Photo by: Michael Furman
DU’s men’s basketball captain, senior Nate Rohnert, was named to the Sun Belt Conference’s Preseason All-Conference team. He joins Middle Tennessee’s Desmond Yates, North Texas’ Eric Tramiel, Troy’s Brandon Hazzard, and Western Kentucky’s A.J Slaughter.
“It’s a great honor to be named among the Sun Belt Conferences greatest players,” Rohnert said.
The acclaim isn’t new for Rohnert as he was all-SBC player as a sophomore and a junior. Last season the senior guard averaged 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists.
He also led the Pioneers in four individual categories. He recorded team highs in steals, points, assists, and minutes played.
“He does everything we need him to do, which is the definition of a great leader,” said Rob Lewis, junior forward. “He steals, rebounds, scores, passes for us and is a huge part of our success.”
At the end of last season, Rohnert finished in the top-10 of the conference in five individual categories: scoring, field-goal percentage, assists, steals, and minutes played. He was first in the conference in minutes played, averaging 37 minutes per game.
“He just does everything on the court and fills up the stat sheet at the end of the game,” sophomore forward Brian Stafford said. “Most importantly though is that he makes his teammates better by playing hard at every practice, he is a great leader for us.”
Rohnert’s hard work is proven by the simple fact that he was the only player last season to finish in the top-15 in the SBC in points, rebound, and assists.
“I’ve played with him these past two seasons and it is pretty cool to see him grow,” Lewis said. “He has grown into a great player and a great leader.”
The Pioneers return nine players, other than Rohnert, which puts DU in a great position to make a post-season run.
“We mesh really well together,” Rohnert said of the returning players. “We all know each other well and know where were at, we’re just excited to get going and see what we can do.”
DU is projected to finish second in the West Division behind North Texas. In order for the Pioneers to fulfill predicted destiny, Rohnert will have to continue doing what he has done the previous three seasons and even more.
“He needs to be a coach on the floor for us,” head coach Joe Scott said. “I think that is his biggest area of improvement.”
As for the preseason accolades, Rohnert remains humbled and concentrated on the upcoming season.
“Coach doesn’t want us to look too much into it,” Rohnert said. “We must focus on the team, rather than focusing on what is being said by others.”
