North to Alaska: Once-in-a-lifetime trip will allow Hawks to improve their team bonds

QUINCY — Malik Hardmon balked.

Asked if he was prepared for the Quincy University men’s basketball team trip to Alaska and the single-digit temperatures awaiting the Hawks, the junior forward deadpanned, “No, I am not.”

Hardmon admitted it sounds funny for someone who grew up in Chicago to be concerned with cold weather, but Alaska is a long way from the Windy City both in distance and in forecast.

Tuesday, when the Hawks fly from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to Anchorage, Alaska, the temperature is forecasted to top off at 11 degrees with an overnight wind chill forecasted to dip to -3 degrees. Meanwhile, in Hardmon’s hometown, the temperature is supposed to reach 44 degrees.

“I’ve heard it’s a different kind of cold,” Hardmon said of Alaska. “So, no, I don’t think I’m ready for that.”

He planned appropriately with the clothes he packed and what he expects to wear to combat the frigidness.

“Two jackets and a thermal and a shirt,” Hardmon said. “If that’s the formula and that works, then you’re going to see it.”

The forecast for Anchorage, where the Hawks will stay the entire week and play in the Seawolves Thanksgiving Classic hosted by the University of Alaska-Anchorage on Saturday and Sunday, calls for high temperatures in the single digits early in the week and temperatures never rising above zero on the weekend.

“I’m ready for the cold, but more importantly, I’m ready to be with these guys for an extended period of time,” QU coach Ryan Hellenthal said. “With a new group, we haven’t had the chance to spend a lot time together like this over consecutive days.

“I’m looking forward to the camaraderie of the trip. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

‘I’m glad basketball is taking me places’

When redshirt junior forward Adam Moore joined the QU roster in 2018, he was hearing stories about the Hawks’ trip to Puerto Rico during the 2016-17 season. He had to hope another trip beyond the borders of the continental United States would be possible.

“I don’t think I ever would have gone to Alaska,” Moore said. “So I’m glad basketball is taking me places.”

Even if that means snowball fights instead of walks on the beach.

“I know it’s going to be negative when we get up there and nothing like Puerto Rico,” Moore said. “But it’s going to be fun to get up there. It’s a big bonding moment for this team. It’s a business trip still. It’s two really tough teams.

“But the way we’re playing, these are winnable games and we can go steal two up there.”

First, though, comes the travel and the tourism.

Tuesday’s seven-hour flight will be the longest flight many of the Hawks have ever taken. Others, like sophomore guard Paul Zilinskas, whose mother, Vilia, played professionally in Lithuania, have traveled a little more extensively.

And they offer some sage advice.

“If they’re scared of planes, I’ll remind them it’s not much different than being high on a roller coaster,” Zilinskas said. “You just don’t feel the drops as much. It’s not that bad. I’ve traveled a lot to Europe. It’ll be fun.”

Trips to eastern Europe can be cold, too.

“We’re going to make sure to bring our winter jackets and be ready for the cold,” Zilinskas said.

Since the Hawks don’t play until Saturday, the opportunity to explore Anchorage, eat at local restaurants and do some tourist activity exists.

“That’s a definite plus, being able to see the place a little bit,” Hardmon said.

The time together should strengthen this team’s chemistry.

“I’m anxious to see what it’s like to bond with the team,” Hardmon said. “This is a team bonding experience. We get to be around each other. We’re already around each other a lot, but it’s going to be in a different place and a different experience.”

‘It’s still a business trip’

Alaska Airlines Center, the home of the Anchorage Seawolves, is a state-of-the-art facility as nice as any the Hawks venture to this season.

It seats 5,000 in the main gym, has an 800-seat auxiliary gym and is equipped with a suite level, which includes the Varsity Sports Grill, which serves lunch, dinner and local craft beer and wine. It is a definite homecourt advantage for the Seawolves.

They are 14-4 at home the last two seasons, having won twice there this season. Overall, the Seawolves are 3-2 with losses to Chaminade and Hawaii-Hilo on a season-opening trip to the islands. The two home victories were both against Lincoln Christian, an NAIA school from Lincoln, Ill.

Overall, the Seawolves are averaging 74 points per game, shooting 45.3 percent from the field and outrebounding opponents by 5.2 boards per game. Junior guard Tobin Karlberg and senior forward Hunter Sweet are leading the Seawolves in scoring at 16.8 and 16.2 points, respectively.

The Hawks and Seawolves are scheduled to meet at 8:15 p.m. Saturday. Quincy will face the University of Alaska-Fairbanks at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Nanooks are 2-2, losing two games in Hawaii in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference-PacWest Conference Crossover and winning twice on a trip to California.

The Nanooks are averaging 77.8 points, while allowing 77.5. They are allowing opponents to shoot 47.3 percent from the field and are being outrebounded by 3.3 boards per game. Senior guard Shadeed Shabazz leads Fairbanks in scoring at 18.8 points per game.

“At the end of the day, it’s still a business trip,” Hellenthal said. “It’s still the goal to get two wins.”

The players are well aware of that.

“We have to know we’re there for business,” Hardmon said. “We have to be locked in. We’re going to have our fun, but there’s going to be a point in time where fun’s over. It’s time to lock in and do what we came here to do.”

It would be the perfect way to cap a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“Most of these kids will never go back to Alaska,” Hellenthal said. “This is something special for everyone.”