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A look at the upcoming season

1998-99 season

Defiance Looks Forward to MIAA Play
Second-year head coach Tom Palombo is looking for his 1998-99 Defiance men's basketball team to reach its potential and put together consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 1992-94. Palombo's challenge this year's squad is to take a core group of returning players from a year ago and mesh them together with a large group of freshmen who must contribute for this team to have a successful season. "We have no seniors, but that doesn't mean we are not or can't be good," commented Palombo.

Leading a group of six players returning to aid Palombo in meeting these challenges are leading rebounder Chad Kahle, and the backcourt guard tandem of Seth Newlove and Mike Groll. Kahle will be looked at to play that role as he leads the Jackets in the paint. The 6-5 junior averaged 9.8 rebounds a game last season and is the Jackets' leading returning scorer, averaging 15.4 points per game. "He will hopefully be our dominating rebounder and scorer," says Palombo. "Every team has to have that guy and he is that guy for us."

Joining Kahle underneath will be 6-4 forward Frank Kill. Coming off the bench as a freshman a year ago, Kill averaged 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and was second on the team in offensive rebounds with 52. Along with Kill are a group of freshman players led by 6-6 Troy Ellerbrock and 6-6 Josh Scharf. Junior guards Seth Newlove and Mike Groll are two among a group of potential impact players. Newlove started seven games and averaged 14.2 points per game last season. Groll had a team-high 70 assists playing in every game a season ago, but may start the year slow because the all-purpose yardage leader for the Jacket football team will be on the gridiron until middle of November.

A new wrinkle in preparing for this season is the opportunity to play for a conference title as the Jackets enter the MIAA this season. "There have not been a lot of changes in preparation," states Palombo. "In a conference any team can get hot down the stretch and head into a conference tournament with a chance of winning the conference title."

Alma Looks to Add Another Milestone
Since the arrival of head coach Kevin Skaggs three years ago, the Alma men’s program has achieved a number of milestones, and the 1997-98 season was no different. Last season’s successes were capped off by a home win against NCAA runner-up Hope, and a winning string at the end of the year that included victories in 8 of the last 11 games, including five in a row.

Leading the returners for Coach Skaggs are Jeremy Hyler and Seth Stapleton. Hyler started 23 of 24 games for the Scots in his sophomore campaign, averaging just over eight points and leading the team in rebounds, (6.7 per game) blocked shots, (37) and field goal percentage (53.9%). He tallied six games in double-figures rebounding and 11 double-figure scoring games. Hyler will play a major role as one of the big men, and will be looked upon as one of the leading scorers. Stapleton returns as the Scots' second-leading scorer at 8.1 points per game. He recorded a career-high 25-point, 10 rebound performance versus Olivet. His incredible shooting ability will be major factor in the team’s success this season.

The lone senior, Pat Hoag, will be called on to show his leadership skills and should see a considerable amount of playing time. The 6-4 forward was 14 of 14 from the charity stripe last season and reached double figures in scoring six times. The Scots return two sophomores, Chris Seelbach and Spencer Roecker. Seelbach, a 6-8 center, and Roecker, a 6-5 forward, will be a major contributors this season. Seelbach’s presence down low will be an advantage to the Scots, along with his rebounding and shot-blocking ability. Seeing limited time last season, he racked up 12 blocks and 71 rebounds. Roecker did not play last season after transfer complications, but he did see playing time at Kalamazoo College his freshman year, so he is familiar with the MIAA. The Scots have high hopes for the incoming class of 1998-99. The top freshman recruit is Jeff Hosler, a 6-3 guard from East Lansing. Hosler is said to be one of the top D-III recruits in the state.

