Wittenberg Returnees Excited About Upcoming Season
LOOKING AT THE 2000-01 SEASON
Wittenberg University's men basketball Tigers expect the return of eight letter winners and three starters from the 1999-2000 team which compiled a 18-8 mark while finishing in third place in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC).
When the Tigers begin preparations for the upcoming season, they will be without graduated senior starters Lou Stahl and Jon Stafford. Stahl led last year's squad in both assists and three-point field goals. In addition, Stahl finished his Tiger career as the current all-time career leader in three-point field goals made (210) and games played (120). Stafford, a three-year starter, averaged 10.0 points per game last season and became only the 23rd player in Tiger annals to score over 1000 points.
Full-time returning starters include seniors Chris Fillmore (Barberton,Ohio/Barberton) and Ryan Taylor (Waynesfield,Ohio/Goshen). Fillmore, the team's second leading scorer (12.8) and rebounder (6.7) last season, returns for his fourth year of eligibilty after sitting out his freshmen season with a knee injury. Fillmore was the Tiger's Most Valuable Player and a first team All-NCAC selection in 1999-2000.
Taylor, the Tiger's scoring leader last season (13.8), registered double figures in all 25 games in which he played. Taylor was a first team All-NCAC selection in 1998-99 and a second team honoree last season.
The other returning starter is sophomore forward Kevin Longley (Vandalia,Ohio/Butler). Longley was the team's leading rebounder (8.3) while also averaging 8.8 points per game. He was an honorable mention All-NCAC selection as a freshman.Other returning letter winners include senior guards Kyle Krauss (Deshler,Ohio/Patrick Henry) and Alex Welp (Centerville,Ohio/Centerville), junior wing Chad Mossing (Maumee,Ohio/Holland Springfield), junior post Brian Gratsch (Madeira,OH/Madeira) and sophomore forward B.J. Harris (Riverside, Ohio/Stebbins).
TOUGH SCHEDULE
The Tigers have, in keeping with tradition, put together a very challenging schedule for the 2000-01 season. In addition to their very demanding NCAC schedule, the Tigers will also test themselves with difficult non-conference games. Wittenberg will tip off their season playing Rose-Hulman (IN) in the first round of the Albion College (MI) tournament. Albion and Case Western Reserve round out the field. This year's Wittenberg/Kiwanis Holiday Classic teams include quality programs from Beloit College (WI), Hanover College (IN), and Kalamazoo College (MI). The rest of the non-conference schedule includes local NAIA scholarship rival Cedarville College, long-time, traditional foe Otterbein College, former NCAC member Case Western Reserve as well as independent Thomas More College (KY).
WINNING TRADITION
Wittenberg is the winningest program among all 350+ NCAA Division III basketball programs by victories (1,388) and is second in winning percentage (.703). When compared to all NCAA basketball programs, Wittenberg's winning percentage ranks eighth, in front of such powers as UCLA, Kansas, Syracuse and Duke. In addition, the Tigers have more Division III tournament appearances (19), victories (40) and Final Four berths (6) than any other program in the country. In 44 consecutive winning seasons, dating back to 1956-57, the Tigers have averaged 21 wins per season and won 27 regular season conference titles.
TIGERS IN THE NCAC
Wittenberg is the winningest team in the NCAC when records are compared for the league’s 15 year history in conference games. The Tiger’s eleven year NCAC record is 164-32 (.837). Wittenberg has won the regular season title seven of the eleven years they have been in the league.
HOME SWEET HOME
Wittenberg's home court has traditionally been a very difficult place for opponents to play. Since the 1957-58 season, the Tigers have an incredible 437-49 record at home for a .899 winning percentage. Since moving into the HPERC Center in 1982, Wittenberg is 232-27 at home for a .896 winning mark in all games. In all NCAC regular season games since joining the conference in 1989, the Tigers have an even more amazing 185-16 home record for .920 percent. Much of this success is fueled by enthusiastic crowds which annually rank Wittenberg in the top ten for home game attendance among all NCAA Division III institutions.
COACH BILL BROWN
Head Coach Bill Brown (Wittenberg '73) has a record of 156-43 (.786) in seven seasons at his alma mater. His teams are 94-17 in NCAC play and 9-4 in NCAA tournament action. The Tigers have won three NCAC regular season titles in Brown's seven years. Under Brown's direction, Wittenberg teams have appeared in four NCAA Division III national tournaments with a trip to the Final Four in 1993-94 and an Elite Eight appearance in 1995-96.
RADIO
WBLY (AM 1600) carries all the action of Wittenberg Tiger basketball, both at home and on the road. Coverage includes 15 minute pre-game and post-game shows with head coach Bill Brown as well as with selected Tiger players. Veteran sportscaster Marty Bannister calls the play-by-play.
WITTENBERG ON THE WEB AND TEAMLINE
Wittenberg's world wide web site offers live broadcast of all Tiger basketball games via WBLY as well as up-to-date information on the team. Scores, results, stats, boxscores and the most recent press releases are all available to anyone with access to the internet. Wittenberg University's home page address is http://www.wittenberg.edu.
In addition, all of WBLY's broadcasts can also be heard anywhere in the world through an arrangement with TEAMLINE. TEAMLINE is accessed on a touchtone phone by calling 1-800-846-4700.
CHALLENGING ACADEMICS
Wittenberg University is one of America’s foremost undergraduate liberal arts and sciences universities. The school, founded in 1845, has over the past 155 years built an impressive reputation for academic distinction and for preparing outstanding graduates for successful professional careers and rewarding lives. Wittenberg, which has one of only 258 Phi Beta Kappa chapters nationwide, is mentioned in glowing terms in nearly every college reference book.