By Michael Mendenhall
The Utah Snowbears of the American Basketball Association continue on the road this week, hoping to keep their perfect season rolling.
After winning all 22 games this season, the Snowbears travel to Washington to play the Bellevue Blackhawks today and are looking for the 23rd consecutive win.
?I knew we?d have a good team,? head coach Ike Austin said.
Many times, teams do not meet so much success, but the team?s biggest challenge now is to keep their streak going for the rest of their season. Austin said the team knows that being undefeated makes them a target, and every team they play wants to end their streak.
?I ain?t never been 22-0 in my life in no sport, not even Playstation,? forward Harold Arceneaux said. ?So, I mean it?s [not] easy to be 22-0 with a whole team and a whole bunch of new players playing together for the first time. We have a bulls eye on our back right now.?
The players realize this, too, and keep it in mind when preparing for upcoming games.
In their last game, the Snowbears overcame a 28-point deficit in the third quarter to beat the defending ABA champion Long Beach Jam to keep their streak alive. During the streak, the Snowbears have averaged 115.4 points per game while allowing their opponents to score 93.3 points per game.
The Snowbears and Blackhawks have met five times this season with the Snowbears, winning each meeting.
Utah is led by Clay Tucker, a 6?5? guard out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Harold Arceneaux, a 6?6? forward out of Weber State. Tucker averages 20.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, while Arceneaux averages 16.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
Though it?s a surprise to be undefeated, the team knew what direction they wanted to go from its inception into the ABA. The staff planned for success.
Austin said they set up a system they felt would work: they hand-picked the players they felt would excel in that system, and had them prepare early. The players reported early to work on their conditioning, and prepare for the demanding schedule.
With the success, expectations have risen and goals have been lifted.
?We want to finish the season strong,? Austin said. ?That?s what we set out to do.?
The team has enjoyed their success and look forward to the future. However, they do not look too far into the future.
?We just focus on one team at a time,? Arceneaux said. ?That?s the reason we became 22-0. We don?t look ahead of our next opponent; focus on the next opponent in front of us and deal with that team.?
Utah now has another team to watch and cheer for, and the players are excited to be here.
?I just think having the Snowbears in Utah, I mean to let people know there?s great basketball in Utah,? Arceneaux said. ?Now, you know at the college level, at the pro level, and at the semi-pro level. It?s just great basketball in Utah.?
