49ers
finally fun to watch
Intensity.
Defense. Energy.
Those
three words escaped the Long Beach State
men's basketball team last season, and
eventually turned them in to the laughing
stock of the Big West Conference and the
school.
Anytime
a student would even mention the 49ers'
basketball team a joke would come crawling
out of their mouth.
This
season the 49ers may not be atop the Big
West Conference, they may even still be
at the bottom, but after watching the
78-43 trouncing they gave to UC San Diego
in an exhibition game in The Pyramid Friday
night I have to say I finally felt satisfied
with the effort the players and coaches
gave.
The
49ers never gave such an effort during
last seasons 6-21 finish, which consequently
resulted in low attendance and no student
support. It's going to be hard to win
back the students of Long Beach State,
but win or lose if the team can play with
the energy and intensity they played with
Friday night then the students will come
around.
Michael
Bower
Game
Winner
Kevin
Houston sparked a smothering defensive
effort by the 49ers with five steals as
the team forced 33 turnovers. There was
not one player for the 49ers who was not
in the face of every UC San Diego player,
and Head Coach Larry Reynolds was off
the bench and screaming at players to
hustle and keep the intensity, which proved
me wrong from last season when I thought
Reynolds needed some coffee to wake him
up during some of the beatings the 49ers
took.
But
the energy and intensity of Reynolds made
for an exciting effort on the 49ers' part
and finally an enjoyable game to watch
for the fans.
The
49ers' win was great, but it wasn't the
win that was important. It was the way
the team came on the court with energy
and intensity. The team was up 32-10 at
one point in the game, and fans had to
be wondering when the 49ers were going
to let UC San Diego back in the game.
Not
this time.
The
49ers kept the intensity and energy on
the floor, which resulted in a highlight
show by Shawn Hawkins, Louis Darby and
Anthony Coleman. Hawkins led all scorers
with 21 points as Darby was close behind
with 17 on the game. Although Coleman,
who was injured last season, scored just
seven points, he had the most intensity
of all and was fired up from the games
first whistle. He gave the fans something
to roar about with three blocked shots.
"Our
initial energy for the first 14 minutes
in the first half is what we were looking
for," Reynolds said. "I was
happy with our effort and intensity. We
still have to get in better shape defensively
so we can play with the same intensity
over 40 minutes."
I
can't say I seen a game where Long Beach
State has kept the intensity for all 40
minutes, but this season I think I might.
And
no matter win or lose, if the 49ers give
me what I got from them Friday night,
I will keep coming back, and the students
will, too.
