D-I Independents 2008-09 Preview
The landscape among Division I independents has been changing constantly, and that’s no different as the 2008-09 season approaches. With conference affiliation the easiest route to having an opportunity to reach the NCAA Tournament, independent schools have plenty of incentive to find a home. That’s not all, considering the scheduling difficulties they go through, especially when January and February roll around.
Part of that changing landscape continues to involve Division I newcomers, of which there are five this year. Joining the ranks are Houston Baptist, North Dakota, Seattle, SIU-Edwardsville and South Dakota.
But another part of that changing landscape involves conference affiliation, and while that comes into play often, this off-season saw it in a big way. On July 10, the Great West Conference announced that it will form a basketball conference beginning in the 2009-10 season. It welcomed Houston Baptist, NJIT, North Dakota, South Dakota, UT-Pan American and Utah Valley as initial basketball schools. On October 22, Chicago State joined those schools in accepting an invitation to the conference, beginning next season.
While the conference name will seem a misnomer with NJIT in it, it will give schools a shot at the NCAA Tournament one day – as early as 2020. In the meantime, it will have a long footprint, but that’s nothing new; the Big East stretches from Providence to as far south as Tampa and as far west as Milwaukee, Conference USA from Huntington, WV and Greenville, NC to El Paso, the Sun Belt from Miami to Denver, and the WAC from Louisiana to Hawaii.
Among schools that are no longer independent, Presbyterian is now a member of the Big South and Winston-Salem State has joined the MEAC.
Top Independent Players
John Cantrell, Sr. G, Chicago State
David Holston, Sr. G, Chicago State
Ryan Toolson, Sr. G, Utah Valley State
Gordon Watt, Sr. F, Houston Baptist
Kirk Williams, Sr. F, Longwood
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (8-21)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Terence Johns (13.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
So. G Donovan Bragg (7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Jr. G-F Trent Blakley (9.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Jr. F Santwon Latunde (redshirt)
So. C Cory Brown (4.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Roadrunners have 12 home games on tap, headlined by visits from West Coast contenders Saint Mary’s and San Diego. They play Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge and Utah Valley home-and-home. Highlighting the road slate are the season opener at Wyoming, then a trip to Air Force, and a five-game road stretch in December includes a trip to Fresno State. Later, they travel to take on Oregon State, SMU and Stanford.
Outlook: With just two seniors – Johns and little-used forward Donald Lee – this is a team clearly building for the future. The Roadrunners are fine on the perimeter, with Johns, Blakley and Bragg starting and Alex Johnson likely being the first guard off the bench. Latunde’s return from a shoulder injury should boost a frontcourt that isn’t full of proven holdovers, as he averaged 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds in nine games before the injury. Brown got thrown into the fire last year and gave workman-like efforts in battling an ankle injury for a lot of the season. Junior college transfer Jose Lara should boost the frontcourt and get immediate minutes.
Chicago State Cougars (11-17)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G David Holston (23.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.1 spg)
Sr. G John Cantrell (15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg)
Sr. F Tawrence Walton (6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg)
So. F Carl Montgomery (7.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
So. F Nemanja Stankovic (1.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: 14 home games are on tap for the Cougars, highlighted by a five-game homestand to close out January. They play five opponents both at home and away, and they also host the Chicago Invitational Challenge in Hoffman Estates. Road games include trips to Marquette, Illinois and Kansas State, and they will also play in the UCF Holiday Classic.
Outlook: The Cougars had the highest RPI of an independent school last year despite their losing record. This year’s team is again highlighted by one of the best players no one knows about in Holston, who teams with Cantrell in a solid backcourt. The frontcourt isn’t loaded with experience or proven players, so that is an area of concern. Holston is capable of leading this team to some victories, and with the backcourt being where the experience is it’s not out of the realm of possibilities that this team could move a little closer to .500 this season.
