By. Brett Greenberg
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - At 19-7 overall and 5-5 in conference play, the University of Alabama Men's Wheelchair Basketball team is using these next two weeks to recover, and prepare for their next slate of games.
The back-to-back national champions are looking to improve on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball as well as become better at communicating in these next two weeks. The team hopes to add a couple more wins to the win column and potentially pass the 20 win threshold on the season thus far.
Coach Ford Burttram and Assistant Coach Sean Burns have prioritized a couple of things for the team to focus on this week in practice including communication on the defensive end, player accountability and conditioning.
Practice over the past week has been extremely intense due in large part to the coaches and players realizing their potential when they execute what they are told.
Last Thursday was scrimmage day for the team coming off two days of rest.
It was time for Senior Captain Rashad Bennet (#35) and the rest of the team to show the coaches what they have learned and show they are willing to try to get better.
The practice opened up with the team locked at the arms in the middle of the court.
Coach Ford then spoke for a couple of minutes before breaking the team into two separate teams.
"Put eight minutes on the clock and let's go!" Coach Ford exclaimed.
The ball was tipped and the team was on their way. Before two minutes could get shaved off the clock, Coach Ford stopped play and wanted to make it clear that it is very important that the team moves with out the ball and continues to talk on the defensive end.
As the scrimmage progressed, the two teams could not separate themselves. It was 4-4 after around six minutes of play time.
Each team seemed to be struggling on the offensive end, but Coach Ford was contempt with that. His team is starting to play better on the defensive end.
The team played four quarters of eight minutes each. After each quarter, players were sent in pairs to a basket to shoot two free throws. This drill is just one of many Coach Ford has instilled into his player's routines because it helps the players practice taking foul shots while tired, simulating a late game situation.
Before the second half started, Coach Ford brought the team together and emphasized smarter shots, more communication and recognition of the play/shot clock.
As the second half began, the score was 12-8 in team Crimson's favor.
For six minutes, the scoreboard operator did not have to lift a finger. Neither team could get anything to fall while the defense was stout. Physical and aggressive play near the basket lead to a more intense second half of the scrimmage.
Constant communication, fast and physical play rounded out the last few minutes with Team Crimson ultimately winning by one point.
The scoreboard buzzed and practice was over. The team circled up at mid-court and directed their attention to Coach Ford.
Coach Ford went through his typical post practice breakdown going over the rights and wrongs of practice.
Ford felt as if the team improved on the defensive side of the ball as well as had more communication on the floor. Floor also addressed that the team still needed to be more mindful of the shot clock.
The team breaks one more time for two more foul shots then headed for conditioning to end Thursday's practice.
The team then broke into pairs and worked on shots around the perimeter for roughly 10 minutes.
Coach Ford, Captain Rashad Bennet and the rest of the UA Men's Wheelchair Basketball team look to carry over what they have practiced and harped on over the past two weeks into the upcoming home tournament.
The UA Men’s Wheelchair Basketball Team takes on ABC Medical on Friday, February 28th and Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, February 29th at Stran-Hardin Arena.
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