Oct. 25, 2006
Bellingham, Wash. - Look around the Western Washington University men's basketball program. You won't see many familiar faces. Just five letter winners are on the roster - and combined, they played just 681 minutes last season for a Viking team that was 23-7 overall, 13-5 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and reached the West Regional final of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
But there's history of Western going through this process before with success. Five of the seniors on the 2005-06 team were freshmen in 2002-03. They went 88-35 over their four seasons, and made two trips to the West Regional. That group was 16-11 in its first season.
And there's also experience from a head coach who has seen these things play out before. Brad Jackson enters his 22nd season, making him the longest-tenured coach in school history. His 398-224 career record leaves him just two wins short of 400, and he's Western's career leader in coaching victories and winning percentage (.620).
"We go from a team that was exceptional and with players in the program a long time to a team that really is almost totally new," said Jackson. "We don't have a lot of on-court experience, but we do have five guys who have been here in school, in the program. The transition for them is smaller. For everyone else, it's a big transition, there's a lot they haven't been through yet."
The status of the returning player who saw the most minutes last season remains in doubt. Junior 6-5 forward Brett Weisner (Spokane/Shadle Park) was Western's top scoring reserve, averaging 4.9 points a game, but is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in the spring. It isn't clear when he'll be back.
"It's unfortunate for Brett, but he's been highly motivated and his rehab has gone exceptionally well. He'd us a bigger guy who can shoot well, and he plays with incredible competitiveness."
Weisner's absence makes senior 6-7 post Lukas Henne (Bremerton/Central Kitsap) by far the most experienced returnee. A three-year letter winner, he has played in all but two games over the last three seasons, scoring in double figures 10 times and blocking two or more shots in 21 games. He averaged 3.3 points and 2.0 rebounds in 10.5 minutes a game last season.
"Lukas has played a lot of different roles in his time here, now he's going to be a guy we look to as a major player," Jackson said. "He's improved each year. He blocks shots well, is a good rebounder, and he has a great basketball temperament - he rises to the occasion in pressure situations."
Sophomore 6-2 guard Ira Graham (Fontana, CA) redshirted last season after averaging 4.6 points and 2.2 assists in the first 11 games of the 2004-05 season.
"I think what sticks out about Ira is how he's grown and matured personally," said Jackson. "He has all the tools to be a fine player. He can score in bunches, he has good range, and he's also unselfish. He's the classic combo guard, he's much bigger and stronger than when he was a freshman and he's just waiting to prove himself."
Two 6-7 sophomore post players figure to see expanded roles after seeing limited action last season. Forward Calin Schell (Chelan), who can also swing out to a perimeter position, played in 13 games last year. Forward David Brittinen saw action in five contests.
"Calin is a natural leader," Jackson said. "He's been in the program two years, he's a rangy strong guy, an instinctive tenacious rebounder who can play the post or play facing the basket. Calin can be a real catalyst for us - he lifts up people around him and other players enjoy seeing him do well.
"Some people have a tendency to sell David Brittinen short because he's a little undersized, but he has excellent timing and he jumps well. David is very mentally tough, and he has good athletic ability. He's worked hard the last couple years."
After those five players, the team is entirely new.
In the frontcourt, the newcomers are two freshmen - 6-10 center Steve Severin (Richland/Hanford) and 6-8 forward GabeThrash (Gardena, CA).
Severin averaged 12.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.8 blocks in earning first-team all-Mid Valley League honors as a high school senior. He set school records for blocked shots in a game (11), season (157) and career (265).
Thrash, who didn't start playing basketball until his sophomore year of high school, averaged 8.0 points and 12.0 rebounds as a senior.
"We have two young big guys who are both very eager and very athletic," Jackson said. "They bring great size, great enthusiasm, and for their size, they run exceptionally well. There will be times when they take their lumps, but when they do, they have the attitude to get right back up and keep going."
There's also a large group of new players on the perimeter. Two of them are transfers - junior 6-2 guard Eddie Coulson (North Las Vegas, NV/Cheyenne) from Treasure Valley CC in Oregon, and junior 5-11 guard Bryan Adams (San Jose, CA/Branham) from De Anza College in California.
Coulson averaged 19.0 points a game last season at Treasure Valley, earning second-team all-NWAACC Eastern Division honors. Adams averaged 17.0 points and 4.0 assists at De Anza.
The other two key newcomers are freshmen - 6-4 guard Brandon Williams (Chicago, IL/Thornton Fractional North) and 6-0 Harold McAllister (Vancouver/Mountain View). Williams averaged 13.0 points as a high school senior and played on a national championship AAU squad the previous summer. McAllister was an honorable mention Class 4A all-state pick, averaging 15.5 points and 4.1 assists.
"Those four bring us a lot of speed and quickness," said Jackson. "Bryan and Harold are both natural point guards. Eddie is slashing scorer and Brandon brings nice size, athletic ability and great range. We could be very tough defensively with the range these guys have."
Completing the roster are junior 6-2 guard Greg Meier (Chelan), who played at Whatcom CC last year; junior 6-2 guard Jason Pegues (Seattle/Cleveland), a transfer from Edmonds CC; and freshman 6-4 forward Jerad Groth (Yakima/Eisenhower).
"I like the players we've recruited," said Jackson. "I'm pleased with the quality of young men we have. They bring a good track record, they've done well in the past. Potentially, we should have very good balance - a nice frontcourt group and perimeter people who can shoot and have quickness."
Western's schedule is never easy with the GNAC being a rugged conference in both travel and competition. Three conference schools have reached the national semifinals in the last six years.
"Top-to-bottom, our conference is one of the top two or three in the country," Jackson said. "We're also in one of the toughest regions in the country. We do have a fair number of home games early in the season, which will be good for our team."
The Vikings open the season with 11 straight non-conference games, seven of them at home. There's also tournaments in Seattle and Las Vegas where Western will meet West Region opponents, before GNAC play commences in early January.
"We realize there will probably be some ups and downs, but you hope the young guys mature quickly," said Jackson. "You want to get better as the season goes on, but you can't wait long and just say, `We'll get ready for the conference.' There's some important in-region games early on."
