The University of Denver men’s basketball team has never been a strong point for DU athletics. While other programs flaunt national championships, regional success and individual accolades, DU men’s basketball has never made March Madness, one school from a select list to pull off this shockingly unremarkable achievement.
Last season ended at an even lower point than Denver is used to. Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun “mutually agreed to part ways” with DU Athletics after they lost by 18 points to No. 2 St. Thomas in the first round of the Summit League tournament. Wulburn ended his career with DU with a record of 53-74. All but three players on the roster graduated or entered the transfer portal after the end of the season.
However, with the hiring of Tim Bergstraser as the new head coach and the arrival of 12 new players, the outlook of the DU men’s basketball team could be on the rise.
Bergstraser was the head coach of Minnesota State University (MSU) Moorhead for three seasons where he accumulated a 75-22 record. He brings with him four transfers from MSU Moorhead.
“I’m thankful that I’m bringing in four guys I’ve already coached. So I’ve had the opportunity for those guys to kind of lead this team and then these new guys just follow their action,” said Bergstraser.
Although most of the team is new to Denver, they possess an abundance of experience with Bergstraser bringing in four graduate students to the roster.
Freshman guard Trajan Thompson is the only true freshman on the team. He led Providence Day School in Charlotte, N.C. to a 4A state title. Thompson signed early last November under Wulbrun.
“I really do believe we have a group of guys that care about winning. They’ve been around winning before. They know the little things that go into winning,” Bergstraser said.
However, a big challenge for Denver has been getting this new team to click on the floor.
“The biggest thing this summer and preseason has just been trying to get that chemistry down on the floor. It hasn’t been a problem off the floor,” said Bergstraser.
With the season opener rapidly approaching, this must happen quickly if Denver wants to start winning right away and hunt for the Summit League Championship and a March Madness bid.
“We’re at the bottom of a 14er, looking up and wearing flip-flops,” Bergstraser said. “So we can still accomplish it. Don’t get me wrong.”
The Crimson and Gold are ranked seventh out of nine teams in the Summit League preseason rankings, just four points shy of last place Oral Roberts.
“I hear about it, I don’t care about it,” Bergstraser said. “All I’m fixated on is this group of guys.”
Accompanying their underdog status, Denver will also play without a true center on the roster. Their tallest player is junior forward Didier Maleng, who stands at 6-foot-9.
Junior forward Gabe Oldham will also look to be a presence in the paint. He transferred from Pima CC where he averaged 13 points and 9.4 rebounds per game to help lead them to a 35-1 record and a third place finish in the NJCAA Division II Tournament.
“It’s so stinking hard to find a big that’s serviceable. And we could have went out and got any seven-footer that’s, you know, 250 pounds and could barely catch a ball and barely move,” said Bergstraser. “I would rather have a maybe 6-[foot]-7, 6-[foot]-8 guy that can just at least give us athleticism, mobility, rebounding and defense.”
Behind Assistant Sports Performance Coach Evan Morton, the team has gained an average of 6.4 pounds over the summer while losing 4 percent body fat, with increases to average vertical leap as well.
This athleticism will help Denver on the defensive end, which Bergstraser emphasizes as a key to winning games and an area that needs improvement.
Sophomore guard Carson Johnson will lead the team on the offensive end. Last year he averaged 19.8 points-per-game after having his redshirt pulled midway through the season. He dropped a career high of 42 points, the most from a true freshman in MSU Moorhead history, and was the first freshman in tournament history to win the NSIC Tournament MVP.
Bergstraser wants to use Johnson’s scoring ability to play team basketball.
“If you got a guy like Carson Johnson, who’s obviously going to get a ton of traction this year, if he could go get a paint touch and create an advantage for a teammate…they might be able to do the same thing for him,” Bergstraser said. “I’m big on together basketball.”
Denver will look to play fast-paced, high intensity basketball, with ball screens, quick passes and transition scoring.
DU starts their regular season on the road against Seattle on Nov. 3, Washington on Nov. 6 and Montana State on Nov. 9.
The Crimson and Gold will then have their home opener against UT San Antonio (UTSA) on Nov. 15.
