Hard Work on the Hardwood – UAFS Men’s Basketball

Nov 1, 2015 | People

[title subtitle=”words: Don Lowe
Images: courtesy UAFS Sports Information”][/title]

As the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) Lions men’s basketball team starts its seventh year of Division II competition, there sure seems to be plenty of excitement about what could be accomplished in 2015-16.

Heading into his tenth year at the helm of UAFS men’s hoops fortunes, head coach Josh Newman believes there’s a whole lot to like about this group of players. “It’s early, but the thing that has impressed me so far is our maturity and commitment level,” Coach Newman says. “The best strength of our program is our depth.”

Having depth is most definitely a plus for Coach Newman’s Lions, particularly with the tempo he prefers his guys to maintain from the opening tip. “The best thing our team does is play fast. Both offensively and defensively, we want to be at a pace that’s uncomfortable (for opponents),” Coach Newman says, adding that “defensively, we’ll be very aggressive (with a 30-second shot clock) and we want a lot of possessions (on offense).”

The faster style for UAFS seems to be ideal with a trio of backcourt mates (juniors Seth Youngblood and Alex Cooper, along with sophomore DaVaunta Thomas) who have tremendous familiarity with one another. “We have three guards who have played together two full years,” Coach Newman says. “There’s just so much understanding of each other and that will be invaluable for us.”

Coach Newman goes on to say that with UAFS’ entire roster “the camaraderie and the relationships” of his players are truly special and that “they don’t want to let each other down.”

While there are a number of players who will be counted on heavily to produce, there’s no denying that the Lions’ Heartland Conference first-team selection is a focal point. “It will all start with Seth Youngblood,” Coach Newman assures. “A lot of things go through him for us.” Likewise, UAFS expects big things from Thomas.

Overall, though, he points out that “we have a lot of really good guys coming back.” Regardless of who returns, Coach Newman recognizes full well that his Lions will be battle-tested virtually from the very beginning of their non-conference slate in mid-November and continuing all through a tougher-than-nails Heartland league schedule.

“We play twenty (regular-season) league games and it will be brutal for us,” Coach Newman says. “We go to Wilmington (Delaware), Missouri Southern (Joplin, Missouri) and Northeastern State (Tahlequah, Oklahoma), so we will test our basketball team early in November. We’re not being bashful (about playing difficult opposition).”

Coach Newman suggests that by playing top-notch competition right from the get-go, in “early December we should be able to figure out what group (of individuals) plays well together.”

Without a doubt, developing much-needed continuity and chemistry will be vital, because, the way he sees it, “if you get behind (by the time league play starts), it will be tough to turn it around. We just have a very good league and its tough because of the travel as well.”

Coach Newman and the Lions have some lengthy road trips as they trek to several cities in Texas (Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, Laredo, Odessa and Lubbock), as well as Wichita and Oklahoma City.

No matter how tough it may get over the next four months or so and regardless of all their frequent journeys away from Fort Smith, Coach Newman says that “we’re excited about the season. I think our guys are ready for it. We just have to learn from our mistakes last year.”

Ultimately for UAFS, this winter it’s all about closing the deal. In a word, Coach Newman phrases it rather emphatically in saying that this squad must be able to ‘finish.’ “We did not finish games a lot of times last year,” Coach Newman remembers. “We would have a team down by four or five points and not end up winning the game. That memory is lasting and we are using that as motivation this year.”

It is clear that under his watch, this is a Lions’ program that is motivated to be successful year after year. “As a junior college, we were a perennial Top 5 program (in the country),” Coach Newman says. “When we made the transition (to Division II), we wanted to be a perennial Top 25 program at this level and I think we are getting close.”

There was a glimpse of just how close, perhaps, when he led UAFS to the Heartland regular-season championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament two years ago, while putting together a 21-7 overall record.

In six years playing at this level, and under Coach Newman’s watch, the Lions have put together a very respectable 98-74 record.

Even more impressive, there have been three league titles (2011, 2013 and 2014) in a five-year span. While there’s no denying UAFS has made tremendous strides, the goal is still to produce winning results and create a championship-contending club every year.

This could very well be the season that propels these Lions to national notoriety on an annual basis. Only time will tell. Either way, UAFS begins to find out exactly how things might unfold with its season opener against visiting Western State Colorado on Friday, November 13, in the friendly confines of Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith.

 

Fast Facts – UAFS Head Coach Josh Newman

Years at School: 10

Overall Record: 168-99

Previous Coaching Experience: Assistant at University of
Nevada (2003-2006); South Plains College (2001-2003); McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas (1999-2001)

Education:  Bachelor’s Degree in History from Arizona State University; Master’s Degree in Sports Studies from Texas A&M-Commerce

Family:  Wife, Rita; three children (Troy, Alexis & Daniella)

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