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In the third year under head coach Joe Scott, the Pioneers men’s basketball team hopes to continue improving on the progress it has seen over the past two seasons.

Last year, the Pioneers finished with a 9-9 record in conference and hosted ent game in program history.

“In year three we need to be better on both sides of the ball and begin to control games by playing our style of basketball,” Scott said. “If those things happen then it will show up with more total wins.”

The Pioneers return 10 players from last year’s squad that finished 15-16 overall and lost in the SBC quarterfinals to Arkansas-Little Rock.

“Right now we have 10 to 11 guys who can play and look well in our system,” Scott said. “We only have three freshmen, which means the sophomores are the younger guys and how fast they can come along and contribute like experienced players will determine our success.”

The group of young Pioneers looking to contribute are sophomore guards Brian Stafford, Tyler Thalken and Sabatino Chen.

“We are a lot more confident,” Stafford said. “Playing last year gave me a lot of experience and now there is less worry about making mistakes and overthinking.”

However, the frontcourt is where the Pioneers struggled last season, finishing dead last in the SBC in offensive and defensive rebounding. Newcomer freshman forward Chase Hallam looks to end DU’s rebounding struggles.

“Chase is coming along real well for us,” Scott said. “Physical strength helps you get more rebounds, but most importantly keeping the opponent out of the lane makes rebounding on both sides of the ball easier.”

Another area for concern in past season for Denver has been games away from Magness Arena.

In the past two seasons, the Pioneers have won only three road games.

“Mental strength helps you win road games,” Scott said. “This season we are older and more mature, with that experience we can win any game we just have to play our style and maintain our focus.”

The season opens with a home game against defending Missouri Valley Champion, Northern Iowa, on Friday. 

“This is a team that won 20-plus games last season and went to the tournament,” Scott said. “We need to focus on ourselves, if we can be physical and aggressive than we will be okay.”

As for the rest of the Pioneers schedule, Scott insists his team must have respect for each opponent.

“Every team we play is a good team, because every team has good coaches, players and schemes,” Scott said. “We must have respect for all our opponents, that way we will respect everything we’re doing and take care of what needs to be taken care of in order to win.”

Junior Rob Lewis agrees with his coach on the matter of not overlooking any opponent.

“If we stick to what we’re trying to do we can beat anyone on our schedule,” Lewis said. “But if we’re not disciplined than we can lose any game on our schedule, we must stay focused.”

Once a bottom dweller, the Pioneers have risen under Scott. DU was picked to finish No. 2in the West and possibly No. 3 in the entire conference, which means more home post-season games.

“Preseason rankings don’t mean much to us,” Scott said. “We must concentrate on our weaknesses and continually get better each and every day.”

 

Schedule breakdown

The men’s first game of the season will be a test as to where the Pioneers stand at the beginning of the season. The season begins with a home game against Northern Iowa, the defending Missouri Valley champions. Last season they dropped their season opener to Northern Iowa, 61-56, in Cedar Falls.

“It was a tough game,” junior Rob Lewis said. “They are a very disciplined team and they don’t beat themselves.”

The Pioneers open conference play at home on Dec. 31 against Arkansas State.

A few weeks later DU hosts conference heavyweight and three-time defending champion Western Kentucky, a game that should prove how far Denver can go.

The Pioneers biggest road test comes when they travel to Denton, Texas on Feb. 13 to challenge North Texas. The Mean Green returns all five starters to a team that is tapped to win the West Division.

“In the past we have struggled on the road, but we’re a different team than past teams,” captain Nate Ronhert said. “We just have to do what we need to do and the wins will come.”

 

Freshman to keep an eye on

Freshman forward Chase Hallam

Mesquite High School, Texas

With ten returning players DU’s basketball team has plenty of experience to achieve their goals.

The success of the team though depends on the variables, or the elements of the team that the coaches have not been able to review, or work on.

One of those unknowns is how the incoming freshman class will impact the team. Forward Chase Hallam, the brother of DU’s sophomore Travis Hallam, heads the incoming class

“I like what I see out of Chase,” senior captain Nate Rohnert said. “He is extremely physical and tough, which will definitely  help us out this year.”

As Hallam looks to directly impact DU’s season as a freshman, his progression and growth are vital.

His physical strength will help the Pioneers in the frontcourt and under the boards, an area where the team needs assistance.