Boys basketball: Northwest preview, MSL West
Barrington
Coach: Marty Dello (fifth year, 63-51; eighth year overall, 114-86)
Last year: 11-18, 3-7 (T4th West)
Key losses: Pat Guido (All-area, 16.6 ppg, 80 3s, Wittenberg), Brice Zaumseil (7.9 ppg, 59 3s), Deon Randle (3.5 ppg), Roland Massimino (3.2 ppg), Wade Lernihan
Top returnees: Seniors Ryan Nolan (5-10, G), Billy Parry (6-3, G, 4.3 ppg), Charlie Douglas (6-4, F), Connor Jenkins (6-0, G); juniors Mack Darrow (6-6, F, 7.1 ppg), Peter Leonard (6-7, C, 5.3 ppg), Daniel Evers (6-1, G, 2 ppg)
Newcomers: Juniors Sam Ojuri (6-1, G), Cam Good (6-1, F), Tommy Massimino (6-0, G), Chris Howard (6-0, G), Brian Sullivan (6-4, F)
Outlook: The Broncos are still young but many of the growing pains were done last year. ''I don't know how good we're going to be,'' Dello said, ''but we'll be a fun team to watch. The kids play so hard and it's a little different than some of our teams in the past.'' There is size with the versatile Darrow and Leonard back. ''Mack and Peter are really starting to learn to play to their strengths,'' Dello said. '' Last year was such a learning curve. Now there's much more knowledge.'' Douglas in the running to play a major role with Sullivan inside. Parry and Nolan, the point guard whose goal won the soccer state title, also have significant experience with Evers, who is battling injuries from football with Good. Massimino brings some toughness, Howard is a good shooter and Ojuri and Jenkins bring athleticism that should allow the Broncos to do more defensively after playing primarily a matchup zone last year. ''The fun part with us is we're really trying to mix things up,'' Dello said. ''We haven't done that as much.'' The improved depth also gives Dello plenty of lineup options. And while the Broncos' best may still be a year away, they figure to have a much bigger impact in the MSL. ''What's nice is last year there were so many game we were overmatched because we didn't have the bodies or strength to go with it,'' Dello said. This year we can pretty much match up (with anybody).''
Conant
Coach: Tom McCormack (23rd year, 360-247; 24th year overall, 383-254)
Last year: 27-3, 9-1 (MSL champions, supersectional)
Key losses: Geoff McCammon (All-area captain, 16 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 55 3s, Loyola), Matt Collins (two-time All-area, 10 ppg), Danny Gilhooly (All-area, 9.6 ppg, 50 3s), Eric Loos (8.5 ppg, 44 3s), Todd Strauch (7.9 ppg), Adam Strauch, Jeff Divito, Justin Krause
Top returnees: Seniors Jeff Keegan (6-1, G), Tommy Sotos (6-3, F), Chris Hoffman (6-5, C), Tom Mahr (6-3, F-C), Bill Charvat (6-1, F-G).
Newcomers: Juniors Tim Gilhooly (6-3, G-F), Tony Rizzo (6-4, G-F), David Trinco (6-3, C-F), Tim Lomas (6-6, C), Cameron Leavitt (6-2, G)
Outlook: Losing the top seven players from a Sweet 16 appearance normally would spell rebuilding. But the incoming replacements aren't accustomed to losing at any level. ''You don't replace that real easily,'' McCormack said of a group that tied the school record for victories. ''But the junior varsity and sophomores were very, very good and we'll blend that group together.'' Keegan is the only returnee who played much and will run the point. Sotos also saw some action and will be at a wing. ''We have real good senior leadership,'' McCormack said of his two captains, ''and a bunch of guys who are hungry and ready to step in.'' Hoffman gives the Cougars a solid low-post presence with Mahr and Charvat, who is headed for Illinois to play baseball, continuing the Cougars' tradition of senior dominance. ''These kids are all pretty solid,'' McCormack said. Tim Gilhooly, the brother of Danny Gilhooly, Rizzo, Trinco, Lomas and Leavitt will make the Cougars about 10 deep and bigger than last year. ''They play pretty smart and well together,'' McCormack said. ''We have a combination of some kids who shoot it pretty well and we really have a bunch of kids who understand their roles and where they can fit in. The key for us is trying to get some varsity experience early and playing to our strengths, which I think this group is very capable of doing.''
