Olivet Nazarene University

Posted: Thursday, October 1, 2009

2009-2010 Tiger Basketball

After a year that many would rather forget, the 2009-2010 Olivet Nazarene University men’s basketball team has not. This year’s version is hoping to show that last season was nothing more than an aberration. After playing through the bumps and bruises that the 2008-2009 season handed them, the young and inexperienced Tigers are all back, better, and ready to prove that they belong among the best.

With twelve varsity returners plus the return of All-Conference guard Josh Bronke and the loss of just one senior to graduation expectations are very high. In 2008-2009, ONU finished 16-15 overall and 6-4 in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, an effort that placed them third in the league. Neither of those marks typically represents a Coach Hodge led team. Meanwhile, ONU still found itself competing for a CCAC Tournament Championship and just 20 minutes away from its third straight trip to the NAIA National Championship. This year Hodge knows that what he has on paper should be successful, but doesn’t believe that alone wins games, players win on the court.

With that said, motivation is in no shortage for the six seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen that make up the purple and gold this season. Coming into 2008-2009, there was an uncertainty to who would take their game to the next level and lead, but in 2009-2010 there is no question. However, with confidence that stretches from the coaching staff to the talent-laden freshmen, much is still to be done as the Tigers look to make the most of the season that lies ahead.

In a return that is rarely seen in the college ranks, Josh Bronke (Normal, Ill.) is finally ready to see if last year’s redshirt will pay off. Bronke, possibly in one of the more anticipated returns in the conference, or even among the nation’s guards, has spent the last year bettering himself for Tiger Basketball. In the 2007-2008, his junior season, averaged 10.8 points per game, 4.0 assists per game, shot 43.8 percent from behind the arc, and was selected to the CCAC All-Conference Team. This year, Hodge will move Bronke predominantly to the off-guard position with the emergence of Antonio Marshall at the point guard position. Bronke has the ability to stretch the defense with this efficient shooting and range, and his speed in transition with and without the basketball. He will look to up his contribution in the scoring column as well as be a threat on the defensive end. With his ability to play extended minutes he will play some at the point as well, and the Tigers will look to Bronke to have another great season.

The last Olivet player selected CCAC Freshman-of-the-Year was two-time All-American Phil French in 2005. Sophomore Antonio Marshall (Bowling Green, Ind.) has big shoes to fill, literally, but if you asked him, he wouldn’t shy away from the challenge. Marshall was named the 2009 CCAC Co-Freshman-of-the-Year after a stellar season playing the point guard position. In 29 games, starting all of them, he averaged 10.4 points per game, 4.59 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and led the team with a 40.5 shooting percentage from behind the arc. The most underrated stat of the year was that he led the team in minutes played at 31.5 per game. Marshall came back after the off-season even quicker and stronger than he was and is ready for another great year as the quarterback of the Tigers.

Every championship caliber team has the constant, consistent player that gets it done without question. Senior Tyler Wallenfang (Washington, Ill.), was the Tiger big man who got it done last year as he earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors and received the second most votes in the CCAC for All-Conference honors last season. Wallenfang was a steady force when the Tigers needed him last year. and was named team MVP by his teammates. Starting every game and leading the Tigers in scoring at 15.5 points per game and rebounding at 7.0, Tyler also shot 56 percent from the field, 72 percent from the line, and was a leader by example for a young, inexperienced team. Wallenfang will be expected to do as much and more as the post is a major part of the Tiger offense and defense. Wallenfang also currently sits among Tiger greats with 1,212 career points, good for 28th all-time, is tied for 18th all-time in free-throws made with 247, and is 19th all-time in free-throws attempted.

One of the most explosive players for the Tigers is senior Rashad Mitchell (Batavia, Ill.). Mitchell was a CCAC All-Conference selection in 2009 and earned it with all-out play on both ends of the court. He has ability to score the basketball with strength and aggressiveness in the half-court and in transition. He averaged 11.6 points per game last year (2nd on team) and shot 51 percent from the field (2nd on team) in 31 starts. His physical strength and his extreme will makes for a great rebounder out of the guard position. Mitchell averaged 5.6 rebounds per game and had 55 offensive rebounds and got the foul line the second most times last year and shot 75.3 percent once there. This year he will be asked to play extended minutes out of the wing position and guard each team’s toughest offensive threat. Mitchell is a great defender with length and lateral speed, and know-how of each player’s strengths. This year, it won’t be as easy to keep Mitchell out of the scouting reports.

