Season Preview: Men's Basketball looks to challenge for OAC Title under first-year head coach Rich Bensman
ADA — The Ohio Northern men's basketball team welcomes back a good amount of experience and will look to improve in the Ohio Athletic Conference in 2016-17.
The Polar Bears welcome back six players with starting experience and 12 letter winners from the last year's squad that finished 12-14 overall and finished tied for fifth in the OAC with a 9-9 record.
"I'm excited to see what this group of guys can do this season," said head coach Rich Bensman. "We have a great group of kids that have some talent. The challenge will be getting the guys to play together in a new system. We have a strong out of conference schedule and the OAC is a solid conference from top to bottom."
Here is a breakdown of the 2016-17 ONU men's basketball team, by postion:
Back Court
Bensman welcomes back a strong core of experienced players in the back court, including five letter winners.
Senior Joey Hurless (Van Wert/Van Wert) returns at the point guard position after posting a historic season a year ago.
The senior led the nation in total assists and assists per game and also broke the ONU single game record with 16 assists.
"Joey guards very well," said Bensman. "He is our leader on the court and is really able to get us into our offense quickly."
Junior Nate Burger (Dayton/Alter) will see an expanded role this season after a successful 2015-16 campaign.
"Nate came on late last season and he worked hard over the summer," said Bensman. "He will be sharing time with Joey at the point, and also can play the wing. Nate can score and make some plays, and will need to balance that with leading the team."
At the wing position, senior Devon Allen (Lima/Senior) returns after leading the team in 3-point field goals made and starting all 26 games in the 2015-16 season.
"Devon is a really good scorer and shooter for us. Devon is a very solid wing for us and he is working on doing those little things every day in practice this year along with scoring the ball."
Also returning to the back court for Northern after starting all 26 games, is senior Konnor Baker.
Baker, a two-time letter winner in his two years as a Polar Bear, ranked second on the team with 10.0 points per game in 2015-16.
"Konnor is another one of those guys that can really score for us," said Bensman. "He too will be asked to do all the little things this season that helps a team be good."
Junior Joey DiOrio (Columbus/Watterson) also returns as a 2-time letter winner for Northern.
DiOrio ranked second on the team, shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range last season.
"Joey really has a motor. He works very hard and hustles every play. He also brings good size to the wing position."
Perhaps the silver lining to some early injuries and illness, is junior Brandon Hawkins.
"We moved Brandon to the wing from the forward spot and he has been good for us there. Brandon is a lunch pail guy for us. A trench guy as I like to say, does all those little things that helps a team. At 6-4 he too brings some size at the wing position."
Sophomores Kevin Austin(Cincinnati/Winton Woods), and Grant McConnell (Fremont/Ross) and freshman Austin Allemeier (Lima/Elida) will also look to challenge for minutes in the back court.
"Austin has a good chance to contribute immediately his freshman season," said Bensman. "He is a physical strong guard with a solid game all around. We will be looking forward to getting him back from a collarbone injury. Kevin really improved his game by working hard during summer break. We are excited in having him back from an ankle injury. I think he's got a chance to be pretty good. We are looking forward to what Grant brings to the table in the future. He's got good feet and an overall solid game on both ends of the floor."
Forwards
Northern also welcomes back a wealth of depth at the forward position.
Juniors Travis Feitshans (Arcanun/Franklin Monroe), Alex Sibila (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) and Grant Pepper (Oakwood/Oakwood) all return or the Polar Bears and will look to make a big impact.
Feitshans returns after ranking third on the team last season with 5.1 rebounds per game.
"Travis is just an all around solid player for us," said Bensman. "He's a very strong and crafty kid and understands the game really well."
Sibila may look to expand his role at the forward position after appearing in only eight games last season.
"Alex is a big, strong, athletic stretch 4 with tremendous leaping ability. We think he will have a chance to contribute more this season."
Pepper, a 2-time letter winner, returns after appearing in 12 games and averaging 1.8 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game.
"Grant can really stretch the floor for us. He has great size and can step outside and shoot the ball well," said Bensman. "He's a team guy and a good teammate. Right now he is working his way back from an illness but will make an impact when he is healthy."
Sophomore Daniel Donner (Bellville/Northmor) also returns to the team after spending his first season on the JV squad.
"Daniel is a very big and strong kid. At 6-6 he has great size and he has improved a lot over the summer," said Bensman. "We are excited about his future here at Ohio Northern."
Centers
Northern welcomes back two centers with starting experience in senior Aron Thress (Lancaster/Amanda Clearcreek) and sophomore Ryan Bruns (Chickasaw/Marion Local).
Thress led the team in both points per game (18.1 ppg) and rebounds per game (7.7 rpg) a season ago.
The First Team All-OAC honoree scored in double figures in 23 of the 26 games last season.
Bruns makes his return after averaging 9.9 points per game and leading the team with 2.3 blocks per game.
"When we go big, these guys are really nice to have," said Bensman. "Aron is versatile enough and has a good enough shot to step into the forward position which allows us to put Bruns down low. Ryan is getting much better down low and has a great instinct for passing out of the post. Defensively he is a presence. He affects a lot of shots around the rim. Bruns runs the floor really well for a big guy."
Also looking to make an impact is 2-time letterwinner Jack Ellerhorst (Cincinnati/St. Xavier).
The junior appeared in 13 games last season and averaged 2.1 points per game.
"Jack is a very long post man and will add some depth for us at the center position," said Bensman. "He can step outside and hit the three ball and really stretch the floor."
Overview
Northern will look to improve on last season's fifth place finish in the OAC.
In all, the Polar Bears return 12 letterwinners, including six with starting experience.
"We have some talent this season," said Bensman. "It's going to be a learning experience for these guys as they will be learning a new system. It's going to take some time, but repetition is oldest form of teaching, and we'll stay at it everyday."
Ohio Northern won the 1993 NCAA Division III National Championship, reached the 2000 NCAA Division III Final Four and won OAC Championships in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1995, 1993, 1988, 1982, 1976.
"We open up with a tough schedule," said Bensman. "This will be a true test for our guys and we will see where we need to go from there."
Northern opens the season Nov. 15 as they travel to Alma (Mich.) to take on the Scots at 8 pm. Alma is ranked 14th in the country and went to the Elite 8 last season.