PREVIEW: New-Look Bruins to Rely on Perimeter Play for Climb in NWC Standings

NEWBERG, Ore. - With only one starter returning to the fold for the 2011-12 season, the George Fox University Bruins will have a new look to their lineup and will rely heavily on some talented newcomers to lift them higher in the Northwest Conference men's basketball standings than their sixth-place finishof a year ago.

“It won't be easy, but I think we are capable of competing for a playoff spot in the conference tournament,” predicts veteran head coach Mark Sundquist, the second-winningest coach in Bruin history who enters his 12th season at the helm with a 111-165 record.  “Chemistry will be a big thing as we try to work four new starters into the lineup, but we have some talent and I see great potential in this team.”

Six letter winners are gone from last year's 8-17 team that went 6-10 in the conference, including Second Team All-NWC point guard Stephen Wiseley, center Rich Smith, and wings Davis Martin and Cole Whitehurst.  Wiseley, Smith, and Martin all used up their eligibility, while Whitehurst, who was a junior, will miss this season due to chronic back problems.

The lone returning starter is Second Team All-NWC selection Mike Taylor (Sr., Los Angeles, Calif. / Verbum Dei HS), a versatile 6-4 wing who can handle everything from point guard to strong forward.  He averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.36 assists and 1.72 assists per game last season, among the top 12 in those statistics in the conference, and recorded the first Bruin triple-double in 19 years with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists in a win over Willamette.

“Mike is one of the top athletes in the conference and an all-around player who is capable of being a great one for us,” observes Sundquist.  “As our only returning starter, he has been asked to take on a greater leadership role for us and has accepted that challenge.  With his scoring, rebounding, and defensive abilities, if he is consistent, we can be very competitive in the conference this year.”

The Bruins have three other seniors, two of them combination point/shooting guards in 6-2 Corey Clark (Sr., Fallbrook, Calif. / Fallbrook HS) and 5-11 Ethan Brown (Sr., Sedro-Woolley, Wash. / Sedro-Woolley HS).  Clark averaged 1.4 points and 1.2 rebounds a game while Brown had numbers of 0.4 points and 0.8 boards an outing.

“Corey is in the best shape of his career and is playing with confidence and consistency right now,” notes Sundquist.  “He has looked good running our offense and we will be calling on him more this year.  Ethan is a four-year veteran of our program with great leadership skills.  He gives us a steady presence, understands our system well, and should likewise see increased playing time this season.”

Cam Rier (Sr., Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS), a 6-4 wing, is the Bruins' fourth senior who averaged 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per game last season. 

“With Cam's versatile ability to handle the ball, get to the rim, and shoot outside,” says Sundquist, “he is one of those who will be fighting for a starting spot this season.”

Among the Bruins' five other returnees, 6-4 Sean Atkins (So., Longview, Ore. / Mark Morris HS) appears to have nailed down one of the starting wing positions.  He posted numbers of 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds a game as a freshman.

“Sean is what we call an under-sized big guy who is crafty and plays with a high level of intensity,” comments Sundquist.  “He worked hard to get stronger during the off-season and it has really paid off for him.  He is an aggressive player who never lets up and understands the game.”

Matt Zandbergen (Jr., Spokane, Wash. / Northwest Christian HS) and Cole Larson (So., Hockinson, Wash. / Hockinson HS) are both 6-5 posts who will carry the bulk of the Bruins' work load inside.  Zandbergen is coming off figures of 2.4 point and 1.8 boards per outing, while Larson saw limited duty as a rookie in only four games, grabbing three rebounds but not scoring.

“Matt gives us some veteran muscle and a physical presence inside,” says Sundquist.  “He enjoys battling bigger guys, and if he can develop some consistency, he should contend for a starting spot.  How well he defends and rebounds will tell us a lot about our season.  Cole gives us a 'big man' backup who just needs some experience and confidence.  He worked out hard over the summer and is in better shape than ever.”