Calvin Hopes to Stay Healthy
Calvin will be looking for a healthy 1998-99 campaign after injuries slowed the Knights in 1997-98. Under most circumstances, a 16-10 record and a second-place MIAA finish of 8-4 would be considered a successful year but the hopes were higher. Despite last year's disappointment, optimism remains at Calvin for the upcoming year despite having only one full-time starter and a handful of part-time starters returning. The most notable returnee is 6-5 junior forward Aaron Winkle, who earned First Team All-MIAA accolades last year, averaging 18.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 steals a game. From the floor, Winkle connected on 52.5%, shot 74.1% at the line and 39.8% (37-for-93) from behind the three-point arc.

Another player to watch is 5-11 sophomore point guard Mike Gotfredson as he averaged nearly 18 minutes a game off the bench as a freshman along with 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds. He also started in one game for the Knights last year and will push for significant playing time this year. Rejoining the backcourt at the shooting guard and point guard spots will be 5-11 fifth-year senior Scott Plaisier, who sat out the 1997-98 season due to disciplinary reasons. He averaged 9.7 points and 3.3 assists as a junior. Junior guard Nate Karsten will add depth to Calvin's shooting guard spot after averaging 7.9 points a game as Calvin's sixth man last year. Karsten finished second on the Calvin squad in three-point field goals made last year as he connected on 41 of 122 attempts.

Calvin's biggest question mark heading into the year is its frontcourt as the Knights graduated a pair of post players. Fifth-year senior Ebong Eka, 6-7 sophomore Brian Krosschell and 6-6 senior forward Jeff Overway are Calvin's most experienced frontcourt players. Eka started in 12 games last year with Velthouse out with an injury, averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds a game. Krosschell saw action in all 26 of Calvin's game last year as a freshman, averaging 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds a game. Overway has good moves underneath the basket but can also provide range from the perimeter.

Three-Year Crew Looks to Make Run for Capital
For the second year in a row, every starter returns for the Crusaders. The unit consists of four seniors and a junior who realize that their time is now to lead Capital back into the upper echelon of the Ohio Athletic Conference. The focus remains the same for the program - - to be in a position for a conference championship and to have a chance to get into the NCAA tournament.

Four of Capital's five starters earned All-OAC honors last year. Brad Howe made the second team after leading the Crusaders in scoring and setting a new school record for steals in a season. Tony Joseph, Russell Hall and Brett Obrovac each achieved honorable mention status. These four players, along with point guard Brook Cupps form the nucleus of the Capital squad. Talented transfer Laran Sims adds depth and explosiveness to the Capital attack.

Capital strives to maintain the level of play that saw them win six of their last eight games of 1998. The gradual rebuilding process that head coach Damon Goodwin has undertaken over the last two seasons could pay big dividends this year.

Rose-Hulman Hopes Program Doesn't Go South
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's men look to continue their winning tradition as a first-year member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Engineers have forged a solid tradition in the 1990s, claiming two ICAC championships and making two NCAA tournament appearances. Senior Bryan Egli has emerged as Rose-Hulman's floor leader. Egli averaged an ICAC-high 21.9 points and 3.7 rebound per game last season. Help is available from fellow senior ICAC first-team representative Sam Johnson, a 6-7 center who scored 9.6 points per game last season. Senior forward Matt Millington and guard Joe Puthoff bring considerable experience to the starting lineup. Millington averaged 8.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while Puthoff made two buzzer-beating three-point shots to defeat nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan and Hanover. This season, as the Engineers move into the SCAC after their fourth consecutive winning season, the stakes have only been set higher.

Manchester Looks for Seventh Consecutive Winning Season
Coming off a school-record sixth consecutive winning season, Manchester College is poised to make another run at a NCAA Division III tournament berth. Antwann Jones (6-5 Sr.) leads a young group of returning lettermen and a sizeable batch of newcomers. Manchester was 16-9 last season. In his first year at Manchester, Jones led the conference in rebounding with 7.9 per game and ranked tenth in scoring at 11.9 points per game Spartan fans can also expect the backcourt duo of Carson Harris and Jeremy Neely to be one of the HCAC's best. Neely started 22 games last year, and averaged 7.3 points per game from the point. He had an assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 2-to-1 (71-to-36). Harris joined the Spartans in midseason, and came off the bench in 14 games to average 5.2 points.

