Mountaineers Get an Updated Court

The Mountaineers will have a slightly new look inside the Holmes Center with a refurbished and updated hardwood floor. Over the summer, the existing Holmes Center maple surface was refinished and rebuilt by Praters Flooring. In addition to the surface update, the underlying skeleton and supports of the floor also go an overhaul.

Visually, the one major change to the layout is the addition of the new men's three-point line, laid out with a white stripe at 20 feet, nine inches. Additionally, the floor has been rotated 180 degrees from its previous location to allow television crews high shot to shoot into the raucous Mountaineer Maniacs.

Other slight tweaks were also made with the floor taking on a cleaner look that features more gold to complement the black baselines and sidelines.

The refurbished floor, along with the four new full-size practice courts in Varsity Gym give the Mountaineers arguably the finest competition and practice venues in the Southern Conference. 

Click here to see pictures of the updated court.

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Q: You're about a month away from the official start of practice. What are you looking to do personally and as a team in the next month?
Webb: What we're really trying to focus on is being in shape. This team really needs to be in as good of shape as possible. We're going to do a lot of running and I think that's our main focus now to get ready for the season.

Q: What has the team improved most on from the end of last season to this point?
Webb: Team unity. I think this team has a lot of new guys coming in, but I don't feel that's affected us much. There's something special about this group. Everybody seems to have the same goal in mind and be on the same page.

Q: With the upgrades to Varsity Gym and the refurbished floor at the Holmes Center, how have the updated facilities helped the team?
Webb: It's really exciting. There's always a court and baskets for us to work on. It's exciting that the administration is showing us this support and hopefully we can pay them back by winning a few championships.

Q: You took a non-traditional redshirt last season after your sophomore year. What was it like redshirting in the middle of your college career?
Webb: It was kinda weird and difficult. For away games, I had to sit in my room and listen on the radio. I was use to being out on the floor with the guys for two years and it was definitely a hard adjustment but I think it was worth it. We had some great players inside last year and I think I can help this year's team more than I could have helped last year's.

Q: Was it difficult at all last year to compete and perform in practice, knowing there would be no tangible reward for you last season?
Webb: No, not at all. If anything I worked harder and was motivated to improve myself for this year knowing that I needed to come back better. I knew I would have a role this year and be counted on.

Q: A lot of people, especially coach Fancher, like to poke fun at Nickelsville, Va. What's Nickelsville like?
Webb: It's a small town, about 300 people. We don't have a stoplight and we've got two gas stations. I think that's why coach makes fun of it. When I gave him directions to my house when he was recruiting me, I told him to take a right at the trash dumpsters, then you'll see a corn mill, come up over the hill and you'll go over some humps, then turn left at my house. It's a pretty remote place but I love it.

Q: For most ASU students, it's probably a culture shock going from a bigger city to Boone. Was it the opposite for you?
Webb: Definitely. Boone is big to me. The traffic was unbelievable at first. I had never experienced traffic like that and it was a culture shock for me to come to a place that has a mall and multiple stoplights. I'm use to being able to walk from point A to point B and not having to worry about taking a sidewalk or a barrier in my way.

Q: You played football in high school. Did you ever consider focusing on football instead of basketball in high school?
Webb: No, I'm basketball minded. I only played during my freshman and sophomore seasons before deciding to focus on basketball. I missed it sometimes but I still love football and throwing the ball around. I'm a huge NFL and college football fan, but basketball is my love and where my heart is.

Q: Who do you dread guarding in practice?
Webb: Definitely Ike Butts. He's just a load down there. If he gets within 10 feet of the basket, he's tough to stop. But I'd like to think I'm his least favorite to guard too.

Q: Who's the funniest guy on this team?
Webb: We've got a lot of crackerjacks right now. Marcus Wright's a pretty funny guy and believe it or not, Ike Butts is a pretty funny guy. We don't have anyone standing out like Jeremy Clayton, but I think someone will catch up.

Q: What's your least favorite drill in practice?
Webb: It has to be the full-court defensive slide drill where we zig-zag the length of the court for two minutes in a defensive stance. That is an absolute killer. Your butt burns, your legs go numb, it's just a hard drill. I would prefer not to do it, but I know why we do. I still don't like it.

Q: You've been on campus for three years. Looking back, what surprises you?
Webb: It's hard to believe this is my fourth year here. I'm surprised by how much campus has changed and grown, especially this year. There's new people and buildings popping up all over.

Freshman Andre Williamson may be a newcomer to the Appalachian State University men's basketball squad, but he certainly doesn't feel like he's making the transition to college and Division I basketball alone.

Williamson's older sister, Ashley, is entering her junior season on Campbell University's women's basketball squad and has served as Andre's constant mentor and motivator both on and off the court.

"We're really close, I actually just got off the phone with her," said Williamson. "She's gone through a lot of things that I'm going through or will go through. I end up asking for her advice on a lot things, not just basketball and class room stuff, but life questions too."

Click here to read more about the Williamsons' bond and why Andre came to ASU