2009-2010 Season Preview
Two years ago, Cornerstone University men’s basketball coach Kim Elders made an investment of time and encouragement…and this is the year he hopes to collect the dividends,
“Two years ago we had a team of freshmen and sophomores, so we knew it would be a challenge,” Elders said. “But this should be the payback for what we went through that season. We go into the year with 12 lettermen returning, including four seniors who will bring dedication and experience into their final season.
“The Bible tells us that we reap what we sow, and that’s our plan for this year.”
In his 16 years as head basketball coach, Elders has established his Golden Eagles’ program among the nation’s elite. Under Elders, Cornerstone won the 1999 NAIA Division II National Championship, and has made it to the Final Four four times.
But it has been two years since the Golden Eagles have been back to Branson, MO., for the Nationals, and Elders hopes to correct that during the 2009-2010 campaign. His fellow coaches in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference seem to agree, choosing Cornerstone as the favorite in this year’s pre-season poll.
“It’s been two years since we’ve made the trip to Branson,” Elders said. “And we want to go back. There are only three players on this year’s roster who have ever been to the Nationals, and we want everybody else to get a taste too.
“Once you’ve been there, you want to keep going back, so you do what it takes to get there. It certainly isn’t easy, but I think we have the talent and the experience to go back again.”
There is no substitute for experience.
“As coaches, we know that very well,” Elders said. “Two years ago everybody was learning, but we are past that now. We come back with a lot of solid players with substantial minutes under their belts. There are only three players on our roster who haven’t been in the system for awhile, and because we’ve been together, we’ve learned each others’ quirks, their strengths and weaknesses, which allows us to play well together.”
All that experience would be negated by trying to change things and surprise opposing teams.
“We have a simple philosophy,” Elders said. “We bring it for 40 minutes. “Programs don’t change much year-to-year. You know Tom Izzo tweaks his game plan every week, but it is still the Michigan State program that has been so successful.
“So nobody will be looking for surprises. We do what we do, with what we have on hand. This year what we have on hand is significant. We want to push the ball up court and play good defense. It’s not a difficult concept, and it’s effective if the execution is good.
“That goes around the league. I know other coaches and the players we will face. It comes down to one team playing their game better than the other team. Everybody sticks with what they do best, and for us, playing up-tempo is the philosophy.”
This year’s team is much closer to the balance Elders wants that the past two.
“Every year you want to graduate three or four players, and replace them with three or four new ones,” he said. “Two years we were bottom heavy with underclassmen, but now we are back to being top-heavy with upper classmen, and that should make a real difference.”
This year’s team has four seniors, six juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen. Two of the three newcomers are transfers, so only one is an incoming freshman.
“The new blood will help us out, give us solid depth,” Elders said. “All three will help us from the start, which says something when you consider all the talent we return. If there is going to be any change with this year’s team, it will be in establishing a new level of toughness.
“I think that was missing somewhat a year ago, but to be successful, you have to be tough as individuals and as a team. The newcomers we brought in are tough, physical, athletic players.”
Although Cornerstone pushes the ball up court, their bread-and-butter is still the inside-out game.
“And that all starts with Matt Kingshott,” Elders said. “Matt (6-5 senior from Zeeland West) is our primary go-to guy in the paint. He’s a two-time All-Conference player who has led our team in scoring the past two seasons. Matt went over the 1,000-point mark last December, and by the time he graduates he will also be near the top in career rebounds for us.”
“He is a bull inside, really difficult to defend. When he is going well inside, our outside game also goes well because the other team has to double-down to try to contain him.”
Kingshott and Caleb Simons (6-5 junior from Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart) are Cornerstone’s two main post players.
“They’ve been together at the 4 and 5 spots for two years now, and work well together,” Elders said. “Caleb has a unique game, he always finds a way to get inside and score. Caleb and Matt work very well together.”
There is depth under the Cornerstone basket.