Other key contributors this season will be Yul Lee (6-2, So.), Gabe Wingo (6-3, Sr.) and Mark Patterson (6-5 So.). Lee, who led the state in field goal percentage as a high school senior, shot .567 last season for MC, and was third on the team with 33 offensive rebounds. Wingo, a streaky three-point shooter, was second on the team in three-pointers made and averaged 6.7 points per game. Patterson, a post player, played in 21 games and started four times. He shot .420 from the floor and averaged 10. 3 minutes of playing time per contest.

Manchester's personnel losses last year made a big dent in the Spartan's size and leadership. Chad Berry graduated as the eighth leading scorer in Spartan history, with 1,315 points. Chanse Young also graduated after leading the nation in free throw percentage at .956. But this year's recruiting class is possibly the best in the last four years at Manchester, with Matthews bring in a number of freshmen from winning programs in the state of Indiana.

Upper Iowa Gets a Junior College Transfusion
The last time an Upper Iowa team had a losing season (1993), Head Coach Stu Engen brought them back the following year to win an Iowa Conference Championship. The Peacocks face that challenge again this year. Although the IIAC looks to be as solid as ever, expectations are high in Fayette. A core of experienced players and the addition of five junior college transfers, along with a talented group of freshmen, may be what it takes to propel the Peacocks back to the top.

The Peacocks finished 11-14 last year. Their 10-10 conference mark placed them fifth in the Iowa Conference and secured their fifth consecutive upper-division finish. Engen has 26 players on the roster, but only nine were on the roster last year. Of those nine, six saw significant playing time during the 1997-98 season. Key returners for the Peacocks include senior center Mike Winblade, senior forward Ray Lewis, senior forward, junior guard Lewis Boehme and sophomores Michael Denning and Joey Gay. Seehase and Lewis are the only remaining members of the 1996 team that won the IIAC championship and advanced to the NCAA playoffs.

Much of the excitement in Fayette stems from the addition of five junior college transfers. All come from respected programs and bring with them winning attitudes and ability. Junior guard/forward Thomas Chatman played for Fergus Falls Community College which won the Division III Junior College national championship. At the championship. he was named to the all tournament team. A trio of guards, juniors Ben Claassen, Josh Bausal and Mike Spencer were all starters for Minneapolis Community College, which finished 26-2 last year. MCC lost in the state championship to Chatman's Fergus Falls team for the right to go to the national tournament. Junior forward/center Reginald Alexander played for Shelton State Junior College in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The addition of the Peacock's version of the "Fab Five" will shore up the lack of depth, rebounding, and defensive intensity that were pitfalls of the 1997-98 season.

Simpson Looks to Avoid Another March Snub
The 1997-98 season saw Simpson win a school-record 22 games and their first outright Iowa Conference title in 56 years. However, a 10-game winning streak to end the season and the third-best record in the West Region wasn't enough to merit an trip to the NCAA Tournament. With that disappointment behind them, Simpson returns all five starters and 11 letterwinners in an attempt to become the first IIAC team to repeat since Central turned the trick 18 years ago.

Division III Basketball Online Team of the Year First-Teamer Adam Doll will be the focus of many game plans on how to stop the Storm. Doll led Division III in rebounding (14.6) as he set a new school record for most rebounds in a season (366). Doll averaged 20 points per game and earned several postseason honors. Doll's biggest obstacle will be recovering from off-season knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in knee. "You never know about an ACL injury," said Simpson head coach Bruce Wilson. "He was injured in the middle of June, take six months, that puts him back in the lineup around the middle of December."

