Weekly Game Notes |
2018-19 WIAC Men's Basketball Preview
MENOMONIE (November 7, 2018) – First year UW-Stout men's basketball coach
Jim Lake and his staff have been in practice mode with their team for three weeks and have been pleased with what they are seeing from the 2018-19 Blue Devils.
"I like the way they bring it," Lake said. "We have had 21 practices so far, and I would say only three have been bad practices. If they are willing to work like that, we will continue to build on it every single day."
The Blue Devils open the 2018-19 season Friday, Nov. 9 at the UW-Superior Merle Thompson Classic where the Blue Devils face Lawrence University and Lake looks forward to seeing where the work has taken the team.
"I will be excited on Friday to get on the floor and see what it looks like," Lake said.
Lake comes to the Blue Devils after serving as an assistant coach at Ferris State University for 10 seasons, an NCAA Division II program in Michigan that won the national championship last March.
"The guys have been working their tails off, understanding what we are trying to do," Lake said. "As a staff, we are trying to keep stuff at its base, at its core, not be too cute. We want to run our base really well, then add as needed. They guys are working hard to be on the same page as the coaching staff."
The three team captains – seniors
John Keefe (Medford) and
Zach Dahl (Buffalo, Minn) and sophomore
Jon Ciriacks (East Troy) – have been taking a key role in acclimating not only the first year players, but the returners, to a new system.
"All these guys are shifting and trying to understand what we are asking them to do," Lake said. "They are putting in the time and growing every day."
Keefe was the team's leading scorer during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 season, but was injured less than two minutes into the season opener last year, missing the entire season. A 2016-17 All-WIAC honorable mention pick, Keefe led the Blue Devils in scoring that season, averaging 15.0 points per contest. For his career, the super-senior has 837 career points, ranking 37
th on the Blue Devils' all-time scoring list. Keefe is expected to be ready to go for the season.
Dahl had a breakout season last year, averaging 9.7 points per contest – nine points better than his previous average - playing in 24 games and starting 20. Dahl had a career night with 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists against UW-Whitewater. He led the team in rebounds from the guard position.
Ciriacks came off the bench in 19 games during his freshman season to average 4.2 points per contest and 2.2 rebounds.
Also returning from last season are junior
Tanner Schmitt (Coon Valley) and sophomores
Luke Geiger (Sherwood),
Josh Mericle (Neenah),
Brady Booth (Boyd) and
Trey Hake (Sheboygan Falls).
Braden Walbeck (Jr, Fall Creek) and
D'Marcco Patrick (Jr, Kenosha) both have two years of experience, but did not play last season.
Kyle Williams (Jr, Brooklyn Park, Minn) and
Matt Newman (Jr, Sturgeon Bay) played two years of basketball at the junior college level, Williams at St. Cloud Community and Technical College, Newman at UW-Marinette, and
Brandon Gilbertson (So, Clayton) played collegiately last season at Northland College.
"This is a good year to be a veteran," Lake said. "It is new for everyone. I am leaning on that (collegiate) experience."
No doubt, the Blue Devils will have a different look this season. Lake expects his team to push hard both offensively and defensively.
"We want to funnel the ball through the post and through the paint," Lake said. "We want to put guys in position to where they are confident in the things they do well."
Patrick brings energy to the point guard position and understands the tempo Lake and his staff want to play at.
While Keefe, Dahl and Ciriacks are knowns who will bring their experiences, talents and leadership to the court, underneath is still a question mark for the Blue Devils.
"We have four guys who will see time at the post," Lake said. "We are really young there, so we will give everyone a turn or two and see who plays the best. They have all had their bright spots. We will see what happens when the lights go on."
Lake targets the defensive side of the game as key to who will see floor time.
"The price of entry into the game is defense," Lake said. "Anyone who rebounds will find their way into the game. Once they have paid that price, we will look at offense to see what we can do."
"We want to avoid a roller coaster season," Lake said. "We are looking at a consistent, solid effort. We want to keep building so that by January (when the conference season begins) we are playing the best basketball we can play. I'm not sure what our ceiling is. Right now, I don't even know what floor we are on."
Lake will lean on his staff of
Tom Webb,
Quentin Ruff and Archie Sherbinow.
"This is a brand-new staff and we are learning to work together," Lake said. "It is a good mix working together with our athletes. We've got the group that decided to figure it out with me."
In addition to playing Lawrence at Superior, the Blue Devils will face Finlandia University, a team they will also see in December. Stout opens the home season when they host the UW-Stout Tip Off Classic, Nov. 16-17. Stout will play McMurry University and Bethel University.
