collegehoopsnet top 144

[Class of '83]

Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix

Overall Rank: #132
Conference Rank: #3 Horizon
2005-06: 15-16, 8-8, 3rd (t)
2005-06 postseason: none

Last season was expected to be a small rebuilding year for Wisconsin Green Bay. And it was a pleasant surprise for the Phoenix when a rebuilding year turned into a reloading year. With only one departure and a group of newcomers that can compete for minutes, Tod Kowalczyk’s squad is deep and ready to make a run in the Horizon. A huge group of second year players in the program have had a year of adjustment time and expectations are rightfully high on the shores of Lake Michigan. Forwards Mike Schachtner and Ryan Tillema started at least 30 games as freshmen and their development will be a big key as to whether or not the Phoenix can make an NCAA run.

Who’s Out: Simon Farine has opted to transfer after one season in Green Bay. The guard averaged 8.9 minutes in 27 contests and leaves the backcourt depth a little slim.

Who’s In: Yet, that depth will be taken over by a couple of newcomers. Troy Cotton is a flat out shooter. He can move without the ball and find the open shot without much of a problem. Combo guard Chase Sukut can fill in minutes at both guard spots. A coach’s son, he spent some time at Sheridan Community College in Wyoming before heading east. Sukut can shoot and handle the ball and has the ability to do whatever is needed at UWGB. Redshirt freshmen Randy Berry won’t put up big numbers, but the 6-9 forward can do the dirty work on the glass and on the defensive end.

Who to Watch: Ryan Evanochko has developed into a solid floor leader. If he can continue to improve for his senior season, the Phoenix will be in good hands. Last season the 6-2 point guard averaged 15.8 points and 5.2 assists. UWGB could go 13 deep quite easily this season, but it probably won’t reduce the minutes of Evanochko very much. Evanochko averaged 36.5 minutes per game last season and tiring down the stretch is a concern. If newcomer Sukut can fill some of those minutes, it would go a long way for allowing the team to make a late run. Fellow backcourt upperclassman Ryan Werch is a decent shooter, but tends to turn the ball over too much. He will battle for minutes at the two, but a turnaround season for Werch would mean the Phoenix would have an experienced shooting guard on the floor. In the frontcourt, keep an eye on Josh Lawrence. He had a slow start last season, but the senior took great strides in his scoring and overall play as the season progressed. Another step up like that and the 6-7 Ashton, Illinois product could be an all-conference caliber player.

Final Projection: UWGB is a little frontcourt heavy. It worked out alright last year, but the three ball wasn’t a major threat from anybody. This year forwards like Aswan Minatee, Schachtner, Tillema, Lawrence and Evans should see fewer minutes as newcomers Cotton, Sukut and sophomore Cordero Barkley fill the long range shooting role and knock a forward to the bench. Barkley was forced into action as a freshman due to that lack of perimeter depth. The playing time has helped and he should be ready to contribute more this season. A 3rd place finish would be disappointing for this squad, but the Horizon League will be extremely competitive this year with the decline of Wisconsin Milwaukee and the stronger squads sported by most other teams. A surprise or two from the newcomers and roleplayers is the difference between a first place finish and a third place finish. By the time the season starts the Packers should be 2-6 and the whole city should be wearing green, white and a touch of red, instead of the #4 jersey.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Ryan Evanochko, Senior, Guard, 15.8 points per game
Terry Evans, Junior, Guard, 7.8 points per game
Josh Lawrence, Senior, Forward, 9.2 points per game
Mike Schachtner, Sophomore, Forward, 10.3 points per game
Ryan Tillema, Sophomore, Forward, 8.7 points per game

www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/132.htm

[Raiderfan]

Along with Loyola & WSU I see UWGB as one of the contenders for the HL. They have a solid team with depth. I really like their coach. In a short period of time he has them going in the right direction.

[Retired Coach]

It is interesting that they are predicting Green Bay will finish third in the league next year. I would have predicted Loyola finishes first and Green Bay finishes second. We'll have to wait and see if they think Wright State is in their top 2.

[Fastbreak]

They most likely have Loyola #1 and either Detroit or Wright State #2.

