MBSK: PREVIEW - Mix of Veterans and Newcomers Has Bruins Excited about ’09-10

NEWBERG, Ore. - With a proven core of experienced returnees and several talented newcomers ready to take prominent roles, veteran head coach Mark Sundquist has increased expectations of significant improvement for his George Fox University Bruins, whose 2009-10 men's basketball season gets under way Friday.

"This team has great potential to be a factor in the Northwest Conference sooner than many might think," says Sundquist, who enters his 10th season at George Fox with a 90-134 career record.  "In addition to some solid seniors, we are new at a couple of key positions, but all are very talented and hard workers.  I am optimistic that, by the time conference play rolls around, we'll turn out to be pretty good."

The Bruins are coming off an 8-17 season that saw them tie for seventh in the conference with a 4-12 NWC slate.  Three starters are gone from that group, including senior forward Brady Strutz (5.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), junior center Bryan O'Connell (5.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg), and junior guard Jack Martin (13.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.2 apg).  O'Connell decided to concentrate on his senior studies while Martin, who was second in the conference and 37th nationally in assists, became academically ineligible.

"Jack is still in school and might be able to rejoin us in time for the conference season," says Sundquist hopefully, "but we're still going to be a competitive team."

The Bruins' high hopes begin with returning starters Alex Stockner (Sr., Monmouth, Ore. / Central HS) at post and Evan Atwater (Sr., Port Orchard, Wash. / South Kitsap HS) at wing.  Stockner was All-Conference honorable mention after averaging 14.9 points and 5.1 rebounds a game, both numbers 10th in the conference, and shooting .562 from the field (4th in the NWC).  Atwater averaged 12.3 points (20th) and 4.2 rebounds (17th) a game and, with 793 career points, needs 207 to become the 34th player in Bruin history to reach the 1,000-point mark.

"Alex is a competitor who gives us the toughness that we need inside," Sundquist notes.  "He works so hard to score and get rebounds, and if our guys can ride his competitive coattails, then it should be a good year.  Evan is a perimeter threat with good leadership credentials who has worked hard to become a better defender from his freshman to his senior year.  He knows our program and our system, and should be primed for a fine season."

Three other veterans whom the Bruins will count on are wings Travis Toedtemeier (Sr., Beaverton, Ore. / Faith Bible HS), Grant Vahalla (Sr., San Diego, Calif. / La Costa Canyon HS), and Dan Lingenfelder (Sr., Longview, Wash. / Mark Morris HS).   Toedtemeier averaged 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds as a part-time starter, while Vahalla and Lingenfelder averaged 4.1 and 3.8 points respectively off the bench.

"Travis has been shooting the ball extremely well and can do multiple things within our system, even playing the post if we need him there," observes Sundquist.  "Dan and Grant have been around our program all four years and will certainly be somewhere in the rotation.  Dan is a great defender who just needs shot consistency.  Grant only needs to stay injury-free; he can play the 3 and 4 spots, even the 5 spot if needed, and do a good job defending those guys."

Three returning letterwinners who saw limited duty as freshmen last season but should see increased court time this year are wings Cole Whitehurst (So., Portland, Ore. / Central Catholic HS) and Cam Rier (So., Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS) and point guard Ethan Brown (So., Sedro-Woolley, Wash. / Sedro-Woolley HS). 

"Cole gives us athleticism and great defense," says Sundquist.  "He has a solid future and should be a great player in this league before he's through.  Cam and Ethan will play spot minutes for us and will add depth and experience to their positions.  All three have added strength and bulk with their off-season workouts and should be valuable contributors."

Two newcomers who are expected to move into the starting lineup right away are point guard Stephen Wiseley (Jr., Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington HS), a transfer from Bellevue Community College, and 6-7 post Rich Smith (Jr., Bremerton, Wash. / Olympic HS), who joins the Bruins from Concordia University-Portland.

"Stephen is great competitor who can score or pass the ball well, and should be one of the top point guards in the conference this year," comments Sundquist.  "Rich came to us because of our engineering program and gives us a very strong inside presence who can also shoot the three.  He is a good rebounder with a soft touch who will be a force once he gets used to our system."

Adding depth to the wing position are David Griffiths (Jr., Arlington, Wash. / Arlington HS), a transfer from Everett Community College, and Chris Reimer (Fr., Mill Creek, Wash. / Jackson HS), an academic sophomore.

"David is a great kid who competes hard and is an excellent shooter," says Sundquist.  "Chris is also a good shooter who is working hard to improve his defense."

Rounding out the roster are a pair of freshmen: 6-5 post Matt Zandbergen (Fr., Spokane, Wash. / Northwest Christian HS) and wing Jon Adrian (Fr., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS).  

"Matt comes from a program that won an unprecedented four state high school championships in a row," notes Sundquist.  "He has played zone most of his career, so once he's learned to play man-to-man, he is going to be a very good post player in this league.  Jon is an outstanding defender who also comes from a winning program; he just needs to add a little more strength to be a real asset.  With a year of learning, both he and Matt should fit right in."

Joining Sundquist and assistant coach Brad Crosby as a volunteer assistant with the program this year is former Bruin point guard Sammy Ibarra.  Says Sundquist, "Sammy is a retired teacher who has offered his services because of his affection for his alma mater, and we are glad to have his expertise and wisdom to help our players improve."

The new season tips off for the Bruins at home on Friday, Nov. 20, at 8:00 p.m. against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, the defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion.  The game will follow the George Fox women's contest at 6:00 p.m. against Concordia-Portland, following ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. to unveil the Bruins' 2008-09 national women's championship.