Adras hoping for hometown upset

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003 | 10:54 a.m.

Blame it on the long bus ride from Riverside earlier in the day, or a hectic early season schedule that has already included five road games in places like Wichita, Tulsa and Tucson, but Northern Arizona head basketball coach Mike Adras forgot his anniversary on Tuesday.

It wasn't a wedding anniversary for Adras, a former Bishop Gorman coach and star, and his wife, Maureen.

But it was a milestone almost as big.

It was exactly one year ago tonight that Adras' NAU Lumberjacks went into storied Pauley Pavilion in Westwood and stunned 10-time national champion UCLA, 67-63, for arguably the biggest win in school history.

"Is that right?" Adras said when reminded of that significant date by a reporter before his team's practice at the Cox Pavilion on Tuesday night. "I didn't even think about that. Now that you mention it, that's exactly right."

Guard Kyle Feuerbach hit four second-half 3-pointers to lead the Lumberjacks to the upset of the Bruins and perhaps put the final nail into the coaching coffin of Steve Lavin in the process.

"That was a great victory for our program," Adras said with a big smile. "Not many teams go to Pauley Pavilion and win. I think Washington State has been there 34 years in a row and hasn't won a game. We're not supposed to win there ... but we did.

"You're right though," Adras continued. "(Today) is the anniversary. I should always remember that date."

No doubt the man Adras replaced as head coach at Northern Arizona in 1999, Ben Howland, will be able to remind him of that date. It was Howland who eventually left Pitt to replace Lavin as head coach of the Bruins this spring.

"I tell Ben Howland all the time, 'I helped get you that job,' " Adras chuckled. "I always remind of that."

Now Adras, whose 3-5 squad has yet to win a road game in five tries this season, will try and pull off another shocker Thursday night when the Lumberjacks (3-5) face UNLV (5-2) at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Adras should have his own rooting section at the game. His parents, John and Margaret, still live in Las Vegas as does a brother, Paul, and a sister, Georgina, and their families. And then there are all his old Gorman teammates from 1976-79 and the players he coached during his five years as head coach (1986-91) of the Gaels.

"I grew up being a Runnin' Rebel," Adras said. "That's in my blood, there's no question about it. I don't deny it. I'm proud of it as a matter of fact. I wish they would have beaten Stanford on Saturday. I was bummed that it didn't happen.

"I'm very proud of my heritage. I was born in this town. A good majority of what I learned about basketball I learned in this town and I'm grateful for that. There will be a lot of guys I grew up with or coached as well as my family that certainly will come over and watch the game."

Adras has had his share of success in Las Vegas.

As a player at Gorman he was on two state championship squads and was a teammate of former Rebels star Danny Tarkanian, son of famed UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian. And as a coach he helped direct the Gaels to two more state titles and helped develop future college stars Matt Othick (Arizona) and the late Brian Williams (Arizona), who later went on to play in the NBA.

"One of those state titles we won in the Thomas & Mack Center," Adras said. "That's obviously my biggest thrill in the Thomas & Mack."

An upset of Charlie Spoonhour's Rebels on Thursday night just might chance that, however. And also give Adras another anniversary to remember.

"I don't know," Adras grinned. "Let's hope so."