@MarianUHoops BASKETBALL NOTES
F
GAMES 9-10: EDGEWOOD/CONCORDIA CHI.
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 make an immediate impact for the Sabres will be Josh
Creed (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) and Montrell Hobbs (Milwaukee,
Wis./Rufus King), who have shown athleticism and the ability to understand
how the offense is run at an early stage.
Also vying for minutes will be Carlyle Howard (Chicago, Ill./
Rich Central), Brandon McCullum (Joliet, Ill/West), Josh Oros
(Montgomery, Ill./Oswego) and Brant Nickel (Waupun, Wis./Waupun).
As is the case with Boyle-coached teams, the non-conference
schedule is going to be a challenging one that prepares the team for
league play and this year is no different.
“I like our non-conference schedule a lot,” Boyle said. “We’ll face
teams that will challenge us and prepare us in a number of ways.”
The Sabres begin the year Nov. 16, with a home game against Martin
Luther, a team they battled to a double-overtime victory on the road a
season ago. Three challenges then await the Sabres away from home
with a rivalry game at Ripon (Nov. 20) followed by a match-up with Luther
(Nov. 22) to open up the Bethel tournament in Minnesota. The Sabres will
then take on either UW-Eau Claire or host Bethel in the tournament finale
(Nov. 23).
Dominican will invade Sadoff Gymnasium Nov. 30, which will kick-off a
demanding, 20-game league schedule.
“It’s going to be tough,” Boyle said. “The rigor of playing everyone
twice brings up the level of competition and teams are really going to
have to outlast one another to win the league. It will surely be a test of
endurance.”
Marian University Athletic Communications • Sadoff Gymnasium • 45 S. National Ave. • Fond du Lac, WI • 54935
@MarianUHoops BASKETBALL NOTES
GAMES 9-10: EDGEWOOD/CONCORDIA CHI.
2013-14 Marian Men's Basketball
Marian University Combined Team Statistics (as of Dec 10, 2013)
All games
RECORD:
ALL GAMES
CONFERENCE
NON-CONFERENCE
OVERALL
5-3
4-0
1-3
Total
##
Player
gp-gs
14 Koslowski, Sam
8-8
8-8
8-8
8-8
8-0
8-0
8-0
3-0
7-0
8-8
8-0
6-0
4-0
1-0
20 Solvik, Elan
23 Binversie, Drew
25 Harris, Jeff
40 Hobbs, Montrell
24 Koth, Brad
10 McCullum, Brandon
32 Creed, Josh
03 Keller, Mike
31 Bartelt, James
12 Gomez, Alex
04 Oliver, Carvell
42 Knar, Dickie
Team
Total..........
Opponents......
221
237
201
215
155
130
104
18
79
164
41
39
16
5
8
8
15 Veleke, Cody
1625
TEAM STATISTICS
SCORING
Points per game
Scoring margin
FIELD GOALS-ATT
Field goal pct
3 POINT FG-ATT
3-point FG pct
3-pt FG made per game
FREE THROWS-ATT
Free throw pct
F-Throws made per game
REBOUNDS
Rebounds per game
Rebounding margin
ASSISTS
Assists per game
TURNOVERS
Turnovers per game
Turnover margin
Assist/turnover ratio
STEALS
Steals per game
BLOCKS
Blocks per game
ATTENDANCE
Home games-Avg/Game
Neutral site-Avg/Game
Score by Periods
Marian University
Opponents
min avg fg-fga
1st 2nd
259 310
257 299
27.6
29.6
25.1
26.9
19.4
16.3
13.0
6.0
11.3
20.5
5.1
6.5
4.0
5.0
1625
MU
587
73.4
+1.9
215-485
.443
38-137
.277
4.8
119-182
.654
14.9
313
39.1
+6.1
105
13.1
103
12.9
+0.6
1.0
56
7.0
25
3.1
816
3-272
OT
18
16
43-86
53-98
23-46
26-68
26-62
17-35
9-30
2-7
7-15
5-22
2-7
1-5
1-4
0-0
HOME
3-0
2-0
1-0
3-Point
fg% 3fg-fga
.500 13-35
.541 5-10
.500 3-11
.382 3-19
.419 7-31
.486 0-2
.300 7-21
.286 0-3
.467 0-0
.227 0-2
.286 0-0
.200 0-2
.250 0-1
.000 0-0
215-485 .443 38-137
195-436 .447 51-128
OPP
572
71.5
195-436
.447
51-128
.398
6.4
131-201
.652
16.4
264
33.0
93
11.6
108
13.5
0.9
48
6.0
14
1.8
1045
3-266
2-124
AWAY
2-1
2-0
0-1
F-Throw
3fg%
.371
.500
.273
.158
.226
.000
.333
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
.000
ft-fta
Rebounds
ft%
Date
11/16/13
11/20/13
11/22/13
11/23/13
11/30/13
12/03/13
12/05/13
12/07/13
.886
.567
.659
.615
.700
.750
.000
.429
.167
.625
.000
.500
.000
.000
off
def
tot avg
9 25 34
21 28 49
4 42 46
15 24 39
5 20 25
13 24 37
1
6
7
3
2
5
8
7 15
11 11 22
2
3
5
4
1
5
1
4
5
0
0
0
11
8 19
.277 119-182 .654 108 205 313
.398 131-201 .652 68 196 264
#
#
*
*
*
*
31-35
17-30
29-44
16-26
7-10
9-12
0-2
3-7
1-6
5-8
0-0
1-2
0-0
0-0
NEUTRAL
0-2
0-0
0-2
4.3
6.1
5.8
4.9
3.1
4.6
0.9
1.7
2.1
2.8
0.6
0.8
1.3
0.0
pf dq
16
19
15
24
21
11
13
3
14
23
4
2
0
3
39.1 168
33.0 162
Opponent
MARTIN LUTHER
at Ripon College
vs Luther College
vs UW-Eau Claire
DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY
MSOE
at Wisconsin Lutheran
at Rockford University
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
a
17
14
15
21
6
5
7
0
6
11
0
1
2
0
to blk stl
pts
avg
9 130
4 128
9 78
5 71
6 66
3 43
8 25
2
7
2 15
7 15
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
0
16.3
16.0
9.8
8.9
8.3
5.4
3.1
2.3
2.1
1.9
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.0
2 105 103 25 56 587
- 93 108 14 48 572
73.4
71.5
W
L
L
L
W
W
Wot
W
18 0
14 17
13 0
14 0
15 1
4 1
8 1
1 0
1 3
6 1
5 1
1 0
1 0
2 0
Score
79-70
65-82
69-71
79-81
71-63
62-53
84-82
78-70
* = Conference game
# = Bethel Tournament (Arden Hills, Minn.)
Totals
587
572
Marian University Athletic Communications • Sadoff Gymnasium • 45 S. National Ave. • Fond du Lac, WI • 54935
Att.
327
305
133
114
117
372
209
284