Posted by
Sarah Hawbaker
-
Wed, Oct 15, 2008
- [
Men's Basketball
] - Viewed 254 times
With back-to-back seasons below .500, the Swede men's basketball team is ready to start clawing its way back. Coach Oleen hopes strong leadership will be vital in the Swede's success.
"We have stronger leadership than we have had the past two years. There will be some big suprises among them," Oleen said.
Despite Oleen's confidence, the Swedes were picked to finish ninth and eighth in the preseason coaches and media polls, respectively, at Tuesday's annual KCAC Media Day held at Friends University in Wichita, Kan.
The 2008-2009 team is going back to their roots of defense, work ethic and unselfish offensive execution, Oleen said.
Oleen said the program's success starts at the top.
"We have outstanding leadership in President Ed Leonard. The changes on the Bethany College campus, physical and otherwise, have been phenomenal," Oleen said.
From last year's team the Swedes lost Zack Sullivan who transferred to the University of Kansas and Rod Williams, a junior from Los Angeles who was supended.
Top newcomers include Brandon Miller, a junior post player from San Rafael, Calif.; junior Kevin Ukhagbe, a forward/post player originally from Gothenburg, Sweden; and Courtney Tyler, a junior guard from Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
The basketball Swedes begin their season with a pair of scrimmages Oct. 29 and Nov. 1. Regular season play starts Nov. 4 on the road at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. The Swedes open conference play December 4 at Friends University. The team's home opener is Nov. 7 vs. Manhattan Christian College.
| COACHES POLL |
| Place |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
|
Total |
FPV * |
| 1 |
Ottawa |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
99 |
9 |
| 2 |
Southwestern |
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
87 |
0 |
| 3 |
Tabor |
9 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
|
77 |
1 |
| 4 |
Kansas Wesleyan |
5 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
60 |
0 |
| 5 |
Sterling |
7 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
51 |
0 |
| 6 |
Friends |
6 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
8 |
|
48 |
0 |
| 7 |
Univ. of Saint Mary |
1 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
1 |
|
37 |
0 |
| 8 |
Bethel |
2 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
|
36 |
0 |
| 9 |
Bethany |
4 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
28 |
0 |
| 10 |
McPherson |
3 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
|
27 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
550 |
Total |
|
Total |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
0 |
550 |
should equal |
|
|
Each column should equal 55 |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* FPV = First Place Votes |
|
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|
|
|
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|
|
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|
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|
| MEDIA POLL |
| Place |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
Total |
FPV * |
| 1 |
Ottawa |
10 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
109 |
10 |
| 2 |
Southwestern |
9 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
99 |
1 |
| 3 |
Kansas Wesleyan |
6 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
74 |
0 |
| 4 |
Friends |
7 |
4 |
6 |
|  |
