Men's Basketball

--- George Fox 2004-05 Men's Basketball Preview ---

NEWBERG, Ore. - There is a growing sense of anticipation surrounding the George Fox University men's basketball team as the 2004-05 season approaches, a feeling of excitement that has head coach Mark Sundquist and his Bruins eager for the first game to tip off.

Four returning starters and several outstanding newcomers can do that for a program.

"No question, this is the most athleticism and size we've had since I've been here,"says Sundquist, who enters his fifth campaign at George Fox. "I don't think a .500 record or even better is beyond the realm of possibility."

That might seem like heady stuff for a program that went 7-18 last year, finished in a tie for 7th in the Northwest Conference at 3-13, and has not been on the plus side of the ledger since the 1998-99 season, but it is not unrealistic.

Four Returnees Averaged Double Figures

The Bruins were one of the highest-scoring teams in the conference last year with four starters, all of them returning, who averaged double figures in points per game. The only starter not back, Bryan Wadlow at a wing, came up one field goal short, averaging 9.9.

Leading the Bruins is First Team All-Conference wing Mark Gayman (6-4, Sr., Hillsboro, Ore.), the league's No. 2 rebounder (8.6 rpg) and No. 4 scorer (17.0 ppg) who also became the 31st player in George Fox history to reach 1,000 points for a career (1,007). Post Scott Szalay (6-7, Jr., Everett, Wash.) averaged 11.9 points and 7.5 rebounds a game while shooting .546 from the field, all numbers among the league leaders, and received Honorable Mention All-Conference. Wing Aaron Schmick (5-11, Jr., Hillsboro, Ore.) averaged 15.4 points 4.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists a game, and was among the best long-range shooters in the league with 2.52 three-pointers per game. Ben Melvin (6-1, Jr., Pleasant Hill, Ore.) averaged 10.7 points and 3.8 assists per game, but is expected to shift from point guard to wing this year to take advantage of his driving and shooting abilities.

"All of our returning players have taken on leadership roles, and with their hard work during the off-season, we are going to be a better all-around team and tougher to defend. With so many experienced scorers, I definitely think we will be even more potent offensively."

Gayman, considered by Sundquist "one of the best in the league", remains the team's "go-to" player, but he won't have to do it alone. "Mark lost 15 pound and is in the best shape of his career, and he is playing his best ever," the coach remarks. "We want him to continue his high level of scoring and rebounding, while at the same time not feeling that he bears the entire offensive burden on the team."

A fine sophomore season and some solid work on his post play during the summer has Szalay playing with increased confidence. "Scott learned he can play in this league and he expects good things out of himself," says Sundquist. "He gives us a strong post presence and can be as good as anybody in this league."

Of Schmick, Sundquist says "he is one of the better shooters in this league, and opponents will have to key on him because of it. He also has this knack for being around the ball all the time; he is really a good rebounder for his size."

Melvin, the youngest of three brothers to have played for the Bruins, worked on his perimeter game during the off-season and came back "stronger, a step quicker, and playing with increased confidence," notes Sundquist. "We also expect him to do a good job guarding some of the better wings in our league."

Chris Parker (6-6, So., Aloha, Ore.) averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds a game as a freshman, and his improvement has been dramatic. "I can't say enough about Chris," Sundquist admits with admiration. "He worked extremely hard in the off-season, is 15 pounds stronger, and is playing with tremendous confidence. He is a great '6th man' who understands his role in games, and he will be hard to keep out of the lineup."

The Bruins also have two "newcomers' who aren't all that new. Nate Mansfield (6-0, So., Beaverton, Ore.) and Tony Walther (5-10, Sr., Salem, Ore.) both played for the Bruins during the 2001-02 season, but sat out the last couple of years to concentrate on studies. Sundquist welcomes them back with open arms and says, "It's not like they are real rookies; they both understand the game and bring a sense of competitiveness to the team at either the point or the wing. Nate can be an impact player in our league."

Seven Newcomers Provide Valuable Depth

"Our depth is the best we've had in five years," remarks Sundquist, pointing to a roster of seven entirely-new faces.

Predicted to make the most immediate impact is point guard Brent Satern (5-10, Fr., Silverton, Ore.), who could move directly into a starting role. "Brent is like another coach on the floor; he is very intelligent, understands the game well, and is eager to learn more. He is a very good ballhandler, and we expect him to run our offense well and be a good distributor. He's a rookie and he'll make some mistakes, of course, but we are very fortunate to have him."

Two of the most pleasant surprises have been wings Brady Strutz (6-4, Fr., Oregon City, Ore.) and Philip Heu-Weller (6-1, So., Olympia, Wash.). Both have several family members who attended George Fox and played sports in previous years. Heu-Weller played in eight games at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College last year before transferring during the summer .

"Brady embodies what I think of as a George Fox student-athlete - a skilled athlete, a good student, a great person," says Sundquist. "He is a deceptive player who gets the most out of his talent, and is very versatile - by the time he's done, he may have played the 1, 2, 3, and 4 positions for us. Philip is another in the 'George Fox' mold - a very athletic player and good shooter who understands the game well, a good student, and strong spiritually. He's also a 'gym rat' who loves to play the game.

Rounding out the squad are wings Mark Metzler (6-3, Fr., Brookings, Ore.), Andrew Martin (6-3, Fr., Salem, Ore.), and Taylor Martin (6-3, Fr., Salem, Ore.), and post Matt Noble (6-6, Fr., Albany, Ore.). The Martins are identical twins and played with Satern at Silverton High.

"Andrew and Taylor come from a good program in Silverton, and the level of competition in our practices has gone up considerably because of how hard they work," notes Sundquist. "They are energetic players who make the others around them better.

"Matt sprained his ankle pretty badly in a recent practice and that has hampered him some, but he is a solid player with good post moves who only needs some experience. He's a big player who is not afraid to use his size around the goal. Mark is a long, lanky left-hander who is a pure shooter, and extremely coachable."

Summary

The Bruins were third in the conference in scoring (76.0 ppg) and second in rebounding margin (+2.0) last year, and Sundquist expects to finish high in those categories again. "We have a balanced offense and two of the best rebounders in the league," says the coach, "so our main focus this year has been on improving our defense.

"The two biggest challenges this season will be our youth - with only two seniors, we are still a relatively-young team - and our willingness to accept and believe in our newly-defined roles."

Season Opener

The Bruins open the 2004-05 season at home on Friday, Nov. 19, against Northwest College, an NAIA school. "They're big, they're athletic, and they've got all five starters back," says Sundquist of the Eagles, who defeated the Bruins last year in a one-point game in Newberg and a double-overtime game in Kirkland, Wash. "But you know what? We're a better team this year, too, and we're looking forward to the test."

The Bruins then head for Hawaii and their first road test in the Surf's Up Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Nov. 26-27. California Lutheran University will be the Bruins' Friday opponent at 5:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. Hawaii time), and the University of California-Santa Cruz will be the foe on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. Hawaii time). All tournament games are at Kalani High School.