2014-15 Men's Basketball Preview

DEFIANCE, OHIO  --  The Defiance College men's basketball program will begin a new era in 2014-15 as Tom Heil takes over as head coach and will be in his first season at the helm.

Last season, the Yellow Jackets finished 15-3 in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play and claimed a share of the HCAC Regular-Season Title.

DC brings back substantial depth from last season having graduated just one senior from last season.  The Yellow Jackets bring back five players that played in all 26 games on the 20-6 team from a year ago.  With a combination of experience from upperclassmen and a talented incoming freshman class, DC looks primed to make another run at the HCAC title.

Guards

DC brings back one of the best, most talented backcourts in the HCAC.  Seniors Travis Schomaeker  Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) and Mason Roth (McComb) have made in impact since they stepped on the court as freshmen.  Between the two of them, they've played in 158 games and started 126.  Joining Schomaeker and Roth, will be seniors Shaquille Smith (Flint, Mich./Flint Northern), Drew Frizell (Smithville), junior Clay Walker (Wadsworth/Berberton) and sophomore Devin Mangas (Leipsic).

Roth comes back as the second highest returning scorer, averaging nine points a game last season.  He also returns as the most deadly three-point shooter form last season, hitting on 39 percent of his attempts.  In addition, he was one ot the top free-throw shooters on the team converting 82.6 percent of his attempts at the line in 2013-14.  Complimenting his overall shooting ability, Roth led the team in assits with 2.9 helpers per game.  Defensively, Roth averaged 1.1 steals per contest.  Following the season, Roth earned honorable mention All-HCAC honors.

Schomaeker returns following a season that saw him finish fourth on the team in scoring at 8.6 ppg.  Schomaeker's primary threat was from behind the three-point line where he led the Yellow Jackets in triples made (48) while shooting 33.8 percent from "downtown."  He was also one of the best defenders last sesaon in the HCAC finishing second in steals per game with 1.4.  In addition, Schomaeker shot 83.6 percent from the free-throw line and was second on the team in assists at 2.7 per game.

Smith joined the program last season, but returns with a lot of experience as he played two years at the junior college level prior to coming to DC.  Last season, Smith averaged 2.3 ppg. while shooting an impressive 83.3 percent from the field.

Frizell played in 16 games last year coming off the bench.  He made seven field goals with all seven coming from behind the arc.  Over the course of his career, Frizell has shot 34.5 percent from three-point range, including shooting 37 percent his sophomore year.

Walker and Mangas will provide depth at the  guard position with Walker playing in three games and Mangas coming off the bench in 10 games as a freshman.  Mangas shot six-of-20 from the field for the year, including five-of-14 in three's.  He also added a pair of free-throws to finish the year with 19 points.

Forwards

The Yellow Jackets bring back one of the best forwards in the conference from a season ago in senior Bernard Edwards (Detroit, Mich./Warren Cousino).  Bernard Edwards had a career season last year as a junior capped by a first-team All-HCAC selection.  He led the team in scoring in 2013-14 at 15.7 ppg. and was sixth in the conference.  Bernard Edwards shot 42.6 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from behind the arc.  In addition, he had a knack for getting to the free-throw line shooting a team-best 133 attempts and made 101 for 75.9 percent.  On the glass, Bernard Edwards averaged 4.2 boards per game which put him third on the team.

Defensively, Bernard Edwards was second on the team in blocks with 23 and averaged 0.9 blocks per game, placing him sixth in the HCAC.

Fellow senior Kent Tietje  (Hamler/Patrick Henry) will also be one of the top returning forwards for DC.  Last year,  Tietje played in all 26 games as a backup and averaged nearly 3.0 ppg.  He shot an impressive 71.4 percent from the floor (25-of-35) and grabbed 89 rebounds for a 3.4 rpg. average.

Also back, is the sophomore duo of Sam Toporski (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) and Xavian Edwards (Mount Clemens, Mich./Chippewa Valley).  Both players saw playing time in backup roles playing in a combined 16 games.   Toporski and Xavian Edwards both averaged just over a rebound per game while Toporski scored four points and Xavian Edwards had three points.

Centers

DC brings back a big presence in the lane with junior Wade Wooley (Wauseon).  Wooley had a breakout season for the Yellow Jackets last winter.  He led the team and the HCAC in rebounding pulling down 7.1 rpg. , including averaging 2.2 offensive boards per game.  He also ranked third in blocked shots per game with 1.0 per contest.  Offensively, Wooley averaged 5.0 ppg., with an impressive 64.6 shooting percentage (62-of-96).

Also expect sophomores Javone Hilliard (Indianapolis, Ind./Arsenal Tech) and Josh Ream (Van Wert/Crestview) to provide depth with both players gaining a year of experience as freshmen.  Ream averaged nearly a rebound per game in limited playing time and Hillard made his only field goal attempted for two points in two games played.