Blog with Bryan Smithson

So its been a few games since my last entry but things have been extremely busy especially because we have been on the road for several days.  I want to start with where I left off and talk about our win at VMI.  Right before introductions VMI announced how they had a brand new floor and they gave the microphone to the donor of the floor.  He was trying to get the near capacity crowd (about 4500) excited and took it a little too far.  He said "Coach Beidenbach, I like you, but you will lose today because today is our day!".......The crowd gave him some cheers and so he thought he was going to be a hero that night.  Well we were down 3 with 6 seconds remaining and I got the ball on a sideline out of bounds play but was pretty covered up, so I swung the ball to KJ who took a rhythm dribble and drilled a 28 footer to tie the game at the buzzer.  We would go on to win in overtime and crush the man's prediction of a win.  However, this was a very tough game, especially for me coming off some very high scoring games.  They face-guarded me the entire game and anytime I got the ball they threw a double team at me.  I had to make plays for my teammates who did a good job of executing out of the double team.  I struggled shooting from the floor and forced some shots up that I probably would have passed up in other games.  They did a good job making it tough on me to get open looks but I was able to knock some shots down in overtime and we got the win. 

We came back home against Radford last Wednesday and got another win where we pulled away in the second half to lock the win.  I had a solid game and the team played pretty well as a whole. Finished with 12 points of 9 shots and had 6 assts. They switched up defenses on us several times during the game which will help us in the future.  KJ and I had to notice the defense and make sure our team was in position to attack with the correct sets, plays, and spacing.  Will we see a lot of this throughout the conference season---especially because of Kenny George's impact on the game when he is in our out.

We started a rather long road trip on Friday as we left for Charleston Southern.  We had to turn our ticket list in friday night because of the amount of people that wanted to come see us play.  Their gym is extremely small(even smaller than ours) and was packed to capacity.  I think if the fire marshal would have showed up the place would have been shut down because there was people everywhere.  Compare it to an AAU game in a bad location with JJ Redick and Raymond Felton playing in the game.  Crazy right? They came out extremely excited because they haven't had a crowd like that in probably 4 years.  They tried to change things up on us by pressing full court and substituting every two minutes to try and wear me down and contain KJ and Kenny.  I have been playing a lot of minutes all season so after they wasted all their energy at the beginning we slowly chipped away and led by as many as 20.  I shot 8-15 for 21 and 6assts and we won by around 15.  We stayed in Charleston that night and left for Conway, SC in the morning (Coastal Carolina.

KJ and I are roomates on the road and we were checking the mid major poll all day to see where we moved up in the rankings.  Finally right before we left for the game we saw that we moved up to number 15.  This was pretty exciting but we definitely aren't satisfied.  We expected the same type of attendance at Coastal that we had at Charleston--partly because of the excitement of seeing 7ft 8 Kenny George, and the fact that everybody wants to see an upset in the conference.  The gym was packed and Coastal had a good game plan.  When Kenny George was in they played man to man and played extremely physical on the defensive end, Offensively they played 5 around 1 and tried to shoot 3's and crash the boards.  When Kenny was out they played a 1-3-1 Gap zone and tried to entice us to shoot 3 pointers, offensively they ran an open post motion (NC state motion) against us.  It was well put together and KJ and I didn't shoot the ball real well so they were in the game until the end.  Kenny really came through on two consecutive plays where he made good post moves and hit jump hooks in the lane.  They hit a 3 on back to back possessions but I hit a floater in the lane and that put us up for good.  We won by 4 in a low scoring game.  At the beginning of the 2nd half I tweeked the arch of my foot and was limping around the rest of the game.  I wasn't able to be as aggressive as I usually am on the offensive end of the floor in the second half because it was tough to switch directions.  This hurt us offensively because the ball is in my hands a lot toward the end of the game--especially when it is close,  but I tried to rotate the ball and get everybody involved and my teammates really helped me out by taking the scoring load at the end of the game.  I finished with 11 points and 6 assts.  I went to the doctor today and he said it is a planter fascia (sp?) problem and that I have to rest.  I am on crutches today just to unload the area of any body weight and I have been in the training room all day getting treatment.  I have 4 more days to take care of the problem before we play Winthrop on Saturday.  This is a very anticipated matchup and has been a sold out game for weeks.  A lot of people have been calling me for tickets but they are pretty limited due to the size of our gym and I don't know how many will be able to come.  The important thing is I have to rest and get as close to 100% as possible so we can continue our streak and build on our 6-0 conference record and 17-4 season record.

