November 20, 2002

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . The 2002-03 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) men’s basketball season begins Friday, November 22, as six schools are in action at various tournaments across the Midwest. Two additional schools begin its seasons on Saturday. The Conference portion of teams’ schedules begins on Tuesday, December 3.

2002-03 Team-by-Team Season Openers

In a preseason poll conducted of the Iowa Conference men’s basketball coaches, Buena Vista was picked to repeat as Conference Champion, edging Wartburg, Simpson and Loras as just 10 points separated the coaches’ top four picks. The Beavers received four first-place votes while Wartburg received two. Simpson, Loras and Cornell each received one first place vote. The complete Coaches Poll, in which nine coaches participated, is below.

The composite Conference schedule, results and statistics are available on the men’s basketball home page of the Conference web site at www.iowaconference.com. For the most up-to-date team rosters, visit the men’s basketball page of each schools’ athletic web site.

A complete team-by-team preview follows.

Buena Vista University Beavers
(23-6, 16-2 IIAC - 1st)

Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/4

About the Team: Buena Vista, the 2001-02 Iowa Conference Champion, must overcome the loss of two-time Conference MVP Adam Jones, who won the 2002 Jostens Trophy as the Division III Player of the Year. The Beavers return three starters and five players that saw action off the bench last season. Senior Robby Beyer and junior Scott Weber, both First Team All-Conference selections last season return to the starting frontcourt and junior Casey Pelzer returns as the starting point guard.

Weber finished second in team scoring and third in rebounding last season with 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Beyer led the team with 5.9 rebounds per contest and ranked third with 10 points per game. Pelzer dished out 54 assists and averaged 4.9 points per game a season ago.

Seniors Chris Petersen and Bryan Toft both saw time off the bench last season. Petersen appeared in 29 games and contributed 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Toft appeared in 13 contests. Sophomore forwards Randy Bissen, Michael Cameron and Brandon Kies will look to make a greater impact this season having appeared in 11, 22 and 25 games respectively as freshmen.

About the Coach: Brian Van Haaften enters his seventh season as head coach at Buena Vista. He has guided the Beavers to a 123-39 record in six years and his .759 winning percentage ranks third among active Division III head coaches. In February 2001, he became one of the fastest coaches in Division III history to reach 100 career wins, accomplishing the feat in his 135th game. Van Haaften has been named IIAC Coach of the Year three times (1997, 2000, 2002).

Coach Van Haaften on his team: “This year’s team will be a challenge as we attempt to incorporate some new players into the program. We will play at least three or four sophomores. However, this team is very good in the post. Beyer, Petersen and Weber should be as solid of a group of three post players in our League. We just need to find out how we will be in the guard court and on the wings. We have talent at those spots, but they are unproven.”

Coach Van Haaften on the IIAC: “Whoever wins the League this year will have to earn it. I can see as many as seven teams giving a run at the title, if things work out. I am amazed at how many teams bring back everybody from last year. Teams two through seven in the standings last year bring back the bulk of their players, therefore, it should be very exciting.”

Central College Dutch
(5-21, 4-14 IIAC - 8th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 3/10

About the Team: Just three letterwinners return for Central, including just one regular starter in senior guard Tony Polito. Sophomore forward Mark Isaacson started eight of the 15 games in which he appeared as a freshman, but will not join the team until the conclusion of the football season. Senior forward Joe Steinkamp is the only other returning letterwinner.

Polito led the team with 11.3 points per game last season. He had 37 assists and 26 steals. Isaacson contributed 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a freshman. Steinkamp chipped in 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game off the bench.

Three freshmen, Jason Crews (forward), Scott Huisman (forward) and Vince Serrano (guard) will be called upon to fill some openings for the Dutch.

About the Coach: Dan Mason enters his fifth season as Central’s head coach. The Dutch have posted a 39-87 overall record under Mason.

Coach Mason on his team: “Our team has a totally new look. We will probably have three or four newcomers in our rotation and we like what we have seen during the preseason. I assume that we will be picked near the bottom of the Conference, that is ok, because we have a dangerous squad and easily could be the surprise team in the IIAC this season.”

Coach Mason on the IIAC: “Wartburg is my pick to set the standard in the IIAC this season. They have a veteran team and can attack you with multiple weapons. That said, I see the race to be as tight as ever, with close games being the norm.”

