STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team hopes a team with new faces and players in new roles will take the mold of last season's team that won the program's fourth national championship.
A year ago, a group of four seniors led a UW-Stevens Point team built on defense and a balanced offensive attack to a national championship after a 70-54 victory over Augustana (Ill.) in Salem, Va. The Pointers raced through their six NCAA Tournament wins, four of which came on their home court, winning by an average of 18.5 points per game.
"Last year, I think we overachieved given there were no expectations," said reigning National Coach of the Year
Bob Semling. "That team did more down the stretch in six games than perhaps any team we've had. There were no expectations that that team could do something like that, yet they did."
The title run was led by graduated seniors
Austin Ryf (Winneconne, WI/Winneconne),
Joe Ritchay (Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Lincoln),
Jordan Lutz (Amherst, WI/Amherst) and
Alex Richard (Spring Green, WI/River Valley), who combined to score 69.2 percent of UW-Stevens Point's points a year ago. Each of the four were either All-WIAC or Honorable Mention All-WIAC selections.
"They made their mark on this program," Semling said of the quartet. "Nobody will ever be able to take anything away from what those four men achieved in their careers, winning three conference championships, making the NCAA Tournament all four years and winning a national title their senior year."
Despite the loss of last season's four seniors, UW-Stevens Point returns two key contributors from a year ago in seniors
Stephen Pelkofer (Hales Corner, WI/Whitnall) and
Sean McGann (Baraboo, WI/Baraboo). Pelkofer was an Honorable Mention All-WIAC pick last year after averaging 11.6 points a game and is a D3hoops.com Third Team Preseason All-American. McGann was the first man off the bench last year and averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds a game.
"They've both worked extremely hard and they're both better players because of what they've done in the offseason," Semling said of the senior duo. "They're excited about the opportunity to take ownership of this team."
Pelkofer and McGann are among nine returning letterwinners on the UWSP roster. The pair are joined by fellow senior
Bill Patterson (Alsip, IL/Mount Carmel), a four-player junior class of
Aaron Retzlaff (Randolph, WI/Randolph),
Brad Freeborn (River Falls, WI/River Falls),
Caden Untiedt (Edgar, WI/Edgar) and
Jared Gjertson (Wausau, WI/D.C. Everest) and sophomores
Luke Zuiker (Marshfield, WI/Marshfield) and
Zack Goedeke (Valders, WI/Valders).
"We always start with that next class," Semling said when asked about players to step up this season. "The junior class is the hardest-working group we've had because we've asked them to do more than anybody else in their freshman and sophomore years. We've seen it a lot with players that the junior season is when the big jump takes place."
"Luke and Zack have enough talent and ability to help us, so we're working hard with those guys and we're hoping the can get into the mix," Semling added of his sophomore class.
UW-Stevens Point also added a six-man freshman class to the roster this season of
Ethan Bublitz (Jackson, WI/Kettle Moraine Lutheran),
Drew Fredrickson (Mount Horeb, WI/Mount Horeb),
Chaz Mootz (Merrill, WI/Merrill),
Mark Nelson (Madison, WI/Monona Grove),
Canon O'Heron (Bangor, WI/Bangor) and
Brett Tauber (Madison, WI/Memorial). While it is too early to tell how the freshmen will fit into the mix, Semling is excited about the potential of the group.
"On paper, the freshman class is a special class and they all have great credentials," Semling commented. "We've challenged them to learn our system and understand what it takes to make the transition to college and to be competitive in practice. We'd love for a couple of those guys to step in and help us right away but it's difficult for freshmen."
After seeing his team lead the nation in scoring defense (54.6 ppg) and have five players average in double figures in scoring last season, Semling is hoping this season's team can adopt a similar style.
"I hope that we will continue to be a team with four or five guys in double figures and that we're a very unselfish team," he said. "Defensively, it's a process and it'll take a full year but I hope we continue each week to mature into an outstanding team on defense."
While the Pointers aim to be playing their best at the end of the season like a year ago, UW-Stevens Point will be challenged early in the season by one of the toughest schedules in the country. UW-Stevens Point plays six teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season, including national runner-up and preseason No. 1 Augustana (Ill.), and its non-conference opponents combined for a .679 winning percentage in 2014-15.
"It's a schedule that shows that we have a lot of faith in our guys," Semling said of the rigorous schedule. "It will help this team grow up in a hurry and will help us prepare for the WIAC and the postseason. That's what it's all about, so that we can make a run down the stretch in February and into postseason play."
After a strong end to last season, UW-Stevens Point is ranked No. 9 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll and is the preseason pick to win the WIAC. Now with a target on their backs, the Pointers are simply focused on getting back to work.
"Our guys have been really good over the years at embracing our achievements but then understanding that you have to get back to work," Semling said of being the defending national champions. "You have to understand that your opponents are going to be even more inspired to beat you and you can't feel like we're better than someone because we won a national title. It's just the opposite. You have to work harder and earn respect all over again the next year."