2017-2018 Season Preview: Northwest Missouri State University Men’s Basketball
A college Basketball season can be interesting, such as last year when the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats won the NCAA Division II National Championship. High expectations for the Bearcats this coming season as the past four seasons they have been the MIAA Regular Season Champions. Expectations are high for the Bearcats.
“I think a lot of people expected us to win the national title last year, the expectations have been high at Northwest for quite a few years,” Ben McCollum said.
McCollum has been the head coach for the Bearcats for seven years...
Notable Losses
This past season the Bearcats lost three-point specialist Zach Schneider, big man D’vante Mosby and defensive guard Anthony Woods to graduation. Schneider, Mosby and Woods played a lot of the minutes last season so big holes are needed to be filled for the team, but with youth on the Bearcats team are manageable for this upcoming season to repeat what the Bearcats did last season.
Player Highlight
Justin Pitts with his 20.9 points per game, 5.1 assists per game and 3.5 rebounds per game is the player highlight for this upcoming season. Last year’s accomplishments listed as NABC, DII Bulletin and Basketball Times National Player of the Year, MIAA Player of the Year, Small College Basketball's Bevo Francis Award Winner, D2CCA, NABC, DII Bulletin and Basketball Times First Team All-America, D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year, MIAA Tournament, NCAA Central Region and NCAA Elite Eight Most Outstanding Performer. Pitts is a dominant force the past three season and he is one of the smallest players in the MIAA Division II league at only five foot, nine inches.
“Winning games and getting better as a team, but also doing the things to get back to the way we were last year, and the year before.” Said Pitts.’
Pitts looks to continue his dominant play in the upcoming season.
Transfer
Joey Witthus a transfer from Minnesota State brings a lot more scoring depth and defensive depth to the Bearcats. Witthus last season was second on the team in scoring with 13.7 points per game. In addition, averaging 4.7 rebounds per game and having 53 assists. Witthus started all 61 games he appeared in. Witthus was also named All-NSIC Second Team last year with the Mavericks. Justin Pitts commented on Witthus on the team,
“Witthus brings a lot to the team, He can do a lot,” Pitts said.
Projected Starting five
Justin Pitts; 20.9 ppg, 5.1 apg, 3.5 rpg
Xavier Kurth; 5.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Chris-Ebou Ndow; 12.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg
Ryan Welty; 5.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Brett Dougherty; 6.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg
Projected Key Reserves
Tyree King; (15.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.7 apg) High School.
Joey Witthus; (13.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) Minnesota State.
Tyler Dougherty; 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg
Kirk Finley; 1.1 ppg, 0.3 rpg
The Bottom Line
To be able to repeat what the Bearcats did last year their three-point percentage has to stay the way it did last year with .413%. The Bearcats are still the favorite to win the MIAA Regular Season Championship to make it five straight seasons. Projections for next season for the Bearcats are with a 30-5 record.