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The Bears basketball 2010-2011 season begins Nov. 13 when they go against the Hendrix Warriors, but the team has been at work since the beginning of the semester to prepare for the season and start working on implementing Coach Corliss Williamson’s new style of play for the Bears.
Williamson said the team’s preseason workouts have been going well and the team is adjusting to new expectations.
“We’ve been running them pretty hard and they have responded well,” he said. “We are really pleased so far, but we still have a lot of work to do on the court. It has really been our main focus during preseason to get these guys in great shape so we can play the style of basketball we want to implement here.”

“We ask that the students come out and be supportive this year,” he said. “Our guys have been working extremely hard and I believe the fans will appreciate our style of play and the way we play this year. In order for us to create that hostile environment where teams fear coming into the Farris Center we need the support of our students.”

CONWAY, Ark. _ The new era of University of Central Arkansas men’s basketball officially opens Friday with the start of practice for the 2010-11 season.

Williamson, in his first season at UCA, returns seven lettermen from last year’s team.

“I think our guys are excited about the start of practice,’ said Williamson, who won an NCAA title at Arkansas and an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons. “They’ve been conditioning pretty hard during the preseason and they are very tired of that. They are ready to get a basketball in their hands full-time.

A new era in University of Central Arkansas basketball began with the hiring of Corliss Williamson in March 2010.

It officially kicks off Nov. 13 when the Bears open the 2010-11 season against cross-town rival Hendrix College at the Farris Center.

Williamson, the player, is a former NCAA champion at the University of Arkansas and NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons. He took over the UCA program on March 12 after one year as head coach at Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, and immediately set out to put together a tough, demanding schedule for the first go-around. He and his staff definitely succeeded with high-profile games against Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and SMU in their first year.

As far as a team, Williamson inherits seven lettermen from last year's 9-21 team (3-13 in the Southland), and has added five newcomers to the mix. The Bears will have four seniors, four juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.

Athletic Director Brad Teague said Williamson has been more than he ever expected.
“He is a humble, genuine person who has become part of the UCA athletics team,” Teague said. “There have been many positive outcomes from his employment at UCA, and we haven’t even played a game to date.”
One of those “positive outcomes” is a doubling of ticket sales for men’s basketball.
“We expect a great atmosphere in the Farris Center for both our men’s and women’s teams,” Teague said.

also just noticed that the Bears will have one exhibition game on Saturday, November 6 at the FC vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State at 4:30...

You not going to watch the football game at 2 pm?

Just wait until Lil C gets a little older.
I've got a combined birthday party for a 1 year old and 2 year old at 2:00.
Then, when we're exhausted from that we're heading to Benton for a 6:30 party for a 5 year old.

Your life changed a few months ago Josh. I just hope you realize that now before it's too late.

The UCA men, under former Razorback and NBA star Corliss Williamson, are switching to an up-tempo style.

“It’s a different style of play and there has been a lot of learning and a lot of teaching,” said Williamson in the SLC East Divsion coaches teleconference Wednesday. “In preseason, our players committed themselves to getting into shape and it’s been tough. We’ve demanded a lot.”

The most difficult challenge?

“Getting our players to move offensively and to make basketball plays,” he said. “They are used to more halfcourt sets and a lot of passes. We’re giving them more freedom, which is easier but could be more complicated. Defensively, we’ve had to learn how to pick up our man fullcourt and to play defense without fouling.”

He said the players are gradually adapted to the style.

“We’re not preparing for a rebuilding year,” he said. “We are preparing to win our division. One of the big ways to do that, i think, is learning to take care of your homecourt.”