LV native brings NAU into town for opener

Steve Addy

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 | 10:44 a.m.

Who: N. Arizona at UNLV

When: Friday, 7:35 p.m.

Where: Thomas & Mack

TV: None

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

In the interest of full disclosure, Mike Adras wanted to be sure his prospective wife knew what she was getting into years ago.

"Before I ever asked (Maureen) to marry me, I explained exactly what I planned on doing in my lifetime," he said. "I wanted to make sure she wanted to go along down that bumpy road."

In retrospect, the Northern Arizona basketball coach and his wife couldn't have known how relatively smooth the road would be.

When the Las Vegas native comes home Friday, bringing his Lumberjacks to the Thomas & Mack Center to battle UNLV in the teams' season opener, it will be an irresistible local-guy-makes-good story.

After a successful coaching career at Bishop Gorman High School, his alma mater, and eight years as a college assistant, Adras' first season as Northern Arizona's head coach could not have gone much better.

The 'Jacks won 14 of their last 15 games in the regular season, captured the Big Sky tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history. They played valiantly before losing to second-seeded St. John's 61-56, blowing a lead in the final 10 seconds.

Sure, it was a bitter ending, but if that's the only pothole Adras experiences as a head coach, the 39-year-old is on his way to a terrific career in Flagstaff.

But that doesn't mean it's always going to be easy. Adras lost three starters, including a pair of NAU all-time greats, Ross Land and Dan McClintock. They finished second and third, respectively, on the 'Jacks' career scoring list, and it will be up to Adras to continue the program's rise without them.

Adras' leading returnees are senior forward Cory Schwab and junior point guard Adam Lopez, who combined for only 18.5 points per game last season.

"We have a young team," he said Wednesday. "We scored a lot of points in our exhibitions -- I call them glorified pickup games -- but I don't know how much we found out about ourselves. Friday is the first step in the progression we plan on making this season."

The personnel has changed, but not NAU's strategy of long-range bombs. Even under previous coach Ben Howland, hired away by Pitt before last season, 3-pointers have been the 'Jacks' forte. They were 12th in the NCAA in 3-point percentage last season (39.4) after finishing first for three straight years.

"I never tell our guys not to shoot. Everybody's got the green light," Adras said. "Our motto is, 'Recruit to Shoot.' I try to hunt down the best shooters in America, no matter where I can find them."

NAU's game plan is no mystery to UNLV coach Bill Bayno, who compared the 'Jacks' fire-away style to Colorado State.

"We've got our guys ready to defend those 3s, to pressure them in the halfcourt," he said. "They will run when they have a chance, on turnovers and misses, and they'll shoot 3s in transition. We have to get back, match up and make the game difficult for them in the halfcourt -- not let them get good open looks."

Pearson has no illusions about feeling calm and collected.

"My legs were wobbly the other night (in the second exhibition), so I am sure I'll be nervous," the 6-8 freshman forward said. "My teammates are saying don't worry, but I don't know what to expect."

Dalron Johnson can identify with the newcomers. Last year, he was in the starting five for the opener against Mississippi Valley State. He had four points in 16 minutes.

"I was more worried about the crowd's impression of me, since I was starting as a freshman," Johnson said. "I will be nervous (Friday), so I'm sure the new guys will be, too. But they should be OK after a couple of minutes."

"Greedy has an unusual talent of really seeing the floor in the open court and delivering the right pass," coach Billy Tubbs said. "He's making plays in the exhibition games that we haven't had. And he has a tremendous knack of anticipating the ball on defense."

* NOTES: Fans bringing a canned food item Friday will receive 2-for-1 admission on balcony seats. ... Banks missed practice with the flu Wednesday, but Trevor Diggs came back from a deep thigh bruise.