Sometimes forgotten during last season was the outstanding play of senior forward Nathan Ackerman. Ackerman was named first team All-IIAC as he averaged 18 points and six rebounds in the Storm's high-octane offense. Ackerman joined Doll in the 1,000 point club last year and is currently the Storm's ninth all-time leading scorer. Expect Ackerman to take an expanded role during Doll's absence. Seniors Bryan Martin, Marty Richter, and Jon Burke return to the starting lineup for the second consecutive year. Martin finished 30th in Division III in three-point percentage and was third on the team in scoring with a 13.2 ppg average. Richter's long arms and quick feet enable him to defend the opponent's top perimeter player. He was fourth on the team in scoring last season. Burke led the team in assists last season.

With last season in the rear-view mirror, the Storm have beefed up their non-conference schedule with an appearance in the St. John's (Minn.) basketball classic and the trip to California where they will take on Claremont-Mudd Scripps and UC-San Diego. Members of the IIAC have improved and the league has implemented a postseason tournament that is designed to make an IIAC team more attractive to the NCAA Committee.

Wheaton Transitions from Young Team to Veteran Contender
If Wheaton fans take time to think about it, the 1997-98 team accomplished quite a a bit considering it included no seniors and just three juniors. The Crusaders recorded their sixth consecutive winning season. Wheaton has enjoyed success that harkens back to the Golden Years of Wheaton basketball in the 1950's, the last time Wheaton posted 6 consecutive winning seasons. Wheaton has improved from nine wins in Coach Bill Harris' first season (1991-92) to 17 or more wins in 4 of the last 5 seasons, and two NCAA championships, Wheaton's first postseason appearances since the Golden Years.

In the frontcourt, Wheaton's most notable returnee is senior co-captain, two-time All-CCIW first team forward Rob Hamann (6-7), who averaged 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds, shot 78.8% from the free throw line, and contributed 94 assists, 42 blocked shots, and 44 steals. Sophomore Luke Moo (6-6) started 14 games during a highly-productive freshman campaign during which he averaged 11.1 points and 4.6 rebounds and shot 52.5% from the field. Junior Nick Otten (6-6) played quality minutes off the Wheaton bench last season, averaging 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds. Joining an already formidable group of "big" players are newcomers who either are returning from injury or transferring into the program. Versatile senior Joel Eckert (6-9) has been a projected starter for two seasons but spent both seasons recovering from reconstructive knee surgery. Highly-touted junior transfer Michael Collins (6-7), who played two seasons at Bradley University, deepens the forward position considerably and also can play the wing or help out at guard. Collins played 19 minutes in Bradley's win against Michigan last season.

Wheaton returns its starting backcourt, All-CCIW second team guard Charles Ridley (6-1), and junior point guard Travis Senik (6-3). Ridley led the team in scoring, averaging 20.3, and scored 20 or more points in 15 games and over 30 twice. He also made 56 three-pointers and shot 80.1% from the free-throw line. The backcourt question to be answered is who will be the first guards off the bench. Possibilities include senior Bryan Walker (5'9), who averaged 1.6 points and dished out 24 assists in 24 reserve appearances last season, and sophomore Brian Adams (6-0), a junior varsity starter who appeared in seven varsity games.

Hanover Going After Lucky Number Seven
The Hanover College men's basketball team has had six consecutive winning seasons, including two NCAA tournament appearances. Hanover's leading returning player is Greg Lorenzi who averaged 11.5 points per game in 97-98 and was voted first-team All-ICAC. Other senior returnees are guards Micah Shrewsberry, one of the top assist players in the HCAC, Kevin Klein, Sean Hanrahan, and forward Zach Burns, an outstanding three-point shooter. The frontcourt is anchored by two juniors, 6-8 Tim Schluge and 6-5 Mike West. Adding depth to the front court is 6-5 junior Nick Byrd, and 6-7 soph. Ryan Fite. The top shooter on the team is 5-10 junior Tyson Crandall. In 1997-98 Hanover ranked #8 nationally in points allowed per game. If the 1998-99 team is able to score consistently, Hanover could challenge Wabash and Franklin for the HCAC championship.