[RM]

It is not right but since UWM went to the Sweet 16 then final 32 the past two years, they will be ranked.

[Fastbreak]

RM said:

It is not right but since UWM went to the Sweet 16 then final 32 the past two years, they will be ranked.

I doubt it. This guy goes off of stats when making his predictions and UWM lost 7 seniors. Their top returning player averaged 4.7 points last year.

[Wolf]

Posted July 2, 2006

Men's basketball: Building UWGB into a winner, one month at a time

By Rob Demovsky
[e-mail]
When last anyone saw the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball team, it was March 4.

Its players and coaches were walking slowly off the court at U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee, their heads down, shoulders slumped, and disappointment over a season-ending loss to Butler in the Horizon League tournament written all over their faces.

If you think the Phoenix spent the last four months sulking over its first losing season since 2002-03, you couldn't be more wrong.

With every one of its key players returning from last year's 15-16 team that finished in a five-way tie for third place in the Horizon League, coach Tod Kowalczyk planned an offseason program designed to turn UWGB into the championship-caliber team.

Most people are expecting that, considering the Phoenix will boast a pair of senior starters — guard Ryan Evanochko and forward Josh Lawrence — and last year's freshman class of Cordero Barkley, Terry Evans, Mike Schachtner and Ryan Tillema gained valuable experience in 2005-06.

There seems little doubt the Phoenix will be picked among the top two or three teams in the conference's preseason poll for the first time in Kowalczyk's five seasons.

"I asked the players today, I said, 'I know what the media's expectations are and the community's expectations and my expectations, but what are yours?'" Kowalczyk said last week. "They told me it was to win a championship. So I said, 'Then I'm going to coach you that way, so don't be offended when I push you.'"

March

The 73-51 loss to Butler ended what was a rebuilding season for the Phoenix. Kowalczyk knew his young team, which was the fourth-youngest squad in the country, needed a break. UWGB grinded its way to an 8-8 finish in the Horizon League and won all tiebreakers in an unprecedented logjam for third place.

Kowalczyk had specific offseason goals in mind, but first, he let his players get away from basketball while he and his staff finished their player-by-player evaluations, and strength and conditioning coach Rudy Wade tweaked the workout plan.

"After (the Butler) game, they had one week to do nothing," Kowalczyk said. "Then after that one week, they started to lift and do some individual shooting, but we didn't do anything else until the week of the Final Four. So they had like three weeks of not doing basketball-related stuff. I just thought they needed to get away from it."

That all changed when the players returned from spring break on Monday, March 27.

April

NCAA rules allow coaches to work with their teams for up to eight hours per week during the offseason. Gone is the rule that limited it to three players at a time, meaning Kowalczyk could work with his entire roster at once.

"Our spring individuals were different from what we do in the fall," Kowalczyk said. "Our spring is really designed for skill development. It has nothing to do with team stuff or even competing. It's a lot of ball-handling and a lot of shooting."

Kowalczyk decided not to use all of the allotted hours. Three times a week for 40 minutes per session, the players were in the gym, shooting and dribbling. Three hours a week were spent with Wade in the weight room doing strength training, but no conditioning.

"The basis of the program is centered around multi-joint movements — bench press, shoulder press, incline, squats — and then we'll complement those with isolation movements like biceps, triceps and quite a bit of core work," said Wade, who previously worked at Marquette, Ball State and Bowling Green.

"We work a lot on the Vertimax machine, which is training for explosiveness, vertical jump and first-step quickness. We're always going to have a multi-joint upper body movement and a multi-joint lower-body movement. We're working both halves of the body. We've got a bench press, and we need to complement that with a pulling movement, so we'll do chin-ups."

May

The workouts stopped the week before final exams, which were May 8-12.

Kowalczyk sent the players home for five weeks after the spring semester ended.

"I don't want anyone here during (the first) summer session," Kowalczyk said. "I think I'm probably in the minority of Division I coaches in that regard. I think it's healthy for our guys to get away. They need to spend time with their family and friends at home."

Before the players left campus, they were given specific workouts designed to improve their weaknesses. Though Kowalczyk didn't want the players around for the first session of summer school, it was up to them to find a place to work out.