Houston Baptist Huskies (13-15)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Baron Sauls (13.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg)
Sr. G Andrew Puzyk (12.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.1 spg)
Sr. G-F Andy Dillon (4.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Sr. F Gordon Watt (16.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.2 spg)
Sr. F Emanuel Willis (11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Huskies will play ten home games, including five against schools they will also play on the road, in a very challenging schedule. Highlighting the home slate are visits from Boise State and Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee, the latter of whom they also play on the road. Highlighting the away games are trips to Marquette, Villanova, South Alabama, Iowa State, Ohio State and Fresno State. The Huskies will also play three games in the SMU Tip-Off Classic, where they play the hosts and also get Illinois State, as well as three more in the Duel in the Desert to close out 2008.
Outlook: The Huskies’ roster has 11 seniors, and they will be introduced to Division I in a big way with a very difficult schedule. An all-senior starting lineup should be what they feature, and it’s a good group with Watt and Willis leading the frontcourt as both have spent time in Division I before landing in Houston. Sauls and Puzyk form the backcourt, with Dillon likely to split time on the wing with sophomore Fred Hinnenkamp, who showed promise last season. Demetrus Judge will also see minutes in the frontcourt among the seniors. Even with their frontcourt, the Huskies were out-rebounded last season, and they also turned the ball over more than 17 times per contest, so the Huskies may not be instant winners in their inaugural Division I campaign.
Longwood Lancers (9-22)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Ryan Bogan (11.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Kevin Swecker (8.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. G-F Dana Smith (redshirt)
Sr. F Kirk Williams (16.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.7 spg)
Jr. F-C Beno Jaekel (1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Lancers will play 15 home games, including five against teams they will also play on the road. In an oddity, two of those opponents have the home and away games back-to-back, with Texas-Pan American and North Carolina Central. A visit from George Washington highlights the home slate for the Lancers, who will play West Virginia and Kentucky as the first two of four games in the Findlay Las Vegas Invitational. Road games of note are at Virginia Tech, Virginia and Florida.
Outlook: If he can stay healthy, Smith’s return strengthens a team that will probably play a lot of four-out, one-in offense with the perimeter players they have. Before his injury last season, he started all ten games and averaged 10.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Bogan is the top returning guard and may run the show more, with Swecker the most likely to move into the starting lineup full-time. Williams does a little of everything and is the team’s best player, and he’ll be counted on to shoulder a lot of the burden for this team. Cutting down on turnovers would help, as he gave the ball away 3.5 times per outing last year, far and away tops on the team. The Lancers have a lot of unproven bodies inside, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they get out-rebounded again.
New Jersey Institute of Technology Highlanders (0-29)
Projected Starters:
So. G Tyler Epps (3.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. G Justin Garris (7.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.3 spg)
So. G Jheryl Wilson (7.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
So. F Paulius Skema (3.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Jr. C Dan Stonkus (4.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.7 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Highlanders will play 14 home games in 2008-09, including a three-game stretch in February and seven against teams they will also play on the road. Early on, they will play in the Philly Classic, with road games against Penn State and Towson before two games in Philadelphia. Notable road games include St. John’s, Rutgers and America East contender Vermont.
Outlook: The Highlanders have nowhere to go but up, and new head coach Jim Engles knows it won’t happen right away. There’s not a lot of talent, although Garris and Wilson have potential and the latter had a good summer. The frontcourt has just two players who stand 6-8 or taller, making improvement on the post difficult. The biggest area for improvement is taking care of the ball, as the Highlanders had more than twice as many turnovers as assists last season. Don’t be surprised if some of the five freshmen get minutes right away and push the holdovers for minutes and starting spots.
North Carolina Central Eagles (4-26)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G J’Mell Walters (4.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 2.8 apg)
Sr. G Bryan Ayala (13.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.7 spg)
Sr. G Ashton Sauls (7.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg in 14 games)
Jr. F Tremain Holloway (3.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Jr. F Lamar Pittman (junior college transfer)
Schedule Highlights: The Eagles will play ten home games, two coming in the BC Powder Classic that they host in mid-January. Five home games are against teams they also play on the road, including consecutive games against Longwood to close out February. Notable road games in a tough schedule are at Wake Forest, Kent State, Tulsa, Arkansas, Old Dominion, South Carolina, Michigan, Miami and North Carolina State. The Eagles also play in the South Padre Island Invitational and Drake Iowa Realty Invitational.