 Check the Video clip below vs. High Point

Posted by bryan at 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

On Monday I was voted the player of the week in the Big South.  This is quite an honor to me as well as my teammates, who obviously made it happen.  More details in the link above the blog. 

We had our second straight sellout at the Justice Center last night.  If you are familiar with our gym you might think "So what's the big deal?"  There is a couple answers to that question.  1.  Our 5th year seniors have never seen one side of the gym sold out.  2.  The gym is so small that when a lot of people are yelling it is more deafening(sp) than when we play in big arenas.  3. Having a college basketball environment helps the team sustain a certain amount of energy throughout the game.  I think I could go on and on.  To make it simple: my first year there, there was several injuries and many of the older guys had to play out of position.  A couple of the guys and I would watch from the bench and could probably count the amount of fans in the gym.  LITERALLY.  One of my teammates enlightened me on the situation when he said: you know why they call this the Justice Center don't you?  I said no why?  He replied, " Because it is JUST US (justice) in here!!!" hahaha.... I couldn't help but to laugh but when you really think about it, it's not all that funny.  The good thing is we can laugh at it now.  Our fans have been great and they make it a lot of fun to play at home. 

Now, to get to the game.  High Point was a very tough team and the preseason favorite in the Big South.  They were fresh of a win vs. Winthrop and they were plenty ready to knock us off the schedule as well.  We had a real battle in the first half, and High Point took an 8 point lead before we came back to take the lead and then they finished the half on a run to put the score at 31-27 in their favor.  I had 3 points at halftime and they limited my looks at the goal in the half court setting.  They scored the first 2 points of the second half and then we went on a nice run.  We were able to get out in transition and limit Arizona Reid's (preseason player of the year) touches in scoring areas.  KJ hit me a couple times in transition for three pointers and that opened up  the lane and for me to create for myself and my teammates.  We won the game 74-58 as I scored 24 in the 2nd half and finished with 27 along with 7 helpers.  Kenny George had 12 and 9reb but altered a lot of shots on the defensive end.  KJ played a very solid game (pulled down an important 6 rebounds)- especially defensively, Vincent James had a good game, and Reid Augst made some things happen on the offensive end. Oh yea, freshman John williams and Senior Garrett Moles both contributed--especially on the defensive end.   Everybody contributed  something to the team last night even if they didn't play.  It was a very good team effort and now we are 2-0 with a chance to knock off VMI (2-0) at their place on Saturday.  check it out on the tube   @ 1pm est. on Sports South. 

Posted by bryan at 08:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This is my 3rd year at UNCA and all 3 years we have played at UNC chapel hill.  My first season, I was sitting out due to transfer rules, but I remember watching the game at home with my family and it got pretty ugly.  Last year, I thought that we played well and really made some improvements by playing the game and we still lost 93-62.  This year we came in with a totally different mindset.  We have the experience and they have the number 1 ranking.  We traveled to Chapel Hill for only one reason, and that reason was to win the game.  Some say we had a nice showing because we only lost by 12, but the loss hurt just as bad as any other.  We made some mistakes down the stretch that a team cannot make against them because they are simply to good.  Their talent level is very high but it didn't surprise me that I was able to play and be successful at that level.  KJ and Kenny also showed that they are a force to be reckon with on any level.  It was a very tough place to play and will prove to be invaluable experience going into conference play.  I am very confident that if we can be successful on the road in our conference we will win a championship.

