October 23, 2004

2004-2005 Season Preview

            We’re not sure yet or we’ll get back to you.

            Either one is the answer to the question of "How good will the Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball team be this year?"

            While two starters and two senior guards return, UNK must replace the Division II Player of the Year, Nick Branting, and three other seniors who combined to score 50 points per game last winter and helped the Lopers go 104-20 the past four seasons.

            The foursome also led UNK to three NCAA Tournaments and three appearances in RMAC Tournament finals.

            “When we played well at Nebraska in an exhibition game in 2001, we knew we had a pretty talented group of players. We thought we had a chance to get on a heck of a run and that’s what happened,” head coach Tom Kropp said. 

            The cupboard is far from empty as Kropp still has a rugged forward, sophomore Dusty Jura, and a talented swing man in senior Will Taukiuvea.

            Jura was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while Taukiuvea was second on the team in scoring at 15.5 a night.

            In addition, guard Marty Levinson returns after redshirting last year. He played a key role off the bench when UNK advanced to the Elite Eight in 2003.

            Also, senior Matt Jenkins is back after being one of the Lopers top perimeter players the past two years.

            But for the Lopers to make a fourth straight NCAA appearance, five newcomers must contribute immediately.

            Forwards Chris Dean and Chad Burger and guard James Lane may each start at some point this year while center Blaine French – at 6-9, 240 lbs. – is one of the biggest players in school history.

            “When we look at the positives of this team, we return our second and third leading scorers. We then tried to get some guys that can replace what we lost. But, to accomplish some of the things that our past few teams have, in terms of wins and losses, it’s going to be hard.

            “We hope to have a good team and one that can compete for the RMAC title and a NCAA berth but we also realize what we lost. This will be the first time in several seasons we have more newcomers then returners so we’ll have a lot of work to do early in the season,” Kropp said.

Front Court

            Big things were expected from Jura (6-6, 220 lbs.), who had a stellar career at Columbus Lakeview High School. The transfer from Northern Iowa lived up to the hype by leading the team in rebounds and ranking third in scoring in 2003-04.

            The lefty also provided strong defense as he led the team in steals (1.9 pg) and ranked second to Branting in blocks with 30.

            Finally, his point total, 447, was among the best in school history for a freshmen and more than Branting or Nick Svehla, a two-time All-American, had in their first seasons.

            “Being named freshman of the year was a great honor but what even was more impressive to me was the way Dusty played in the NCAA Tournament,” Kropp said. “He didn’t just average a double double but he had three straight double doubles against some very good competition,” Kropp said.

            One thing Jura hopes to improve upon this year is his free throw shooting (53.7%) and staying in the game. He fouled out seven times last year.

            “Dusty really improved as the year went along. He did a good job of getting to the basket but now he needs to make a better percentage at the line. He also needs to become more versatile and make some mid-range shots,” Kropp said.

            Jura will be joined in the post by three newcomers in Burger (6-7, 210 lbs.), Dean (6-6, 215 lbs.) and French.

            A transfer from Northern Arizona, Burger had a stellar career at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs. Recruited by UNK out of Doherty, Burger played 29 games for the Division I Lumberjacks last winter, including scoring six points in a loss to Arizona.

            “We really liked Chad out of high school and it’s not like Northern Arizona wanted him to leave. He could play at that level,” Kropp said. “But, he was looking to play a bit more and he should help us out a lot on the inside.”

            Dean drew more than passing interest from mid-major Division I schools last year. That’s because he averaged a double double (15.5 points and 11.7 rebounds) for California’s Citrus College.

            This will be his fourth year in a college program as he spent two years at Saddleback College, also in California.

            “Chris has some of the best credentials of any junior college player we’ve ever recruited. We really look for him to be a big factor for us this year,” Kropp said.

             French redshirted last year at Tyler Junior College in Texas. While the saying goes it takes bigger people longer to develop, Kropp thinks French will make a contribution to the team this year.

            “Blaine is maybe further along then we thought. He is not afraid of contact and will get physical in the post,” Kropp said. 

