Boys basketball: Scouting Libertyville

Coach: Scott Bogumil, 8th season

Last year: 12-16, 4-8 (NSC Lake)

Last year's tournament: Lost to Barrington in the regional semifinals, 53-41.

Key players lost: G Ryan Barth, F Jeremy Birck (Dartmouth, track)

Key players returning: G Griffin Pils, sr., G Ellis Matthews, sr., F Luke Mathewson, sr., F Anthony Mack, sr.

Top newcomers: F Jack Diechel, jr., C Brandon Stanfel, jr., G Scott Johns, jr.

Outlook: There's no doubt in Scott Bogumil's mind that his team has talent. But rarely does talent alone make a successful basketball team. Chemistry is also essential and Bogumil says that's a major question mark right now as his team tries to overcome a crazy, disjointed off-season. "Over the summer when we were playing all our league games and everything, I don't think we had a single game in which all of our starters were there at the same time," Bogumil said. "Guys were out for baseball, they were doing things for football or their AAU teams, and that's normal. We always have a lot of guys who are multi-sport athletes at Libertyville. But this year, it was a little worse than normal. We had guys working on their games and trying to get better from an individual standpoint, and that's good. But we just didn't have much time together to get a feel for how guys play together and who plays well together. We're not behind with skills, but we're definitely behind in team cohesiveness." The Wildcats will try to get back on track with some strong senior leadership from a group of core returners in Griffin Pils, Ellis Matthews, Luke Mathewson and Anthony Mack. All four players started last year. "We have a lot of experience with those guys," Bogumil said. "They haven't played together much in awhile, but I'm really comfortable with them. They're all very good players who are good athletes and who can score and play defense." Bogumil is hoping that core of four can help push the Wildcats out from the middle of the pack in the rugged North Suburban Lake. "We've been in a rough pattern for years in a very competitive division," Bogumil said. "We've been very competitive and we've had some big wins. One year we beat Zion-Benton. Last year, we took Warren to the final play of the game. We've always been in the mix and we always upset some of the top teams. But we just haven't been able to break through and finish at the top (of the division). We're looking to do that this year."

Opener: Monday vs. Maine South at Libertyville in first round of Maine West tournament