(Written by Wooster sports information director Hugh Howard)
Three of Top-Eight Teams In The Country To Battle For Mose Hole Title
Traditionally, the E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic has always
had
outstanding fields, however, the 39th edition of this annual event will
feature the
best ever. In fact, this year's grouping resembles a "Who's Who" of
NCAA
Division III men's basketball, as three of the top-eight teams,
including last
season's national champion - Calvin College - will congregate at The
College of
Wooster's 3,400-seat Timken Gymnasium on Dec. 29-30.
Calvin, which was the preseason number-one this year, but is currently
rated
third in the most recent d3hoops.com poll with an 8-1 record, will take
on
eighth-ranked University of Chicago, which owns a mark of 7-1, on
Friday at
5:30 p.m.
The Knights, who thrashed Wooster 82-53 in last season's "Sweet 16" en
route to their second national championship since 1992, are coached by
fifth-year mentor Kevin Vande Streek. Calvin's eight wins have included
two
decisions over Cornerstone University, which is ranked third in NAIA
Division
II, and a 74-70 overtime victory over Wheaton College, while its lone
loss was
a one-point setback to Spring Arbor College - another NAIA institution.
The future is bright for the Knights, as they are led by a pair of
super sophomores - Bryan Foltice and Jeremy Veenstra. After scoring a
team-high 18 points in the national championship game, Veenstra has
carried that momentum into 2000-01, as he is averaging 16.6 points and
7.6 rebounds to top the squad in each category. Foltice is next in the
scoring column with 15.4 points per outing, while three others - senior
Nate Burgess, senior Brian Krosschell, and freshman Chris Prins - are
tossing in an average of eight-plus tallies.
Chicago, led by second-year head coach Mike McGrath, is in the midst of
possibly the toughest
non-conference schedule in Division III. The Maroons have beaten the
likes of DePauw University
(84-81), Wheaton (83-72), Illinois Wesleyan University (77-76), and
Hope College (80-76), but were
upset by Lake Forest College (85-67), ending their 38-game home winning
streak.
McGrath has primarily utilized a seven-player rotation led by junior
Jon Poyer, sophomore Derek Reich, and senior Jim Waichulis. Reich leads
Chicago in scoring and rebounding at a rate of 21.4 points and 9.3
boards per game. Waichulis, who has not missed a free throw in 23
attempts this season, has been averaging 12.8 points, while Poyer, who
is 32-of-35 from the charity stripe, has been adding 10.6 tallies per
game.
Following that battle, host and number-two Wooster, which has won its
first nine games, will play its
long-time rival Case Western Reserve University, which is off to a 3-2
start in 2000-01.
The Scots, who are under the direction of veteran head coach Steve
Moore, not only are trying to start out 11-0 for just the second time in
school history, but they face the pressure of trying to maintain their
NCAA-leading 37-game active home winning streak. Wooster is off to its
strong start, thanks to its customary balanced offensive attack and
stingy defense, as the Scots have seven players averaging seven or more
points and are limiting the opposition to 39.8 percent shooting from the
field.
Individually, sophomore Bryan Nelson and junior Antwyan Reynolds are
off to terrific seasons. Reynolds is leading the team in points and
steals with averages of 17.8 and 3.2, respectively, while Nelson has
been pouring in 16.0 points and grabbing a squad-best 9.2 rebounds per
contest. Relishing in his new role as a starter has been senior Nate
Gaubatz, who is averaging 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists,
while sophomore Matt Smith is 10.6 points per game.
Case Western Reserve is looking to garner some national attention of
its own in this tournament of
heavyweights. First-year head coach Mike Marcinko, who took over for
the legendary Bill Sudeck after he lost his long-time bout with cancer
this past August, guides the Spartans. After dropping its first two
contests, Case Western Reserve has bounced back to earn wins against
Lake Erie College (85-68), Brandeis University (85-60), and New York
University (71-69).
On Saturday, the consolation contest will take place at 5:30 p.m.,
while the championship game is
scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start.
Following the conclusion of the title game, trophies to the champion
and runner-up teams will be presented and the all-tournament team will
be announced.
-end-
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