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Show THE FORUM - NOVEMBER ATHLETICS 11 16, 2011 Strong start for Men's Basketball of Jana Lindsey Staff Reporter After finishing fourth in the Frontier Conference last season, the men s basketball team is on a mission to prove they deserve to be on top. With six newcom- a new head coach leading the charge, the team is off to a 1 ers and 6-- start. Adam Hiatt took over the head coach position last spring. He said he challenged the team to make improvements and be on top of the conference standings. So far the team has responded to slowing down the other team before they make it to the basket. The Griffins are faced with a challenging schedule this season. According to Hiatt they will play numerous teams ranked in the top 25 in the NAIA. The Griffins have already beaten one such team, Saint Xavier (IL) ranked 24. Other challenges vrili come from Carroll College, Montana Western College and Montana State that challenge. Both Hiatt and Assistant Coach Jason Long said the main goal for the season is winning the Frontier Conference championship. This would give them an invite to the Buffalo Funds NAIA Division 1 National Championships in Kansas City, Mo. Long said he is happy the team is winning, but the main focus will be during conference games and the conference tournament. Conference games start in January. The Frontier Conference Tournament is Feb. 28 through March 5. Long said the team is showing improvement both on the road and in their defense. The Griffins have won three road games, one of which was against te rival Dixie State. They also won both games at home during the Westminster Tipoff Classic. Long attributes these wins to their defense. Along with improved defense, the Griffins are strong offensively. Northern. Hiatt hopes the good student representation he saw during the Tipoff Classic will continue throughout the season. He said The Nest was full during their home-open- er games. was I very impressed with The Nest, said Gregory. We had an awesome crowd. Students can cheer on the Griffins during the Westminster 25-2- 6, Thanksgiving Classic, Nov. and Holiday Classic, Dec. 7, where Westminster will take 16-1- on Lyndon State, Springs, Minot State and UC-Colora- do in-sta- At any time any of the Get to know the five New Head Coach players on the floor are an offensive threat, said Long. Its a very talented and very athletic team. One of the deepest teams Ive ever seen. Senior forwards Tanner Gregory and Ben Walker echoed their coach saying their team has multiple players who can score. We have a lot of experience and are very skilled, said Walker. Adam Hiatt played for Westminster from 2002-200- 4. He took an assistant coaching position at Westminster three years ago and was promoted when Coach Tommy Conner left last spring. Before returning to Westminster he spent two We are intrinsically motivated, said Gregory. He believes this makes for a strong team, and that it is one of the reasons the team is playing well. Gregory said the team needs to continue working on how they play together so they can peak at the right time during the conference tournament. Walker said the team needs to continue focus- ing on being disciplined both of- fensively and defensively. Although improvements are being made, both Hiatt and Long said the teams conversion defense is where they need to focus. We turn the ball over too much, said Hiatt. And give away too many easy points. Gregory explained conversion defense as stopping or I 1 i , years as an assistant coach at the University of Idaho. T watched him play, and under Coach worked we Conner together, said Long, who is also a Westminster alumnus. Tve known him for a long time, so its easy to work with him and a lot of fun. Gregory said he has en- -' joyed seeing Hiatt transition into the head coach. Hes competitive and has a lot of passion and fire as a first year head coach. After graduate school, Hiatt decided to completely change paths and went back to the game he loves. I felt like I had the right disposi- -, tion to be a coach, said I liatt. Tt felt like the right direction for me. V i - |