SPU men's and women's basketball trek into their next tournament undefeated, but with plans to work out the kinks and heighten the levels of performance against tough competitors this weekend.
The women's team is working on a new offense after losing one of their "best post players" to an injury in the first week of practice, said head coach Julie van Beek.
"We're trying to learn a new offense," van Beek said. "Learning the timing of that offense and learning how to trust the offense is a big deal and that just takes time."
But van Beek said the team has lots of speed and depth, despite being a young team. Six of the 15 players did not play on the team last year. Two of the top three scorers also graduated last year, so there's opportunity for players to step up, van Beek said.
"We're still trying to blend everyone together. You have the whole season to become a team," van Beek. "We'll be playing a lot better in January. We'll be more consistent and have a better idea of our identity."
The team faces Grand Canyon and Dixie State in the NNU Classic Dec. 4-5 in Nampa, Idaho, which van Beek said will be a good test for the team since both those teams are better than last year, though the 74-62 win against Humboldt State - who won the conference last year - gave the team a lot of confidence.
After winning the conference, the region and then losing in the Sweet 16 NCAA tournament last year, van Beek said the goal is to win conference again but to make it through the Sweet 16 and into the Elite 8.
The men's team is coming off a third-place finish in the GNAC and with a new head coach this season. The Falcons go up against a tough challenger in the upcoming SPU tournament Dec. 4 and 5 against Brigham Young University-Hawaii - ranked No. 1 in the league.
And first-year SPU head coach Ryan Looney also has the team playing a little differently than they're used to. "So it's taken us a little time to adjust," Looney said.
But unlike the women's team, 12 of the 15 players are returnees.
"Our team is obviously talented," Looney said. "We're picked to finish first in GNAC this year."
For now, though Looney's happy with the team's direction he said the team's not at 100 percent yet, but improving practice habits and increasing offensive and defensive rebounding are the goal.
The game against BYU-Hawaii will be a test for the team, Looney said, and definitely the time to boost the "toughness areas" off the board. At this point though, it's about working on small achievements.
"My only goals is every single day we find a way to get better," Looney said. "As long as everyone involved in our program takes that approach then I think the better off we'll be coming into the year."
The men play Carroll College Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. and BYU-Hawaii Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Both games are in the Brougham Pavilion.
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