Augsburg Hopes Returning Depth Enough to Surround George
With one of the top players in the nation returning, along with the bulk of a lineup that produced a 22-4 overall record and a berth in the NCAA tournament for head coach Brian Ammann, the Auggies look to repeat as conference champions and advance farther in the national playoffs. Depth at every position gives Ammann reason for optimism.

Key among the returners is senior forward Devean George, first-team selection to the Division III Basketball Online 1998-99 Preseason Team of the Year and MIAC Most Valuable Player. George, who is fifth on the school's career scoring list with 1,488 points (21.9 per game) and 11th in rebounds (551, 8.1 per game), is a bona-fide pro prospect.

Surrounding George is a capable lineup of players who have blended well in Ammann's up-tempo style of play -- five of the nine players last year who saw action in all 26 games are retuning. Kevin Van Rossum, the MIAC's co-Sixth Man of the Year in 1997-98, will move into more of a prominent role at off-guard this year in the place of graduated Neil Swanson. Coming off the bench last year, the junior used his 45% field-goal shooting (42.6% from three-point range) to average 10.7 points per game, second to George. Jeoffrey Reed (Jr., Minneapolis/DeLaSalle HS), who split time with the graduated Willie Fisher, returns to lead the team down the court.

At the post positions, senior Micah Watkins will see his first full season in an Auggie uniform. Watkins, who walked on at the University of Minnesota his freshman year, transferred to Augsburg from Division II Mankato State last year and made an immediate impact for the Auggies in the second half of the season. He averaged 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 16 games.

Junior Jason Beckendorf and seniors Kris Long and Drazen Kasaic will all see extensive action in the forward/center spots this season. Beckendorf averaged 5.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game last year, while Long and Kasaic split time in the center position to spell the graduated Matt Lang.

Outgoing Biebel Not Going Out on a Limb
Anyone who knows Bob Biebel knows that he is one of the most outgoing people around. Want to talk Cubs baseball? Biebel will talk your ear off. Got a few minutes to chat about the NBA lockout? Make it half an hour. So, with the Saint Mary's University men's basketball season ready to shift into high gear, it's a safe assumption that Biebel is all talk when it comes to his Cardinals, right? Wrong.

When asked about this year's team, the slick-tongued Biebel summed it up in two short words: "We're better."

Enough said. After struggling through a 5-19 campaign in his first year at the helm, Biebel hit the recruiting trail, while his returning players hit the gym and the weight room. And the end result is, in Biebel's words, a better team.

"There's no question this team is far better than the team we put on the court a year ago," said Biebel. "We're deeper, we're more talented, we're bigger and stronger."

Because of that improvement, there are plenty of spots up for grabs. Only senior J.B. Mathison and Ryan Rankin have secured starting spots when the Cardinals open their season at Iowa Wesleyan. Yet, while the Cardinals have made drastic improvements before stepping on the court, it's what kind of improvements they make on the court that remain to be seen.

"We need to focus on improving in three areas - rebounding, free throws and ball-handling," said Biebel. "Last year we were outrebounded by 116 and our opponents made 115 more free throws. We can't allow that to happen again this year."

If they can do that, Biebel expects to see Saint Mary's climb more than a rung or two up the conference ladder.

"The conference is going to be very tough again this year," said Biebel, noting that the MIAC is still a senior-dominated league this season. "With our mixture of youth and the leadership of our upperclassmen, there's no reason we can't compete with the teams in this league.

Saint John's Has Four Starters Back
The Saint John’s Basketball team enters the 1998-99 season returning four starters: junior guard Steve Bates; senior wing Nathan Guetter; sophomore guard Troy Bigalke; and senior post Saul McBroom. SJU finished last season with an 11-12 record overall, which was good enough for a sixth-place finish in the MIAC.

