Even though the UAA men's basketball team has played three games against two opponents, the Seawolves consider tonight's game against Bemidji State their real season opener.
That's because the two cakewalk victories over Lancaster Bible College were too easy and the exhibition blowout loss to Division I Nevada didn't count against their record.
The Seawolves hope fellow Division II school Bemidji State of Minnesota is in the middle.
"We know they're going to be better competition than the first team we played, so we gotta be a lot sharper," said UAA senior guard Eric Draper. "I think we will be since we kind of already got our feet wet in Nevada with better competition."
UAA (2-0) opened the season Nov. 4-5 by thumping visiting Lancaster Bible 105-68 and 102-30. Then UAA fell 85-62 on the road to Nevada in a Nov. 10 exhibition.
The two-game series against Bemidji State (0-1) is tonight and Saturday at 7 in the Wells Fargo Sports Complex.
The season is so early, Draper said, the Seawolves are still defining roles in practice and determining who plays where. The UAA coaching staff brought in 12 newcomers -- the largest recruiting class in school history -- to mesh with a handful of returning players.
"Practices are intense because positions are still open," said Draper, one of four veterans back from last season's 19-12 team that advanced to the Division II playoffs. "Every day everybody has to play hard and try to earn their playing time."
UAA head coach Rusty Osborne and his staff are watching.
"We're just trying to get better as a team," Osborne said. "We don't have a lot of practice time left. We've got five games in the next 10 days. We've got a lot of work to do."
Cooper nears assist mark
Junior point guard Luke Cooper needs just 13 assists to become UAA's all-time assist leader, passing former Seawolf great Jimmy Hajdukovich.
Cooper, a 6-footer from Australia, has racked up 359 assists in just 60 career games. Hajdukovich, a 6-3 small forward from Fairbanks, collected 371 assists in 108 games from 1995-99.
Olsen still sidelined
Injured power forward McCade Olsen, recuperating from a slightly dislocated shoulder, will not make his UAA debut against Bemidji State.
Olsen still feels discomfort and doesn't have his full range of motion. The 6-foot-8, 215-pounder's status remains questionable for next week's Carrs/Safeway Great Alaska Shootout.
"It's frustrating because I just want to get out there and play," he said. "I hate sitting on the sideline and just watching."
McCade, a promising junior transfer from Eastern Wyoming College, suffered the injury Oct. 26 after falling on ice.
He has made progress and can shoot and run without pain. But he can't extend his arms above his head without soreness.
"I think as I get my confidence back I'll be all right," McCade said. "I'm kind of holding back still."
McCade will get re-evaluated Monday with the hopes of being cleared to return to practice.
Daily News reporter Van Williams can be reached at vwilliams@adn.com or 257-4335.
UAA SEAWOLVES (2-0)
vs.
BEMIDJI STATE (0-1)
WHEN: 7 p.m., today and Saturday
WHERE: Wells Fargo Sports Complex, UAA
TICKETS: $5-$7
RADIO: Live, AM-550
TV: Delayed, 10 p.m., KCFT (cable Channel 19)
