The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Norton, Watts Form Dynamic Duo in Backcourt
1/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Steve Irvine, UABSports.com
Two games. Eighty minutes. One shining example of how much the UAB men’s basketball team relies on Nick Norton and Denzell Watts to share the point guard minutes and the production.
Last Thursday, Norton dished out nine assists in a Conference USA win over visiting UTSA. However, Norton was overshadowed a bit by Watts, who scored 15 points, making all six of his shots from the field, including a trio of 3-pointers, and handed out six assists in the victory.
Two days later, it was Norton grabbing a large piece of the spotlight with 13 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, seven assists and three steals in the C-USA win over visiting UTEP.
“We understand that one day he might play more than me and one day I might play more than him,” Watts said. “We’ve gottten to the point where it doesn’t bother us. The main thing we want to do is win.”
Norton and Watts have their fingerprints all over the 10-game winning streak that the Blazers carry into Thursday night’s C-USA matchup at Old Dominion. In those 10 games, Norton averaged eight points, nearly seven assists and one turnover per game while Watts averaged 6.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Norton was 15-of-37 from outside the 3-point arc while playing in nine of those games – he missed the Hiwassee contest with a hip injury – and Watts connected on 14-of-26 3-pointers.
So how did this happen? How did Norton, who is third nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, become one of the most efficient point guards in the country? How did Watts grow into one of the best point guards in C-USA and a very effective outside shooter?
The simple answer is that each deserves an assist for the other’s success.
“We’re just trying to make each other better,” said Watts. “We know if we make each other better then it helps us achieve our goals. He never lets me take a play off and I never let him take a play off.”
Switching lineups is a big part of UAB’s practice sessions. Head coach Jerod Haase uses a 10-man rotation on game day so all the players become accustomed to playing together. One exception, at least for the most part, comes at the point guard position, where Norton and Watts generally remain on opposite sides.
“They’ve been great for each other,” Haase said. “One of the great benefits we have is every practice is a high level practice because we’re all going against very high quality people. Those guys go at it every single day and they pressure each other’s talents every day.”
It has been that way from the moment that Norton stepped on campus. Watts was coming off a freshman season where he played in 31 games, including one start, as a backup to Chad Frazier at point guard. Norton came in with good prep credentials but no college experience. Their growth as players – and teammates – began in pickup games. It was the start of friendly and intense competition.
“There have been some times where it got really competitive between us,” Norton said. “But we know the bigger picture that comes from it. Whenever he’s having success, I’m cheering, and whenever I’m having success, he’s cheering. It’s turned out to be a really good situation.”
Strength has always been, well, a strength for the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Watts. Norton countered with quickness and savvy.
“He’s a very smart player,” Watts said. “He can kill you with his shot, but if he beats you off the dribble, he knows where that next pass is going to be.”
Norton started 33 of the 35 games he played as a true freshman, but they both shared the position. Norton led the team in assists and was one of the top offensive threats, particularly during conference play and the C-USA Tournament. When he struggled, though, Watts stepped up. A good example was the NCAA Tournament win over Iowa State when Norton, who was sick, wasn’t playing well and Watts contributed six points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals with just one turnover in the victory over a No. 3 seed.
Not only has that routine carried over to this season, but both are playing better than ever. A big part is what they have learned from playing against each other.
“I felt like last year I attacked the basket a lot and Nick shot more three-pointers,” Watts said. “This year, it feels like I picked up some of his game and he picked up some of mine. He’s getting to the basket, finishing through contact and making plays while my shot is improving. I think that’s just helped us out a lot.”
Those things did not come with a lot of work and planning. Norton not only worked on his game this summer but, like his teammates, spent plenty of time working with strength and conditioning coach Cory Schlesinger.
“Coming in, especially in my first summer, strength and height wise he had me,” Norton said. “He literally could push me around if he wanted to.”
Watts said that has changed.
“I think from his freshman year to his sophomore year, he is a lot stronger,” Watts said. “When he came in for his freshman year, I was able to do a little bit more things. This year, I’ve got to play him a little more honest because he’s a lot stronger.”
On the other side, Watts is making defenders play him more hones because of improved shooting. There were times during his sophomore season when Watts would only shoot a 3-pointer if the shot clock was running down. His accuracy improved during C-USA play, but Watts finished just 18-of-50 on 3-pointers. This season, though, he has made 14-of-26 3-pointers, which is a 53.8 percent success rate.
“I think I’ve grown a lot, especially confidence wise,” Watts said. “When I came in, my confidence was real, real low. This year, things are falling for me, I’m not just a one-dimensional player. I can get to the hole, I’m knocking the shot down and playing defense also.”
Part of his success, according to Watts, comes from working with former Blazer Robert Williams, who is now serving the program as a graduate manager.
“He’s been working with me a lot and getting my shot more consistent,” Watts said. “It’s not a certain amount of shots, it’s more him just pushing me hard and getting me fatigued. That way, I can knock shots down, even when I’m tired.”
On game day, the focus is on teaming up to attack opposing point guards. One advantage is that, while their game is evolving, Norton and Watts still bring different approaches. Norton, while stronger than a year ago, still relies on quickness and instincts to attack offensively and defensively. Watts, while shooting the ball better than ever, still uses his strength and size to get to the basket on offense and slow down the opposition on the defensive end.
“When he comes off the bench, he brings energy defensively and is really scoring the ball lately,” Norton said. “Just giving two different looks to point guards is helpful. He can guard the guards and wings with no problem. I think it helps us out a lot.”
The Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are set to return to Birmingham for the second consecutive year, marking the third time the Blazers will host the event. The men's tournament, as well as the women's semifinals and championship, will be played at Legacy Arena in downtown Birmingham, while the women's first round and quarterfinal action will take place at UAB's Bartow Arena.
For more information on UAB men's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_MBB), on Instagram (@blazerhoops) or on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABMensBasketball). For more on all Blazer sports teams follow the official social media accounts of UAB Athletics on Twitter (@UABAthletics), on Facebook (Facebook.com/UAB.Blazers), on Instagram (@uabathletics) or on Snapchat (@uabathletics).
