By INGRID MALDONADO
The men’s basketball team has spent the season navigating uncertainty, but despite this, they are confident and determined to close out the season on a strong note.
With a record of 6-8 overall and 4-8 in Great American Conference games, the team is staying strong by building more effective teamwork and striving to win one game at a time.
Max Alexander, No. 1, a junior from McPherson, Kansas, majoring in business, is the team’s leading player.
Alexander has seen the challenges the team has faced during the season. One of the challenges is having to continue the season without their head coach, Robbie Harman, who has taken family medical leave.
“I think everybody’s still a little bit shocked and kind of confused about the whole situation. We’re trying to really rally around each other and give as much time and grace to our coaches that we do have on staff and understand that everybody’s unsure of what their role is at this moment,” Alexander said. “So, we’re kind of trying to carve through that and get through that right now as a team.”
While having to continue the season without Harman, Sam Casey, who is the assistant men’s basketball coach, explained that Harman is still involved with the team and is in a group chat with the team. Casey said challenges are limited from his absence because of the foundation he’s built and how others have been helpful, including Shane Hansen and director of athletics, Brad Franz.
“Coach Harman’s laid an outstanding foundation and vision for our team, and so we’ve just tried to build off that and continue his vision,” Casey said.
While there has been a lot of support from others, Casey explained that some teammates who have been with Harman for several years have been affected because of their connection to Harman and wanting to be there for him. He said many players want to be there for their coaches in these situations, but are limited to what they can do. While it has affected many players, they have managed it with support from others like Hansan and graduate assistant LJ Lampley.
Casey explained that there has been support from other team coaches and officials who send their best wishes and prayers to Harman. He said he has received many messages for the team from people whom he does not know.
“I know Coach Harman, the one thing I will speak for him, and say this, and that’s a big thank you to everyone, we feel that support,” Casey said.
The team has experienced some uncertainty, Alexander said, but this has given teammates new leadership roles to fill in, he explained, himself being one, as this is his fourth year playing college basketball.
Skyler Kimberlin, No. 21, a junior majoring in health and sports science from Mountain View, said teamwork has been crucial to the team recently. He explained how putting others before oneself is one part of teamwork that they can work on. When asked who has taken charge of leadership, Kimberlin said Alexander has.
“I would say Max has really stepped up out of his little quiet role personality self,” Kimberlin said. “Last night we all had a player meeting, and it was his idea, and he led it, and just him stepping out of his quiet self and becoming more of a leader, I would say, is really big for us on the team.”
While the team was in Arkansas last week, they defeated Arkansas-Monticello 65-59 on Thursday and Southern Arkansas 69-64 on Saturday. Both games were competitive, but they came through in both second halves.
Alexander said one of the challenges the team has faced is putting together every minute of the games they play.
“I would say that just understanding to win a college basketball game, it takes a full forty minutes, and you can’t start slow and you can’t end slow,” Alexander said.
At Southern Arkansas, Casey said it was a tough environment, and the players responded to the challenge. There are 12 games left in the season and then the conference playoffs.
When asked about whether there are any changes or tweaks they are going to make in the next few games, Casey said their approach has always been one game at a time, and they are always looking to tweak defense and tighten it depending on the opponent.
“This is the toughest, not the best or most talented team in the conference, but the toughest team in the conference, and at the end of those 40 minutes, the toughest team is going to win this ball game,” Casey said.