PORTLAND – The Long Beach State men’s basketball team will play its first NCAA tournament game since 2007 against the University of New Mexico today at 1:10 p.m.
It will also be the first NCAA appearance for four 49er seniors – Casper Ware, T.J. Robinson, Eugene Phelps, and perhaps Larry Anderson.
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 his knee at practice and see how he feels for the game.
“Jerky moves will probably be the thing I’m most working on,” he said. “I haven’t really ran since my injury.”
Head coach Dan Monson said that, although LBSU is a good team without Anderson, it’s a better team with him.
“Our margin for error is not as good,” he said of the possibility of Anderson’s absence. “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 started in place of Anderson in the Big West tournament last week. But if Anderson cannot play, Monson said he has not decided on who will start in his place.
“We’re hoping that it will be Larry Anderson,” he said. “That’s who we’ve started in every other game.”
Still, the No. 12-seeded ‘Niners have a tough task ahead of them in the No. 5-seeded Lobos, starting with defending senior forward Drew Gordon.
The 6-foot-9 Gordon, who transferred to UNM from UCLA, leads his New Mexico squad in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.9 and 10.3, respectively.
“Drew is a heavy load,” Robinson 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 is also one to watch.
Williams, who averages 12 points and 4.1 assists per game this season, was heavily recruited by Monson before the guard’s freshman year at UNM.
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 sometimes you get to this level and you forget how you got here,” he said. “We got here because we’re a good basketball team and we played well together.”
“We’ve trusted each other to this point and we can’t stop doing that tomorrow,” he continued.
The ‘Niners will enjoy their trip to the NCAA tournament but won’t be satisfied with a loss to UNM.
“I think every team is excited to be here,” Monson said. “But I think we’re really excited because this is the foundation of Long Beach State [basketball].”
But Ware said that just making it to this level is not enough for 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.”