The Northern Arizona men's basketball team will play Monday after taking advantage of a 12-day break between games.
While the break was a chance for the Lumberjacks (3-5) to rest and recover, head coach Jack Murphy and the rest of the team hopes it wasn't so long that the Jacks will have any signs of rust.
As NAU opens the Big Sky Conference portion of its schedule against Montana State (2-5) Monday at 6:35 p.m. at the Skydome, Murphy said it's possible to see a few minutes of ugly basketball while NAU finds its game speed again.
"It'll be interesting and the first half could be ugly basketball for both teams," said Murphy, who noted Montana State's break will have been 13 days. "Our mantra has been Big Sky Conference, now it's here and it's put up or shut up time and we're looking forward to the opportunity. It's a great challenge and to do it at home is exciting."
Senior guard Stallon Saldivar said the team didn't exactly quit playing basketball for 12 days, but rather its the time spent away from the games that could be an issue early for NAU.
Saldivar said the team is working hard and really finding its speed again after final exams.
"Playing big schools and seeing what it's all about helped us learn a lot about ourselves. We're ready to play Big Sky basketball.
"You never want to take 12 days off between games, but we stay in shape and we're always in the gym," Saldivar added. "It might take us a couple minutes to get back to game speed, but everything will be fine."
Saldivar is playing off the bench after suffering an early-season leg injury, but he's been happy to play his role; especially with freshman DeWayne Russell starting in his spot.
Russell, the team's leading scorer with 17.1 points per game, is one of Murphy's young guys he says he depends on to lead the team.
Murphy added while the team's overall goals will change with the start of the Big Sky schedule, its game-to-game goals will not.
"Our overall view of each opponent centers around the standings and how we improve in the conference," Murphy said.
Saldivar said the early games -- for anything pre Big Sky, NAU calls them preseason games -- have really helped the Jacks find out who they are as a team.
"We just want to take things game by game," Saldivar said. "It's a whole new era like everybody said and this first game will really start our season off well."
Senior Gabe Rogers follows Russell in scoring with 16.4 points per game, and Saldivar is scoring 5 points per game off the bench.
After playing to a win over Sam Houston State and almost pulling off a win against Loyola Marymount in a 92-86 overtime loss, Murphy has a very good idea of how the Jacks will use the Dome as an advantage.
"We're going to be tough to beat at home and we can take confidence out of the two home games that we've played that we'll be difficult to play in Flagstaff," he said. "With the fans involved in the game and an energetic atmosphere, those things help, but they don't put points on the board. You still have to go out and execute and play together with energy and toughness."
Saldivar, who is playing at the Dome again for the first time since his freshman year, added knowing that they can win there is a boost for the Jacks confidence.
"Going into the Big Sky we need to use the Dome as an advantage," he said.
While the break was a chance for the Lumberjacks (3-5) to rest and recover, head coach Jack Murphy and the rest of the team hopes it wasn't so long that the Jacks will have any signs of rust.
As NAU opens the Big Sky Conference portion of its schedule against Montana State (2-5) Monday at 6:35 p.m. at the Skydome, Murphy said it's possible to see a few minutes of ugly basketball while NAU finds its game speed again.
"It'll be interesting and the first half could be ugly basketball for both teams," said Murphy, who noted Montana State's break will have been 13 days. "Our mantra has been Big Sky Conference, now it's here and it's put up or shut up time and we're looking forward to the opportunity. It's a great challenge and to do it at home is exciting."
Senior guard Stallon Saldivar said the team didn't exactly quit playing basketball for 12 days, but rather its the time spent away from the games that could be an issue early for NAU.
Saldivar said the team is working hard and really finding its speed again after final exams.
"Playing big schools and seeing what it's all about helped us learn a lot about ourselves. We're ready to play Big Sky basketball.
"You never want to take 12 days off between games, but we stay in shape and we're always in the gym," Saldivar added. "It might take us a couple minutes to get back to game speed, but everything will be fine."
Saldivar is playing off the bench after suffering an early-season leg injury, but he's been happy to play his role; especially with freshman DeWayne Russell starting in his spot.
Russell, the team's leading scorer with 17.1 points per game, is one of Murphy's young guys he says he depends on to lead the team.
Murphy added while the team's overall goals will change with the start of the Big Sky schedule, its game-to-game goals will not.
"Our overall view of each opponent centers around the standings and how we improve in the conference," Murphy said.
Saldivar said the early games -- for anything pre Big Sky, NAU calls them preseason games -- have really helped the Jacks find out who they are as a team.
"We just want to take things game by game," Saldivar said. "It's a whole new era like everybody said and this first game will really start our season off well."
Senior Gabe Rogers follows Russell in scoring with 16.4 points per game, and Saldivar is scoring 5 points per game off the bench.
After playing to a win over Sam Houston State and almost pulling off a win against Loyola Marymount in a 92-86 overtime loss, Murphy has a very good idea of how the Jacks will use the Dome as an advantage.
"We're going to be tough to beat at home and we can take confidence out of the two home games that we've played that we'll be difficult to play in Flagstaff," he said. "With the fans involved in the game and an energetic atmosphere, those things help, but they don't put points on the board. You still have to go out and execute and play together with energy and toughness."
Saldivar, who is playing at the Dome again for the first time since his freshman year, added knowing that they can win there is a boost for the Jacks confidence.
"Going into the Big Sky we need to use the Dome as an advantage," he said.
