Men's Basketball Release
11/18 - PREVIEW: Four Returning Starters Renew Bruin Hopes for Hoops Success in 2005-06
NEWBERG, Ore. - After several years of effort to lay a foundation for a winning program, the 2004-05 George Fox University men's basketball team finally matured into a force that produced the Bruins' best season in 14 years. Now, with a solid nucleus of four returning starters, the Bruins hope to continue that success under sixth-year head coach Mark Sundquist.
"Certainly we're losing our 'go-to' guy with the graduation of Mark Gayman," admits Sundquist, the NWC Coach of the Year after guiding the Bruins to an 18-7 record and second place in the conference at 13-3. "We'll miss his strong presence on the boards, both offensively and defensively. However, with 12 returning players, including four starters, who now know what it takes to win, I see no reason why we can't be one of the top three or four teams in contention for the conference title."
Gayman, the Northwest Conference Player of the Year and a Second Team NCAA Division III All-West Region pick, led the NWC in rebounding (8.3 rpg), was 4th in scoring (18.0 ppg), and ended his career 8th all-time at George Fox in points (1,457). The only other loss was reserve point guard Tony Walther, another graduate.
Returning Starters
If anyone can take over for Gayman as the Bruins' ace-in-the-hole, it would have to be Aaron Schmick (5-11, Sr., Hillsboro, Ore. / Glencoe HS), a First Team All-Conference player who averaged 15.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists a game. He was the conference leader in three-point field goal percentage (.524) and was among the leaders in overall sharp-shooting (.561). "Aaron makes us tick; he's a clutch performer who plays with an infectious enthusiasm," says Sundquist. "He's one of the better shooters in the league who gives us consistency from the perimeter. He's also an intelligent player; he thinks the game as well as he plays it."
At the opposite wing will be Phil Heu-Weller (6-2, Jr., Olympia, Wash. / Olympia HS), who earned honorable mention All-Conference after averaging 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and ranking 20th nationally in free throw percentage (.868). "Phil might have to play some at the four position because he is such an outstanding leaper, and we'll need that on the boards with Gayman gone," predicts Sundquist. "That will mean guarding bigger guys, but his quickness will be an asset there. On offense, he can kill you from the outside or go by you on the dribble."
Point guard Ben Melvin (6-1, Sr., Pleasant Hill, Ore. / Pleasant Hill HS) averaged 8.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists and appears poised for an outstanding senior season. Notes Sundquist, "Ben worked on improving his strength during the off-season, and his confidence and ability to defend will be important for our success this year. He's also a good rebounder for his size and we'll need him to go to the boards more."
Center Scott Szalay (6-7, Sr., Everett, Wash. / Kamiak HS) was honorable mention All-Conference two years ago, but got off to a slow start last year before a strong finish left him with averages of 8.2 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. "We need Scott to step up his production to help offset the loss of Gayman's numbers," admits Sundquist. "We look for him to be more dominant offensively, and he has the size and strength to be a strong defender inside against some of the league's bigger post players."
Returning Letterwinners
"I know we have four starters back, but we may operate more 'by committee' this year," comments Sundquist. "Truthfully, we've got seven or eight people who could start on any given night, and I've told them all that. As has often been said, what may be more important than who starts is who is in there at the end, and it could be a lot of them."
Nate Mansfield (6-0, Jr., Beaverton, Ore. / Westview HS), an academic senior, is a versatile player who can handle either point or wing. He averaged 2.1 points and 1.4 assists in a reserve role last year after sitting out the two previous seasons. "Nate is a vocal leader on this team, but also a leader by example," says Sundquist. "He is a hard worker on the defensive end and has improved as an offensive player as well."
Chris Parker (Jr., 6-6, Aloha, Ore. / Aloha HS) supplied some key backup minutes last year, averaging 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting .529 from the field and .827 from the line. "Chris added about 15 pounds to his frame with a strength and conditioning program during the off-season and has come back stronger and quicker," points out Sundquist. "He gave us some great sparks off the bench last year, both offensively and defensively, and we look for even more of that this season."
