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Notebook

Greg Chandler's
Great Lakes Notebook
Posted Nov. 19, 1999

Great Lakes Preview
By Greg Chandler
D3hoops.com

The Great Lakes region has produced some of the most exciting basketball in Division III over the past several years, and the 1999-2000 season figures to produce more of the same, with exciting races expected in the region's three major conferences.

The North Coast Athletic Conference race could have its own Web site. The top three teams in both the preseason coaches and media poll begin with the letter "W" - traditional powers Wooster and Wittenberg, joined by Wabash, one of two new members of the NCAC this year (Hiram is the other).

Last season, Wooster was the league's most dominant team, finishing 17-1 in league play and taking both the NCAC regular season and tournament titles. The Fighting Scots reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in finishing the year at 25-4. Conference player of the year Ryan Gorman has graduated, but the cupboard is not bare for Coach Steve Moore. First-team all-conference forward John Ellenwood (13.4 ppg/7.0 rpg) heads the cast of returning players for Wooster. Also back are junior swingman Steve Thompson (9.5 ppg), who can light it up from outside, hitting 41.7% of his 3-point tries a year ago, and sophomore point guard Antwyan Reynolds, who excelled at the point as a freshman.

What would an NCAC race be without Wittenberg as a factor? The Tigers should be solid again this season. Two all-conference performers are back for Coach Bill Brown -- junior wingman Ryan Taylor (16.9 ppg/5.3 rpg), a first-team selection, and senior guard Jon Stafford (14.1 ppg). Also back in the fold for Witt is senior guard Lou Stahl, an outstanding 3-point shooter who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

Wabash College moves over to the NCAC from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, where it finished fourth a year ago with an overall record of 17-9. The Little Giants have plenty of firepower, led by senior guard Josh Estelle, one of Division III's top scorers a year ago at 23.7 points per game. The 6-2 guard has already hit 223 3-pointers during his career, and with 1,380 career points, he has a chance to surpass Wabash legend and former NFL tight end Pete Metzelaars (1,973 points) as the Little Giants' all-time scoring leader. Wabash also boasts rugged senior forward Brian Latham (13.9 ppg/9.1 rpg), who shot nearly 60% from the field a year ago.

Allegheny has been rock solid the last several years, posting a 19-9 mark last season and finishing in a tie for second with Wittenberg. The Gators will be led by senior guard Jake Delsandro, a first-team All-NCAC selection last season. Delsandro averaged 12.8 points and 4.5 assists a game for Allegh.

Earlham was perhaps the NCAC's surprise team last year, posting a 7-9 record in league play. The Quakers return four junior starters for second-year coach Jeff Justus, led by forward Jon Hathaway (10.7 ppg/5.8 rpg), an honorable mention all-conference pick, and junior guard Kyle Ellsworth (11.8 ppg), who was third in the league in 3-point shooting.

At Kenyon, Jamie Harless takes over as head coach at the school where he starred in the early-to-mid-90s. The Lords (3-13, 5-20) haven't had a winning season since Harless graduated in 1995. Chad Plotke (13.1 ppg), who excelled as a freshman, returns to led to the Kenyon attack.

After posting 36 victories the previous two seasons, Denison slumped to 9-16 (5-11 NCAC) a year ago. The Big Red also graduated conference scoring leader Jason Rusnak (18.4 ppg), and Denison does not have any returning players who averaged in double figures a year ago.

Will Oberlin win more than one game this season? The Yeomen (1-15, 1-23) will be led by junior guard Maurice Elrod (12.0 ppg) and junior center Zeljko Petrovic (10.7). However, of the nine players on Oberlin's preseason roster, five are freshmen. Ouch.

OAC
The Polar Bears of Ohio Northern look loaded again this season as it seeks to defend its conference regular season and tournament championships. Senior guard Jeremy Thompson, the OAC's Player of the Year in 1998, leads a list of 10 returning players. Thompson averaged 18.3 points per game a year ago. He'll have plenty of help from senior forward Mike Kluse (10.8 ppg/8.5 rpg), who was third in the league in rebounding last season, and senior center Scott Unverferth (12.9 ppg/5.5 rpg)..

John Carroll finished second in the OAC last year, but knocked off Ohio Northern to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament a year ago. The Blue Streaks return three starters from last year's 23-7 squad. Senior point guard Luke Dautovic (8.9 ppg/4.3 apg) runs the show for JCU, and Larry Holmes (9.6 ppg/7.3 rpg) is tough on the boards.

At Otterbein, senior center Jason Dutcher and junior forward Scott Elliott lead the list of returnees for a Cardinal team that went 21-8 last season. Dutcher averaged 11.9 points and 6.3 boards a game, while Elliott scored 12.2 a game. Sophomore Jeff Gibbs, who shot 61% from the field a year ago to lead the OAC, is also back.

The Crusaders of Capital have high hopes for this season, with 10 letterwinners back from last year's squad. Senior sharpshooter Brad Howe (15.0 ppg/73 3-pointers/84% FT) will be counted on to lead the way.

Only one starter returns for Baldwin-Wallace. The Yellow Jackets, who were .500 in both league and overall play last year (9-9, 13-13), return junior point guard Jason Schefft, who averaged 16.7 points a game, hit 66 3-pointers and sank 88% of his free throws.

