2004-05 Men's Basketball Season Preview

The Wilmington College Quaker men's basketball team looks to rebuild after a sub-par season a year ago. The team, with their third coach in three seasons, returns their top two scorers and eight of 12 letterwinners.

Leading the team in his first year as head coach is Xavier University graduate Marc Kuntz, who was an assistant coach on the 2003-04 squad. He knows he has a lot of work ahead of him, but is anxiously awaiting the first game.

"In my first year as coach, we will look to continue what was built here last year by Coach Rey," noted the first-year head coach. "We are going to emphasize the team philosphy and really build on that. We want our players to believe in the team, and to improve every day."

This year's young team, which includes 16 newcomers, will be led by a pair of veterans, senior guard David Guy and senior forward Deon Short. A year ago, Short was named Honorable Mention All-OAC, averaging 17.2 points and 5.0 rebounds while Guy put in 14.0 points while shooting 42.1 percent from three-point range. Short, who is also a wide receiver on the Quaker football team, will join the squad after the football season finale on November 13. Also in their final year for the program are guard Tim Carlier and forward Darrick Barga.

"Right now Dave Guy is doing a very good job leading for us ­ being a role model for the younger guys, picking them up and showing them how things are done," said Kuntz. "He has done a great job, as have Darrick Barga and Tim Carlier. Those three seniors have done a great job helping our younger players learn the system. I am also looking for great things from Deon Short when he gets here from the football team. We are looking forward to getting him back on the court after the great year he had last year."

The Quakers have two players that lettered in 2003-04 at the point guard position, as the team returns sophomore Luke Wolfinbarger, who started 14 games last year, putting in 3.4 points per game. Moving to the point guard position will be Josh Rohrbacher, who averaged 4.8 points and pulled down 3.2 rebounds from a wing position a year ago. Newcomers to the program at point guard are Billy Nelson and Zach Broermann.

"Right now, point guard is probably our deepest position," said Kuntz. "We have four guys competing for the starting spot. Josh Rohrbacher played off the ball for us last year, we are looking to use him at the point some this year. Luke (Wolfinbarger) ran the point for us last year and Billy Nelson and Zach Broermann are a pair of freshmen that can play both on and off the ball."

On the wings the team returns seniors Guy and Carlier. Also back at the position are juniors Mike Umpleby and Brett Carpenter. Umpleby, who started 10 games last season averaged 4.8 points while Carpenter, a 6-5 guard, averaged 1.9 points in 19 games on the year. Newcomers include Fred Harrison, and Nick Berter.

"At wing, Dave Guy, our senior at the position, will provide leadership at the position. We also have Mike Umpleby coming back, as well as Brett Carpenter and Tim Carlier. Fred Harrison and Nick Berter have been pushing themselves every day and learning our system ‹ they should make an impact this year."

At the post, the Quakers return All-OAC team member Short along with senior Darrick Barga. Looking to add size in the middle will be transfer Eric Stirling along with freshmen Jordan Langston, and Jeff Proctor.

"We have quite a few guys playing for us up front," said the first-year coach. "We are expecting Deon Short and Darrick Barga to contribute for us at forward as well as transfer Eric Stirling. Jordan Langston and Jeff Proctor will also be looked at to contribute for the squad."

The team starts their 2004-05 season at home with a tip-off tournament featuring the Quakers, Thomas More, Anderson and Defiance. The team then hosts seven of their next 11 games, including games against Franklin, Rose-Hulman and Maryville (Tenn.) before jumping into the always difficult Ohio Athletic Conference season, which has three of their 10 teams ranked in pre-season polls.

With Kuntz at the helm, the team hopes to reverse a trend that includes seven straight non-winning seasons and 14 losing seasons in the last 15 years.

"History and tradition have not been good here, and not a lot of people have high expectations for us," noted Kuntz. "We have expectations and we are the only ones that believe that. We are working everyday and getting better everyday to prove that we are on our way to becoming a wining program."