In Seaside, California this past Sunday for his first game at the helm of the Urban Knights, men's basketball Head Coach Mark Sembrowich watched Academy of Art University begin its progression into the second year of the program. Although AAU fell 66-52 to the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters, the game was a very important moment for all the coaches and players involved.
“We had 25 practices, a scrimmage, an exhibition, and we just needed to play,” Coach Sembrowich said. “[Cal State Monterey Bay] proved to be a good test for us and they exposed a lot of things we need to work on. We will use it as a learning tool to help our cause. The guys were a little bit nervous to start and that's understandable, but I told them before we went that the most important thing was to start a pattern of fighting for 40 minutes. I'm happy that we never threw in the towel.”
Junior forward Jonathan Burnett led the Knights with 12 points while junior guards Phillip Samuel and Lance Olivier combined to score 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists between the two of them. Sophomore forward Hunter Hayden contributed a team-high eight rebounds as well as three blocked shots.
“Jon did better for us and Lance did a great job considering he had to play a lot of minutes after Devin [Williams] got hurt just four minutes into the game,” Coach Sembrowich said. “Phillip was in foul trouble during the first half, but he played much better in the second. And after having only one rebound in the first half, Hunter came back with seven rebounds in second half to lead the team.”
One year ago at this time, Coach Sembrowich could be found assisting Head Coach Johnny Dawkins with men's basketball at Stanford University. Coach Sembrowich served as the Recruiting/Academic Coordinator for the Cardinals in their second 20-win season during the last five years. After being appointed the Head Coach of Academy of Art University in May, he has gotten to see the sport of basketball from a different angle.
“Things really change on game-day,” Coach Sembrowich said. “You move over 15 inches from assistant to head coach and instead of making suggestions, you're making decisions. That was the biggest change."
With that shift now fully complete, Coach Sembrowich has embraced his role as a leader for the Urban Knights. He continues to work tirelessly each day to help improve the team on both ends of the court and as a collective unit.
“You just try and do what you think needs to be done,” Coach Sembrowich said. “Right now, we're really trying to master fundamentals and at this point, repetition and time are helping us solidify things defensively as a team. The defensive end is where we can make the most improvement in the shortest period of time. Our focus is to shore that up because those things don't take same kind of talent. They take recognition and toughness. We're going to shoot the ball better and running the offense better will come with time. The best thing was that the effort was there [on Sunday].”
Playing against Monterey Bay was a critical step in the development of AAU men's basketball under the guidance of Coach Sembrowich. All the hours of preparation are vital for a team according to Coach Sembrowich, but it is the game atmosphere that serves as an ultimate benchmark.
“We needed to play a game to find out where we are,” Coach Sembrowich said. “At game speed, you have to shoot the shot a little quicker and the bodies bang a little harder than in practice. Just the overall intensity is higher, but I think that is true for anybody. I think the guys have been up to the challenge, but we still have a long way to go. It's not a surprise to anybody, we all knew and expected it.”
The Master's College Mustangs are now on the horizon for Academy of Art University. AAU travels to Santa Clarita, CA this Saturday for the second meeting in the history of both programs. Last season, TMC was 7-of-18 from long range in the game against the Urban Knights at UCSF on Nov. 26, 2008, but the Mustangs will encounter a very different Knights squad this year.
“The Master's College provides another stiff test for us,” Coach Sembrowich said. “Compared to the physical, rugged kind of team we played this past weekend, The Master's is very skilled, they shoot the ball well, and are very well coached. They will provide a challenge in that way.”