Outlook: The Eagles had a long season last year and may well be in for another one this season with their lack of size inside and a very difficult schedule. Ayala and Sauls headline the holdovers on the perimeter, while Walters is the other returning starter. Holloway started much of last season, but they need more from him. He could get pushed by junior college transfer Stevy Worak-Ozimo and freshman Nick Chasten. Pittman is a player they are high on, and he should start right away and anchor their inside game.
North Dakota Fighting Sioux (15-15)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Travis Bledsoe (9.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.1 apg)
Sr. G Darius Joseph (5.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg)
Sr. F O.J. Harrison (6.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
So. F Derek Benter (4.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg)
Jr. C Ben Lehnertz (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.2 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Fighting Sioux will play 14 home games in their inaugural season in Division I, along with two more in the UND Independent Tournament that they host on March 7 and 8 with SIU-Edwardsville, Seattle and South Dakota. Highlighting the home slate are a three-game homestand in December and four straight in January. Highlights among road games are trips to Wichita State and Texas A&M, and they will also participate in a tournament at Wisconsin-Parkside as the lone Division I entry. They also play four schools home-and-home.
Outlook: The Fighting Sioux won’t have an easy first season in Division I, as is often the case. Their top two scorers from last season, one of whom also led in rebounding, have departed, but Bledsoe and Joseph are a good backcourt to begin with. Where the questions come in is up front, as there’s enough stability on the perimeter but less experience inside. Benter and Lehnertz should have the first chance to start there, with redshirt freshman Mike Mathison and true freshman Mitch Wilmer possibly seeing minutes as well.
Savannah State Tigers (13-18)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Raye Bailey (5.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.2 apg)
So. G Anthony Jones (8.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.2 spg)
Jr. G Patrick Hardy (4.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg)
Sr. F Chris Linton (8.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.1 spg)
So. F Rod Mitchell (3.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Tigers’ schedule features 16 home games, including four in a row to start and four in a row to finish the season. Three are against teams they also play on the road. Highlighting the road games are trips to Clemson, Michigan, Georgetown, Notre Dame, UAB and Oklahoma State.
Outlook: Bailey and Linton are the only seniors on a team with nine freshmen and sophomores, so youth will be served at times this season. Both are good starting points, and they’ll need players like Jones, who has shown some promise, to emerge this season. Last season’s team struggled to score and didn’t have a single double-digit scorer, something they would surely like to change this season. The lone junior college addition, Glen Izevbigie, is their tallest player at 6’10” and should get a chance at minutes right away. Freshmen Mark St. Fort and Arnold Louis were high school teammates and could also see minutes right away.
Seattle University Redhawks (18-9)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Shaun Burl (6.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.4 spg)
Jr. G Chris Gweth (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. F Mike Boxley (6.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. F Michael Wright (9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.4 spg)
Sr. F Leigh Swanson (7.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Redhawks will play nine home games, as well as one against Loyola Marymount at Key Arena. They open the season hosting their own tournament for two games, and they play three of their home opponents on the road as well. The Great Alaska Shootout is one of two in-season tournaments they will be in, as they also close the season in the North Dakota Tournament. Notable road games include trips to Fresno State, Oregon State, and two games in Puerto Rico in mid-January.
Outlook: The Redhawks return two full-time and three part-time starters from last season’s team, so there’s some experience to build on. Burl is a solid floor leader and Gweth can score, so they’re in reasonable shape on the perimeter. Wright anchors the frontcourt, where the Redhawks are small as their only player taller than 6’8″ is 6’11” San Francisco transfer Jared Casey, who is sitting out this year. Last season, the Redhawks had good rebounding and turnover margins while shooting over 47 percent from the floor, so there’s reason for optimism in this transition season.
SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (17-11)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Barry Wellington (junior college transfer)
Sr. G John Edmison (7.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Jr. G Stephen Jones (3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Jr. F Denykco Bowles (junior college transfer)
So. C Nikola Bundalo (6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Ten home games are on tap for the Cougars, who open the season in the Charleston Classic and play host College of Charleston in the opener. They play three teams at home and away, and end the season in the North Dakota Tournament. Notable road games are at Wisconsin, Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee State, Missouri and Iowa State.
Outlook: It won’t be an easy transition for the Cougars, who have just one senior and six freshmen, and four junior college transfers run the number of newcomers into double digits. Wellington could run the show from the start, with Edmison and Jones the likely other perimeter starters. Bundalo could be pushed by seven-foot freshman Terrance Williams, a local boy who needs to add weight to his 210-pound frame. Only three players stand taller than 6’6″, so there’s not much depth up front. As such, it won’t be a surprise if the Cougars are out-rebound by more than the three per game from last season. If they can keep their positive turnover margin from last season, it would certainly help.
South Dakota Coyotes (22-7)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jesse Becker (10.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Sr. G Mitch Begeman (7.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. G-F Dylan Grimsley (14.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.1 spg)
Jr. F Tyler Cain (9.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4.1 bpg, 1.5 spg)
Sr. C Steve Smith (9.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Schedule Highlights: 15 home games dot the inaugural Division I slate, three of whom they play on the road as well. They open the season at Ivy League favorite Cornell, then head to Cincinnati. Later, they head to Notre Dame. The Coyotes will also play in three in-season tournaments: the Minnesota State Tip-Off Classic, West Texas A&M Tournament, and the Independent Tournament at North Dakota to close the season.
Outlook: The Coyotes bring an experienced bunch into Division I with five seniors, two juniors and just three freshmen. They also don’t lack size or effectiveness in the frontcourt with Cain’s rebounding and shot-blocking along with Smith’s size. Grimsley does a little of everything, and Becker and Begeman give them an experienced and effective backcourt. Less than half of the schedule is against non-Division I schools, so the Coyotes could put together a nice record when it’s all said and done.
Texas-Pan American Broncs (18-13)
Projected Starters:
So. G P.J. Turner (junior college transfer)
So. G Nick Weiermiller (2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. G Jason Jensen (junior college transfer)
Jr. F Nathan Hawkins (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg)
Sr. F Emmanuel Jones (9.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Broncs have ten home games in 2008-09, including six in a seven-game stretch in February. Five are against teams they play on the road as well, including back-to-back games against Longwood in February. The Broncs will play in four in-season tournaments: Air Force Tournament, Las Vegas Tournament, Drake Iowa Realty Invitational, and one at Southern Miss. Road games of note include trips to UNLV, California, Air Force (separate from the tournament), UTEP and Auburn.
Outlook: The Broncs will play a difficult schedule in a year where they return just one starter from last season’s 18-13 team that earned Tom Schuberth the Independent Coach of the Year award. In particular, the Broncs will be inexperienced on the perimeter, where at least two newcomers will start and Weiermiller is the best holdover and play limited minutes last year. Hawkins and Jones form a frontcourt that has some experience, and junior college transfer Luis Valera should get some minutes as well.
Utah Valley State Wolverines (15-14)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Ryan Toolson (23.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.9 apg)
Sr. G Josh Olsen (7.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.5 spg)
Jr. G Jordan Swarbrick (3.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg)
Jr. F Jourdain Scoubes (junior college transfer)
Sr. C Brett Ravenberg (1.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Wolverines will play 16 home games, including seven of their first ten on the season. They will play seven opponents both at home and away, and head to Bozeman, Montana for the 6th Man Club Tournament against Montana State and either Texas-Pan American or Norfolk State.
Outlook: The Wolverines’ final season as a provisional Division I school is one where they will seek to keep alive a streak of winning seasons, as they have not once finished below .500 as a Division I school. The senior backcourt of Toolson and Olsen anchor the team, with Toolson already being the school’s all-time leading scorer. There’s more depth in the backcourt than up front, where there also is little in the way of proven bodies. With a manageable schedule featuring a majority of games at home, another good year may be in store for the Wolverines.
