Seeking its biggest rebound ever, the men’s basketball team has a fresh look and upbeat attitude to start the 2007/08 season.B A new coach is just one of many reasons why the DU hoopsters are optimistic that last season’s disappointing 4-24 record will soon be forgotten.
“I think we have pretty much put it behind us.B When Coach Scott came in
last spring, he made it clear that we were going to move forward and
begin a new era for DU basketball,” said senior forward David Kummer about last season.
Just like the men’s hockey team, the basketball program will be going through a youth movement as it features seven freshmen and two sophomores on the 13-man roster. The roster’s tallest player is just 6’9″ and smallest is 5’11”.
Joe Scott came to DU after spending three seasons as head coach at Princeton where he accumulated a 38-45 mark and leading the nation in scoring defense (52.9 ppg) during the 2006-07 season.
Before that, Scott was head coach at Air Force for four seasons and led the Falcons to a NCAA tournament appearance in 2004, the school’s first in 42 years.
“I think we will have a strong defensive presence as a unit.B Along with that, our offense is
centered around being fundamentally sound, so I think our ability to dribble, pass, and shoot will be vital,” said Kummer.
In nine years as a Division I program, Denver has yet to make it to the NCAA tourney and Scott is just the medicine the program needs to return to winning and to stay consistent, players said.
This season’s squad will be lead by Kummer who sat out last season with a knee injury, but the 6’6″ forward will be a perfect fit in the system. Another leader will be senior center Adam Tanner, who averaged 6.2 points per game last season along with 5.3 rebounds.
“The center is a crucial part of the offense in the system that we run. They touch the ball almost every time down the floor,” said Scott.
Sophomore guard Tyler Bullock is the highest point getter from last season, averaging 11.0 points per game and 2.9 assist per game.
If the team is to be successful this season it will be a full team effort as the bench will be busy with constant substations’. Junior guard Joe Jackson (7.4 ppg) and sophomore forward Nate Rohnert (4.2 ppg) are the other top-returners, while Rob Lewis, Kyle Lewis, Anthony Porch and Andrew Hooper lead the list of freshmen.
“I think we have a very strong sense of togetherness that we might not have had in the past.B We all realize our individual strengths and weaknesses, and we are combining our efforts,” said Kummer.
The Pioneers non-conference schedule will be by far their toughest challenge in many years as many big name opponents are on tap.
DU will start the season in the Oklahoma regional of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic facing Division II opponent East Central Oklahoma in the first round. If Denver is victorious, the Pioneers will face the winner of Oklahoma vs. San Francisco in the second round.
Other challengers during non-conference play include Penn. State, Santa Clara, Wyoming, Colorado and Colorado State.
By no surprise Denver was picked seventh out of seven West-Division teams in the pre-season Sun Belt Conference coaches’ poll.
“I think like any other team in the country, year in and year out the goal is to make it to the NCAA tourney.B We obviously want to compete and win against our regional competition, as well as our conference,” said Kummer.
