Hard-working Hornet men look to continue last season's success with 4 starters back
By Jesse Newell
Friday, November 30, 2007
David Moe is done with the bad guys, the projects, the talented-but-troubled kids that never seem to pan out.
The Emporia State coach has been down that road before. And he’s not going back.
“What’s most important is that you surround yourself with guys you believe in,” Moe said. “Regardless of the games we win or lose, at the end of the day, our guys now will give an honest effort and represent ESU the way it deserves to be represented.”
If all plays out as it could, Moe’s “Good Guys” could find themselves having quite a bit of success on the basketball court this season.
Moe has seven seniors and returns four starters from last year’s squad, which earned an NCAA Tournament bid after finishing the regular season 21-7.
It came as a surprise to nearly everyone. The Hornets were picked ninth in the preseason MIAA poll by the coaches before starting the season 14-0.
This year, there will be no flying under the radar. MIAA coaches picked ESU as the fourth-best team in the conference.
Players say they’re thinking bigger as well.
“We expect a lot more,” ESU senior Wes Book said. “Everyone knows what we’re capable of.
“Our goal is to get to Regionals, then do something when we’re there.”
The Hornets, ranked No. 23 in the preseason National rankings, look to have the ingredients to make a run at a second consecutive NCAA appearance.
It all starts with DeAndre Townsend, a 5-foot-9 guard from Minneapolis, Minn.
The senior is the emotional leader at point guard, with the Hornets often feeding off his energy and emotion.
“I always challenge myself,” Townsend said, “to be a spark.”
Townsend, or “Bear” as he’s called by his teammates, played pretty well to back it up. He was a first-team All-MIAA selection last season, averaging 17.2 points and 4.1 assists per game.
“A lot of times you’re only as good as your best player,” Moe said. “He has the dimension to make other guys better while being a good player himself.”
Also providing leadership is Wes Book.
The senior, who was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection last year, has asserted himself more this season, averaging 21.8 points through the Hornets’ first four games. That’s up from 13.6 points a year ago.
“He’s just gotten better and better,” Moe said.
Jordan Fithian and Caleb Tegtmeier return to the forward positions for ESU.
Fithian (7.8 ppg last year) comes back healthy from nagging foot injuries and also is in the best shape since he’s been at ESU.
The Emporia High graduate Tegtmeier, meanwhile, was fourth in scoring on last year’s team, averaging 8.1 points per game.
Transfer Marvin Lee has stepped into the other starting position after transferring from Division-I Binghamton.
The senior, who has averaged 10.5 points in his first four games this year, is a strong, physical player who has shown the ability to score from anywhere on the floor.
Sharpshooter Andrew Davison and reserve Dane Kelly are the Hornets’ other two seniors.
“We happen to have a core of seniors that have had success and know how to win,” Moe said. “Now, it’s a matter of blending those guys with the new guys.”
In addition to Lee, freshman Matt Boswell should receive significant time for ESU.
The 6-foot-6 guard — whom Moe describes as “skinny but not soft” — has shown good shooting range and also has helped the undersized Hornets guard taller teams in the post.
Six-foot-7 sophomore Doug Moore also could see time as a forward.
“If we needed more muscle, I’d have no problem putting him in,” Moe said, “but sometimes it’s hard with a senior-laden team to play a lot of younger guys.”
Boswell and Madison High’s Jordan Stout are the only ESU freshmen, while junior Spencer Allen has found his way into the Hornet rotation as a defensive specialist.
Forward Adam Holthaus, who played in 13 games a year ago, will take a redshirt this season.
Much like last year, the Hornets are off to an undefeated start.
ESU is 4-0, with its best victory an 85-83 triumph over region opponent Midwestern State.
The Mustangs, like the Hornets, were an NCAA Tournament team a year ago.
Though Moe believes he has a team capable of reaching its second straight Regional, his goal is to have a team that plays at a high level each game.
The rest, he said, should take care of itself.
“If you do the right things consistently,” Moe said, “you’ll win your share of games.”