Judson figures on improving
The Judson University men's basketball team certainly did not have the most eye-pleasing record last season.
The Eagles went 6-23 overall and 1-9 in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference action.
But Judson lost 11 of those contests by 10 points or less (7 by 4 points or less). The Eagles' lone conference win came against Calumet College of St. Joseph, which won the CCAC championship with a 9-1 mark.
And with numerous returning players from last year's group, coach Jim Cook has plenty of reason for optimism.
"We will be a lot better than last year," said Cook, who is in his final season as both the men's and women's basketball coach at Judson (he'll coach only the women next year).
"It's just a matter of chemistry and playing together and getting used to each other. Once we learn how to play off each other, we'll be fine."
Seniors Justen Boyd (6-foot, G, Batavia), Dewayne Robinson (6-3, G, Memphis, Tenn.), Joe Gonnam (6-5, F, Verona, Ill.) and Chris Oates (6-5, F, Streamwood) along with junior Hampshire product Andrew Ream (6-2, G) and sophomore Matt Koehling (6-5, F, Big Rock) are all back.
Robinson led the team in scoring last year at 20.8 points per game and also pulled in 5.9 rebounds a contest. Boyd averaged 13.6 points, while Gonnan averaged 12.3 points. Oates averaged 11.8 points and Ream averaged 7.1 points per game.
Boyd and Robinson were both all-CCAC Division II first-team selections last year.
The rest of the roster features seniors Steffan Williams (5-10, G, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Illija Bojanic (6-8, F, Montenegro), along with junior Eric Bryant (6-2, G, Memphis, Tenn.) and freshmen Kyle May (6-6, C, Hoffman Estates), Ben Carlson (6-3, F, Champaign) and David Corcoran.
"We have a lot of speed on this team," said Cook. "We're very athletic ability. We're very gifted in that area. We're going to be able to get after people defensively."
Cook said the team should be able to use that athleticism to score from the perimeter and on the block.
"I think we will be able to score all over both inside and outside," said Cook. "We have guys that can play in and out and with the system we run, we'll be able to get that scoring from the inside and the outside."
Pressure defense will also be one of the team's calling cards.
"We're going to pressure the ball and get after people," said Cook. "The goal is to dictate what the other teams do."
Cook stresses rebounding with this group will also be paramount.
"We're not a very big team, so we have to rebound well offensively and defensively," said Cook. "We have to attack the boards on both ends and we have to make sure we take care of the basketball."
Tony Tompkins, Judson's associate head coach, will take over the men's team for the 2008-2009 season. Cook is in his fourth season as Judson's men's coach.
Tompkins was the former head coach at Missouri Baptist and also coached at Rock Falls High School.
"Coach Tompkins knows what he's doing," said Cook. "I have all the respect for him. He's out there recruiting real heavy. He's got a lot of experience. He comes from a great program at Missouri Baptist."
In the conference, Cook feels any of a number of teams will be tough this season.
"It will be real interesting to see what happens," said Cook. "Last year we were at the bottom of the conference and we beat the number one team. Anybody in the conference can be beaten. The team that makes the least amount of mistakes will come out on top."