2008 Woodie Awards
Plan stays the same for Warhawks
Mike Daly
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Sports
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"We'll still be up-tempo and extend the floor defensively as much as possible," Miller said. "I think the style should be the same."
If the approach is to be emulated, the 'Hawks will have to do it without graduated seniors Giovanni Riley, Anthony Mlachnik, Mike Toellner and Andy Freund, a quartet which contributed 30.8 points per game last season. In addition, last year's leading scorer, Jason Price, is no longer with the team.
In the 2006-07 season, UW-Whitewater had its postseason charge blocked by UW-Stevens Point in the semifinal of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.
But the 'Hawks are ready to move on, and look to combine the efforts of newcomers and veterans in hopes of bringing a title back to UW-Whitewater.
Miller will call on returning all-WIAC forward Rob Perry to lead the `Hawks, while forward Kori Vernon and center Josh King are expected to fill important roles as well.
"Rob Perry has done a nice job being assertive and showing some leadership qualities," Miller said. "Even [senior guard] Taylor Groth, a guy you don't expect to play a whole lot, has been a great leader, and [he's been] getting guys to do what they need to do to prepare."
Even though Miller expects to see the same fast-paced, athletic basketball entertaining fans at Kachel Gymnasium this year, he concedes that the 'Hawks might endure some early growing pains.
"There [are] going to be a lot of people who are moving into positions they're not accustomed to," Miller said. "In addition, this year we have a lot of newcomers who are going to play."
Among those newcomers are guards Myles McKay, a transfer from UW-Milwaukee, and Matt Goodwin, a transfer from the University of the Pacific. Both players will start for the `Hawks and could provide a boost for the team, given their experience with Division I programs.
Along with the transfers, freshmen Phil Negri and Justin Berry could see significant playing time.
The `Hawks are No. 25 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, while UW-Stevens Point sits at No. 2. The Pointers are expected to run the table in the WIAC this season.
"Obviously the goal is always to win the conference, but it's too early to tell right now, [and] we have a lot of question marks," Miller said. "We have a number of guys who haven't played a whole lot, and we need game experience until we find out how good we can or can't be."
The `Hawks begin the new campaign Friday, hosting Eureka College at 7 p.m. in the Kachel Gym.
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