Game #1.  VS. Liberty @ home.  So for anybody who doesn't know the Justice Center is our home court and it is more of a gym than an arena.  For years the average fan could walk into the game at any time and sit wherever they pleased and not be hassled.  Saturday night was a different story.  I was walking into the gym around 310 for a 430 game and there was already a long line waiting to get in the front doors.  As players, we have always talked about what it would be like if we had a strong homecourt advantage.  Well, we had that Sat night as the Justice Center sold out and turned down over 200 people throughout the game.  Those that missed it, missed a very good college basketball game.  We started on a 23-8 run but Liberty slowly chipped away at the lead and it was 31-34 at halftime.  We continued a pretty close game throughout and we led by as many as 13 during the second half but Liberty once again made a fierce run and actually took the lead 68-67 with a few minutes left.  They hit one more field goal and went up 70-67.  ---- at this point in the game I had 28 points and was shooting 9-11 from the field.  I was in what you may call a shooting zone and my confidence was out of the building.  I came off a ball screen and my defender went underneath so I stepped back and drilled a trey ball to tie the game with under 2 minutes to go.   We got a couple stops and scored an additional 4 points to win the game 74-70.  Ried and KJ hit some big free throws in the last couple seconds and KJ grabbed a key loose ball to lock the win.

We have a very tough High point team coming to Asheville WEdnesday night that are fresh off a win against last year's undefeated conference champ Winthrop.  They will be full of confidence and energy and so will we.  It will be a tough game and if we can control the pace throughout, WE will win.  If we let them dictate the speed of the game it will be in their favor.   Also, in the next couple days in practice we need to focus on perimeter defense and being able to rotate when Kenny George is in the game.  Penetration is okay because if they want to try and finish over Kenny --- go for it---- but we have to rotate better on the perimeter and limit 3 point looks especially when Kenny is in the game.

Posted by bryan at 08:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I do not have much time today because I need to get to the gym and do some recovery stuff, but I wanted to quickly reply to some of the comments on my last entry.  First, I want to thank everybody for commenting because it makes for good basketball conversation and as a player and fan of the game I enjoy it.  I understand where someone who doesn't know me very well could say that I have an "issue" because I brought up the name of my old coach at MTSU.  I want you to understand that as a 17 year old kid leaving home for what I thought to be a major Division 1 program, there is a lot of things left to learn, not only on the basketball court, but in everyday life.  I have noted before what a great coach Kermit Davis was for me on the court and how much I have carried on with me throughout my career after MTSU.  It is not an "issue" but rather a very important time in my life that made a tremendous impact on where I have been in the last 3 years and where I will go after this.  I have no problem with MTSU at all, and in fact, keep up with their progression regularly.  I would also like to add that I met some really good friends there and loved the strong fan support who always showed me love.  It will always be a part of me and that will not change.  Again, I want to thank everybody for their comments I appreciate all the things that were said.  I hope I have cleared up anything that might have been unclear.

Also, after reading the last blog I have noticed that the way my comments were typed weren't how I wanted to express them and decided to delete them.  I was not trying to bash anybody or any team, and I see how it could have looked that way. Thanks for the comments.,,,,,, keep them coming

Posted by bryan at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Last year they got us by 20......I had a horrible game and so did the rest of my teammates.  This year, once again I was having a poor shooting night.  The difference was I got the rest of my teammates involved and it gave them confidence which ultimately gave me even more confidence about our abilities to compete, and sparked a comeback with 3 minutes left down by 7.  We held them scoreless over the final 3 minutes to pull off a 61-58 win and probably the best win in the program since the tournament appearance in 2003.  I had 7 points and only 3 until this final 3 minutes.  We cut the lead to 58-55 when we turned up the pressure on Defense and forced a turnover.  I got the ball on the wing and called for a ball screen.  USC switched a forward onto me so I dragged him out and took it into the paint for a floater off the glass.  58-57.  They came down and made another crucial mistake as they threw the ball out of bounds. We drove down and ran the same ball screen from the wing but this time I took a penetrating dribble and hit Kenny George inside and he dunked it home.  26 seconds left.  They came down and Devan Downey attempted a three point shot that fell short and Kenny got the rebound hit me and they fouled.  We got to run a little clock off because they had to give 2 more fouls in order to put us on the line.  So they did, and with 6 seconds left they fouled me and sent me to the line.  I drained both free throws and they gave it to Downey who is extremely quick.  Before we was able to gain a full head of steam I fouled him at half court because we still had 3 fouls to give.  2 seconds left.  We denied the inbounds and they fired a half court shot that fell short. 