Sundquist expects Brent Satern (5-10, So., Silverton, Ore. / Silverton HS) to eventually become "as good a point guard as there is in this conference. He has come back stronger, faster, and more confident than ever. He is a selfless player who loves getting the ball to his teammates, but we also need for him to be more 'selfish' sometimes and remember to look for his shot." Satern played more minutes off the bench than any other Bruin last year, averaging 4.0 points and 2.6 assists per outing.
Depending on his health, Brady Strutz (6-4, So., Oregon City, Ore. / Oregon City HS) will also see significant playing time. After averaging 2.0 points and 1.6 rebounds a game in limited time as a freshman, he underwent knee surgery in the off-season and is working hard to rehab the knee. "If he ever gets 100% healthy, Brady is going to be a great player for us," says Sundquist hopefully. "We need him on the floor as much as he can be. He is perhaps our most athletic player and can handle any of four positions."
Also coming off a season plagued by injury is Matt Noble (6-6, So., Albany, Ore. / West Albany HS), who played only two minutes in one game before back problems sidelined him for the season. "If his back is healthy, he will contribute both size and depth," says Sundquist.
Mark Metzler (6-3, So., Brookings, Ore. / Brookings-Harbor HS) could be this year's "sleeper", according to Sundquist, who calls him "a very good shooter and solid wing who only needs confidence, and that will come with playing time." He averaged 0.7 points a game in seven contests last year.
Twin brothers Andrew Martin and Taylor Martin (6-3, So., Silverton, Ore. / Silverton HS) will fight for playing time at the wings. "They are true team players who enjoy the game and bring us some good enthusiasm," comments Sundquist. Andrew averaged 1.7 and Taylor 0.3 points a game last season.
Newcomers
Providing depth for the Bruins are three young but talented performers: post Brandon Guerrero (6-7, Fr., Simi Valley, Calif. / Royal HS), wing McCall Wollman (6-2, Fr., San Diego, Calif. / Point Loma HS), and point guard Joe Ahn (5-11, Fr., Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS). Sundquist predicts bright futures for all three.
"Brandon is going to be a good post player for us with his size and strength," says Sundquist. "Experience is all he really needs. McColl is a true scorer; he can shoot from anywhere and will see increased playing time as he improves defensively. Joe is a combination guard, solid and extremely quick."
Summary
"If we are to be successful again, it will start with the leadership from our seniors - and that has been outstanding in all aspects of the game, on and off the court," says Sundquist. "All four know how to win and have done an exceptional job in communicating what our expectations are to our younger players. This is a very tight-knit, close group of guys who work well together.
If the coach has any concerns, it will be on the boards, admitting that the loss of Gayman may make his team a little smaller. "We could move Heu-Weller down to the four position, with Melvin shifting to a wing and Satern at the point, for example," suggests Sundquist. "We'd be quicker, but would need for Heu-Weller and Melvin to really crash the boards. I like our perimeter game, but everyone knows how well our guards, Schmick and Heu-Weller especially, shoot from the outside, so Szalay on the inside will be critical for us."
Schedule
The Bruins get the 2005-06 season under way Saturday with a non-conference home game against NAIA opponent Northwest University from Kirkland, Wash. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Wheeler Sports Center's Miller Gym on the Newberg campus. After a road game at Corban College on Nov. 22, the Bruins have five straight home games, including two Northwest Conference games on Dec. 2-3 vs. Whitworth and Whitman.
Conference games have been scheduled before the holidays because the NWC has returned to a three-team conference tournament at the end of the season. The tournament winner will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. An expanded national tournament will result in regional playoffs to begin post-season play, instead of first and second-round home single games, and will also greatly enhance the potential for the NWC to get a second team into the tournament.