VALDOSTA — Mike Helfer adds another first to his list as the Valdosta State men’s basketball coach today, playing in the Gulf South Conference Tournament against Christian Brothers University at 5:30 p.m.

Even though it is his first time driving through the brackets, it is simply a new vehicle. Helfer is familiar with the neighborhood.

While entering the GSC Tournament for the first time in his six year career as a head coach, Helfer has made five trips to the NAIA national tournament and won three Southern States Conference tournaments.

“I feel comfortable in tournament play,” Helfer said. “I don’t think you try to do too much different. You try to make a few adjustments and do the things you’ve done all year, just do them well.”

A reason for Helfer’s added comfort in post season play may be a result from winning one last year while not allowing opposing teams to creep within single digits of a victory throughout the entire tournament.

Helfer has the experience to know what to expect from any tournament and that is an intensity unseen in the regular season.

“I think any tournament at any level, there’s going to be increased intensity from everybody,” Helfer said. “That goes from players to the coaching staff.

“I just think it’s a different atmosphere. If you lose, you don’t have a chance to win a championship.”

The Blazers — who are also familiar with the tournament, losing in the first round a season ago — are the No. 4 seed in the East out of five teams in each of two divisions.

VSU’s first-round opponent, Christian Brothers, is the No. 5 seed and like every other team pose a threat.

The Buccaneers bring one of the conference’s top scorers in 6-foot-6 sophomore forward Kevin Weybright.

Last season’s GSC Freshman of the Year, Weybright is the conference’s No. 2 scorer at 21.9 points per game.

“He is a very good scorer,” Helfer said. “It seems like scoring comes easy to him. He doesn’t struggle at all to score.

“He can score inside and outside, all and all a very good player.”

Weybright get his baskets including the conference’s second best three-point percentage at .432 in the Princeton offense.

The Princeton offense created by former Princeton University coach Pete Carril, utilizes all five players moving both the ball and themselves around the half court through post passing and back door cuts.

“They’re very patient and they shoot a lot of three’s,” Helfer said. “They attempt 25 three’s a game.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s hard to defend. They’re patient and take great shots. Sometimes you have to guard it for 33 seconds before they take their shots.”

The Blazers will look to combat that by pushing the ball and forcing an up-tempo game.

“We’re going to try and make the game a full-court game,” Helfer said. “Get the tempo a little faster than they want to play.

“Of course that’s easier said than done sometimes.”

Another factor that will play into tournament games is foul trouble.

The intensity of the games and the opponent’s ability to pick out your top player will lead to added free throw opportunities and players leaving for the bench earlier.

For the Blazers, if one player gets into foul trouble, they have another top scorer ready to step in.

VSU guard Mike Crain and center Jon Rogers are both among the conference’s best and can step in if the other is playing limited time as well as attack the defense looking for fouls.

“We have two guys in Jon and Mike that can get you into foul trouble pretty fast,” Helfer said. “I want both of them to come out, be aggressive and do what they have done all year. If they do that, we have a chance to be in pretty good shape.”

The winner of the Blazers, Buccaneers game will meet the West’s No. 1 seed, Delta State, on Friday.

“Any night any team in our league for a one 40 minute game, anybody can beat anybody in tournament play,” Helfer said. “You have to stay focused and not look a game in front of you and not look down the bracket.

“The team that wins advances itself on the bracket. If it’s not you, you’re going home.”