Photo by: Michael Furman
In his three seasons coaching DU’s men’s basketball, Joe Scott has moved the Pioneers up a notch on the win scale.
This season the Pioneers won 19 games, the second most wins in the history of the university at the Division I level.
In addition, the Pioneers advanced to the semi-finals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament only to lose 63-56 to North Texas, the team that won the post-season tournament and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
“Nineteen wins on the season is a great accomplishment, but what is most important is how we played in the final five weeks of the season,” said Scott. “We played the way, which I know if we play that way every time we step onto the court, then we can be really good.”
Denver (19-13) also finished more than 500 percent in conference play, 10-8, for only the second time since the program began play at the Division I level.
“Every year we have gone one game farther in the conference tournament and that was important for us to do,” said Scott. “When you get to that point in the year when 19 win teams and 20 win teams are playing each other, it really comes down to who plays better that day.”
In the SBC playoffs, the Pioneers were able to cut their second half deficit to one point, but couldn’t overcome a poor shooting night, where they shot just 38.9 percent from the field.
“We didn’t make shots, we shot under 40 percent and that hurt us,” said Scott.
Another problem that plagued the Pioneers in their final game was rebounding. The Mean Green outrebounded DU 36-27 in the game and 22-12 in the first half alone.
“Rebounding changed the game, but we turned that around in the second half and we were able to make our run and get it to within one, because we rebounded better,” said Scott. “If you look at our last ten games one of the things we really did well was rebound the ball.”
In his final game as a Pioneer, All-SBC First Teamer Nate Rohnert scored a team-high 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds and passed out seven assists, while becoming DU’s leader in all-time games played.
“It is special to be the guy who has played the most games in school history,” said Rohnert. “What that means is that I was just durable and wanted to be able to go out there for my team.”
“Nate has meant the world to this program,” said Scott. “The greatest compliment is that he loves to play and that is the hardest thing that we have to replace, his love for being in the gym.”
The senior captain finished his career with 1,307 points, which places him No. 9 all-time on DU’s scorer list.
“If we want to get better than 19 wins than we will need guys like him who love to play the game,” said Scott. “At this level that is leadership, so our guys have seen that and it’s going to be who wants to be like that.”
With Rohnert’s absence next season, Denver must fill the void he leaves. The backcourt combination of sophomore Brian Stafford and freshman Chase Hallam improved as the season went on and will be difference makers next year, according to Scott.
“Next season we are going to have a lot of seniors and juniors who now have the experience of winning a good amount of games,” said Rohnert. “They have what it takes to get to win the conference and get to the NCAA tournament, they just have to work hard.”
Scott credits the programs progress to the consistency his team has shown late in the year.
“We showed some reliance and some toughness which allowed us to keep getting better in February, but what is most import is that our guys improved at that point in the year again,” said Scott.
Scott emphasizes the final five weeks as an extended period of time where the team played better when the games got more important.
In addition, he feels the importance in his teams accomplishments lies within the players who are returning.
“When finishing seasons strong happens with guys who are veterans it becomes a habit for them,” said Scott. “That is why 19 wins is important, because we have put ourselves in a position where we make 19 wins something more than 19 next season and that’s what really matters.”
As for his best season at DU thus far, Scott says all his goals for the program have not been accomplished yet.
“Our goal has always been to make sure we are a winning program and in three years we have done that,” said Scott. “We didn’t reach our ultimate goal, which is the NCAA tournament, but the possibility is out there for us. It’s not a pipe dream anymore, it is a reality and it is up to us to make it happen now.”
If the postseason trend continues next season, then the Pioneers will be playing in a game that can get them there.
