By Sean Giggy
Herald Press Sports Editor

The Huntington University basketball team knows a little something about success.

The Foresters set five new school records in 2008-09 and finished 20-12, the eighth straight season the Foresters have won at least 20 games.

But as much as the 2008-09 Foresters carried on their winning tradition, it wasn’t enough for head coach Ty Platt and his players.

For the second straight season Huntington failed to qualify for the NAIA national tournament in Branson, Mo.

After five straight trips to Branson and seven in the last eight years, including a runner-up finish in 2006, the Foresters are ready to build on last year and get back on the national stage.

“There were a lot of good things [last year], but I feel we came up short,” Platt said. “I want us to play in the national tournament. Everybody wants that and we’re going to try and do what we can as a coaching staff to make that happen.

“The guys on our team are fantastic guys. They’re great players, but they’re even better people. As a collective unit, I think we can get where we want to go.”

With only two graduates from last year’s team, the Foresters return the bulk of last year’s talent, but those returnees have the task of replacing their leading scorer.

Kyle Benge, a three-year starter, averaged 18.7 points per game a year ago and led the team in assists. He’s a member of the Foresters’ 1,000 point club and was a second team all-conference selection a year ago.

“He had a great career here, but like every college program you lose players every year,” Platt said. “You hope to replace them and move ahead and continue to be successful. We’re going to do that.”

Geoff Scheetz also graduated after a four-year career with the Foresters. Scheetz averaged just over eight minutes per game last year, but was one of the top 3-point threats, connecting on 40 percent of his attempts.

“Geoff didn’t’ get a lot of time, but he did give a lot to our team and was a valuable part of it,” Platt added. “With the lettermen we have coming back we’re going to forge ahead and continue to be successful.”

One of the areas where the Foresters struggled a year ago should be one of their biggest strengths this year, Platt said.

Five players return to Huntington’s frontcourt led by third team all-conference selection Kevin Kyle.

Kyle, a 6 foot, 7 inch, 200 pound senior, was second on the team with 15.5 points a game last year and pulled down a team high 7.3 rebounds.

With more experience and depth in the post this season, Platt said he might pull Kyle out of the paint at times this season to open up the inside and spread the floor.

“Kevin has had a very good career at Huntington,” he said. “We start with him inside. He’s a guy that can step out and shoot as well. You may see a little more of that this year. That will open it up more inside for our big men.”

Another big man who is expected to have a significant impact is Bobby Jolliff.

Joliff has not played a game for the Foresters, but watched from the bench last year after redshirting due to offseason knee surgery.

A transfer from NCAA Division-I Eastern Illinois, the 6-8, 225 pound Joliff averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in less than 10 minutes a game with the Panthers. As a senior at Hauser High School, he led his team to a state title while blocking a record 11 shots in the championship game.

“He will be a good addition to our team,” Platt said. “Right now he’s stronger and has mentally overcome the knee injury and is able to be confident on it. I look for him to have a good year and he’s almost like a freshman because he hasn’t played.  Watching from the sidelines all of last year, that can only be beneficial now.”

Sophomore Caleb Kennedy (6-6, 225), junior Alex Nafziger (6-5, 205) and senior Neil Stoffel (6-6, 215) should all see considerable time down low. Redshirt freshman Nathan Jennings (6-5, 210) should add depth to the front line.

“Neil wants to have a special senior year. He’s extremely athletic,” Platt said. “Caleb and Alex work extremely hard. Alex probably came further than anybody last year from beginning to the end.

“He works his tail off. He gets rebounds that are out of his area and he will defend very hard and the guys have a lot of confidence in him. We’re going to have a lot of competition for playing time. That’s what you want as a coach. That’s going to make us better.”

Directing the show this year will be junior Tyler Shively. Shively, a third team all-conference player last season, scored 14.1 points and was the team’s top 3-point shooter, hitting 50 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

“Tyler is a guy that obviously everybody is going to know when he’s on the floor,” Platt said. “He’s not going to be able to sneak up on anybody. He can score and people know that. We’re going to call upon him to not only shoot the basketball a lot and score for us, but also defend and handle the ball probably more this year than he has in the past.”

The most experienced and biggest backcourt leader is senior Luke Smith. Smith, co-captain with Kevin Kyle, scored 11.4 points a game last season. Platt said Smith will be key in helping the Foresters reach their goal this year.

“Luke can score, has gotten stronger and he’s going to be a great leader for our team,” Platt said. “Luke is a guy who’s very, very driven right now. He wants to get back to Branson.”

Junior Kellen Zawadzki, 12.4 points a year ago, is not only one of the top returning scorers, but one of the best defenders. He led the team with 43 steals last season and Platt expects an even better season this year.

“Kellen is a guy who, when he’s hot, he’s fantastic,” he said. “Kellen can play about any position on the floor other than maybe our five man. He’s going to have a really good junior year. He’s looking forward to a larger role than ever before.”

The final returnee for Huntington is senior Kyle Johnson. Johnson played just four minutes a game last year, but Platt is confident he can contribute when needed.

“He hasn’t been called upon much in games, but he’s ready to if we need him to be,” Platt said. “He’s a great teammate and he loves his teammates.”

In a bit of déjà vu, the Foresters’ top recruit will have to sit and watch from the sidelines.

Chris Kent, from Angola High School, had surgery on both his knees and could return late in the year if rehab goes well.

Kent averaged 17.9 points and 5.3 assists as the point guard for the Hornets last year.

“It’s yet to be seen whether Chris will be out all year,” Platt said. “When he is able to come back, we have great expectations for him. He ran the show at Angola, loves the game of basketball and fits really well with our system. Down the road, he’s going to be really special.”

Despite the injury, another newcomer is waiting and ready to contribute right away.

Colin Featherston, a member of the Huntington Area Home Educators program, was a two-time National Christian Homeschool Basketball All-American. He led the Eagles to the national tournament with 19.4 points per game.

“Colin is a home school kid, which sometimes people wonder what kind of competition he has played against, because they don’t know,” Platt said. “But Colin is extremely athletic for a guy of his size and a very confident young man. He’s going to be called upon some this year to handle the basketball because of the need. He’s got the confidence to do well.”

The Foresters will see how well the new faces and veteran leaders work together in a tough test right out of the gate.

Huntington will host Indiana Tech November 4, a team that beat them in the opening game a year ago.

Also on the non-conference schedule are Cedarville, Webber International and Warner University.

Platt thinks the early season games will provide the Foresters a good test for the extremely tough Mid-Central College Conference season.

Three MCC teams made the elite eight in the NAIA national tournament last season and Platt said the conference will be even tighter this year.

“I think any one of seven or eight teams could win the conference this year,” Platt said. “The playing field is evening out. We like to think we can be at the top of that. In the MCC you have to earn it night after night after night. There are no cupcakes. There are no opportunities to catch your breath. You have to come ready to play. “

And with only four guys who have tasted the NAIA tournament before, but 12 who are hungry for it, Platt believes his team will be more than ready to hit the ground running.

“We’ve got guys who have played a lot of basketball and only a select few who’ve made it to Branson, but 12 who really want to go,” he said. “They’re going to push each other and do what they have to do to make sure their teammates are striving for the same goal they are.”

“We want to be better than we were last year. We had a successful year, but make no mistake, we want to go back to Branson.”