PORTLAND – The Long Beach State men’s basketball team will play its first NCAA tournament game since 2007 against the University of New Mexico on Thursday at 1:40 p.m.
It will also be the first NCAA appearance for the four 49er seniors – Casper Ware, T.J. Robinson, Eugene Phelps, and perhaps Larry Anderson.
Monson said that he and his squad are excited to be in Portland for the NCAA tournament.
“Well, I think every team is excited to be here,” he said. “But I think we’re really excited because this is the foundation of Long Beach State [basketball].”
He added: They’ve [the seniors] re-written the record books at Long Beach State individually. But for them to be sitting up here today is quite a day for this class and just shows where we’ve come.”
Ware said that just making it to this level will not satisfy him or his teammates.
“We worked really hard to get here, and we don’t want it to end now,” he said. “Coach talked about our legacy, and we’re trying to make that legacy a great one.
Anderson, who started every game but three this season, missed the entire Big West Conference tournament due to a knee injury.
With his status still up in the air, the senior guard said he would test the knee at practice and see how he feels for the game.
“Jerky moves will probably be the most thing I’m working on,” he said. “Sliding lateral will be the thing I work on most on. I haven’t really ran since my injury. Just want a game-like feel.”
I think there’s no secret that we’re a better basketball team with Larry Anderson,” Monson said. “With that being said, we know we’re also a good basketball team without him.”
He added: “Our margin for error is not as good. Our versatility is not as great, but other guys have to step up.”
The three-time First Team All-Big West player, and 2012 Big West Defensive Player of the Year practiced separately from the team on Wednesday for the most part, working on defensive slides, as well as other drills to test the durability of his knee.
“It’s a little sore, a little stiff,” Anderson said of the injury to his knee. “I’m going to go out today [in practice], probably [do some] running, and defensive slides.”
Freshman guard Mike Caffey, and Senior forward Edis Dervisevic shared the starting role in the Big West tournament last week, but If Anderson does not play, Monson said he has not decided on who will start in his place.
“We’re hoping that it will be Larry Anderson [who starts],” he said. “That’s who we’ve started in every other game. We’ll start whatever group we feel gives us the best chance to win the basketball game.”
The No. 12-seeded ‘Niners have a tough task ahead of them in the No. 5-seeded Lobos, starting with senior forward Drew Gordon.
The 6-foot-9 Gordon, who transferred to UNM from UCLA, leads this New Mexico squad in both scoring and rebounding averaging 13.9 and 10.3, respectively. Robinson knows that defending Gordon will be very difficult.”
“Drew is a heavy load,” he said. “If we play defense, and do it well, I think we’ve got a pretty good chance.”
The guard matchup between Ware and New Mexico sophomore Kendall Williams will also one to watch. Monson said last week that Williams was a guy that he heavily recruited to come to Long Beach State, but lost him to the Lobos (27-6). Williams averages 12 points and 4.1 assists per game this season.
LBSU must also keep an eye on Australian freshman guard Hugh Greenwood. Greenwood can do a little bit of everything on the basketball court, and spreads the floor nicely for UNM with solid 3-point shooting
Monson said that in order for his team to advance past the Lobos, they have to play the way they have all season long.
“I think the biggest thing we have to do is play well,” he said. “I think sometimes you get to this level and you forget how you got here. We got here because we’re a good basketball team and we played well together.”
He added: “We’ve trusted each other to this point and we can’t stop doing that tomorrow.”
As far as New Mexico goes, Monson is aware of how good of a team they are.
“They really do a great job of of contesting shots and making you earn points between the 3-point line and the basket,” he said. “We know that they really stretch the [the floor] with Drew Gordon and the shooters they put around him.”