Coe College Kohawks
(13-13, 11-7 IIAC - T-4th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 5/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 2/13

About the Team: Seven of Coe’s top eight scorers from last seasons 13-13 team return to the line-up. First Team All-Conference performer Josh Stanek has graduated but Second Team All-Conference forward Bruce Sain returns with his team leading 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Also returning to the Kohawks’ starting line-up are senior center Andrew Tower (10.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 48 assists, 12 blocks), senior guard Luke Gentzler (6.9 ppg, 76 assists), and junior guards Luke Niemann (5.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 32 assists) and Jake Fish (8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg).

Sophomores Nick Wilkins and Seth Hamilton both appeared in all 26 games as freshmen. Wilkins, a guard, averaged 3.1 points per game and dished out 41 assists. Hamilton, a forward, averaged 2.8 points per game.

Junior guard Trent Gaines and sophomore forward Brandon Sain are the top newcomers looking to make an impact in the Kohawk line-up.

About the Coach: Brent Brase enters his ninth season as head coach at Coe. The Kohawks have a 108-88 overall record in Brase’s eight years.

Coach Brase on his team: “Chemistry of the new players with returning players will be key. We play one of the toughest non-Conference schedules in the nation which should prepare us for the start of the Conference season. We will attack offensively and defensively.”

Coach Brase on the IIAC: “The Iowa Conference is the best that I have seen since joining the League five years ago. It should be one of the premier Conferences in the nation with six teams having a legitimate chance to win.”

Cornell College Rams
(12-15, 9-9 IIAC – 6th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/5

About the Team: Two-time All-Conference center Luke Feddersen leads a group of four returning starters to the Rams line-up. Feddersen averaged a team-best 14.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season. He enters his senior season with 915 career points and 515 career rebounds.

Joining Feddersen in the starting line-up are junior forward Matt Ditch (12.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 23 3-pointers), senior guard Eric Sudol (2.9 rpg, 38 assists, 14 steals) and junior guard Andy Fox (7.4 ppg, 41 steals). Ditch and Sudol will join the team upon conclusion of the Cornell football season.

Senior Bryan Goldsmith finished fourth in team scoring last season with 10.1 points per game and second in rebounding with 6.7 boards per game. He appeared in 25 games with 11 starts.

Seven freshmen will be called upon to contribute including center Andy Stoecken, forwards Dan McClanahan and Nathan Sojka, and guards Jeff Ecker, Derrick Danner, Kyle Lichthardt and Cameron Wendt.

About the Coach: Ed Timm enters his seventh season as head coach at Cornell. He has a 39-108 record in six seasons with the Rams and a 64-152 record in nine years as a head coach.

Coach Timm on his team: “We have 25 games scheduled and hope to play to the best of our ability in each.”

Coach Timm on the IIAC: “The IIAC as always will be a very competitive League. I would say all 10 of the teams have a shot at winning it.”

University of Dubuque Spartans
(6-19, 3-15 IIAC – T-9th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 3/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 5/6

About the Team: The Paul Lusk era at Dubuque begins with three returning starters and five returning letterwinners from the 2001-02 squad. Senior guard Dustin Bierman led the team with 10.8 points per game and finished second with 54 assists.

Senior forward Robert Jenkins finished second in team scoring (9.5 ppg) and third in rebounding (3.8 rpg) and assists (24). Sophomore guard Will Benson started 17 games as a freshman and led the team with 72 assists. He also contributed 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

Seniors Terry Dunn and Michael Wehrle came off the bench as a forward and guard, respectively. Wehrle, in 25 games with six starts, contributed 3.0 points per game and 43 assists (third on team). Dunn saw limited action in nine contests with 2.0 points per game.

About the Coach: Paul Lusk enters his first season as head coach at Dubuque. Prior to joining the Spartans, he served as an assistant coach for Missouri Southern State College. He played basketball professionally in South America as well as in the CBA, IBA and twice attended the NBA Phoenix Suns’ training camp.

Coach Lusk on his team: “It will be a growing process trying to implement a new system. Players will have to get a feel for what I am about and what is expected. We will try to be as competitive as possible.”

Coach Lusk on the IIAC: “The IIAC is a very competitive League. We have no misconceptions about the quality of play throughout the League and we understand that we are at the bottom trying to make strides with the rest of the League.”