The 2009-2010 Tigers have much to be excited about because the depth Coach Hodge and his staff have to work with. At the point guard position, Antonio Marshall will man the position from the start. To be there to contribute is senior Dustin Rennewanz (Kankakee, Ill.) who played in 29 games last year and started the first two games of the year. He averaged 2.7 points per game and had 23 assists. Rennewanz has speed and is a long range shooting threat for the Tigers. Bronke will also move to the point guard position to give Marshall a rest.

The off-guard will see the most depth behind Bronke and Rashad Mitchell. Junior Cory Hainlen (Bloomington, Ill.) will be asked to provide firepower off the bench. Hainlen played in 23 games last year and started 17 of them. In those games he averaged 26.3 minutes per game and 10.1 points. He gave the Tigers 3.2 rebounds per game and just over three assists. He also was second on the team in three-point percentage at 38.6. Alongside will be junior Matt Mitchell (Fort Wayne, Ind.) who played in all 31 games averaging 21 minutes per game off the bench. Mitchell chipped in 5.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game also with his two-to -one assist (71) to turnover ratio. Mitchell will look to continue to shoot the ball this year after he struggled a bit to find his rhythm only making 37 threes last year. To add to the mix, the coaching staff brought in sharp-shooting freshman Ben Worner (Washington, Ill.). Worner will see minutes off the bench at the off-guard position and has the capability to play the point.

In the post, Coach Hodge has much to work with. After the steady Wallenfang, Hodge he will look again to senior Tyler Baldwin (Manteno, Ill.) to back-up Wallenfang and play big minutes off the bench. Baldwin played in all 31 games and started in 30, averaging 8.1 points and 5.9 rebounds and was second on the team in offensive rebounds. With Baldwin is junior Chuck Rideout (Fishers, Ind.) who played in seven games and will be asked to do more this year after spending most of last year on the junior varsity.

In the Tiger offense, Coach Hodge has a position called the 5-spot, and this year this position will be filled by who gives the best performance on the floor. Possibly leading that charge will be junior Nick Klomstad (Waukesha, Wis.) who hopes to come back strong following a knee injury last year. Klomstad played in 15 games and averaged 2.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and has the ability to shoot the three-pointer. Klomstad also runs the floor well in transition. Alongside Klomstad is sophomore Brandon Streets (Lombard, Ill.). Streets is a high-effort player who averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in just 17.9 minutes per game.

Senior Kris Irish (Washington, Ill.) will also see time on the floor after a year where he started 14 of his 30 games played. Irish averaged 5.6 points and 2.6 rebounds and shot 37 percent from behind the arc. The unique thing about both Streets and Irish is that they both can play the wing position as well. Sophomore Jake Hasselbring (Watseka, Ill.) will also see time off the bench after seeing significant time on the junior varsity last season. The potential wildcard in the whole playing time scenario is Jordan Harks (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), the most highly touted recruit at ONU in a long-time. Harks comes to the purple and gold looking to make a huge splash in the post with his size, athleticism, skill-set, and eagerness to excel. Harks will immediately see time inside for Hodge’s Tigers and may eventually be slotted into the starting line-up before season’s end.

From a fan and team perspective alike, the Tigers have much to look forward to. Coach Hodge has the experienced point guard, off-guard combination that often causes fits, wings that play at both ends, a post that is as solid as they come, and a bench that is as deep as one might find. However, there is a schedule to be played and if you really look at it, it is very tough. There are seven teams that played in the 2009 NAIA Division 1 National Championship Tournament and the Tigers will have seven true away games in Tennessee, California, Kentucky, and Indiana. They will play five more neutral games out of state and have the tough CCAC league slate to try to win which includes nationally ranked Robert Morris University (Ill.) who has won it three consecutive years.

Coach Hodge knows there is work to be done and will have his team ready for the challenges ahead. Leadership will have to play a huge role and perseverance through a long season will have to be the focus in order to get the job done. Because in order to become the championship caliber team that this team hopes to be, sacrifice will have to be made and everyone will have join together for the sole purpose of winning the 2010 NAIA Division 1 National Championship in Kansas City.

Nick Birkey
Men's SID