I politely declined as he told me there would be another
opportunity the following morning. After a breakfast buffet in a banquet
room, I joined the staff for a film session at 10. ASU's coaches use former
NBA players' names as a code word for things such as a good outside shooter,
a physical player, etc. It makes it easier for the players to pick up on
opponent's individual tendencies.
After the film study, I had a brief one-on-one discussion with Kerns.
"We need to hit eight to nine 3s to win tonight," he said. But the
conversation quickly turned to defense, something ASU prides itself in.
"Defense is all about adjustments," Kerns said. "A player can get two fouls
quickly or an ankle injury and you have to react."
Early in the afternoon we arrived by bus to the coliseum for shootaround.
There was a brief session with players before hitting the court. Assistant
coach Frank Young told them the importance of driving inside. "Once we
touch the paint, we hit 46 percent of our three-pointers," he said.
The shootaround lasted an hour and was loosely run. The goal was to get the
players comfortable in their surroundings. I watched intently as assistant
coach Bob Szorc fired continuous passes to sophomore sharpshooter Chris
Mantis. He rarely missed. Szorc sought me out later, mentioning my eye on
them. "He's fun to watch isn't he?" he said.
Later after lunch back at the hotel, the coaches broke down film with the
players. Strategies were discussed without over-complicating things.
Satisfied, Kerns dismissed the team and told them to be on the team bus by
5:14. I quizzed Fey about the odd specific time and he explained that it
made it easier for players to remember. Later in the lobby, Szorc joked
with me. "With coach, we'll be gone by 5:09," he said.
I chuckled afterwards as I looked at the bus clock when we left. It read
5:09.
Back at the arena, Fey handed me an all-access pass that allowed me to sit
on the team bench, roam courtside and enter the players and coaches locker
rooms. I couldn't help but feel like a team member. There was more
specific game plan discussion with the team. "Won't it be fun to piss them
off as they struggle to score against us?" Patrick Moynihan said. Again,
heavy emphasis that defense was the key to success. The team was let loose
for warmups. Each player fist-bumped me as they exited the locker room
door.
In the game, Appalachian's gritty defense indeed made it tough for Wake
Forest to score. The first half was a back and forth affair, but Mantis
closed it with a dunk and a typically accurate three-point to give the Apps
a 37-31 advantage at intermission.
In the locker room, Kerns praised the Mountaineers' effort but warned more
defensive pressure on the perimeter was needed to hold off the anticipated
frantic effort by the Deacons to retake control of the game. It came as the
Deacons went on a 10-2 run to take a 48-39 lead with 13:52 left. Kerns
called timeout. Coaches encouraged players in the huddle for all-out
hustle. The Apps responded. Diving for loose balls, tussling with the
bigger Deacons inside, the Mountaineers refused to go away. Mantis and
Tyler Boykin hit key baskets.
Terence Harcum made a three-pointer to give Appalachian its last lead with
14 seconds left, setting up the final heartbreak.
As the bus neared Boone, Kerns finally stretched and started to walk the
aisle. He quietly said to me, "Thank you for coming." "Keep your head up,"
I said. "This isn't an ending. It's the beginning of something great. You
guys are going to win a lot of games." Kerns tapped me on the shoulder,
turning to thank the team once more.
We got off the bus and as I was unlocking my car door, two teammates I
couldn't identify in the dark shouted something. I yelled, "You guys keep
your heads up. You're going to win a lot of games this year." "Yes, sir!"
they shouted back.
Already they were rising from the disappointment and rekindling their
spirit. I sensed their fire to reach other goals.
After all, March is coming.