Loras College Duhawks
(15-12, 11-7 IIAC – 4th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/1

About the Team: Eight of Loras’ top-nine scorers return from a year ago led by First Team All-Conference forward Travis Williams who averaged 12.4 points per game. He also ranked second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game. Other experienced frontcourt players include seniors Joel Cornilsen, who was second in team scoring with 11.5 points per game, and Roy Sackmaster, who contributed 4.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game off the bench. Cornilsen led the Duhawks with 7.1 rebounds per game.

In the backcourt, junior Matt Uthoff averaged 11.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, and was second on the team with 54 assists. Senior Brian Feldott and sophomore Jeff Ludovissy both averaged 7.9 points per game. Feldott contributed 2.8 rebounds per game and 67 assists. A trio of sophomores – Bobby Stineman (2.9 ppg), Keegan Clemens (3.0 ppg) and Tommy Sieverding (0.6 ppg) saw action off the bench last season.

Key newcomers to the Loras line-up include a pair of centers - Mats Nordin, a 7-2 transfer from Western Michigan, and Dwayne Penn, a 6-7 transfer from Iowa Central Community College. Four freshmen – Bobby Olsen, Peter Silvestri, Greg King and Jimmy Ernst will look to make an immediate impact.

About the Coach: Chad Walthall begins his third season as head coach at Loras. He has guided the Duhawks to a 27-25 overall record and two fourth place Conference finishes in his two seasons.

Coach Walthall on his team: “This being the third year in the rebuilding process, we are hoping it will be our most productive season. We return a solid core from a season ago with Iowa Conference experience.”

Coach Walthall on the IIAC: “This could be the most balanced League race since I have been here (three years). I think if you look at the last three seasons, teams are going to have to go through Buena Vista and Wartburg to win the Conference title. They both have the experience and return a solid nucleus.”

Luther College Norse
(3-22, 3-15 IIAC – T-9th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 2/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/7

About the Team: Senior Adam Morrisey and junior Justin Pieper return to the starting line-up as Luther looks to rebound from last seasons 3-22 record. Morrissey led the team with 9.9 points per game and finished second in rebounding with 3.7 per game. Pieper was second in scoring (9.8 ppg) and led the team 4.5 rebounds per game. He also had a team-high 16 blocks.

Seven players that saw action off the bench in 2001-02 will be looked at to round out the starting line-up and provide depth off the bench. Senior forward Tim Nehring and sophomore guard Brandon Grimm are the most experienced returning reserves, appearing in 25 and 24 games respectively. Nehring averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds per game while Grimm contributed 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Junior forwards Jake Lappe (10 games, 8.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Chris Morrisey (15 games), junior center Matt Richardson (8 games, 3.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg), and sophomore guards Jason Karaidos (14 games) and Erik Lowe (17 games, 3.2 ppg) will all be looked to for a greater contribution this season.

About the Coach: Jeff Olinger enters his 12th season as head coach at his alma mater. In 11 years under Olinger, the Norse have posted a 118-159 record.

Coach Olinger on his team: “The Luther men’s basketball team will be much improved. We return a solid core that grew through a tough year last season and I am confident that we will be very competitive in the IIAC race.”

Coach Olinger on the IIAC: ‘The League should be as tough as I can remember it. There are lots of top players back and I don’t see any team that should not be improved. I believe it is wide open with the edge going to Wartburg and Buena Vista.”

Simpson College Storm
(14-12, 12-6 IIAC – 3rd)

Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/2

About the Team: Three-time All-Conference forward Jesse Harris enters the season with 1,228 career points, sixth on Simpson all-time list and leads one of the Conference’s most experienced teams. With all five starters and 11 letterwinners back, the Storm look poised to improve upon its 14-12 record. In addition to Harris and his 16.6 points and 5.7 rebounds a game from last season, a quartet of juniors round-out the group of returning starters.

Forwards Matt Brown and Jason Snyder averaged 10.2 points and 9.6 points per game respectively. They both also averaged over four rebounds per game (Brown – 4.4, Snyder – 4.2). In the backcourt, point guard Dirk Walker averaged 6.0 points per game and led the team with 93 assists. Josh Richter averaged 6.6 points and had 31 assists from the two spot.

Seniors Matt McCulla (26 games, 5.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Jesse Von Behren (10 games), and Tom Tesar (18 games) along with junior Nick Boyd (26 games, 4.9 ppg) and sophomores Mike Martin (24 games, 3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and Landon Drake (five games) all saw action off the bench last season. Von Behren will join the team upon conclusion of the Simpson football season.

