Men’s basketball attempts to replace large graduating class
It is no secret the Waynesburg men’s basketball team has lost a lot of its key contributors from last year’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference runner-up team.
The seniors who graduated – Jacob Fleegle, Byrum Louco, Tyler Miller, Jason Propst, Thomas Ellis, Casey Hope and Kenny Klase – all left their mark with the basketball program, and now, according to head coach Mark Christner, it is time for the team to make their own mark without those graduates.
“Once you’ve been somewhere for a while your standard of the way you compete and practice stays the same,” said Christner. “Sure the personnel changed and that happens all the time. It’s how we respond to that and I think we have some guys that will compete well.”
With roster changes come new faces and returning players in unfamiliar roles.
The Jackets return a handful of players who saw consistent minutes during the 2014-2015 season.
B.J. Durham, now a senior guard for the Jackets, returns after shooting nearly 37% from three-point land along with scoring 10-plus points per game. Durham and now senior wing D.J. Ritchie will anchor an offense that Christner says will be more up-tempo this year, making games more entertaining.
Waynesburg also returns seniors Nate Labishak and Tim Plansinis, both of who played crunch time minutes last season, however, according to Christner, they can only benefit from being in more games during those situations.
“We’re really excited for the opportunity to lead and be the guys for the team,” said Durham. “DJ [Ritchie] and I, and even Nate [Labishak], got really excited even at the end of the semester last year. We knew there was going to be an uptick in minutes and role and we’re ready.”
Players who were not tested in those situations include seniors Scott Blumer and Ty Negley, junior Timmy Kaiser and sophomores Kendall Paige and Jon Knab.
All of those men will be pushed into key roles for this year’s team, but Christner said it is not about filling the holes the senior class left. It is about using the talent they have to do simply what they are asked to do: play within themselves.
“We have guys that haven’t had to be playmakers and play in crucial situations,” said Christner. “But for all these guys it’s about not trying to do too much. It’s about getting them to understand they need to be themselves and articulating to them that what they bring to the table is good enough.”
Numerous freshmen will join the team this season, including a few that might see some playing time, according to Christner.
“Brennen Smith is kind of a hybrid,” said Christner. “He’s got good athleticism and brings a bit of a post presence.”
Smith, a 6’5″ forward, is a native of Cumberland, West Virginia. Smith lettered all four years at Oak Glen High School and was recognized on several all-conference teams.
Other incoming freshmen include Nate Gearhart, Clay Carper, Avery White, Dylan O’Hara and Glen Hoffman.
According to Christner, Carper will bring energy to the team as well as versatility in the wing position. To start, Hoffman has plus ball skills and a knack for scoring, Gearhart can shoot the ball, White is a catch and shoot player and O’Hara was well coached, possessing the ability to play fundamental basketball.
Those guys will look to contribute where they can to a team that has been picked to finish sixth in the conference in the PAC Preseason Poll. Saint Vincent, who returns everything playmaking-wise outside of All-PAC forward Sean Kett, was picked to win the conference. Thomas More was picked to finish second and were followed by Thiel, Geneva and Bethany all who returned their main nuclei and surrounding playmakers, outside of the Bison, who graduated top scorer Delonte Joyce.
Only eight points separated Waynesburg in sixth and Thiel in third.
“We were picked to finish sixth in our conference and probably rightfully so considering what we lost,” said Christner. “We have good, young guys that have a great opportunity to show why we brought them here. Saint Vincent, on paper, is certainly far-and-away the favorite. It should be highly competitive. Teams will realize how much growth can take place. We would probably all say we would love the chance to play in the Carey Center on a Saturday night early in February for a shot to go to the NCAA Tournament.”
Westminster, Grove City, Washington & Jefferson and the newly christened Chatham program were picked to finish seventh through 10th, respectively.
With the personnel changes comes a somewhat new strategy for Christner’s team as well. According to the sixth year coach, the offense will be a bit more up tempo than years previously.
“For three years we’ve been able to throw the ball into a strong post guy,” said Christner, referring to Waynesburg’s 32nd 1,000 point scorer in history, Jason Propst. “So I think we’ll play a bit more up-tempo. We will probably shoot some more threes and keep the pressure up on both sides of the ball.”
“I think we have the ability to go deep in our bench,” said Durham of the team’s depth. “We have talent I feel like guys haven’t seen before because they were behind guys on the bench. But there’s a lot of talent there.”
There is also a change coming to college basketball this season. After much debate, the college-level shot clock, previously at 35 seconds, will now only be 30 seconds, thus shortening offensive possessions, and even possibly changing how games are officiated, according to Christner.
There are also a few changes along the bench on the coaching staff for the Jackets’. Jacob Fleegle, a member of last year’s senior class and the 33rd 1,000 point scorer in Waynesburg basketball history will be a graduate assistant coach for the team this year, and his teammate, Tyler Miller, is slated to act as a student assistant coach. Christer noted what these two can bring to the team and the program as a whole.
“It’s nice to have three guys who have played here,” said Christner. “Jake [Fleegle] and Tyler [Miller] obviously just left and can jump into some drills. I think Jake thinks I’ll still sub him into a game or something, but, no, stability is a good thing. They [all three: Fleegle, Miller and assistant coach Ben Altmeyer] can relay what the experience is here.”
The Yellow Jackets’ have not been in the situation they are facing in quite some time. A consistent four years of stability was there with the 2014 senior class and the program became a winner with that class and with ones contributing before that. However, that does not mean stability is not still expected by Christner.
Christner believes this group has the talent to compete well in the PAC despite the roster changes from last year. He noted the similar feel the team has had in being a close knit group on-and-off the court as well as a team that works hard similar to last years team.
“We’ve challenged this group to write its own story,” said Christner. “This group has a different path but has stuck together. The story wasn’t over last year. If last year’s group was a shirt-and-tie then this year’s group is more of a Hawaiian shirt and that’s good. They do it their own way and in a way they can encourage each other.
The Jackets’ season opens up Saturday, Nov. 17 when the team travels to non-conference Muskingum University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.