"I would just go to my high school weight room to lift and try to get into the gym and shoot," said Tillema, a native of Randolph. "If I can't get into a gym, I'd go to a park."

Evans, a native of St. Louis, worked out with the Saint Louis University players.

"The SLU coaches let hometown guys come in and work out," Evans said. "It's basically a continuation of the season — just without the coaches."

Kowalczyk said: "We give them exact workouts for what we want them to do. It's on paper. Generally, it's pretty consistent with what we were doing in the spring."

It begins with a 20-minute warm-up of ball-handling drills, and then progresses into a 40-minute shooting session.

"That 40 minutes of shooting is different for every player," Kowalczyk said. "It's very specific to each individual player and what we want them to work on.

"For example, with Ryan Evanochko, it's scoring going to his left. Terry Evans was nothing but jump shots. Ryan Tillema was a lot of post-up moves."

Schachtner, a native of Somerset, said he also would try to play pick-up games at the local YMCA.

"I'm not all that concerned about them playing at home because they can pick up bad habits playing with bad players," Kowalczyk said. "But I want them to shoot five or six days a week and lift three days a week. As long as they're doing that, then I feel good about the five weeks that they're off."

June

The players returned from the their brief summer vacation on June 18 and began a six-week summer school session. Most were enrolled in only one summer class.

While on campus, they worked as counselors at Kowalczyk's summer camps. Their schedule had them in the weight room from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Mondays and Wednesday. Most had class at 9 a.m.

After class, they returned to the Phoenix Sports Center for camps. They played pick-up games after camp ended Monday through Thursday. They also shoot for an hour on Sunday evenings.

Because the Phoenix is taking a trip to Spain in August, it's allowed 10 days of full practices. The first was June 23 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, followed by an hour in the weight room. They practiced again a week later, on Friday.

"The older coaches that I know, for them, it's all about making shots," Kowalczyk said. "So we've added a lot more shooting. My first couple of years, it was more about building toughness and a work ethic. Now I think we have that, so it's more about skills and shooting.

"There is not a successful Division I program that doesn't have their guys here in the summer at some point. It's too advantageous academically to have them get ahead and basketball-wise to work together. I don't think it was that way 20 years ago."

July

The team will practice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week before most of the coaching staff hits the summer recruiting trail.

There won't be another official practice before the summer-school session ends on July 28, but the individual workouts will continue at the Phoenix Sports Center.

"I feel stronger already," Tillema said. "When I came in here last year at the beginning of the summer, I was 200 pounds. I'm about 210 right now."

August

In a normal year, players would be off and at home for most of this month.

But because of the Aug. 17-27 trip to Spain, they'll return Aug. 14 and practice at 5 p.m. They'll practice twice a day on Aug. 15 and 16 before heading overseas the next day. Kowalczyk will have used eight of his allotted 10 days of practice.

Kowalczyk had been planning to take this team on an overseas trip because he knew this might be his best chance to win a championship. He hopes the four games in Spain serve as a warm-up for a successful season.

However, the three newcomers — freshman guard Troy Cotton, junior-college transfer Chase Sukut and Ball State transfer Pat Nelson — can't go because NCAA rules allow only returning players to travel.

"I knew we'd have everybody back, and I think it's important to go over there with as many players as possible," Kowalczyk said. "We'll go over there with 11 guys, and I think we'll learn a lot about our team."

The players return home on Aug. 28 for one more break — albeit a brief one — before the fall semester begins a week later.

September and October

When classes begin on Sept. 5, the Phoenix again will be subjected to the eight-hour-a-week workout rule.

The fall workouts — on the court and with Wade, the strength and conditioning coach — will differ slightly from the spring program. The pre-practice period is broken up into three two-week sessions.

For the first two weeks, the players will work out by position — guards with guards and big players with big players.

The second two weeks, the players are integrated but still work in smaller groups.

The third two weeks are essentially scaled-down versions of regular practices before preseason practice begins on Oct. 15.

The weight training shifts from the lighter weight-higher repetition program from the spring to a higher weight-lower rep program in the fall.

