The 2006-2007 men's basketball team was very young and inexperienced and faced adversity from the get go.

"The loss of two fine players, Gerred Link and Gordon Brown before practice ever started, was the first obstacle to overcome.  Nevertheless, this team grew up in a hurry and opened KCAC play with a road win at Bethel that displayed a lot of competitive fire in the come-from-behind victory." Oleen said. 

This team also had the most successful California trip in the history of Bethany basketball as they were crowned champions of the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Tournament held in December at California Lutheran. Both Kelby Brown and Anthony Javey were named to the All Tournament Team with Javey also claiming MVP honors. 

 

Upon returning to Kansas the team caputured a win over NCAA Division II Newman University. 

 

The rest of the season was up and down as the Swedes could not put together another string of victories.  The low would be going 0-3 vs. the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes (dropping the Bethany basketball record versus the “yotes” from 22-7 to 22-10 during Coach Oleen’s tenure coaching the men at Bethany). 

 

While the California trip was certainly successful the highlight of the season was the manner in which the young team continued to persist and work to get better. 

 

“They always tried to do everything we asked of them. This tremendous attitude was never more evident than the way we came to practice on Sunday night, February 18 to prepare for our first-round KCAC Tournament game at Ottawa, a team that had swept us during the regular conference season,” stated head coach Oleen.

 

The team “stayed the course” and went to Ottawa for a tremendous road win that few teams ever come away with. 

 

Oleen said some of the most respected and successful people in America are those who are able to persist and “stay the course” whether experiencing adversity, pain and defeat or joy, excitement and victory. 

 

"These young men have demonstrated that they are able to “press on” and because of that they are going to be respected and successful in whatever lies ahead for them."

 

KCAC honors were awarded to senior Anthony Javey who earned honorable mention for his contributions to the 2006-2007 season, and to freshman Zack Sullivan who was named to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Freshman team.

Academically, the Swede basketball team had an impressive GPA. They had a spring team GPA of 3.098, and a cumulative GPA of 3.21. Their hard work and dedication that they show on the court is easily noticed in the classrooms.

The junior varsity had a fine season under the leadership of Mike Melcher and the able assistance of Adam Esses.  The basketball program had another fine class of freshmen to go along with the leadership of a fine group of sophomores.

The Swedes bid farewell to six seniors from the 06-07 team. Returning for the 07-08 season is:

Brad Bietau, Manhattan, Kan.; Scott Bradley, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Gordon Brown, San Diego, Calif.; Kelby Brown, Rossville, Kan.; Brandan Crum, Minneapolis, Kan.; Jonathan King, Osage City, Kan.; Kyle Lorson, Hope, Kan.; Josh Maike, Alma, Kan.; Rob Miller, Vista, Calif.; Kirby Nickel, Augusta, Kan.; Ryan Stoppel, Wilson, Kan.; Zack Sullivan, Riley, Kan. and Marcus Wells, Haven, Kan.

 

Oleen said his team has laid out a plan to return to KCAC and national prominence which wasimplemented this spring.

 

“We must raise the talent level in Bethany basketball and we are working hard at that.  The focus of “spring ball” has been on player development.  Our returning underclassmen have been working hard in the weight room, in skill development and in athletic development.  We have been having the most organized and intense “spring ball” in Bethany Basketball history,” Oleen said.

 

The other area that the swedes are working hard at is recruiting. Coach Oleen said that the returning underclassmen have been very involved in this process as they bring in additional young men. 

 

Oleen said the men’s basketball team’s return to prominence will take a lot of commitment, hard work and sacrifice, telling his team that "whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  We must be 'relentless!'"

We are so grateful for everyone involved in Bethany basketball.  The players, the assistant coaches, the support personnel, the parents and families.  Together we share the big wins, the excitement, the joy, the close disappointments, the agony but most important we share each other….the friendships, the fellowship, the support, our families.  Yes, this is Bethany Basketball…..and always will be.”