Bates was named to the All-MIAC team and also led the MIAC in assists, with 5.45 apg. He also averged 10.7 points per game and led the team in three-point shooting, shooting 41.4%. Guetter led the Johnnies in scoring, averging 14.5 ppg. McBroom was sixth in the MIAC in field-goal percentage and will provide an inside presence for the Johnnies. Bugbee and Bigalke were named MIAC-All-Rookie Team and will be looked on to improve on last year’s successful rookie seasons.

The Johnnies will once again be coached by Jim Smith. Smith, in his 35th season at SJU has a 535-363 career record, and a 407-213 record in the MIAC. Smith is the sixth winningest coach in D-III basketball history. SJU has completed 23 consecutive MIAC seasons without a losing season.

North Park in Need of Turnaround
A new coaching staff, and two returning All-CCIW players bring a sense of renewed optimism to this year's North Park University basketball team. Rees Johnson takes the helm for the Vikings this season. Johnson coached most recently at Northeastern Illinois, where he lead the Golden Eagles to the best record of any Chicagoland NCAA Division I basketball program three of the last four seasons. Johnson has amassed a career record of 320-299 in 23 years. Johnson is charged with re-establishing a once proud tradition that saw the Vikings win five Division III national championships (1978-79-80-85-87).

Johnson will start with a veteran cast, as the Vikings return four players that started nearly every game last season. Junior Rick Alspach, was a First-Team All-CCIW selection after averaging 21.4 points per game. Senior Denny Keizer, was a Third-Team All-CCIW choice last season, after being a Second Team choice as a sophomore. Keizer averaged 17.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 1998. Senior Chris Turner averaged 8.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest. Turner also blocked a team-high 24 shots. Sophomore Keith Peterson started every game at point guard, and averaged 8.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Peterson also dished out a team-high 83 assists. Peterson should move off the point, and see more time at the 2 and 3 positions this season.

In addition to this strong core of seasoned returnees, the Vikings have many talented new players. Transfers Kerry Pates and Ben Zeitz figure to step in and contribute right away. Pates is the strong point guard that the Vikings have lacked the last two seasons, while Zeitz will provide muscle inside. First year players Nathan Anderson, J.R. Jackson and Jabari Lanier are also expected to help the Vikings from day one as freshmen. Coach Johnson figures to stress a stronger defensive style of play that should give North Park an opportunity to improve on their record from the past two seasons, in which the Vikings have gone 6-44.

St. Norbert Hoping to Get Back to MWC Tourney
With six seniors returning, the St. Norbert College men's basketball team has its sights set on its first Midwest Conference tournament berth since 1994. "I think there's a vision there," St. Norbert coach Paul DeNoble said. "They can finally see what they've been working after for three years." The Green Knights are expected to start five seniors and return 71% of their scoring from last season.

St. Norbert is led by returning Midwest Conference North Division First-Teamer Mike Heun, who averaged 15.1 points per game for St. Norbert while shooting 45.5% from outside the three-point arc. The senior guard set two Green Knights records with 66 three-pointers in a season and consecutive free throws made with 36. Heun's backcourt mate, Aaron Andres, ranked second in the conference in assists last season and led the Green Knights in assists and steals. Senior forward Jay Prihoda is the lone three-year starter for St. Norbert. Heun, Andres and Prihoda are the captains of a team with a solid attitude as one of its main strengths.

"I don't see any negativity on the floor," DeNoble said. "All it takes is one person pulling in the wrong direction to take everyone down." Other key returners include senior forward Josh Johnson, senior guard Rob Dillon, sophomore forward Luke Lancelle and sophomore guard Chris Zais. St. Norbert's main loss from last season was 6-9 center Andy Riemer, who averaged 14.2 points and 9.4 rebounds. However, a pair of top newcomers look to fill the void. Senior Adam Lemorande, who played last season at UW-Center Manitowoc County is the top candidate along with freshman center Nate Hoffman.