Fremd
Coach: Bob Widlowski (sixth year, 71-62)
Last year: 14-13, 3-7 (T4th West)
Key losses: Andrew Kelly (All-area, 14 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 73 pct. FG), Matt Gailey (9.2 ppg, 38 3s, Northwestern baseball), Shane Adams (8.5 ppg, 29 3s), Dan Maring (4 ppg), Steve Schwegman (4.9 ppg), Dan Cohen; senior Jeff Poczatek (injured)
Top returnees: Seniors Jim Mundt (6-1, G, 5.1 ppg), Dan Itami (5-9, G), Mike Hoffman (6-5, C); junior Dan Bruno (5-11, G)
Newcomers: Juniors Will Reising (6-4, C), Alex Weiss (6-1, G), Tim Kubis (5-10, G), Chris Olszewski (6-3, F), Joe DePaolis (6-0, G), Bill Myers (6-0, G), Jared Sims (5-10, G), Jamieson Gray (6-3, F), Jake Llanas (6-0, G), B.J. Brown (5-10, G), Jason McDay (6-4, F); sophomore Chris Klimek (6-4, F)
Outlook: Seniors replacing seniors has been the recent trend at Fremd. But this year the Vikings have only three seniors and Mundt, a swingman, is the only one with much experience. ''There are a lot of new faces and we've always usually had seniors step in to fill spots right away,'' Widlowski said. ''This year we're counting on juniors and a sophomore to step in right away. It's a little different than in the past.'' Itami will be at off-guard and Hoffman will be at center. Bruno did see significant time as a sophomore and takes over at the point. ''Scoring-wise we should be able to share the ball and hopefully be very even offensively,'' Widlowski said. ''One thing that's different is these guys have to take a leadership responsibility right away.'' Corso did play a lot last year but is out for the year after playing football with a shoulder injury that will require surgery after Thanksgiving. Reising saw a little varsity action inside and the versatile Klimek figures to help with Weiss and Kubis. ''It's kind of an exciting situation because all spots are open and I like to create some competition,'' Widlowski said. ''The exciting part is every day they kind of figure things out even better and the growth part has been steady.''
Hoffman Estates
Coach: Bill Wandro (17th year, 283-170)
Last year: 15-14, 6-4 (T3rd West)
Key losses: Michael McGahee (two-time all-area, 13 ppg, 7 rpg, 6 apg), Nick Pahl (10.3 ppg, 23 3s), Adam Lukowicz, Joey Veronico, Isiah Holcombe (3.8 ppg)
Top returnees: Seniors Ben Collins (6-1, G, 5.2 ppg, 23 3s), Casey Terry (6-0, G), Kevin Lessner (6-5, C, 2 ppg), Steve Anderson (6-2, F); juniors Luke Mead (6-0, G, 3.8 ppg, 17 3s), Tom Dombrowski (6-3, F, 6.2 ppg); sophomore Joe Valadez (5-7, G, 2.5 ppg, 12 3s)
Newcomers: Senior Matt Wojtal (6-5, C); juniors Kemil Long (5-11, G), Chris Hall (6-2, G), Kyle Sertich (6-0, G), Joe Witte (6-2, G), Brian Dussard (6-0, G), Denzel Hamilton (6-5, F), Mina Boctor (6-0, F)
Outlook: The Hawks hope a core of seven returnees with decent experience and a good summer is the combination for success this winter. "We have enough of a nucleus back with experience that it's going to make us contender," Wandro said. "Like everybody else in the league everything has got to fall into place with them. I think everybody has got question-marks and it will be interesting to see how the teams in the league can solve their unknowns." Hoffman's is another year without much height, so it will rely a lot on perimeter scoring in its spread offense from Mead, who will play the point, Collins and Terry. "We were up and down, but that's part of our offense, though," Wandro said of averaging 46.5 points a game last year. "When you run the spread offense like we're running, the tempo is different and you really can't count on it week to week. It's going to come down to defense for us and it usually does. They look good and that's one of our strong points." Dombrowski figures to be tough inside in his third varsity season and Lessner will be a vital part against bigger teams. Valadez will be a shooting threat off the bench and Wandro hopes the athletic Anderson, who didn't play much last year, is ready by Christmas from a knee injury. "He plays bigger than 6-2," Wandro said. "It hurts not having him around."