I can't speak for everybody on my team but I do know that the win was emotional for me for a couple reasons.  One- it is my senior year and every game carries a ton of emotion for me.  2- I was happy for our seniors who have worked so hard in the offseason to get a win like this.  3- Our coaches deserved this win because they work hard and play by the rules ( I don't think every team does).  4- Our young guys were able to experience beating an SEC team which can prove to be invaluable experience. 

We enjoyed the win Sat night and Sunday but then we got right to work Sunday night in order to get ready for the number 1 team in the nation UNC.  The game is going to be extremely tough, but is not an impossible win like most in the country think.  We do not have to play perfect, but we do have to play hard, tough, and smart.  Their talent level is extremely high and they use it well.  We have to control tempo as much as possible and limit their transition looks.  I have been in a bit of a shooting slump, but its not the first time and won't be the last.  I'm going to keep shooting and I'll be ready.        O and by the way we are #22 in the mid major poll last time I checked.  So, all of you that doubted us for so long--- Thanks, your a part of our success!!!

Posted by bryan at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Buffalo game was a crazy one.  After getting down by as many as 17, we pulled out another win.  From the moment they came into our gym it was as if they were trying to intimidate us.  They danced around on our home floor and did all the yelling and screaming that BS teams do.  When I first got out on the floor for the tip none of their players would shake my hand.  It actually made me crack a smile because here these guys are who play for Buffalo and they think bc they are from the Northeast that they were "hard".  At halftime we were down, and I got our team together and I told them that all that energy and all the trash talk, slapping the floor, pushing, shoving, and fouling=== it is all FAKE!!! FALSE!!! I don't believe it one bit, and niether should anybody else in the gym.  All that stuff they were doing did nothing but get them in foul trouble and put us at the line 49 times to their 9 times.  I hit some shots down the stretch and we forced overtime.  At the beginning of overtime I went to shake hands again and they just looked at me with another FAKE attempt at intimidation.  Well we beat them and we beat them good in overtime and they did not know how to handle it.  We exposed all the FAKE energy they had in the first half and sent them to Buffalo feeling upset.  After the game their coach sprinted across the court in attempt to get a hold of the referees, but our beat writer caught him before he got there.  There was even a snapshot of the altercation on the front page of the Asheville Citizen Times on Sunday Morning.  I guess that I can't really put all the heat on the players when they obviously got their attitudes from their coach.  It was one of the best feelings after a game I have had since the Sunbelt conference tournament my freshman year when we(MTSU) beat Western Kentucky in the first round in Bowling Green, KY.

As for our game vs. Montreat college on New Years Eve, we got the win by 30 with no problems.  Everybody got to play and a lot of people scored.  It was great to see our guys, who don't play often, get into the game and play as hard as they did.  They pay the price everyday to be a part of this team and they stay behind us no matter what, so it was our turn to repay them and cheer as they made the plays on the court.  It was also good rest considering we have two great teams to play in the next week.  South Carolina and North Carolina.

After the game some of the guys got together and went to a couple of clubs and house parties, but we took in the New Year at a place called Z Lounge, where everybody was dancing and having a good time.  I didn't get in until pretty late but got enough rest to get up this morning and go lift weights at 11am.  I came home and got a little bit more rest as I watched Florida lose the Capital One Bowl and then I went back to the gym to work on some things that Dan Barto @ IMG gave me after watching my Tennessee game on tv.  (8ft floaters, pull back dribble)  Also, after seeing the box score of last night he wanted me to work on my shooting mechanics from the 3 point line.  I have been in a bit of a slump from the 3 pt line but I took some of Danno's advice today and I think I got it figured out, so now I just need to continue to get as many shots up between now and Saturday, and the fire will be back!!!!

Posted by bryan at 08:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)