MARIAN MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTES
GAMES 2-4: RIPON/BETHEL TOURNEY
COMING BACK FOR MORE
The Sabres feature 12 returners from their 2012-13 squad
that finished 15-11 overall, 10-6 in the NACC, which was good
enough for the fifth-best league mark. Five seniors highlight
the slew of returners, including captains Sam Koslowski
and 2012-13 First Team selection Cody Veleke.
The entire projected starting lineup remains intact with
a mix of youth and veteran leadership. Sophomores Alex
Stecker and Drew Binversie made immediate impacts as
freshmen last season, while junior Mike Keller is coming
off his second straight season as a defensive backbone in
the starting lineup for the Sabres.
Three seniors in James Bartelt, Jeff Harris and Elan
Solvik will lead a talented bench that could emerge as one
of the deepest in the NACC.
A PROGRAM FIRST
For the first time in school history, Marian had the opportunity
to compete against an NCAA Division I institution in UWMilwaukee in an exhibition contest back on Oct. 31.
The game took place at the Panthers’ home arena, the U.S.
Cellular Arena in downtown Milwaukee. The Sabres led for
the first 10 minutes of the game before the Panthers imposed
their will with un-matched size and athleticism en route to an
80-52 victory.
Other Notable Division I vs. non-Division I match-ups that
took place:
• UW-Platteville men take on UW-Madison, Oct. 30.
• NAIA’s Viterbo men travel to UW-Green Bay, Nov. 3.
• Rockford men play Northern Illinois, Nov. 2.
• Wis. Lutheran’s women face UW-Milwaukee, Nov. 3.
• Division II Winona State take on UW-Madison, Nov. 3
• UW-Stevens Point women visit UW-Madison, Nov. 7.
SCHEDULE
The 2013-14 schedule will be as challenging as ever with
four of Marian’s five non-conference games taking place on
the road. Following a season opening home match-up with
Martin Luther, which Marian needed double-overtime to get
past a season ago, the final four non-league bouts will be
played away from the friendly confines of Sadoff Gymnasium.
The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference has altered
its format, getting away from two divisions to a single division
format that features 22 conference games, which is six more
than last season. All 12 teams will play each other twice
followed by a six-team league tournament slated to begin
the final week in February.
Marian University Athletic Communications • Sadoff Gymnasium • 45 S. National Ave. • Fond du Lac, WI • 54935
MARIAN MEN’S BASKETBALL NOTES
F
GAMES 2-4: RIPON/BETHEL TOURNEY
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.”
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