Men's basketball team aims to improve from last season
Matt Daniels
Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: Sports
The Madison Area Technical College men's basketball team lost more than just the Region XIII championship game last year. They also lost a majority of their scoring and rebounding. With that said, expectations remain high for this season.
Head coach Scot Vesterdahl is not too worried about filling the scoring void left by Chris Davis, Mike Paynter and Grant Johnson. It always hurts losing a scoring threat like Davis, who averaged 22.4 points per game, but Vesterdahl feels he has some talented first-year players to compliment his eight returning players this season.
"I would expect us to be very competitive. I really like the group of kids I have. I think their work ethic is pretty solid and I think we've got some kids that can score," said Vesterdahl.
Forwards Bobby Komorowski and Drew Mandli are the only returning players from last season with starting experience, combining for 24 starts. Guard Sam Wilkinson started 10 games in the 2007-2008 season but did not play for the WolfPack last year.
Even with the limited amount of starting action last season, the second-year players gained valuable experience playing at the college level. Vesterdahl will rely heavily on his experienced players to set a positive example for the first-year players.
"The first and primary thing for second-year guys is leadership, to show the guys the ropes, to help them on the court, off the court and in class," Vesterdahl explained.
One place to turn for leadership is Mandli. He averaged 4.3 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game last year. He is looking to improve his offensive numbers and be more of a leader this season.
The number one thing Mandli took away from last season was, "knowing what it takes to get that far (in the postseason) and knowing we have to work that much harder to get any farther."
With only three players returning with starting experience, the opportunity to earn playing time this season will be available to the players who are most deserving. Vesterdahl likes to use a nine to 10 man rotation on the court so there is plenty of playing time to go around.
Head coach Scot Vesterdahl is not too worried about filling the scoring void left by Chris Davis, Mike Paynter and Grant Johnson. It always hurts losing a scoring threat like Davis, who averaged 22.4 points per game, but Vesterdahl feels he has some talented first-year players to compliment his eight returning players this season.
"I would expect us to be very competitive. I really like the group of kids I have. I think their work ethic is pretty solid and I think we've got some kids that can score," said Vesterdahl.
Forwards Bobby Komorowski and Drew Mandli are the only returning players from last season with starting experience, combining for 24 starts. Guard Sam Wilkinson started 10 games in the 2007-2008 season but did not play for the WolfPack last year.
Even with the limited amount of starting action last season, the second-year players gained valuable experience playing at the college level. Vesterdahl will rely heavily on his experienced players to set a positive example for the first-year players.
"The first and primary thing for second-year guys is leadership, to show the guys the ropes, to help them on the court, off the court and in class," Vesterdahl explained.
One place to turn for leadership is Mandli. He averaged 4.3 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game last year. He is looking to improve his offensive numbers and be more of a leader this season.
The number one thing Mandli took away from last season was, "knowing what it takes to get that far (in the postseason) and knowing we have to work that much harder to get any farther."
With only three players returning with starting experience, the opportunity to earn playing time this season will be available to the players who are most deserving. Vesterdahl likes to use a nine to 10 man rotation on the court so there is plenty of playing time to go around.
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