Oshkosh Loses Two First-Teamers
The Wisconsin-Oshkosh men’s basketball team enters the 1998-99 season looking to continue the level of play it has established the past three seasons: three trips to the NCAA Tournament and a 34-14 record in WIAC play. Oshkosh finished the 1997-98 season with a 21-6 overall record and a 11-5 mark in the WIAC, the Titans’ second runner-up finish in the league in three seasons. The Titans opened last year’s NCAA Division III Tournament with a first round victory against Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) before falling to eventual national champion Platteville, 69-59, in the second round. Oshkosh set an all-divisions record last season, shooting 81.8% (516-for-631) from the free throw line.

The Titans lost three quality backcourt performers to graduation. Guards Jake Browarski, Brett Davis and Joe Imhoff provided leadership to an otherwise youthful team a year ago. Davis and Imhoff were both All-WIAC first team selections, while Browarski was the Titans’ sixth man. Highlighting the returning cast is junior forward Brad Clark. The WIAC first-teamer led the Titans in scoring, rebounding, field goals, field goal percentage and free throws. Clark averaged 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game a year ago, scoring over 20 points 11 times.

Other starters returning are junior center Keith Meyer and sophomore forward Aric Vaubel. Meyer averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game a year ago, while Vaubel averaged 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. The frontline receives a big boost this season with the return of senior forward Aaron Harding, who was a medical redshirt a year ago. Harding, who needs 211 points this season to become the 18th player in Oshkosh history to reach 1,000 career points, averaged 10.5 points and 4.0 rebounds as a starter for the Titans in 1996-97.

Anderson Looks to Build on ICAC Upset Win
Near the end of the season Anderson notched a 79-71 upset win over third-seeded Manchester in the first round of the ICAC Tournament. The Ravens ended the season 11-15 overall and 2-10 in the ICAC, but won four of its last seven games to help set the tone for the 1998-99 campaign. Raven head coach Denny Lehnus said, "we closed with a strong finish last year. The exciting thing is that we return nine out of our top 10 players from last year." Lehnus continues, "Our depth is improved and we have a higher quality of depth."

Among those returnees is two-time All-ICAC pick Brent Brobston. Last year Brobston led Anderson in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (5.5) and was second in assists (2.5). Point guard Travis Daugherty returns to the Raven lineup after starting all 26 games of his rookie campaign. Daugherty, the 1997-98 ICAC Freshman of the Year, led the conference in assists with 4.3 assists per game last season and added 40% three-point field goal shooting. Last season's super-sub Chaz Smoot will likely earn a starting role this season in the post. Last year Smoot earned a berth on the 1998 All-ICAC Tournament Team and was third on the team in scoring with 12.2 points a game for ninth in the ICAC in scoring. Smoot was 11th in the conference last season in field goal percentage with a 49.3% mark from the field.

Two other starters from last season's team return this season, but this year both players will likely see time at forward along with a sophomore who made some noise as a freshman last season. Senior starter Bryan Miller will return to his role as a hard-working power forward for the Ravens and junior Mike Wingert, the Ravens' starting post player last season, will see time primarily at forward this season.

The Ravens not only have a solid group of returnees, but several newcomers who could make an impact this season. Sophomore Jim Scarbeary is a transfer from NCAA Division II program Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. Lehnus says if Scarbeary, "He probably has as much shooting range as any player you will see. However, he needs to continue to work on having a complete game." Freshman shooting guard Brett Manifold will remain in his hometown for his collegiate career. Lehnus remarks on Manifold, "Brett is considered our No. 1 recruit. He is athletic, he is a good offensive player and comes from a solid high school program where they played against solid competition."

