Coming off a 21-7 overall record and a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament runner-up finish in 2009-10, the Wittenberg Tigers return eight letterwinners, including three starters, with sights set on returning the program to its customary heights.
Wittenberg, with the most wins in NCAA Division III history and 53 consecutive non-losing seasons, is led by senior guard Chris Sullivan (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington), who is coming off a breakout 2009-10 season in which he earned second-team All-NCAC honors. Sullivan averaged 12.4 points per game in 2009-10 while draining a school-record-tying 90 three-pointers, which led the NCAC and ranked among the best in the nation. He also led the team with 38 steals and ranked second with 45 assists.
Junior wing Josh McKee (New Carlisle, Ohio/Tecumseh), a mainstay in the starting lineup the last two years while also starring at wide receiver for the nationally ranked Tiger football team, averaged 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21 games — all starting assignments — during the 2009-10 season. Senior guard/wing Seth Hill (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) contributed 4.1 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12 games off the bench a year ago, but he factors even more prominently in the team's backcourt plans in 2010-11.
The Tigers are deeper in the frontcourt, starting with juniors Michael Cooper (Springfield, Ohio/South) and Clayton Black (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster), who combined to average 14.3 points and 8.6 rebounds in 2009-10. Cooper appeared in 20 games and made six starts after setting a school record with 60 receptions for the football team in 2009, while Black led the team with a .587 shooting percentage. He started 13 of the team's 28 games a year ago while contributing 4.8 rebounds, second on the team, and 17 blocks, also second on the team.
Sophomore wing David Hieber (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) appeared in all 28 games a year ago, starting seven. He hit 33 three-pointers, second-most on the team, while averaging 6.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per outing.
Two other letterwinners are also back in the fold in junior forward Jacob Weide (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and junior post Alex Brandt (Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy). This deep, experienced squad is bolstered by an outstanding recruiting class, which includes multiple likely contributors.
2010-11 Team Information
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Returning Letterwinners (8)
Chris Sullivan (G, 5-10, Sr.)Seth Hill (W, 6-1, Sr.) Alex Brandt (P, 6-7, Jr.) Clayton Black (F, 6-7, Jr.) Josh McKee (W, 6-1, Jr.) Michael Cooper (W, 6-4, Jr.) Jacob Weide (F, 6-5, Jr.) David Hieber (W, 6-6, So.) |
Letterwinners Lost (4)
Kyle BiglerDavid Nowicki Brad Folta Mark Snyder |
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Other Returning Players (5)
Michael Duffy (G, 6-0, Jr.)Sam Gardner (F, 6-5, Jr.) Hunter Broadstone (W, 6-1, So.) Eli Pavlatos (W, 6-2, So.) Cameron Walton (W, 6-2, So.) |
Newcomers (11)
Cole Bond (C, 6-7, Fr.)Zack Burks (G, 6-3, Fr.) Joel Clark (G, 6-2, Fr.) PJ Howell (G, 6-6, Fr.) James Hughes (F, 6-6, Fr.) Scott Masin (F, 6-6, Fr.) Rob Metry (F, 6-1, Fr.) Kyle Morris (W, 6-1, Fr.) Steven Newell (G, 6-0, Fr.) Ian Quick (F, 6-6, So.) Kevin Sharick (F, 6-6, Fr.) |