Northwest Missouri State coach Steve Tappmeyer knows that MIAA defenses are going to be keying on his star forward Hunter Henry this season, and that’s just fine with him.
“I think they can send a lot of people and try to double on him and do different things, but he’s very unselfish. He’s a good passer,” Tappmeyer said. “He’s got a lot more than just scoring.”
Henry is one of the main reasons why the Bearcats were the unanimous selection to win the MIAA conference championship this year.
Only a junior, Henry was the league’s Most Valuable Player last season, averaging 17.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in conference games.
With many of his players, Tappmeyer would be worried about over-confidence after such a great season.
It’s not the case with Henry.
“He’s very even-keeled, very humble, a great person,” Tappmeyer said. “I don’t worry about him getting big-headed at all.”
Perhaps most impressive about Henry is the ability to make his teammates better.
He’s a good passer, and also can score in a variety of ways so it oftentimes seems like he has fewer points than he does.
“We really don’t run a lot of offense just to get him shots,” Tappmeyer said, “because he’s so good at picking his spots.”
Henry also isn’t a ball hog. He managed to be the third-leading scorer in the conference despite attempting just 10.9 field goals per game.
“He’s not going to have to go out and get 20 shots a game to be happy,” Tappmeyer said. “He just wants to win.”
Tappmeyer believes that player slumps occur because of two reasons: either the player becomes too cocky or other defenses start to focus a lot more on him.
The coach said he discussed the same thing with the 6-foot-8 Henry, telling him, “I feel good about you not losing your edge, but be aware, you’re going to be the first name on everybody’s scouting report.”
That’s certain to be the case this year, but the Bearcats might be even better because of it.
After sharing the MIAA regular-season crown with Central Missouri last year, Northwest returns 11 players to its roster this season, including four of five starters.
Lance Sullivan was MIAA Freshman of the Year, averaging 11.4 points and 2.7 assists per game.
Guard Andy Peterson (10.2 ppg) and forward Matt Withers (7.0 ppg) return as the Bearcats’ third- and fourth-leading scorers from a year ago.
It’s made for an easier early season for Tappmeyer, who said he was able to say the name of a drill during the first week of practices and have everyone run it without having to explain it.
“When you’ve got 11 guys back,” Tappmeyer said, “there’s just not a lot of that transition that you go through.”
That experience, Tappmeyer said, also was convenient in other areas. His players weren’t adjusting to classes or learning what it was like to live in the dorms. Most had been through their growing pains already.
Though he predicts his team will start well, Tappmeyer said most important would be getting his team to play its best basketball at the end of the year.
“I think the challenge is to not in any way lose your hunger or lose your edge,” he said.
Northwest still should have some good competition for the conference’s top spot. Central Missouri, Pittsburg State and Emporia State all have the potential to make a run at the Bearcats.
Tappmeyer knows his team will have to remain humble — just like his best player Hunter Henry already is.
“I’d be really concerned with a lot of guys getting as much attention as they did last year, but he’s such a great young man,” Tappmeyer said. “I think when you’ve got a guy like that on your team that’s one of your best players, part of your fight is won.”