STEVENS POINT – Coach Bob Semling, the reigning Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men's Basketball Coach of the Year, looks to add another WIAC regular season and tournament title to the trophy case at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season. The Pointers hope this year's recruiting class can fill the vacancy that last season's seniors left.

The Pointers have won the WIAC regular season title seven times since 1999-2000, boasting a 125-35 record in that span. They've also won the WIAC tournament championship four times in the last six seasons. The plans for this season's outcome are the same for Coach Semling, just with a new group of guys.

Semling and the Pointers add five freshmen to replace All-Conference performers Brian Beamish, Pete Rortvedt (Minocqua/Lakeland), Khalifa El-Amin (Milwaukee/Rufus King), and Jerome Wotachek (Mishicot/Mishicot), who were all lost to graduation. Freshmen Tyler Tillema (Randolph), Jerrel Harris (Whitefish Bay), Jordan Giordana (Kaukauna), Matt Resch (Wayauwega), and Brian Ironmonger (Oregon) will be called upon to start legacies of their own in 2009-10.

Aiding the newcomers will be a host of Pointers who saw plenty of action in 2008-09. Leading the way will be senior captains Matt Moses (Fond du Lac) and Evan Sweeney (Appleton). Moses led the team in scoring last season, averaging 13.2 points per game to go along with his 4.7 rebounds per game average. Moses was honored as a First-Team all WIAC selection. Sweeney returns for his senior year after starting two games last season for the Pointers. He averaged 3.5 points per game in 12.9 minutes of action in 28 games last season.

Coach Semling will rely heavily on junior standout Louis Hurd (Portage) once again this season. Hurd put up an impressive 12.0 points per game last season while averaging 22.7 minutes per game. Hurd started 18 of the 21 games he played in last season and averaged 4.6 rebounds per game.

Junior football standout Jared Jenkins (Milwaukee), who led the WIAC in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, will look to bring his multi-talented skills to the hardwood once again this season. Jenkins finished 2008-09 averaging 5.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 25 games, posting 15.4 minutes per game.

Nick Krull (Marshall), another returning junior, looks to improve his numbers and his role from last season's team. Krull finished fifth in rebounding for the Pointers last season, pulling down 3.1 rebounds per game. He finished the season averaging 4.3 points per game in 29 games, logging 18.1 minutes per contest.

Other players that will look to contribute include juniors Vinny Ritchay (Wisconsin Rapids) andScott Hoelzel (Kaukauna), sophomore Jordan Brezinski (Muskego) and sophomore transfer Dan Tillema (Randolph). 

Sitting alongside Coach Semling on the bench this season will be new assistant coach Lance Randall. Randall replaced Scott Anderson, who left for the boys head coaching job at SPASH. For more information on Randall, click here.

UW-Stevens Point enters this season ranked 10 in the NCAA Div. III Preseason Polls conducted by D3hoops.com and was voted to win the WIAC regular season title in the preseason conference outlook.

The Pointers begin their trek toward another successful season at Semling's helm when they travel to Collegeville, Minn, to take on the St. John's University on November 15. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.