MONROE - The Cheesemakers had a little monkey wrench thrown into their state tournament routine Wednesday morning.
Due to the UW men's basketball team's evening home game with Penn State, Monroe practiced in the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion, UW's practice facility, instead of the Kohl Center for its shootaround.
Pat Murphy and company stuck to a very similar itinerary that helped win the Division 2 title a year ago. Murphy wasn't upset about the switch of practice locations.
"There's no advantage either way," Murphy said. "Obviously (the kids) wish they were over there. What the heck, we're up here and we're taking care of the stuff that needs to be done."
The Cheesemakers practiced for 25 minutes and mostly stuck to shooting drills in preparing for Friday afternoon's first-round match against New Berlin Eisenhower. After allotted time expired and interviews with television stations and newspapers were over, the squad headed to Edgewood for an in-depth practice focused on the Lions.
"We pretty much have the exact same routine as last time," senior forward Chase Sellnow said. "I think we're even heading to McDonald's after this."
The Woodland Conference champion Lions provide an interesting test for Monroe, Murphy said. The Cheesemakers will have to deal with senior center Mike Hojnacki, a 6-7 wide-body player who can step out and bury 3-pointers. Hojnacki averages 19.5 points per contest and shot 44 percent (37 of 84) from 3-point land on the year.
While Hojnacki will be a huge factor in the game, Monroe might be facing its reflection in the Lions.
"What I told our guys was (Eisenhower) resembles us the closest of any team I've ever seen," Murphy said. "Some guys are going to have to get out there and make shots. Hopefully our guys figure (that) our before they do."
Murphy's state tournament preparation program is new for Jake Grinnell, Mitch McArdle, Cullen Sampson, Mike Geiger, Zach Rast and Bryan Tordoff, who weren't on the team last season. Murphy has some guys he can rely on to keep the newbies on task.
"They're lucky that they've got some guys that have been here to show them ropes a little bit," Murphy said. "In that respect they probably have a little bit of advantage over other teams.
"It's important when you get into a game or stage like this that you somehow relax."
Grinnell took in the sights and sounds, but was still a little stunned with his surroundings and the amount of attention given to the Cheesemakers.
"It was a little tough getting used to looking around and being right next to the Kohl Center," Grinnell said. "It's weird to see these TV guys, the guys you watch on the 10 o'clock news.
"But, it was cool to have them looking at you."
Due to the UW men's basketball team's evening home game with Penn State, Monroe practiced in the Nicholas Johnson Pavilion, UW's practice facility, instead of the Kohl Center for its shootaround.
Pat Murphy and company stuck to a very similar itinerary that helped win the Division 2 title a year ago. Murphy wasn't upset about the switch of practice locations.
"There's no advantage either way," Murphy said. "Obviously (the kids) wish they were over there. What the heck, we're up here and we're taking care of the stuff that needs to be done."
The Cheesemakers practiced for 25 minutes and mostly stuck to shooting drills in preparing for Friday afternoon's first-round match against New Berlin Eisenhower. After allotted time expired and interviews with television stations and newspapers were over, the squad headed to Edgewood for an in-depth practice focused on the Lions.
"We pretty much have the exact same routine as last time," senior forward Chase Sellnow said. "I think we're even heading to McDonald's after this."
The Woodland Conference champion Lions provide an interesting test for Monroe, Murphy said. The Cheesemakers will have to deal with senior center Mike Hojnacki, a 6-7 wide-body player who can step out and bury 3-pointers. Hojnacki averages 19.5 points per contest and shot 44 percent (37 of 84) from 3-point land on the year.
While Hojnacki will be a huge factor in the game, Monroe might be facing its reflection in the Lions.
"What I told our guys was (Eisenhower) resembles us the closest of any team I've ever seen," Murphy said. "Some guys are going to have to get out there and make shots. Hopefully our guys figure (that) our before they do."
Murphy's state tournament preparation program is new for Jake Grinnell, Mitch McArdle, Cullen Sampson, Mike Geiger, Zach Rast and Bryan Tordoff, who weren't on the team last season. Murphy has some guys he can rely on to keep the newbies on task.
"They're lucky that they've got some guys that have been here to show them ropes a little bit," Murphy said. "In that respect they probably have a little bit of advantage over other teams.
"It's important when you get into a game or stage like this that you somehow relax."
Grinnell took in the sights and sounds, but was still a little stunned with his surroundings and the amount of attention given to the Cheesemakers.
"It was a little tough getting used to looking around and being right next to the Kohl Center," Grinnell said. "It's weird to see these TV guys, the guys you watch on the 10 o'clock news.
"But, it was cool to have them looking at you."