Palatine
Coach: Ed Molitor (32nd year, 387-439; 39th year overall, 494-514)
Last year: 5-21, 1-9 (6th West)
Key losses: Charles Warren (10.8 ppg), John Weatherton (3.6 ppg), Terrance Thigpen
Top returnees: Seniors John Castellano (5-11, G, 8.2 ppg, 50 3s), Monroe Brooks (6-6, C, 2 ppg), Josh Rustman (6-9, F, 4.4 ppg), Gerald Hutton (5-9, G, 4.1 ppg), Ron Lampen (6-4, F, 3.4 ppg), Jim Romanek (6-2, G-F); junior Matt Rossi (6-3, F-G, 6.3 ppg, 19 3s)
Newcomers: Senior Matt Wieber (6-1, G); junior Mark Knoeppel (5-9, G)
Outlook: The last season for the most experienced head boys basketball coach in Mid-Suburban League history figures to be a much better experience for a big crew of returnees. ''It's a smart group of kids and that helps,'' Molitor said. ''You don't need to do a lot of explaining.'' And the Pirates are motivated not to repeat last year's rough experiences as they were 2-12 in games decided by 7 points or less. Castellano is a solid shooter who can also handle the ball with Hutton, who is dangerous in the open court. Rossi got better after a mid-season promotion and Brooks and Rustman, who can do some damage on the perimeter, will give opponents matchup problems with their size. ''Considerable,'' Molitor said of Brooks' and Rustman's improvement. ''Monroe had a very good summer rebounding-wise and scoring inside.'' The Pirates' depth is also better with Wieber returning after not playing last year, Romanek, Knoeppel and Lampen. Rebounding shouldn't be a concern but playing the Pirates' traditional man-to-man is a bit of one. ''We struggle at times defensively with two of the big kids in there at the same time,'' Molitor said. ''Hopefully the perimeter guys do enough to upset the other team's timing and rhythm.'' And Molitor also hopes a relatively even-keel group can get fired up when needed. ''We talk about playing with emotion and feeding off each other that way,'' Molitor said. ''We need them to get more assertive.''
Schaumburg
Coach: Bob Williams (17th year, 308-138)
Last year: 19-8, 8-2 (2nd West)
Key losses: Grant Monroe (two-time all-area, 12 ppg, 40 3s, Duke baseball), Brandon Moneyhun (all-area, 12 ppg, 56 3s), Jon Cawley (9 ppg, 30 3s), Dillon Rosch (5 ppg), Justin Bond (9 ppg), Josh Von Schaumburg, Ben Schneider
Top returnees: Seniors Dan Slowik (6-2, F), Sean Everitt (6-0, G), Robert Czyz (6-1, F), Brandon Bolger (6-0, G), Adrian Wild (6-2, C), George Kalousek (6-4, F); juniors Blake Mueller (6-5, F, 5.2 ppg), Perrish Bell (5-9, G, 3 ppg)
Newcomers: Senior Mick Trimarco (6-0, F); juniors Cully Payne (6-1, G, transfer from Burlington Central, 21.7 ppg), Chris Kelly (5-9, G), Grant Grossman (6-0, G), Josh Spandiary (6-4, F), Justin Swiercz (6-1, G), Anthony Iannotti (6-4, F), Kenny Smith (6-4, C)
Outlook: After nearly 30 years, MSL teams will have another Payne to deal with in a Schaumburg uniform. DePaul recruit Cully Payne transferred from Burlington Central late in the summer to the school where his dad Kent was an all-guard in the late 1970s. ''Cully looks awfully good and offensively he's just very good,'' Williams said. ''Defensively he's got a long way to go with what we do ... but he wants to become a good player.'' It may be awhile before Payne and the Saxons are at full strength, however. Mueller is out until mid-December after having knee surgery for a torn ACL and medial meniscus and Ianotti was banged up from football. But Bolger and Bell played a lot last year and bring the ability to offset a lack of size. ''With the kids we've got playing right now we're awfully small,'' Williams said. ''We can get up and down the floor and we've got good quickness. We're starting to step up the defensive intensity a little bit.'' Payne and Bell will both play point guard at times. Everitt has also been playing pretty well for a team where shooting should be a strength. And Trimarco brings his football toughness back to the program after not playing last year. ''He's got to catch up,'' Williams said, ''but he's a great competitor and a great kid and he'll help us throughout the year.''