"The whole (offseason program) not only makes you stronger physically, but mentally stronger because it might just be that one rep when you have to dig down and fight," Evans said. "It's like that at the end of the game when time is running down and you need to make a play. It's the same thing."

www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060702/GPG020101/607020616/1229/GPGsports

[Retired Coach]

Rumored WSU oponent:

Bradley Braves

Overall Rank: #120
Conference Rank: #7 MVC
2005-06: 22-11, 11-7, 5th (t)
2005-06 postseason: NCAA

After sporting an experienced team last year, Bradley has a little rebuilding to do. The top four scorers are gone and Coach Jim Les will need to recapture the magic if the Braves hope to return to the NCAAs. The Sweet Sixteen is reaping some benefits in confidence, but the recruiting benefits will take another year.

Who’s Out: Patrick O’Bryant left Peoria in search of the NBA. The center averaged 13.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Forwards Marcellus Sommerville and Lawrence Wright averaged over 10 points and five rebounds apiece. Guard Tony Bennett tacked on 10.6 points per game and center Brandyn Heemskerk, who started three games, has also run out of eligibility.

Who’s In: Forward Matt Salley will see plenty of minutes in the paint. Salley averaged 13.2 points and 8.8 rebounds last year at Monroe College in New York. The 6-7 Charlotte, North Carolina native is a solid rebounder and can step out and hit the short jumper. His experience gives him an early leg up in the battle for a starting role with fellow newcomer Xavier Crawford. Crawford, a raw 6-9 power forward, has some defensive skills, but needs to bulk up and work on his offense before he can make a big impact. Saihou Jassey has the potential to work his way into the frontcourt. The 6-6 forward is a great athlete, but has not played a game in two years after being ruled ineligible his senior season in high school and redshirting last year. Andrew Warren is a solid shooter with loads of potential, but he may have trouble finding minutes in a crowded backcourt. The two guard can be the long range threat that Bradley needs if he can battle his way up the depth chart this season.

Who to Watch: All you need is a quality senior point guard and you have the potential for a surprising season. Daniel Ruffin averaged 7.7 points and 5.2 assists as a junior last season and will be the team leader on so many levels. The backcourt has plenty of other options with Will Franklin, Jeremy Crouch, J.J. Tauai and Ray Brown all having some experience. Franklin is a great backup point guard and with a little consistency, Crouch can become a deep threat. Despite starting 19 games, Tauai averaged just 1.8 points per game last season. However, he will provide senior leadership and solid defense and hopefully some scoring with more opportunities to shoot. Brown showed some promise as a freshman and will be given the chance to earn more minutes as a sophomore.

Final Projection: The frontcourt is where we run into problems. After thespian and power forward Zach Andrews, the options are slim. Newcomers Salley and Crawford have to contribute or the Braves will have major issues in the paint. However, this is the guard oriented MVC and a lack of depth up front is something that MVC teams have successfully dealt with time and time again. The difference in this case is the long range shooting. For a team that will depend on guard play, nobody is a proven threat from behind the arc.

Projected Post-season Tournament: none

Projected Starting Five:
Daniel Ruffin, Senior, Guard, 7.7 points per game
J.J. Tauai, Senior, Guard, 1.8 points per game
Jeremy Crouch, Junior, Guard, 4.6 points per game
Matt Salley, Junior, Forward, DNP last season
Zach Andrews, Senior, Forward, 5.3 points per game

www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/2006/120.htm

[keithfromxenia]

for the most part i am really lliking the possible opponents being floated out there. just like the quality of your team, the quality of your schedule is best improved incrementally. seems like bb is doing a good job of it. GO RAIDERS!@!!!!!!

[Willie]

I'm really getting excited about this schedule too. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is who we have so far:

Confirmed games:
Miami OH
Bowling Green
Marist
@ Marshall
@ Jim Thorpe Classic (LSU)
@ Jim Thorpe Classic (Samford)
@ Jim Thorpe Classic (Duquesne)

Rumored games:
Coastal Carolina
Bradley
Evansville

[guest]

My projection is that Bradley is on the schedule for next year and I don't think that is a rumor.

