McCollum's Column: Bears go from new atmosphere to classic one

It’s not the glamor basketball place of the universe, but University of Central Arkansas officials have done a nice job in giving the Farris Center a basketball-friendly makeover.

The new-look is probably the best they can do for an arena that was built more for an indoor graduation service than as a fan-friendly playing arena.

Basically, the spectator area for basketball are the lower seating areas and the high set of bleachers behind the south goals. The high parts of the arena are blocked off by large vinyl curtains.

At first, it appears you have entered a haunted house. 

But you get used to it, and it adds electricity. 

The fans have to sit closer together and the back curtain gives the effect of being closer to the player area. 

There is the probability of a lot of noise. 

The students have their own section. 

For selected games, UCA officials have added a DJ and special games and contests for student groups. 

The main thing is UCA officials have worked with student organizations to try to make the arena more student friendly and appealing to come to and hang out at a game. When students are energized, the adults usually get energized.

UCA players are introduced with smoke and strobe lights like what is done at major arenas and pro games. 

It’s different, but Monday night, we saw students having fun during an exciting game. That’s what it’s all about. 

There’s more noise from special effects, but it’s the type of thing young people like and the atmosphere players prefer. 

Speaking of atmosphere, the University of Central Arkansas Bears are walking into one Thursday night that blends both the great past of basketball with the vibrant present. As part of what seems like dozens of games are part of the season-opening Hall of Fame Showcase, UCA will play everybody’s top-ranked team in the country, the University of Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse, one of the classic basketball arenas in America.

But the Jayhawks are emblematic of a modern college team — powerful, fast and with individual talent just a juke away from the NBA.

“I was talking to a coaching friend of mine, and he said that not only is Kansas No. 1 in the nation, but they may have one of the best teams of all time in college basketball,” said UCA coach Rand Chappell.

The Jayhawks have two players, Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich, who are on many folks’ preseason All-America teams. Xavier Henry not only might be the top freshmen in the country but one of the top players in the country.

In their exhibitions and first games going into Tuesday’s game against Memphis, the Jayhawks have scored 100 points or more every time and won every game by 36-plus points. They have won 37 in a row in Allen Fieldhouse.

Henry set a school record for a freshman by scoring 37 points in the season opener. 

Chappell said Kansas is redshirting last year’s national junior college player of the year, and a McDonald’s All-American is the team’s 13th man.

“Enormous challenge,” is how Chappell describes it, which is still probably an understatement. 

This game is about making history (of playing a No. 1 team) and getting the opportunity to play in one of the legendary places in college basketball, seeing both some of the roots of the college game and how it has blossomed.

Saturday night, the Bears go back to trying to establish a new tradition in the new Farris with a game against Western Illinois. We expect they’ll welcome the opportunity to come home.

(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)