Fri Sep 10 2010
NEW CONCORD -- After losing nearly 73 percent of the scoring average of 69.6 points per game and 63 percent of a rebounding average of 31.1 per outing to graduation, Muskingum University third-year head coach Gene Ford faces a rebuilding project this year.
Lost to graduation were Cambridge products Tyler Felt (12.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg), and Pat Byrne (11.4 ppg and 4.8 rpg) as well as Trevor Scott (17.8 ppg and 4 rpg), Andrew Chonko (5 ppg and 2.7 rpg), Zach Olson (3.6 ppg and 1.7 rpg) and Nick Woodruff.
Ford, who is assisted by Dave Kirby, returns five lettermen including two who were at least part-time starters from last year's squad that finished 14-13 overall and 10-8 in the OAC, good for fifth place in the conference standings.
"We do not have a lot of experience coming back," Ford admitted. "We need varsity game experience badly. We will have to have some people who haven't played varsity before step up and there will be a lot of opportunities."
Lettermen returning include senior forward Nick Hershberger (6-5, New Philadelphia-Tusky Central Catholic), senior forward Cory Bourquin (6-1, Canton-South), senior guard Colin Bass (6-0, New Concord-John Glenn) and sophomore forwards Josh Brindley (6-3, Uhrichsville-Claymont) and Kyle Clinedinst (6-3, Mt. Vernon). Hershberger and Bourquin were starters at times last season.
"Bourquin and Hershberger should score for us," Ford stated. "Bass came off the bench a lot for us last year. Brindley and Clinedinst, although not getting a lot of playing time last year, practiced against some pretty good players and we are hoping that pays off for us."
Compounding the problem is a lack of height, with the tallest player listed on the roster is junior Wade Litt (Lancaster-Fairfield Union), who has not played basketball since high school. There are a pair of 6-6 players in junior Willie Walker (Miami-Northwest Christian Academy) and freshman Seth Howard (New London), also a quarterback on the junior varsity football squad.
"Probably our biggest area of concern is size," Ford pointed out. "Several of our players will have to play bigger than what they are. We will have to play different people in the post and that will be an issue for us. Defending the inside game becomes a real factor.
"We are going to have to pressure more on defense and use our defense and the foul line to score," he added. "Our bigger kids, other than Hershberger, are not real bruisers but they will fight you. We are going to be more of a finesse team rather than one that forces the ball inside and we have to play sharp. There is no room for error."
Others who are expected to get playing time include junior Logan Scott (6-0, G, Loudonville) along with sophomores Carson Thomas (5-10, G, Cardington-Lincoln), George Williams (5-8, G, Youngstown-Ursiline), Chris Forte (6-0, G, Pickerington-Central), Hunter Borland (6-1, F, Carrollton), J.J. Armstrong (6-1, G, New Albany), Brandon Paris (6-2, G, Cleveland-Horizon Science Academy) and Kenny Pease (6-3, F, Rittman). Freshman guard Eli Morris (6-1, Milford Center-Fairbanks) could work into the mix later in the season.
"We are going to play eight-to-10 people," Ford pointed out. "This group has good quickness and we will hopefully be more up-tempo both on offense and defense. We will have to stretch the floor and be more aggressive full court to utilize our quickness and compensate for the lack of size.
"We have a number of players that can shoot the ball well," he added. "They can shoot when they have the open shot, but we are not good at taking someone off the dribble and shooting. We will have to work to get open shots and create some things for people."
One might assume that the experienced players returning will make up the starting rotation, but Ford cautions that may not be the case.
"We have to have somebody come off the bench that can be a solid contributor," he said. "This is a group of hard workers that play hard and together. This group will compete and that is all I can ask for."
Other freshmen joining Howard and Morris on the roster include Garrett Blue (6-5, F, Danville), Shaquoi Duncan (6-0, G, Cleveland-Horizon Science Academy), Daniel Freeman (5-10, G, Cleveland-Central Catholic), Logan Hesterberg (5-10, G, West Chester-Lakota East), Jared Kreitzer (6-4, F, West Lafayette-Ridgewood), Eastin Lewellen (6-1, G, Zanesville-Maysville), Tony Meyer (5-8, G, West Chester-Lakota East) and Matt Oldham (6-3, F, Hamilton-Ross).
In the pre-season OAC coaches poll, the Muskies were tabbed to finish 10th. John Carroll, which has 11 players back from last year, was picked as the team to beat, with Wilmington picked second while Capital and Ohio Northern tied for third.
"Being picked 10th challenges our kids more than anything," Ford stated. "It certainly serves as an incentive and that is not where they think they will finish."
The schedule has changed somewhat from last year when the Muskies traveled to several tournaments and played some top-rated teams with 18 games on the road and only nine at home. This year, the Muskies have 11 home dates and new opponents included Bethany, Kenyon and Hiram, all on the road in November. The Muskies also faced Mount Saint Joseph and Spalding University (Louisville, Ky.) in the Mount Saint Joseph Tournament, Ky.
Muskingum (3-2) tips off the OAC and home schedule Dec. 2 hosting Wilmington College.
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