PREVIEW: Bruins Hoping to Repeat Post-Season Experience in 2010-11 Season

NEWBERG, Ore. – After making the Northwest Conference men’s basketball tournament for only the second time since joining the league in 1995 and reaching the finals for the first time ever last year, George Fox University head coach Mark Sundquist believes the Bruins have the potential to make it two years in a row in 2010-11.

“I think we have the pieces to compete and make the tournament again, but when you lose seven seniors, it’s tough,” says Sundquist, who takes a 103-148 record into his 11th season, the second-longest tenure in Bruin history.  “I like the guys we’ve brought in, but with so many new players, the learning curve is still huge.”

The top four teams in the standings make it to the NWC Tournament, with the winner earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.  George Fox was picked to finish in a three-way tie for fourth with Pacific Lutheran University and Whitman College in the pre-season NWC coaches’ poll.

The Bruins are coming off a 13-14 season that saw them go 9-7 in conference play and tie for third with Lewis & Clark College.  Seeded third in the NWC Tournament, they stunned No. 2 seed Linfield College on the road in the semifinals before falling at Whitworth University, which was ranked No. 5 nationally, one win short of their first-ever NCAA National Tournament appearance.

Gone from that team are seven letterwinners, including three starters in First Team All-Conference forward Alex Stockner (15.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, league-leading .519 three-point field goal pct.), honorable mention All-NWC guard Jack Martin (10.1 ppg, 4.15 apg), and guard Evan Atwater (10.7 ppg and 1,081 career points, 28th all-time at George Fox.)

To build a contender again this season, the Bruins will start with a nucleus of returning starters Stephen Wiseley (Sr., Kirkland, Wash. / Lake Washington HS) at point guard and Rich Smith (Sr., Bremerton, Wash. / Olympic HS) at post.  Wiseley, an honorable mention All-NWC performer, averaged 12.7 points, 4.96 assists, and 1.77 steals a game while shooting .891 from the free throw line, leading the conference and ranking ninth nationally with that percentage.  Smith averaged 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game, and will be one of the league’s bigger posts this season at 6-7 and 250 pounds.

“That’s two good seniors to start with,” says Sundquist.  “Stephen will be arguably one of the best point guards in the conference and we believe he is going to have great senior year.  He’s an outstanding passer and ball-handler, loves to drive, and can hit the three if the defense backs off.  His leadership will benefit us in so many ways. 

“Rich has matured a lot and has made it his goal to take on more of a leadership role this season.  He is coming back from a broken wrist suffered in ‘open gym’ last spring and still has a plate and 10 screws in it, but has worked hard to make himself an even stronger post player and rebounder.” 

Also back is Cole Whitehurst (Jr., Portland, Ore. / Central Catholic HS), who averaged 5.7 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting .512 from the field last year.  A versatile player, he could also see some time at point guard if needed.

“Cole has a tremendous opportunity for a starting spot,” observes Sundquist.  “He has great athleticism, can drive or shoot the jumper, and is a good defender.  He should be about ready to be a major contributor this season.”

Other returnees who will give the Bruins additional scoring punch at the wings include Cam Rier (Jr., Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS), Chris Reimer (So., Mill Creek, Wash. / Jackson HS), and Jon Adrian (So., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS), whose father Dave was a 1,000-point scorer and top assists man for the Bruins in the late 1970’s.  Rier averaged 2.0 points, Reimer 0.3 points, and Adrian 1.0 points a game in reserve roles last season.

“After limited action his first two years, Cam should have a chance to really get his feet wet this year,” says Sundquist.  “He is a good ball-handler and outside scoring threat.  Chris is another fine shooter off the bench, and Jon, who was already a sound defender, has worked hard on his outside shooting all summer.  We are definitely loaded at the wings.”

Matt Zandbergen (So., Spokane, Wash. / Northwest Christian HS) at post and Ethan Brown (Jr., Sedro-Woolley, Wash. / Sedro-Woolley HS) at point guard are also back to give the Bruins depth at those positions.  Zandbergen posted 1.6 points and 1.3 rebounds a game while Brown scored 0.4 points and handed out 1.3 assists per outing last year.

“Matt will do a good job for us backing up Rich at the post,” notes Sundquist.  “I am confident he can come in and give us some quality minutes.  Ethan is primarily a point guard whom we can also use at a wing; he has constantly improved and provides us with great leadership.”

Davis Martin (So., Silverton, Ore. / Silverton HS) is back with the program after making the roster as a freshman in 2007-08 but sitting out the last two seasons to concentrate on his studies.  He can handle either a wing or point guard duties.  Says Sundquist, “Davis will help us with his versatility on offense, and is a great defender with his long arms.”

Headlining the list of Bruin newcomers is wing Mike Taylor (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif. / Verbum Dei HS), a transfer from Division I Marist College, where he scored 101 points in two seasons for the Red Foxes.  An outstanding shooter and ball-handler, he may also see some time at the point for the Bruins.

“Once he learns our system and style, the sky’s the limit for Mike,” Sundquist enthuses.  “He’s a long athlete who can shoot well and is a very good defender.  We actually had some contact with him two years ago through Randy Winston, the former women’s track coach here, before he decided to go D-I.  It was a pleasant surprise when he called this summer and talked about coming here, and we are glad to have him.”

Another transfer for the Bruins is Corey Clark (Jr., Fallbrook, Calif. / Fallbrook HS), a combination point guard and wing from Mira Costa College.  Notes Sundquist, “Corey is a vocal leader with a good basketball I.Q. who will be in our rotation for sure.  He is coming off a dislocated shoulder injury he got during the summer, but appears ready to go.”

New wings who will get a look include Sean Atkins (Fr., Longview, Wash. / Mark Morris HS), Spencer Bolte (Fr., Tacoma, Wash. / Franklin Pierce HS), and academic senior Alex Overton (Fr., Vancouver, Wash. / Heritage HS). 

“Sean was an all-league Player of the Year who will be a very good player for us,” predicts Sundquist.  “He knows how to play the game and is a real competitor.  Spencer is an athletic wing and good defender who only needs some experience to be a real asset.  Alex tried out for the team each of the last two years and just missed making the squad each time, but he continued to work hard to improve and has earned his chance.”

Providing depth inside will be Cole Larson (Fr., Hockinson, Wash. / Hockinson HS), of whom Sundquist says, “Cole gives us another strong post presence.  He is good with his back to the basket, and just needs a little time to develop into an effective player for us.”

Summarizing the Bruins as a whole, Sundquists says, “From one through fifteen, this is one of the most talented groups we’ve had since I’ve been here.  We have a lot of versatility, and I think that will be one of our major strengths; we have multiple guys who can play multiple spots, so we will have depth at every position. 

“The biggest obstacle to our success may be that we are somewhat new, and it will just take some time for everyone to get used to our system.  Once January rolls around and we start into conference play in earnest, we could be a pretty good club.”

SCHEDULE:  The Bruins get the new season under way Friday, Nov. 19, vs. Corban College, followed the next night by Northwest University.  Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m. at home in the Wheeler Sports Center’s Miller Gym.  The Corban game will follow a George Fox women’s contest at 5:30 p.m. vs. Southern Oregon University ... The Bruins will play their next 10 games on the road, not returning home until Jan. 8 against Pacific University.  Their long road stretch will feature conference games at Willamette University (Nov. 30) and Pacific Lutheran (Dec. 4), a match at NCAA Division I Portland State University (Dec. 9), and a three-game swing through southern California between Christmas and New Year’s to play La Sierra University (Dec. 28), the University of La Verne (Dec. 30), and Chapman University (Dec. 31).