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By Steve Carpenter
HCC Sports Information Director
Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007
Ken Bowman and Lamar Falley were standing in
the Sports Arena during the NJCAA Tournament last season.
Thoughts of a disappointing night a few weeks
earlier in Kansas City kept popping into their heads. Thoughts of the
Hutchinson Blue Dragons failing to advance to Wichita for the Region VI
Tournament resonated loud and clear as they watched 16 junior college teams
play in their house for a chance at a national championship.
Bowman and Falley both feel that they have
something to prove this season. So does second-year head coach Ryan Swanson.
“Kenny, Lamar and myself all feel like we
have a lot to prove,” Swanson said. “I’m not saying that last year’s team
was going to win Region VI, but I definitely think we should have been in
Wichita with a chance to compete for it. From that standpoint, we
underachieved.”
The Blue Dragons open the 2007-08 season
on Thursday night with the 2007 Quarterback Classic at the Sports Arena.
No. 14 Hutchinson opens the season with
three straight nationally ranked foes in Division II, No. 21 Hamilton
College, D-II, No. 17 Brown Mackie and Division I, No. 11 Arkansas-Fort
Smith.
With a full year to recruit in the state of
Kansas – not eight days like he had last year when he was hired on March 31
– Swanson and assistant coaches Cameron Belden and Dave Brown set out to get
the top in-state players Kansas had to offer.
With preseason conditioning and preseason
camp now complete, Swanson thinks his in-state class has a chance to reach
the lofty expectations he set for it. Add that to a strong group of
out-of-state players – Bowman and Falley and redshirt freshman Antonio Weary
are among that group – and the HCC coaching staff has some high hopes for
2008.
“We have a bunch of really competitive kids,
high-character guys who are willing to do what it takes to be good,” Swanson
said. “These guys are willing to work hard and go out and get something and
not just sit back and expect it to be handed to them.”
The Blue Dragons look to improve not only on
a 23-8 overall record, a 9-7 Jayhawk West finish and a run much deeper into
the postseason, but Swanson wants to establish an element of the game that
his first HCC squad wasn’t able to do consistently – play defense.
The 2006-07 Dragons allowed 75.6 points per
game. Opposing teams shot 40.8 percent and 16.6 turnovers per game. With his
personnel as it was last season, Swanson was unable to produce the up-tempo,
fast-paced game he wants to employ on both sides of the floor.
And with a defensive presence a major
priority for Swanson, playing time will be partially be based on how his
players work on the defensive end.
“It’s always going to be a process, but the
effort has been outstanding,” Swanson said. “When you have 12 guys who can
all come in and play and be effective like we have, it doesn’t take a genius
to figure out that when you are given your opportunity, you had better go
110 percent or your opportunities aren’t going to come as often.
“These guys have taken a lot of pride in
their ability to shut people down.”
The 2007-08 Blue Dragons are improved at
every position this season.
At the point will be University of Oklahoma
transfer Bobby Maze, who played in 22 games – starting in six – for the
Sooners last season. Maze averaging 18.6 minutes of playing time per game.
For the season he averaged 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
“He’s extremely competitive,” Swanson said of
Maze. “He’s unselfish and he has the ability to make his teammates better.”
Wichita East freshman Sam Edwards will back
up Maze. Freshman Blake Bales can also step in at the point.
The Dragons will be deep at the shooting
guard with Falley (8.48 points, 34.8 percent 3-point shooter) and in-state
players Bales, Austin Bond and Derek Burgan all vying for playing time.
Dragon fans will get their first true look at
Weary, who redshirted last season. Weary is one of the most athletic players
on the team.
“(Antonio) used his redshirt year to watch
and to learn and to become a better player,” Swanson said. “He’s always been
extremely tough-minded, athletic and strong. He’s a very gifted athlete.
He’s going to play as many minutes as he can at 100 percent.”
Falley will swing between the shooting guard
and three-guard position. Freshmen Javari Williams and Koury Clayton will
also figure into the plans at the three-guard.
Late in the summer, a former Hutchinson High
product decided to come home when Henry Rogers transferred from Kansas
Wesleyan to HCC. The 6-foot-7 Rogers has already established himself as one
of the team’s top defensive players. Freshman Ryan Douvier will also give
the Dragons a different look when he is in the game. One of top shooters on
the team, Douvier can help spread a defense out with his range. Both players
will see playing time at power forward.
The 6-9 Bowman, who will also see some time
at the power forward, and 6-10 Abdul Herrera bring a solid 1-2 punch in the
middle that the Dragons haven’t had in some time.
Bowman averaged 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and
had 41 blocked shots last season. Herrera originally signed with the
University of Cincinnati, but hasn’t played in two years.
“Ken has immensely improved not only his
overall game, he’s his conditioning and his mental toughness,” Swanson said.
“He’s one of the team leaders. He will surprise people with his quickness
around the basket and his ability to finish. He hasn’t played in two years,
so it’s not going to happen right away.” |
