UAH preparing for first basketball games

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Locally -- colleges like u-a-h have had to adjust to keep athletics going.

Waay 31's max cohan joins us live after learning about the chargers' plan - as the men's and women's basketball teams get set to start their seasons this week, max?

Guys this friday, both u- a-h basketball teams will tip off against mississippi college -- the men here at spragins and the women down in clinton.... both coaches said today that a lot of things have had to change to get to this point and the excitement grows the closer we get to friday.

"we're tested three times a week so we can play a basketball game, but i can't tell you how excited our kids are about trying to hopefully play on friday night and saturday afternoon.

Been a lot of work to go into playing a basketball game this year."

In a year unlike any other -- coaches like john shulmam and andrea lemmond are preparing for a season unlike another.

Shulman says during a period where the team would usually be practicing, they're now getting covid tests and discussing where they can sit during games.

In addition to the team protocols, games held at spragins hall will only be open to family members of the student-athletes in december.

Coach shulman says it appears the lack of fans has hurt some teams -- notably duke -- but said he doesn't think it will have an impact on his guys.

"i would dread playing us in an empty gym because we're going to be loud.

We're going to be really loud and we're going to be excited about playing."

And while the mens team will start the season at spragins, the women will be on the road friday and saturday...coach lemmond says the practices have looked different with masks and sanitizer all around -- followed by extra efforts off the court.

"now that we're testing three days a week, we basically told them just try to stick, just kind of stay in your bubble.

You know, like we are your bubble, women's basketball is your bubble.