New-look Apaches expect better season
By John Baracani
The 1999-2000 men’s basketball team bears little resemblance to the team that went 6-22 last season for head coach Mike Riley.
Riley, now in his second year as coach and Athletic Director, has just four players returning from last year’s team; sophomore guards Kendrick Carr, Craig Olson, and Eric Hayward, and Forward Derek Baird.
"Not much is similar (to last year’s team)," Riley said. "This team was recruited to play basketball. There’s more talent, we’re more athletic. I expect a better season."
Joining the Apaches this season are guards Todd Heldt, Maurice Noethtich, Roosevelt Shegog, Mark Morton, and Chris Stombaugh; forwards Jui Wooten, Dan Floyd, Pat Kellerman, and Charlie Eckhoff; and centers Sandro Tovalin and Matt Franke.
Joining Riley as assistant coaches are Pat Cinotte and Dave Wieden.
One reason why Riley expects this year’s club to be better than last is the leadership provided by the returning players. He said that along with the three point shooting of Baird, Olson, and Hayward, the team also picked up speed and athleticism, which he said were both problems a year ago.
One problem the coach foresees with the team is the lack of a big man in the middle at center.
"Most teams have taller, bigger players," Riley said. "We’ll have problems with matchups in the middle, but I hope our quickness creates problems for them."
According to the coach, IVCC will enter this season in a very competitive and highly skilled conference, with teams such as Highland, who is nationally ranked, along with other strong teams like Blackhawk East, Kishwaukee, Blackhawk, Sauk Valley, and Carl Sandburg.
"Top to bottom this is the strongest conference in the state. This year should be the strongest this conference has ever been," Riley said.
Riley said that it is hard to predict how his team will do this season, saying that there are no sure wins.
"We have 11 freshman and 4 sophomores, so it depends on how soon the freshman adapt to college basketball," he said.
"It’s a matter of adjusting. We will face great talent every night, so we’ll have to play to the best of our ability."
Riley also said that he looking for the freshman to learn quickly and that to this point, things are going well.
" I hope the freshmen grow up quick. They are doing good, they’re picking up what to do. Most of them know what to expect."
The season begins on November 2 with a road game against South East Iowa, who has been nationally ranked anywhere from fourth to tenth, a game that the coach said will be one of the toughest games all season.
"They’ll have 2500 screaming fans packed in. We’ll have to grow up right away."
Also on the schedule early in the season is the Danville Classic on Nov. 6 and 7, where Riley said the games will "calm down a little."
Riley said contests against Rock Valley on Nov. 16, Lake County, on Nov. 20, and Joliet on Nov. 23. will pit his team up against some very comparable teams, talent wise, to each other and to his team.
"The first month we’ll be thrown in deep water real quick," said Riley. "I’m expecting an exciting season with an exciting team to watch, from three pointers to dunks, a variety of things."
For approximately the first month of the season, the team will be without the services of Charlie Eckhoff due to a slight Achilles tendon tear during team practice. Although he was still awaiting a diagnosis at press time, Riley believes the injury will cost Eckhoff about two to four weeks of play.
"Hopefully he won’t need surgery or be out for the season," the coach said.