Men's Basketball Preview - Part 8: UW-Green Bay
Nov. 8, 2006
Call it overachieving or call it exceeding expectations, but in each of Tod Kowalczyk's first four seasons as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay basketball team his squads have finished higher in the final Horizon League standings than they were predicted to in the preseason poll. Picked to finish second this year, another season of going beyond expectations would mean the squad's first league title since the 1995-96 season.
Phoenix fans have plenty to be optimistic about in 2006-07 with every significant contributor, including all five starters, returning from last season's team that finished third in the Horizon League. A talented freshman class that saw three individuals break into the starting lineup a year ago is back for its sophomore campaign. In addition, an experienced senior class, a deep bench and a pair of talented newcomers give UW-Green Bay every reason to believe that it can make a return to the NCAA tournament.
RETURNING STARTERS
The Phoenix returns one of the top guards in the conference and a potential player of the year candidate in senior preseason first-team all-league pick Ryan Evanochko (Beaver Falls, Pa.). A year ago, the point guard put together one of the most productive seasons by a UW-Green Bay player in recent history. In just his first season as a regular starter, he averaged a team-best 15.8 points per game while dishing out a norm of 5.2 assists per contest.
Also returning for UW-Green Bay in the backcourt is sophomore Ryan Tillema (Randolph, Wis.), a deadly three-point shooter who is developing into a solid all-around player. During his first year with the Phoenix, Tillema topped Tony Bennett's school freshman record by knocking down 56 shots from behind the arc.
On the wing, UW-Green Bay has one of its most athletic players in school history in sophomore Terry Evans (St. Louis, Mo.). A Horizon League all-defensive team selection last season, Evans set school records for blocked shots and steals by a freshman.
Senior Josh Lawrence (Ashton, Ill.) is back for his fourth season as a starter in the frontcourt. A physical presence both defensively and offensively in the post, Lawrence also has a feathery touch from the outside on the offensive end as evidenced by his league-leading .446 three-point field goal percentage a year ago.
Rounding out the list of returnees is sophomore forward Mike Schachtner (Somerset, Wis.) who was named to the league's all-newcomer team in 2005-06. Though just a freshman last year, Schachtner proved to be one of the Phoenix's most consistent players, scoring in double figures in 16 of the team's last 21 games.
THE RESERVES
The Phoenix boasts a talented and experienced bench which will provide the team with the depth necessary to make a push for the league title. A pair of newcomers on the perimeter will also push for playing time in a drive to make UW-Green Bay lethal up and down the roster.
Aswan Minatee (Newark, N.J.) made an impact in his first season in a Phoenix uniform as he averaged a team-high 16.7 minutes per game off the bench as the team's first sub in the post. Last season as a junior, he averaged 6.0 points per game while his .484 field goal percentage ranked first on the team among all regulars.
Also providing size and strength in the frontcourt is junior Tevah Morris (Oliver Springs, Tenn.). The largest player on the Phoenix roster at 6-9 and 250 pounds, Morris has seen his game continually grow throughout his career.
New to the post in 2006-07 is freshman Randy Berry (Plover, Wis.) who is coming off a redshirt season. An excellent defender and rebounder, Berry will push for minutes with his physical, aggressive play.
Sophomore Cordero Barkley (Racine, Wis.) provides a great deal of versatility to the UW-Green Bay lineup with the ability to play a number of positions. An outstanding defender, Barkley has also seen his play on the offensive end continually develop.
In the backcourt, the Phoenix returns a three-point specialist in junior Ryan Werch (Ripon, Wis.). During his sophomore season, Werch connected on 41.5 percent of his attempts from behind the arc, second only to teammate Josh Lawrence in the Horizon League.
Tim Dearlove (Martinsville, Ind.) is also back for UW-Green Bay. As a freshman a year ago, the walk-on appeared in 12 games for the Phoenix and knocked down each of his two field goal attempts on the season, both from three-point range.
UW-Green Bay welcomes in a pair of newcomers to the backcourt who the team hopes will provide immediate contributions.
Chase Sukut (Billings, Mont.), a junior transfer from Sheridan (Wyo.) College, will provide depth at the point guard position in an attempt to take some pressure off of Evanochko.
The Phoenix is also high on true freshman Troy Cotton (Milwaukee, Wis.) a sharp-shooter who enjoyed a solid career at Rufus King High School, one of the top programs in the state of Wisconsin.
THE SCHEDULE
The Phoenix will once again be challenged by a difficult schedule, including a pair of road games at perennial Big Ten powers. Following exhibition games against cross-town foe St. Norbert College and UW-La Crosse, UW-Green Bay opens up the regular season with the daunting task of playing six of its first seven games on the road. Following the season opener at Oakland (Mich.) Nov. 12, the Phoenix makes the trek south to Madison to take on a Wisconsin squad that is expected to challenge for the Big Ten title.
The home season opens Nov. 17 as UW-Green Bay welcomes in Northern Michigan to the Resch Center. Horizon League play gets started Dec. 2 with a marquee matchup, as the top two teams in the preseason poll square off when the Phoenix travels to Loyola.
The second game against a Big Ten opponent takes place Dec. 23 when UW-Green Bay heads to Michigan State to face the Spartans for the third consecutive season.
The Oneida Casino Holiday Classic returns this year under a new format as all four teams will play one another with the tournament being played on three dates over a four-day span. Bowling Green, Michigan Tech and Jacksonville State comprise this year's field.
The Horizon League home schedule opens with a Jan. 2 game against fellow league contender Detroit. A Jan. 6 game against Cleveland State caps a stretch during which the Phoenix plays eight out of nine games at home.
The Phoenix will find itself on national television for the second consecutive year as UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee will once again face off on ESPN2 Jan. 27.
UW-Green Bay will compete in the annual BracketBusters event for the fourth consecutive year, including playing on the road for the first time against an opponent to be determined.
The Phoenix wraps up the regular season with a pair of home games, taking on Butler Feb. 19 before facing in-state rival UW-Milwaukee Feb. 24 in the regular season finale.
The Horizon League tournament gets underway Feb. 27 with first round games on campus sites. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held March 2-3 at the site of the No. 1 seed, with the championship game on tap for March 6 at the site of the highest remaining seed.