Rounding out the returnees are a pair of shooting guards, 6-2 Jon Adrian (Jr., Wilsonville, Ore. / Wilsonville HS) and 6-1 Spencer Bolte (So., Tacoma, Wash. / Franklin Pierce HS).  Adrian averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds a game, while Bolte had two points and a rebound in four games as a rookie.

“Jon is our best on-ball defender – well, he's probably our best defender, period,” Sundquist says.  “We'd like to see a little more offensive potency from him, and to that end, he has worked hard and improved his shooting in the off-season.  Spencer has really picked up his game as well and will be in our rotation somewhere.  He plays with no fear and will definitely be fighting for minutes this season.”

Two newcomers who have stood out and earned starting berths are 6-0 point guard A.J. Grant (Fr., Newberg, Ore. / Newberg HS) and 6-3 wing Anthony Sanchez (Jr., Inglewood, Calif. / Verbum Dei HS).  Grant attended Whitman College briefly last fall before deciding to transfer closer to home, while Sanchez, a high school teammate of Taylor's, comes to the Bruins from Mt. San Antonio College.

“A.J. does everything well and will be very consistent for us at the point,” observes Sundquist.  “This is his first competition in two years, but he has gotten back into the flow of the game quickly.  Anthony was his team's leading scorer last year and is a great shooter who gives us a legitimate perimeter scoring threat.  He is good off the dribble and should be a fine player in our conference.  Both he and A.J. are combo guards who can move around if we need them to.”

The Bruins have two other transfers in 6-3 wing Asiel Thompson (Jr., Moss Point, Miss. / Moss Point HS) and 6-0 combo guard Jeff Whicker (So., Ketchikan, Alaska / Ketchikan HS).  Thompson played last year at NAIA school Dillard University in New Orleans, La., while Whicker saw limited time at NCAA Division II Bemidji State University in Minnesota.

“Asiel is a great kid and fine athlete who will be fighting for minutes once he learns our system,” forecasts Sundquist.  “He is a gifted rebounder and defender with a calm court demeanor.  Jeff is a good athlete and knowledgeable player who saw limited time at Bemidji and just wanted a place where he could play more.  He should be able to do that here and will be fighting for minutes from the start.”

The only true freshmen straight out of high school on the team are 6-3 wing Cole Ramey (Fr., Spokane, Wash. / Northwest Christian HS) and the team's tallest player, 6-6 post Chris Stanfield (Fr., Bomet, Kenya / Rift Valley Academy).  Ramey already had ties to George Fox through his sister Kaleigha, who played for the Bruin women's team from 2004-08 and is now married to men's volunteer assistant coach Taylor Martin.

“Cole was the Class B Player of the Year for the Washington state champions,” notes Sundquist.  “He is a good athlete who works extremely hard, is a good outside shooter, and can slash and go to the basket.  He will be a good D-III player down the road.  Chris is tall and athletic, but raw.  He's got a lot still to learn, but he's a great kid who will battle the big guys and only get better as he adds some weight and muscle.”

Summarizing his squad, Sundquist says the Bruins “have scoring firepower, but rebounding and defense will be the keys to our season.  We're smaller this year, so our rebounding will have to be by committee, sending all five guys to the boards.  We'd like to speed up the game a little more, utilizing our athleticism and quickness to play a full-court game.  We hope our outside shooting ability will help us open up the middle for driving to the rim.”

Another asset Sundquist sees is his team's versatility, pointing out that “we can play multiple guys at different spots.  Nevertheless, we must also define some roles for players so they know what they are to do in each situation.  If we can focus on the little things that need to be done, I think we will be very competitive in the league this year.”

The Bruins will get their first official look at their 80% new lineup on Friday, Nov. 18, when they visit the Concordia University-Portland Cavaliers for a 7:30 p.m. opener.  The first home game for the Bruins is the next night, Saturday, Nov. 19, at 8:00 p.m. vs. Northwest University (Wash.) following the George Fox women's game vs. Northwest at 6:00 p.m.