Those were the words from head coach MarQus Johnson just before 16 of us took the floor for tryouts for the Cary Invasion, the semipro basketball team returning for its second season this spring.

I had covered the Invasion for one game last year, visited a practice and wrote what amounted to an introduction of who this team was, why they were here and what they hoped to do.

But this weekend, I got an even closer look.

Johnson and owner Mark Janas were both nice enough to let me be a part of the tryouts, which were broken up into two days - Saturday night and Sunday morning. They were the only two people who knew who I was and why I was there.

I was invading the Invasion, unsure of what the experience would reveal.

I had been curious about a lot of things since the Invasion started up.

Why was this team so good in its first year? (Cary won the league in 2011.)

What was it like to play for Johnson?

What were the players like, and what drives them to come to Cary and play?

I got a better grasp on these answers as the tryouts progressed - and as my body started to tire from the amount of running I just wasn't ready for.

Johnson kept things low-key and relaxed. Which wasn't supposed to be an easy task.

After all, this was a tryout.

And for almost every guy out there but myself, that meant it was put-up or shut-up time. Two days to make an impression and get on the road to a professional basketball career.

For me, I was hoping to avoid complete embarrassment. I had reason to doubt myself - I was on the floor with guys who had scored more points in one season of college ball than I did my whole high school career.

But even I benefitted from Johnson's words about "playing your game."

I think we all did.

Guys shot confidently whenever they were open and knocked down shots with ease - which, if you saw the Invasion play last season, is exactly what they did to other teams.

They play a fluid style of basketball, which was fun to play (and watch, in those moments where I gasped for air on the sideline).

We ran one motion offense and moved the ball quickly until someone got open so they could swish one.

Johnson must defuse the game-day pressure the same way he did tryout pressure - everyone being encouraged to just be themselves on the court.

Even I responded well to the atmosphere, getting into the scoring act in both scrimmages despite my athletic limitations and dearth of professional playing experience.

I wasn't good enough to make the team. So I won't getting a $50-per-game payout (with a little bonus for each win).

But even that let me know about the other players: Their intentions couldn't have been for money.

They just love to play the game.

And that simple intention works well with Johnson's straightforward demands.