Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Basketball Practice Begins
October 12, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 12, 2001
The Bowling Green State University men's basketball team begins its fifth season under Coach Dan Dakich and begins practice, Saturday, for the 2001-2002 campaign. The Falcons return eight of its top nine scorers from last season and have bolstered its depth with an outstanding freshman class. BGSU will open the season against nationally ranked Ole Miss on November 15 at the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.
2001-2002 OUTLOOK
The 2001-2002 edition of the Bowling Green State University men's basketball team will rely on its experience to once again challenge for a spot among the top teams in the Mid-American Conference. Eight of the top nine scorers from last year's team return and fifth-year coach Dan Dakich looks for his squad to once again be a formidable foe.
"I expect us to be a mature playing team that competes much better than a year ago, particularly at the end of games," said Dakich. We had a lot of games where we were in the lead or tied coming down the stretch (BGSU lost five MAC games it led in the final four minutes of the game) and we let a number of them get away. We just can not let things happen like that this year."
Four starters are back for the Falcons who won nine of their last 14 games last season.
Senior guard Keith McLeod was a second-team All-MAC performer after finishing second in the league with an 18.1 points per game average. He ranked among conference leaders in scoring, field goal percentage, assists, steals and free throw percentage and averaged 19.4 points and 7.1 free throws made against league foes.
"Keith has gotten stronger, a lot stronger, in the offseason," Dakich said. "I think he has a better understanding of good from bad shots and he taken on leadership pretty well."
McLeod and senior center Len Matela were the top-scoring duo in MAC play (34.2 points) as Matela averaged 15.7 points and 8.8 rebounds. He also earned honorable mention All-MAC honors after finishing among the league leaders in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage (2nd, 55.0).
"Lenny is in the same boat as Keith, he's gotten bigger and stronger and is up to 250 pounds," said Dakich. "I think he understands what we expect and he has become a much better player."
The person responsible for getting the above-mentioned duo, is senior point guard Brandon Pardon who was the only Falcon to start every game.
He became the third player in Falcon history to dish 200 assists or more in a season and finished as the MAC leader (7.0) in assists, which ranked fourth nationally. Pardon also averaged 10 points per game and ranked among league leaders in free throw percentage.
"Brandon has to be a leader and has to do a much better job of handling situations late in the game," said Dakich. "He has to be somebody that not only takes his role as a leader seriously, but he has to make other people do what he wants done because Brandon is a very smart basketball player."
Senior forward Brent Klassen played in 28 games and started in 23 and his defense down the stretch propelled the Falcons to a six-game winning streak. He tied for the team lead with 23 blocks and averaged 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds.
"Brent has improved immensely and is a real defensive force," said Dakich. "He became somebody who figured out and understood his role. Because of his personality, he has to be a leader as well. People have a tendency to follow and enjoy Brent and he has to use that personality to make not only himself better, but to make others better. He has the ability." Three other returnees will look to increase their roles from last season.
Junior swingman Cory Ryan played in 28 games, started five and led the team in three-pointers with 43. He averaged 6.9 points and knocked down 39.1 percent of his long distance attempts.
"Cory gained some weight and some strength along with some confidence as well," said Dakich. He did a good job for us last year and is going to be asked to do more this year."
Sophomore forward Josh Almanson was a member of the All-MAC Freshman team after averaging 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds. He set a BGSU frosh record for FG % (.675) and FT % (85.1) and led the team in blocked shots with 23.
"Josh is much bigger and stronger than he has ever been and he has to understand that he has to play like that," said Dakich. "Josh will be 240 pounds and he needs to develop the mind and thought process that great players have at that size."
Sophomore center Kevin Netter started three games and was third on the team in blocked shots with 18. He averaged 5.1 points and 2.0 rebounds and shot 55.0 from the field.
"Kevin is bigger and stronger, and with a year of experience he should be better," said Dakich. "He has to bring a competitive approach each day."
Two other returnees will be counted on to provide leadership and experience.
Sophomore guard Jabari Maddox is an excellent defender who will be counted on to improve his offensive skills. He had 14 assists and just four turnovers in nine games last season.
"Jabari is much improved and will be counted on to compete for a starting spot and be able to run the team,' said Dakich.
Junior Kris Gerken was a walkon who played in 14 games and is respected for his hard-nosed competitiveness.
"Kris has the respect of every member of this team because of his toughness and attitude," said Dakich.
The Falcons have four freshmen and one transfer who will provide BGSU with depth it did not have a season ago.
"Obviously, last year we did not have much depth," said Dakich. We didn't have a lot of guys, but I think this year we have guys. Everybody is going to get an opportunity to play and play early. How they play determines how much they play. I think there is no question that the added numbers, 14 guys in practice as opposed to travelling with only nine, including a walk-on in Kris Gerken, made depth an issue."