Junior center Barry Moore and freshman center Frank Hatlestad will add size that was missing from the Simpson line-up last season as they both stand 6-8.

About the Coach: Bruce Wilson enters his 18th season as head coach at his alma mater. In 17 seasons under Wilson, the Storm have posted a 252-186 record. He has been named IIAC Coach of the Year three times (1992, 1995, 1998).

Coach Wilson on his team: “We have improved our team with the addition of some size and depth with our inside players. Having a lot of experience back will help us. My overall feel is that we are a better team than last year but I feel other teams will be much improved with returnees and quality recruits.”

Coach Wilson on the IIAC: “I feel that this will be one of the most competitive seasons that we have had in the Conference for a number of years and that it will be very difficult for a team to get through the season with fewer than three or four losses.”

Upper Iowa University Peacocks
(12-14, 7-11 IIAC – 7th)

Starters Returning/Lost: 5/0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 8/4

About the Team: Upper Iowa has a veteran team returning with five senior starters and two more seniors coming off the bench. Four of the five starters averaged double-figures led by guard Rashad Richardson with 13.7 points per game. He also averaged 3.4 rebounds per game. Forward Deodrick Sanders, a Second Team All-Conference selection in 2001-02, led the team with 7.1 rebounds per game and was second in team scoring with 11.3 points per game.

Forward Sharron Spain averaged 10.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season while guard Max Montenegro averaged 10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Point guard Mario Jones contributed 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and a team-high 2.9 assists per game.

Off the bench, seniors Rich Trevino and Michael Harbut are the most experienced, appearing in 24 and 26 games, respectively. Trevino, a forward, averaged 7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 24 games including five starts. Harbut, a guard, started six games and averaged 3.1 points and 1.3 assists per game.

Junior forward Chris Collins (10 games), sophomore forward DeLue Miller (3 games) and sophomore guard J.R. Clobes (8 games) will be looked upon to make a bigger contribution this season.

About the Coach: Dave Martin enters his third season as head coach at his alma mater. The Peacocks have a 20-30 record through Martin’s first two seasons.

Coach Martin on his team: “We have six returning players who saw significant action for us last year and a few newcomers that should make an impact as the season goes on. I think our returnees are a little disappointed in how last season went for them and are hungry to try and get into the upper division of the League. It’s exciting to have a decent amount of experience back, and we’ll need it to survive a very tough start to the season.”

Coach Martin on the IIAC: “Trying to pick the League is a crap shoot. With the number of All-Conference kids who are returning and the addition of some really outstanding recruiting classes, some team is definitely going to have to earn it. I would venture to say that there are seven teams thinking they have a legitimate shot as this thing.”

Wartburg College Knights
(20-8, 14-4 IIAC – 2nd)

Starters Returning/Lost: 4/1
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/2

About the Team: All-Conference forwards Mike Pipho and Jake Olsen lead four returning starters to Wartburg’s line-up. Pipho led the team with 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season. He also had a team-high 16 blocks and 29 steals. Olsen, who will join the team upon conclusion of the Wartburg football season, finished second in team scoring (11.6 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.4 rpg).

Three guards – senior Dan Schucknecht, junior Matt Armentrout and sophomore Adam Sanchez – also return to the starting line-up. Schucknecht was the team’s third leading scorer at 7.3 points per game. His 64 assists ranked second on the team. Armentrout started 15 of 26 games and ranked third on the team with 63 assists. He also contributed 6.5 points per game. Sanchez led the team with 67 assists in 28 games as a freshman. He averaged 6.5 points per game and shot 87.8 percent from the free throw line.

Sophomore Gabe Maas, who missed last season due to a knee injury will be joined by freshmen Cassidy Peterson, Nate Schmidt, Joel Formanek, Jason Steege and Rance Cartmill as the top newcomers on the Knights’ roster.

About the Coach: Dick Peth enters his sixth season as head coach at Wartburg and 15th as a collegiate basketball coach. Peth has led the Knights to an 87-45 record in his five seasons and has an overall coaching record of 308-168. He was named IIAC Coach of the Year in 2001.

Coach Peth on his team: “Our goal is to contend for a Conference Championship again this season. We return four of five starters, and two of the better scorers in the IIAC, with All-Conference players Mike Pipho and Jake Olsen. Also, 10 of 13 lettermen are back for this team.”

Coach Peth on the IIAC: “The IIAC gets more competitive every year. This year is certainly no exception with so many returning starters from last year’s teams.”

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