Seeking edge, college hoop teams try out video game
A player tries to attach one of the smaller figures to a larger one to steal its "energy." The player also must "shoot" to transfer power from one small figure to another as openings appear. The game gets progressively more difficult as it's played and is individually adjusted depending on a players' strengths or weaknesses.
The idea is to increase the player's ability to focus on several things at once, recognize patterns among moving objects and make decisions quickly.
The training runs from six to 10 weeks with two 30- to 40-minute sessions each week. Results of each player's training sessions are transmitted to a computer at ACE, then passed along to coaches.
Njoya said he enjoys it.
"You keep moving, so you've got to constantly deal with what's the best decision," he said. "It's like when you're driving with the ball. Who's in the open? Who's being guarded?"
Memphis coaches expect to judge the game's success by turnover rates, shooting percentages and other statistics. If a player starts picking better shots or getting more assists, it might be due, in part, to the computer game.
"If it decreases one turnover a game, that's the difference between winning or losing maybe two games in a season," Schilling said.
Memphis players have had only a few sessions with the game.
Danny Dankner, ACE's chief executive, declined to disclose details of the company's deals with the schools, but Schilling said Memphis will pay only if coaches consider the program worthwhile.
Memphis player Jeremy Hunt was not impressed.
"It's an interesting game, but it's boring once you get the hang of it," Hunt said. "I usually play sports games. This is more like a shooting game."
Schilling is happy to give IntelliGym a chance if it means an on-court edge.
"If people had told you 20 years ago that every college team was going to have a weight room and a strength coach and this and that, you'd have said, 'Yeah, right,"' Schilling said. "Perhaps in 10 years or so, this will be standard."
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