“Kelvin DeVries (6-6 junior from Kalamazoo Christian) is a double threat for us,” Elders said. “He is good under the basket, but he is also one of our best three-point shooters. That causes real match-up problems for opposing teams.
“Dan Possehl (6-8 sophomore from Tri-Unity ) had a solid freshman year and learned a lot working with Matt,” Elders said. “Even though he’s our tallest player, he played a lot of outside in high school, so he is still learning how to play with his back to the basket. But he is a nice player and he keeps getting better.”
Although those four will form the cornerstone of the Golden Eagles’ front line, transfer Derek Kingshott (6-3 freshman) and returnee Ted Albert (6-3 junior from Belding) will also see minutes.
“”Derek came to us from Hillsdale, where he played football,” Elders said. “He has been away from basketb all for awhile, but he is very athletic and brings in the toughness that we need.
“Ted didn’t play last year, and won’t be eligible until second semester, but he is a solid player and I don’t think anybody can go as deep as we do with front-line players.”
If you push the ball, then your guards are your key.
“We return three guys who started at one time or another last year,” Elders said. “Dominic Allen (6-0 junior from Hudsonville) is our point guard, and he really runs the offense. He had over 100 assists last year, and just under 10 points a game.
“Corbin Donaldson (6-0 senior from Petoskey) is our best defender, maybe the best in the WHAC,” Elders went on. “He is a solid, hard-nosed kid who has gotten better every year on the offensive end of the court. Opposing teams can’t ignore him any more by not guarding him.”
“Ronnie Bates (5-8 sophomore from Grand Rapids Central) had a good freshman year. He has a lot of energy and shot over 50 percent from the floor. He’s one of those quick kids who can get into the lane and make things happen. Ronnie brings it every day, whether it’s in practice or in the games.”
There are others counted on the make a difference this season.
Bryan Pasciak (6-2 junior from Rockford) is a transfer from Ferris State.
“Bryan had a great freshman year at Ferris, was a starter, but then he hurt his ankle as a sophomore. He is very athletic, very tough, and we are glad to have him,” Elders said. Bryan will bring a lot to our team with his intensity, defense and rebounding. He’s also going to give us another weapon on the offensive end as well.”
Ryan Zwier (6-7 senior from Kalamazoo Christian) is on the Cornerstone golf team, but when he catches up he adds a real outside threat to the Golden Eagles’ offense.
Justin Yoder (6-0 sophomore from Westview IN) saw a lot of minutes a year ago and will bring experience and outside shooting to the team.
Bryce Semple (6-5 junior from Zeeland West) is a good outside shooter and has improved a lot during his first two seasons, while Jon Hoshor (6-2 sophomore from Saugatuck) is coming back after two knee surgeries. He should be at full strength by the start of the season.
Dennis Jones (6-1 senior from Kenosha Christian also returns for his final season.
“He didn’t know if he would play again or not,” Elders said. “But I’m glad he decided to play his senior year. He’s a great young man who works so hard and knows his role. Dennis is a tremendous encourager and teammate.”
The only true freshman on the roster is Joey Saladino (5-9 from Forest Hills Central).
“He’s like water bug, always flitting around,” Elders said. “He’s a lefty with a great outside shot, and tremendous energy. He won’t back down from anybody.”
Although there is no dominant big man in the 6-10 range, Cornerstone has six players at 6-5 or above.
“Size won’t be a factor,” Elders said. “We aren’t big, but we aren’t small either. Over time we’ve seen the best teams in the NAIA are the ones with a post who is 6-5 or so, but quick and aggressive.
“We can get it done at 6-5, because experience is a great equalizer.”
Last year Cornerstone went 21-12, finishing third in the WHAC at 10-4. The Golden Eagles lost on in the conference tournament finals.
“That’s our goal,” Elders said. “We want to win the regular season so we have that home court throughout the tournament. The last two years we had to go to Indiana Tech and Aquinas, and those are difficult places to play.
“It would be nice to bring everybody to us for a change.”
