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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hopes For Healthy Hoops
August 26, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 26, 2003
By JOEL HAMMOND, Sentinel Sports Writer - No other season during Dan Dakich's six-year tenure as Bowling Green's men's basketball coach resulted in the extreme highs and lows of last season.
Season-ending injuries to juniors Jabari Mattox and Josh Almanson and sophomore Germain Fitch left Dakich scrambling for depth and finding it in the addition of football players Cole Magner and Keon Newson.
But after a solid finish to last year's campaign and so-far successful off-season, Dakich is quietly optimistic about his team's prospects for the coming season.
"The depth we will have is very exciting," Dakich said. "Last year was tough because we didn't even have enough guys in practice to make you better. This is where I hope our freshmen really help us, in that when someone isn't playing well, or doing what they need to do, you can bench them.
"When you have that power over your team, you have really competitive situations. We didn't have that last year."
Kevin Netter and John Reimold, the team's top two scorers last year, lead the group of Dakich's returners, a group that lost only senior Cory Ryan and Raheem Moss, who transferred to Cleveland State.
Netter, who emerged last year after a 36-point performance against Buffalo, averaged 15.3 points per game.
Reimold nearly broke the school record for 3-pointers in a single season, nailing 84 while averaging 15 points per game in his first year in a Falcon uniform.
Also back are forward Cory Eyink and All-MAC freshman team selection Ron Lewis, who averaged 23.5 points per game over the team's final four contests.
Almanson has completely recovered from injuries to his foot and Fitch is back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is working out with the team's trainers.
Dakich expects Mattox, who underwent a second surgery for his torn ACL, to be practicing by October.
The return of Steven Wright, a 6-3 guard from Dayton who redshirted last year, will give Dakich an option at the point if Mattox struggles with his return to the court. Walk-on Patrick Phillips also returns.
The veterans, combined with the addition of four talented freshmen who will be eligible this season will give the Falcons the depth needed to make noise in the ultra-competitive Mid-American Conference.
Matt Lefeld, a 6-feet-11 center from Coldwater, figures to provide a fourth inside presence. Isaac Rosefelt, a 6-8 forward from St. Paul, Minn., is likely to see time at both forward spots. Chris Hobson, 6-2, from Blue Island, Ill. and Austin Montgomery, 6-4, from Indianapolis, provide depth at guard.
Reggie Harwell, a highly-regarded forward who attended East Cleveland Shaw, is enrolled at Bowling Green, and John Floyd, a 6-2 graduate of Toledo St. John's who played at Oakland last season, has transferred to Bowling Green, Dakich confirmed.
"We have a lot of guys, and the No. 1 thing about them is that they're good students," Dakich said. "I don't know if Matt Lefeld has ever had a B in his life; he's just a really hard-working guy. They got here in early June and they've worked really hard.
"Isaac Rosefelt is athletic; he does it all, he rebounds, blocks shots and runs.
"Austin Montgomery made the Indiana All-Star team, which is a big deal over there. He really knows how to play.
"Chris Hobson has a great frame to develop and put some weight on. They're all different guys, and we're excited to have them all here."
