@MarianUHoops BASKETBALL NOTES
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GAME 18: EDGEWOOD
2013-14 Season Preview
ew teams have the luxury of returning all five starters and fewer teams
can say they have five seniors, who are proven contributors. Head
Coach Mark Boyle has both as he prepares for what hopes to be a
successful and exciting season at the helm of the Marian University men’s
basketball program.
Entering his 26th season, Boyle is the longest-tenured coach in the
state of Wisconsin and believes this year may be the first time he returns
all five starters to his lineup.
The Sabres, who finished 15-11 in 2012-13, including a 10-6 mark in
the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, had the fifth-best record in
the league, but were reduced to the eighth seed in the tournament due
to seeding rules amidst the two divisions. Marian then fell to top-seeded
Lakeland on the road in a disappointing finish to an otherwise successful
season.
“They know each other and they know what it takes to win,” Boyle said
of his experienced squad. “We want to secure a tournament home game
and, if things fall into place, this team could even be capable of being in the
race for the regular season title.”
For the first time since its inception in 2006, the NACC will introduce a
new scheduling format that
features a 20-game league
schedule with all 11 teams
playing each other twice
under one division, followed
by an eight-team postseason
tournament.
Looking to guide this
senior laden squad is guard
Sam Koslowski (Neenah,
Wis./St. Mary’s Central),
who has emerged as the
team’s guiding voice after
averaging in double figures
and starting all 26 games for
the Sabres a year ago.
“[Sam’s] competitive
nature and understanding
of the game has earned the
respect of his teammates
as the leader of this team,”
Boyle stated.
Senior Cody Veleke currently ranks 17th on the
Alongside
him
is
Marian all-time scoring list.
fellow senior Cody Veleke
(Oakfield, Wis./Oakfield), who led the Sabres in scoring, rebounding,
blocks, steals and field goal percentage, earned All-Conference accolades
for the second straight season, including All-NACC First Team honors in
2012-13.
“Cody has proven to be one of the top post players in the conference
with his solid and consistent play,” Boyle said.
As for Boyle’s guard play, it’s as stable and consistent as any team
in the conference with sophomores Alex Stecker (Oostburg, Wis./
Oostburg) and Drew Binversie (Valders, Wis./Valders) returning after
receiving All-Freshmen Team nods a season ago. It was the first time in
program history that the Sabres had put two on the All-Freshmen Team.
Stecker led the team in assists (99), as well as, free throw percentage
(90.7) and three-point percentage (45.6) after starting all 26 games as the
team’s point guard.
“Alex gets our offense going,” Boyle said. “He has high basketball
intelligence and we expect him to be the floor general and trigger the
offense.”
Binversie proved early on that he deserved a starting role and went on
to register 10 double-digit scoring performances including three 20-pluspoint games.
“Drew has shown to be a real playmaker,” Boyle said. “He had a major
impact in a lot of games last season, which is rare for a freshman. He can
have an effect in the outcome of a game in a number of ways.”
Junior forward Mike Keller (Oostburg, Wis./Oostburg) is what Coach
Boyle calls the team’s “X-Factor”. Keller was Freshman of the Year in the
NACC two years ago and has showed no signs of slowing down.
“He helps bring us together as a unit through communication and the
willingness to do the little things,” Boyle said. “He’s added a dimension to
his game this season that will force defenses to stay honest.”
What makes this team dangerous is the depth off their bench as the
Sabres feature three seniors ready to carry the load in Elan Solvik (Port
Townsend, Wash./Port Townsend), Jeff Harris (Chicago, Ill./Richards)
and James Bartelt (Madison, Wis./East). Solvik showed last year his
ability to run the point, while providing a change of pace that will give
defenses a different look.
Harris and Bartelt are both a year removed from competitive basketball,
but seem to have picked up right where they left off in 2012. The former will
add a much-needed scoring threat off the bench, while the latter looks to
provide consistency in the post.
“To have Jeff back, knowing what he’s shown to be capable of as a
scoring threat and experienced guard, could be similar to having an ace
in the hole,” Boyle said. “James has been a pleasant surprise, improving
despite missing all of last year due to injury.”
Other returners in the mix will be three-point specialist Brad Koth
(Butte des Morts, Wis./Winneconne) and the high-energy Alex Gomez
(Belvidere, Ill./North), as well as, Dickie Knar (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein)
and Carvell Oliver (Manitowoc, Wis./Lincoln).
Boyle’s staff has brought in six newcomers looking to make a name for
themselves.
“I’m really pleased with the ability of our new guys, the amount of
information they have absorbed already, and the kind of attitude and effort
they provide at practice every day,” Boyle said. “As a group, it’s obvious
they are making a sincere effort and have earned the respect of their
teammates through hard work.”
Two that should m Z