Fri 10-Nov-2000

Purple-Gold game a prelude to UW-SP men's regular basketball season
By Jesse Horne
Journal staff

Pointer guard/forward Nick DeVos, a junior, battles his teammates for a rebound during Wednesday night's Purple-Gold scrimmage at Quandt Gymnasium. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball tips off the regular season at home Friday, Nov. 17 against Barat College. Start time for the opener is slated for 7 p.m. (Journal photo by Doug Wojcik)

Before the UW-Stevens Point mens' basketball team begins the march for another WIAC title in the 2000-2001 season, team members had to face each other in the annual Purple-Gold scrimmage at Quandt Fieldhouse Wednesday. The Gold team defeated the Purple squad 88-73.

"In general, I think the offense was ahead of our defense," head coach Jack Bennett said. "It was nice to have us back on the court in a game situation."

Even thought the event was a scrimmage, the atmosphere was one of a mid-season conference game, right down to the fans in the stands, Bennett said.

"We were real pleased to have the people turn out for us," he said. "This was about as many as some teams in the league get for their games."

For senior guard Brent Larson, Wednesday's scrimmage was a wake-up call from the off-season hibernation.

"It felt good to put the uniform back on and get back out there to play for the fans," he said. "I'm now just looking forward to playing the conference games and showing teams what we've got."

Two facets of the Pointers' season game plan were able to shine when they played each other - experience and composure, Bennett said.

"I was very pleased with the kids who settled into how the game was being played," he said. "The games at the college level are more of a marathon than a sprint and our intrasquad game was a good early test for the team."

Last season, Brant Bailey was the Pointers' leading scorer, averaging 24 points per game. Wednesday night, six players scored in double-digit figures for the Pointers with sophomore Josh Islerloth leading the Gold team with 15 points.

"We don't have the All-American-type player who is going to go out and score 20 to 35 points a night," Bennett said. "We are going to certainly to need to have various players contribute on a nightly basis.

"I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility that we have anywhere from three to seven players lead games in scoring," he said.

This philosophy is shared by the rest of the team. Larson simplified the necessity for quality scoring this season by one word - collectively.

"I think that is the main word for this team," he said. "We're going to need to, collectively, get the points and step up to get it done."