The Muskies of Muskingum bring back three starters from last year's 15-11 team (8-10 OAC). Junior forward Scott Lamonica (10.7 ppg) and senior point guard Chester Mullet (9.0 ppg/5.1 apg) are expected to provide the leadership.

Heidelberg (8-10, 11-14) needs a big year from senior wingman Nate Walters if it is to be a factor. Walters shot 47% from 3-point land and averaged 13 points per game for the Student Princes.

Marietta (7-11, 11-14) boasted the OAC's most exciting freshman last season in 6-6 forward Jesse DuPerow. He averaged 12.8 points per game and led the conference in rebounding at 9.8 boards a contest. He'll be counted on again this year to help boost the Pioneers' fortunes, along with senior guard Brent Cahill (11.8 ppg/3.8 apg).

Mount Union returns six letterwinners, including two starters, from a team that brought up the rear in the OAC last year (4-14, 10-16). Junior post man Josh Timmons, who averaged 13.6 points per game in the 97-98 season, is back for the Purple Raiders after missing all of last year with a knee injury. Forward Ron Powers (9.0 ppg), who impressed as a freshman, is also back as Mount Union tried to climb back into contention.

MIAA
Last year, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association had perhaps its most competitive race in the league's history. How competitive was it?

With two weeks left in the regular season, six of the league's eight teams still had a mathematical shot at first place.

Calvin and Hope, the league's regular season co-champions, weren't around for the championship game of the league tournament.

Adrian, which finished last in the MIAA, scored its only two league wins against both co-champs -- one against Calvin and one on the road at Hope.

This year's race figures to be just as exciting, with at least four teams entertaining serious thoughts of a run for the top.

The Knights of Calvin College have been installed as the MIAA's preseason favorite, and a big reason is the return of conference MVP Aaron Winkle. The 6-6 swingman led the conference in scoring last year, averaging 19.1 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. Winkle will need help, and if sophomore center Josh Tubergen can stay healthy, the Knights' front line could be as good as any in the region. A big concern for Calvin is at point guard, with sophomore Jon Potvin and highly-touted freshman Bryan Foltice expected to see action.

The Yellowjackets of Defiance made quite a splash in their first full season of competition in the MIAA, upsetting Calvin in the semifinals of the conference tournament and defeating Albion to win the tournament. Defiance, which will leave the MIAA for the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference at season's end, could cause plenty of more damage this season, as it returns nearly every player from last season. Rugged senior center Chad Kahle (17.1 ppg/9.6 rpg), the conference's rebounding leader a year ago, is a legitimate MVP candidate. His supporting cast includes Eric Viney, who averaged nearly 14 points a game as a freshman and guards Seth Newlove (13.1 ppg) and Kris Hinchcliff (45% from 3-point land).

At one point last season, Hope College was tied for fifth place in the MIAA at 3-4 in the conference and 7-10 overall. Then the Flying Dutchmen ripped off eight straight wins to catch Calvin for a share of the conference title, Hope's fifth in a row. Junior swingman Ryan Klingler (16.2 ppg/67 3-pointers/61 steals) and junior guard Craig Veldman (12.2 ppg), both all-conference picks a year ago, are back for Coach Glenn Van Wieren. Senior Mark Bray (3.7 apg) will be counted on for experience at the point guard slot.

Albion has advanced to the championship game of the MIAA tournament each of the last two years. Coach Mike Turner will have a veteran unit back, led by first-team all-conference forward Tim Czarnecki (11.8 ppg) and senior center Dave Conger (11.4 ppg). Czarnecki shot 64% from the field last season to lead all MIAA players If the Britons get solid play in the backcourt, they will be in the hunt.

It's been more than 20 years since Alma has had a winning season in the MIAA, but hopes are high that the Scots will break that streak this year. Coach Steve Skaggs returns senior sharpshooter Seth Stapleton (16.1 ppg), who ranked in the top 10 nationally in 3-point shooting (9th, 49.6%) and free throw shooting (5th, 90.1%) and senior center Jeremy Hyler (12.9 ppg/9.3 rpg), who was second in the league in rebounding.

Kalamazoo lost most of its starting cast to graduation, but senior shooting guard Brad Phillips, who averaged over 17 points a game and shot 50% from the field last year, comes back to lead the Hornets. Coach Joe Haklin must rebuild a tough front line that made it difficult for opponents to score inside.

Olivet posted one of the biggest turnaround seasons in all of Division III last year, going from 5-21 to 15-10. However, Coach Steve Hettinga faces a major rebuilding job, having to replace high-scoring forward Jeff Bell and guard Antonio Robinson. Center Bruce Lawrence and lightning quick guard Ajamian Gardner are expected to play key roles for the Comets.

Even as a last-place team last year, Adrian caused fits for the rest of the MIAA, beating both Calvin and Hope, the latter an overtime shocker on the road. Coach Buck Riley will look to his son Scott (17.0 ppg/94 3-pointers) to lead the Bulldogs back to respectability. Senior Jason Cousinard runs the point and sophomore Chris Howard (10.4 ppg/5.8 rpg) is an emerging threat up front.

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