Erik Crawford comes from one of the most successful high school programs in Minnesota and is an imposing figure on the court. He was the Minneapolis area Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 21 points per game and was an All-State selection. "Erik is a very good athlete and a tough guy who was an All-State football player," said Dakich. "He is a kid who can play a lot of different places because of his body type, which is much like Anthony's (Stacey)."
Germain Fitch has been impressive and joins the Falcons from a program which had 10 players accept Division I scholarships. He averaged 10 points, six rebounds and six assists.
"Germain is a very good athlete," said Dakich. "He is strong, a lot like Anthony Stacey was, and can play insideor outside."
Cory Eyink gives the Falcons a big body inside. He is a former All-Ohio choice who averaged 16 points and nine rebounds as a senior and 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds.
"Cory is a bigger kid that has really good feet," said Dakich. "he has the ability to guard big and small and I like the way he shoots the ball. Cory understands how to play basketball, he understands the movements of basketball."
Kris Wilson is a former three-time, first-team All-State pick who averaged 17.6 points who nailed 242 three-point field goals in his prep career in West Virginia. He also helped his team to two state tournament appearances.
"Kris is a tough kid that has a good sense of shooting the basketball," said Dakich. "I think he is dying to play. He is a typical little kid, tough-guy gym rat."
John Reimold will be eligible next season and is a transfer from Loyola of Maryland. He averaged 15.6 points and five rebounds in earning MAAC Rookie of the Year honors.
"John is a shooter who knows the rigors of college basketball," said Dakich. "John comes from a good program, knows how to get the ball in the basket and is pretty fundamentally sound."
2001-02 BGSU MEN'S BASKETBALL ROSTER No. Name, Pos., Ht., Wt., Yr., Hometown/High School/Previous School 1 Germain Fitch, F, 6-5, 220, Fr., Huntsville, Ala./Butler/Notre Dame Prep 2 Josh Almanson, F, 6-8, 243, So., Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green 3 Kris Wilson, G, 5-10, 175, Fr., Huntington, W.Va./Spring Valley 5 Jabari Mattox, G, 6-1, 186, So., Bloomingdale, Ill./St. Joseph's 14 Len Matela, C, 6-9, 253, Sr., Merrillville, Ind./Andrean 15 Kris Gerken, G, 6-3, 200, Jr., Hamler, Ohio/Patrick Henry/Wittenberg 20 Keith McLeod, G, 6-2, 188, Sr., Canton, Ohio/McKinley 24 Cory Ryan, G, 6-5, 209, Jr., Fountain City, Ind./Northeastern 32 Brandon Pardon, G, 6-1, 200, Sr., Middle Point, Ohio/Lincolnview 33 Erik Crawford, G, 6-4, 214, Fr., Oakdale, Minn./Tartan 34 John Reimold, F, 6-6, 225, So., Greenville, Pa./Kennedy Catholic./Loyola (Md.) 43 Cory Eyink F, 6-8, 235, Fr., Maria Stein, Ohio/Marion Local 45 Kevin Netter, C, 6-10, 209, So., Richmond Dale, Ohio/Southeastern 52 Brent Klassen, F, 6-8, 254, Sr., Kimball, Neb./Kimball/New Hampton Prep+ 2001-02 redshirt
Head Coach: Dan Dakich (5th Year, Indiana '85) Assistant Coaches: Keith Noftz (8th Year, Heidelberg '78) Artie Pepelea (4th Year, Wisconsin-Parkside '94) Sean Bledsoe (1st Year, Indianapolis '94) Admin. Assts: Darren Kohne, Kyle Rase, Matt Esarey
2001-2002 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULENov. 4 Foreign Team (Exhibition) 2 p.m. 8 Shawnee State (Exhibition) 7 p.m. 15-18 Top of the World Classic (at Fairbanks, Alaska) 15 Ole Miss 9 p.m. (Ak.Time) 17 Washington or Alaska-Fairbanks TBA 18 Radford/Butler/Wichita St./Delaware TBA 24 Defiance 2 p.m. 28 MICHIGAN 7 p.m.
Dec. 1 MARIST 1 p.m. 5 at Duquesne 7:35 p.m. 10 UNC-WILMINGTON 7 p.m. 15 at Evansville 8:05 p.m. 22 Detroit 8 p.m. 29 at Indiana State 2:05 p.m.
Jan. 3 at Central Michigan 7 p.m. 8 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 7 p.m. 12 at Buffalo 7 p.m. 16 at Ball State 7 p.m. 19 TOLEDO 1 p.m. 23 at Akron 7:30 p.m. 26 KENT STATE 3:30 p.m. 30 at Western Michigan 7 p.m.
Feb. 2 MIAMI 1 p.m. 4 at Kent State 7 p.m. 6 OHIO 7 p.m. 9 MARSHALL 1 p.m. 13 EASTERN MICHIGAN 7 p.m. 18 at Toledo 7 p.m. 20 at Miami 7 p.m. 23 AKRON 3:30 p.m. 27 BUFFALO 7 p.m.
Mar. 2 at Ohio TBA
Times are Eastern unless noted.