On the Wing

            A highly decorated player while at McCook Community College, Taukiuvea lived up to the hype last year by earning second-team RMAC East Division honors.

            Capable of playing on the perimeter (54 made threes) or in the post (4.5 rebounds per game), Taukiuvea should be among the top players in the North Central Region this year.

            “We’ve had some great teams lately and a lot of good players. But, at the end of the game, we always looked for a Nick Svehla or a Nick Branting to step up and make the play,” Kropp said. “This year, Will is going to have to be more assertive and make the big shots for us.”    

            UNK’s only true freshman is Ogallala’s Nick Morrell (6-2, 195 lbs.). A talented basketball and football player for the Indians, Morrell plays bigger then his size, much like Taukiuvea.

            “Nick is very hard nosed, is a great competitor and is in great condition. He’ll have to help us out some this year, getting some rebounds and loose balls,” Kropp said.          

Back Court

            The starting back court of Chad Sheffield and Brian Dunagan will not be easily replaced.

            Sheffield left with the second most assists in school history (459) while Dunagan tallied 1,104 points in his career.

            Both were also among the RMAC steal leaders throughout their careers and did the “little things” that helped make them among the best guards in the region.

            “I think one of the reasons our attendance has been so good lately is that players like Chad and Brian were so unselfish and played hard. People just enjoyed watching them get after it,” Kropp said.

            The main reason Levinson (6-3, 185 lbs.) sat out last year was because Sheffield and Dunagan could each go 40 minutes a night.

            “We took a calculated gamble last year with Marty. If either Chad or Brian would’ve gotten hurt during the season, we would have been between a rock and a hard place on what to do with Marty,” Kropp said. “That didn’t happen and now Marty can be a big contributor for us.”

            A talented defender, Levinson averaged 6.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game two years ago, his first as a Loper after stops at Augustana (S.D) and Southeast C.C. (Neb.).

            Levinson proved his worth in the regional final when, in place of an injured Dunagan, he scored 11 points and had four rebounds in a season-high 33 minutes.

            Dunagan and departed senior Jacob Mohs combined for 98 triples last year but Levinson, who sunk 21 threes as a junior, should help offset their loss.

            Also capable of making shots from the perimeter is Jenkins (6-2, 190 lbs.), the Lopers other left handed player besides Jura.

            In two years with UNK, Jenkins has made 52 threes and has a career scoring average of 4.5 points per game.

            Junior Matt Kucera (6-3, 190 lbs.), who sat out last year due to a shoulder injury, is one of the better athletes on the team.

            An all-state basketball and football player at Litchfield High School, Kucera then had a productive career at Central Community College in Columbus.

            “We think Matt can be a good player for us. He is one of our better conditioned athletes,” Kropp said. 

            One of UNK’s last signees was Colorado Springs native James Lane (6-1, 180 lbs.). The transfer from Division I Denver, like Burger, had a very productive prep career in the Springs and comes in with a reputation as a solid point guard.

            The sophomore played in 24 games for the Pioneers last year.

            “We were very happy to get James at the time that we did. Denver didn’t want to lose him but he was looking for more minutes,” Kropp said. “Based on his high school career, we see him as more of a scoring point guard.”

            Also here are Spencer juniors Kyle Fletcher (5-9, 160 lbs.) and Lance Classen (6-3, 170 lbs.).

            Fletcher is in his fourth year in the program and missed most of last year with injury. He has played 25 games in his UNK career.

            Classen joined the team in October after two years at Central C.C. in Columbus. He also was part of a state championship team while at Spencer-Naper High School.

RMAC/Region Race

            UNK won’t be the only team rebuilding in the league as Metro State, which made the national semifinals last year, lost several key seniors as well.

            In the RMAC race, Fort Hays State, Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian figure to challenge UNK and Metro in the East while Fort Lewis and Mesa State battle for supremacy in the West Division.

            The Lopers well get a look at its region competition early on when it hosts UNO in the season opener and then plays at North Dakota and Wayne State soon after.