Wabash Looks to Cop Inaugural HCAC Crown
Wabash coach Mac Petty's squad is coming off a 22-5 campaign in which it advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season. Gone from last year are eight senior lettermen, but the Little Giants have plenty of talent to build around, with three of the top four scorers returning, including "Double Trouble," the tandem of Chad Tabor and Josh Estelle. Tabor, a 6-5 senior forward, was ICAC MVP as a sophomore but drew more attention from opposing defenses. He still managed to average 17.6 ppg and earn ICAC First Team accolades. Estelle is a 6-2 junior guard who garnered Division III Basketball Online Team of the Year Second Team recognition after leading the team with an average of 18.5 ppg. Estelle connected on 83 of 188 three-pointers and 96 of 106 free throws. The Little Giants also return junior center Brian Latham, who comes from the same high school (New Castle, Ind., Chrysler) as Tabor and Estelle. The 6-6 Latham made 85 of 135 field goals last year to lead the ICAC.

Chicago Men Building Around Newcomers
Having risen to the level of the NCAA Division III's elite teams, the University of Chicago looks to maintain that status again in 1998-99. During the past two seasons, Chicago has won 27 of 28 UAA games en route to consecutive titles. Four seniors return for three-time UAA Coach of the Year Pat Cunningham's squad. Among them are center Craig Kelleher, a three-time All-UAA pick, and guard Andy Strommen, the 1997 NCAA III three-point percentage leader. In 25 games last year, Kelleher led the club with 7.1 rebounds per game and a school-record 42 blocked shots, in addition to his 9.6 points per contest. Strommen has been the team's top reserve the past two seasons and in 1997-98 connected on 51 of 115 (44.3%) three-point shots while scoring 8.4 points per game. Frontcourt players Matt Scott and Travis Wenstrom also return for their final seasons. Junior guards Eric Nelson and Steve Murphy and fellow third-year forward Kurt Riemer each look to see increased playing time this season. An excellent scorer and athlete, Nelson has spent the past two years as the understudy to All-American Rusty Loyd at the point guard position. Another outstanding athlete, Murphy looks to gain significant playing time in the backcourt. Riemer and junior transfer David Steward should contribute as swingmen, with Riemer providing scoring punch and Steward bolstering the club's defense. The Maroons will need key contributions from sophomores Brad Henderson, Jim Waichulis, D.B. DeZarn, Mike Agema, and Ben Hoffart. At 6-7, Henderson is forecast to contribute as a shooter and post player, while Waichulis gives the team another outstanding three-point threat.

Young Washington Looks for 15th Consecutive Winning Campaign
Washington U. men's basketball coach Mark Edwards produced one of his best coaching years last season when he took a 2-8 club in early January and turned the Bears around to contend for a fifth UAA title. A senior-dominated squad won 12 of its last 15 games to finish 14-11 and post the program's school-record 14th straight winning season. If Washington is to register a 10th first- or second-place finish in 12 years of UAA play, Edwards may have to pull off a similar effort. Gone are the top five scorers from last season's team, including second-team All-UAA frontliners Chris Heidbrink (10.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Matt Greear (10.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg). The return of three starters and several key players from a team that had 10 players average more than 10 minutes played per game, leaves Washington young, but still talented. Sophomore forward Chris Alexander is the top returning scorer after averaging 8.2 points per game and grabbing 3.8 rebounds per game in 15 starts. Starting point guard Ryan Patton (8.0 ppg, 6.4 apg) enjoyed one of the finest seasons ever for a Bear freshman last year. He led all Division III freshmen in assists and posted a 2.5-to-1 (89:35) assist to turnover ratio while leading the UAA in assists. Backcourt mate Brian Panek, one of the team's four seniors, holds down the shooting guard position after averaging 7.8 points per game last season and setting a school record for steals per game (1.96). Senior David Cerven chipped in 4.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as a reserve forward/center, and will be counted on for points, rebounds and minutes with the graduation of the Bears' frontline of a year ago. Promising sophomore Derek Laur (2.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg) also returns and is joined by 12 newcomers who could figure prominently into the mix.

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