WWU Mens Basketball: What to Expect This Season
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The WWU Mens basketball team is gearing up for another exciting season! Here’s what you can expect from them this year.
Introduction
The Western Washington University men’s Basketball team will tip off their season on November 1st at home against Whitworth University. After going 12-16 last season and 8-12 in conference play the Vikings will look to improve upon their young core of players and earn a spot in the postseason.
Entering his second season at the helm is Head Coach Tony Dominguez, who will have five returners and six newcomers to work with. Senior guard Trevor Jasinsky will be looked upon to provide leadership and scoring, after averaging 16.9 points per game last season which ranked second in the conference. Fellow senior Golden Brooks returns as well after earning All-Conference Honorable Mention honors a year ago, averaging 11.4 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game
The Vikings also bring in four freshmen who redshirted last season in Dwight Ward, Daniel Hardy, Myles Warren and Chase Hodgins, as well as two junior college transfers in Trey Reed (Columbia Basin College) and Michael Holloway (Olympic College).
This WWU team figures to be an exciting one to watch with their blend of experience and youth, looking to make some noise in the always tough GNAC conference.
The Team
Washington State University men’s basketball is coming off a season in which they had a disappointing 13-17 record, including a Pac-12 record of 5-13. head coach Ernie Kent and the team will be looking to rebound this season and provide some more excitement for the Cougar faithful. Here are five things to expect from WWU men’s basketball this season:
1) An experienced team
The Cougars return all five starters from last season, as well as their top six scorers. This group of experienced players will be looking to use their knowledge of Coach Kent’s system to have a successful season
2) Improved shooting
One area that the team struggled in last season was shooting, especially from beyond the arc. The team will be looking to improve in this area, and they have added some transfer players that should help in this regard.
3) A focus on defense
Coach Kent has emphasized defense in his time at WWU, and that is something that is likely to continue this season. The team will be looking to use their athleticism and experience to create turnovers and get stops on the defensive end of the court.
4) A tough non-conference schedule
The Cougars have put together a difficult non-Conference Schedule in an effort to prepare them for the rigors of the Pac-12 slate. They will face several good teams early on, which should test them and help them grow as a team.
5) A chance for a postseason berth
While it may be a long shot, with some improvement and some luck, the Cougars could find themselves playing in the postseason this year. They will need to have a Successful Season overall and hope that other teams ahead of them falter in order to have a chance at making one of the conference’s tournaments or even an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament
The Schedule
This season, the WWU Mens basketball team will be playing their home games at Carver Gym. Here is a list of their opponents and the dates of the games:
11/6 – Wofford
11/9 – at Furman
11/13 – at USC Upstate
11/17 – Warren Wilson
11/20 – Queens University
11/24 – at Presbyterian College
12/1 – North Greenville University
12/4 – Emory & Henry
12/8 – at Virginia Intermont
12/15 – Kentucky Christian University
12/29 – Pfeiffer University
The Competition
It’s no secret that the Western Washington University men’s Basketball team has been on a roll lately. The team has won the Great Northwest Athletic conference tournament three times in the last four years and made it to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight twice in that span.
This season, the Vikings will look to continue their success against a tough schedule. In non-conference play WWU will face several strong teams, including Division I foe UC Santa Barbara The conference schedule will also be challenging, with games against GNAC rivals Simon Fraser and Alaska Anchorage
But with a strong core of returning players and some talented newcomers, the Vikings are poised for another successful season. Here’s a look at what to expect from WWU men’s basketball this year.
The Fans
The WWU Mens basketball team is gearing up for another fantastic season and we could not be more excited! Basketball is such a fun sport to watch and there is nothing like seeing your team win in person. But what exactly can fans expect this season?
First and foremost, the fans can expect a lot of energy and excitement at the games. The team has worked hard in the offseason and they are ready to show everyone what they can do on the court. They will be playing with a lot of heart and determination and we know that the fans will be behind them every step of the way.
We also expect the games to be very competitive. The team has improved a lot since last season and they are ready to take on all challengers. We are confident that they will put up a good fight against any opponent.
Lastly, we want the fans to have fun! This is supposed to be a enjoyable experience for everyone involved. We hope that everyone who comes to the games has a great time cheering on the team.
The Coaches
The first thing to note about Western Washington University’s mens basketball team is the new Head Coach Tony Bennett He replaced Brad Jackson who retired last season after twenty-five years of coaching the team. Bennett is a former WWU player himself, and he has been Assistant Coach under Jackson for eight years. Some may see this as a controversial move by the school, but it was Jackson who recommended Bennett for the job before he retired.
The Game
Western Washington University’s men’s basketball team is one to Watch This Season The team has a lot of young, talented players that are eager to prove themselves. With a mix of experienced veterans and newcomers, the team is poised for a successful season.
One of the team’s most impressive players is sophomore guard Tone Sommerville. Sommerville was a key player last season, starting in all 30 games and averaging 12 points per game He is a strong three-point shooter and is adept at driving to the basket. Sommerville will be counted on to provide leadership and scoring this season.
Another player to watch is junior forward Jack K declaration-Finch. K declaration-Finch is a versatile player who can score inside and out. He averaged 11 points and six rebounds last season, and he will be looked to for increased production this year.
The team will also rely heavily on senior point guard Connor Holzinger. Holzinger is a steady ball-handler who does a great job of running the offense. He averaged nine points and four assists per game last season, and he will be counted on to provide leadership and stability this year.
The team has high hopes for this season, and they are poised to have a lot of success. Be sure to catch them in action!
The Future
What to Expect This Season
It’s been a long time since the WWU Mens basketball team was relevant. They have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2011, and have only won 1 game in the past two seasons. But, there is hope for the future. With a new Head coach and a talented young core of players, the team is poised to make a run at the conference title Here are a few things to watch for this season:
1) A return to prominence: led by star guard Daulton Hommes, the team is expected to contend for a spot in the NCAA tournament
2) A new era of defense: under new head coach Mark Pope, the team has adopted a new style of play that emphasizes defense.
3) An improved offense: with Hommes leading the way, the team has added several talented scorers that should help them improve on their offensive output from last season.
4) A deep bench: one of the biggest concerns for the team last season was their lack of depth. This year, they have added several players that should provide valuable minutes off the bench.
5) A tough schedule: while they will not have to face non-conference powerhouse Gonzaga, they will still have to play several tough teams on the road.
If you are a fan of WWU Mens Basketball this is shaping up to be an exciting season. Be sure to follow them as they look to return to prominence in the conference and beyond.
Conclusion
The Western Washington University men’s Basketball team is coming off a strong season in which they won the NCAA Division II National Championship This year, the team is looking to defend their title and make another run at the championship. With a talented group of returners and some new additions to the team, the WWU men’s Basketball Team is poised for another successful season. Here’s a look at what to expect from the WWU men’s Basketball team this season.