[Raiderdog]

I do believe you are right on guest. I really like that game.

[Raider Country]

It is an away game, correct?

[Big D]

Correct.

[Bomber]

By Shawn Siegel
Juy 5th, 2006

Miami OH: Charlie Coles

Charlie Coles is used to winning. In his tenth season at Miami, he's amassed an impressive 175 wins, and the RedHawks consistently finish in the upper half of the MAC standings. Last year's team was no different, as the RedHawks went 14-4 in conference play, and won 18 games overall. But after being bounced in the opening round of the conference tournament, Coach Coles expects even bigger things down the road.

CHN: Looking ahead, what should we expect to be the strengths and weaknesses of this year’s team?

CC: The strength of our team will be a couple of things. We will have good team speed. Our quickness will be an asset. We also should be able to score in a lot of different ways.

On the negative side: Size. And probably inexperience from players coming off the bench. We won’t have the experience that I would like from guys coming off the bench.

CHN: Fans often just see what happens during the games, but talk about which of your guys deserve more credit for working hard in practice, in the workout room, and being leaders off the court:

CC: The No. 1 person who stands out when you ask that question is Doug Penno (Sr. Guard). He will be a valuable member of our team this year. He will be a starter, and a major contributor on the court. Doug is also a very hard worker and a visionary when it comes to seeing our team goals and working with the other players on our team to reach those goals.

CHN: Discuss the incoming guys for a bit. What type of players are they?

CC: Alex Moosmann brings a lot of basketball maturity to our program and also a good all-around game. Antonio Ballard is a great athlete. He is a player who can play several different positions for us. Steve Pogue is a player who will probably take some time because we have to determine whether he will fit better into our system as a forward or a guard.

Carl Richburg (a sophomore, who sat out last season after transferring from Southern Indiana) is the reason for me believing that our team speed will be the best that it’s been in years. Carl is a great full-court player on offense and defense, and is a very good passer in the open court. Adam Fletcher (a redshirt freshman) will give us depth inside. He also will give us good physical play. He’s a guy who likes contact.

CHN: Which of those guys will make the biggest impact?

CC: Whew, it will be hard to say. I think all of our newcomers will be a huge part of what we do as a team this year.

CHN: How hard will it be to replace the outgoing seniors?

CC: It will be tough. Our three seniors last year gave us great contributions. William Hatcher was one of the two best guards in the MAC, and a clutch player deluxe throughout his career. We will have to come up with someone who can be good like Hatch coming down the stretch. Nate VanderSluis gave us much improved play last year and a good inside presence. Josh Hausfeld came on late in the year after recovering from his preseason surgery and gave us a good scoring option.

CHN: Who should we expect to take their game to an even higher level this season?

CC: Guys who I think are ready to take their game to the next level are Tim Pollitz (Jr., Forward), who proved to be one of the hardest players in our league to guard last year; Nathan Peavy (Sr., Forward), who in my mind has the potential to be one of the better players in the Midwest; and then Michael Bramos (So., Forward/Guard), who served as kind of a sixth man last year, but who is ready to jump into the mix this year and become a standout player.

CHN: What other coaches really helped you reach the level of success you’re at now? How does their advice and teachings still help you to this day?

CC: There are two coaches who have had a big impact on me. Darrell Hedric (Miami’s head coach from 1970-84; Miami assistant coach 1956-57, 1960-70), who I consider one of the best coaches that I’ve ever observed beside being an assistant coach for a team that I played on at Miami and then Coach Dick Shrider (Miami head coach 1957-66), who was my college basketball coach. Both of those coaches have shaped my basketball philosophy by playing for them and then by watching them coach. Two things in particular: Getting your team to play better and stressing the importance of defense.

CHN: Realistically, discuss what your goals and hopes are for this season.

CC: To have a winning non-conference record, which will be tough because of our schedule, to win our league, and then to win that conference tournament. Those are our three goals. We’ve done a good job the last three years in everything except the conference tournament. We’ve got to find a way to be better in the conference tournament.

CHN: Thanks for your time Charlie!

www.collegehoopsnet.com/preview/interviews/2006charliecoles.htm