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The question flummoxes Dane Fife.
For about a minute, if you’ve got him on the clock.
“Wow, that’s a tough question,” says Fife, the IPFW men’s basketball coach.
He shifts back and forth.
“I don’t really know how to answer that,” he goes on.
He shifts back and forth some more.
“But, you know, obviously at some point we’re going to have to play them,” he concludes.
“From my standpoint, I always want the best quickly, and as soon as possible I want to be able to take down the best.”
He’ll get his shot today.
That’s when Summit League favorite Oakland comes to Memorial Coliseum for a men’s/women’s doubleheader, and thus Fife’s Mastodons begin league play with the conferences presumptive Goliath.
The good news is, it can’t be tougher from here.
“They’re built like a high-major team,” Fife says.
“Their size, their strength, their weight, their size and strength at any position. … They’ve got guys that are picked to win awards all over the place all over the country. It’s just a very talented Oakland team we’re up against.”
And they come in only 4-4 on the year, but it’s a deceptive 4-4.
Three of Oakland’s four losses have come to No. 1 Kansas, Memphis and Wisconsin.
The Golden Grizzlies are led by 6-foot-11 Keith Benson, who averages 16.9 points and 10.6 rebounds.
He’s one of four Grizzlies who top out at 6-9 or taller.
So how does IPFW whittle them down to size?
“We’re obviously going to have to defend them,” guard Ben Botts says.
“They’ve got a lot of great scorers, a lot of great talent, and so we’re going to have to be able to rebound.”
On the other hand, IPFW has beaten them before.
“They’re probably the most talented team in the conference,” Botts says, “but they’re kind of a rival. My first year we beat them both times, last year they beat us every time. So we’re looking for revenge.”
Revenge will come only if, as Botts says, the Mastodons take care of business at the defensive end. And attack the glass. And hit their shots.
And, oh yeah, keep the intensity meter redlined.
Piece of cake, right, Coach?
“This is a really good chance to see where we’re at as a team,” Fife says.
“Can we do it? Of course we can do it. But let’s see how far we’ve come and go right into the fire against the top team in the league.”
