QUICK 2011-12 SYNOPSIS: After a year learning the new system of head coach Rod Jensen, The College of Idaho will look to bounce back after their first back-to-back losing seasons since the late 1970s. With a core of 10 players returning from last season and five talented recruits, the Yotes look to turn the corner and contend for their first Cascade Conference title since 2004.
LIVE STATS / LIVE VIDEO: All C of I home games will feature Live Stats and Live Video during the 2011-12 season. Live Stats can be viewed online at http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/livestats/xlive.htm, while Live Video can be viewed online at http://www.uppersports.com/broadcast_iframe/4415. Currently, the Coyotes do not have plans to have games aired on radio in 2011-12, but will have play-by-play from SID Mike Safford on all home video broadcasts.
ABOUT THE COACH: Rod Jensen begins his second season as head men's basketball coach at The C of I. A year ago, his first Coyote team, which had just two returning starters, rallied from a tough start to win 9-of-12 games midway through the season and finish in a tie for fourth in the CCC standings. Jensen came to The C of I after five seasons at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he served as associate head coach for the last four years. Jensen has earned notoriety as a defensive coach, especially during his 19 years as a coach at Boise State University. From 1983-95, he was the top assistant to head coach, Bobby Dye, helping the Broncos rank among the Top-15 in the NCAA Division I in scoring defense for four-straight seasons, winning Big Sky regular-season championships in 1988 and 1989, along with Big Sky Tournament titles in 1988, 1993, and 1994. BSU teams advanced to the National Invitational Tournament in 1987 and 1991, and the NCAA National Tournament in 1988, 1993, and 1994. In 1995, Jensen became the head coach at Boise State - compiling a 109-93 overall record in seven seasons at the helm - recording the fourth-most wins in BSU history. During his tenure, the Broncos ranked among the NCAA Top-25 in scoring defense in 1998 and 1999, while winning the 1999 Big West East Division Championship. Jensen headed east in 2002, becoming an assistant coach for Pete Gillen at the University of Virginia, where he helped the Cavaliers to NIT appearances in 2003 and 2004 - leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in defensive field goal percentage. In 2005, he headed south to UNC-Greensboro, working for Mike Dement, where during his tenure, every player who exhausted their eligibility, graduated. A graduate of the University of Redlands in California, Jensen began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1980, serving as an assistant for two years, before spending one season at Penn State.
PRESEASON POLLS: The CCC will release its 15-player preseason All-Conference Team, along with the 2011-12 preseason Coaches’ Poll, later this week, while the NAIA will release the preseason Division II Coaches’ Poll on Oct. 24. The C of I has been ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA poll each of the last 18 years.
LAST SEASON / PLAYERS LOST: Playing one of the tougher preseason slates in program history, the 2010-11 Coyotes stumbled out of the gates, losing 8-of-11 non-conference games. However, The C of I caught fire in CCC play, at one stretch winning 9-of-12 games, including three against Top-25 foes, to vault in the league standings – ending up in a tie for fourth-place, recording their 14th-straight postseason berth. Unfortunately, the Yotes dropped a tight 60-54 decision at Northwest in the CCC quarterfinals. The squad will have to replace a pair of starting guards –honorable mention All-CCC selection Kelly McCarty (10.3 ppg) and Steve Peres (10.1 ppg), while three walk-on players decided not to return for the upcoming season.
POSITION BY POSITION – POINT GUARDS: The Coyotes will have experience at the point this season – as a pair of upperclassmen return. Miguel Rodriguez started 28 games a year ago and averaged five points and five assists per game, while Sean Spooner, who joined the team at semester after a season at Division I UNC-Greensboro, looks to be much improved. Transfer Rodney Delgardo, from Spokane CC, will also be in the point guard rotation – a very long, athletic player. “Miguel made great progress last season,” said Jensen. “I also expect Sean and Rodney to be a force on the defensive end of the floor.”
POSITION BY POSITION – GUARDS: The Yotes return a pair of guards from last season, as part-time starter Duncan Koga and reserve Jason Brown are back. Koga, a junior, averaged four points a game, hitting 39-percent of his three-point attempts, while Brown, who saw minimal minutes in 2010-11, has improved his jump shot in the offseason. “I am excited for both Duncan and Jason,” said Jensen. “Both spent a lot of time in the gym working on their ball handling and shot.” Freshman Sydney Donaldson looks to be an impact player, as is transfer Zach Peterson. Donaldson came to The C of I from Charis Prep in North Carolina, where he earned Prep School All-America honors, while Peterson is a former 5A All-State selection – having spent a season at both the College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College. “Sydney is a special all-around player,” said Jensen. “He can take the ball to the basket or hit an open jumper. Zach has been hampered by injuries during the preseason, but I am excited to watch him progress, as he is an excellent shooter with good range.”
POSITION BY POSITION – WINGS: The Yotes will pose match-up problems at the wing, as four returners and a transfer bring different things to the table in 2011-12. Leading the group is NAIA All-American Matt Ballenger, coming off a season in which he averaged nearly 16 points and five rebounds a game – hitting 74 three-point baskets. The senior also led the team with 76 steals. “I am excited to see what Matt will do this season,” said Jensen. “He put a tremendous amount of time on the court in the offseason and it will pay off.” Sophomore Rick Tolman will also be in the mix, coming off an injury-plagued rookie season where he averaged just one point and two rebounds. Also returning is Tyler Young, who averaged seven points and four rebounds a game, and sophomore Devan Telken, the fastest player on the team. “Both Rick and Tyler have a very good jumper, and with their size (6-7 and 6-8), will pose match-up problems,” said Jensen. “Devan is a player who will be a game-changer on the defensive end.” Another factor for opponents will be Ben Van Lith, a 6-6 transfer from the College of Southern Idaho, who can play inside and out.
POSITION BY POSITION – POSTS: The Yotes are blessed with a quartet of posts this season – all bringing different intangibles to the table. Returning starter Krispin Banks is poised for a solid senior season, after hitting 57-percent of his field goal attempts last year, averaging nine points and five rebounds a game. DeAngelo Jackson, a former starter at UNC-Greensboro, will use his long 6-9 frame on both ends of the floor, as will athletic transfer Antonio Garrett. Returner Bryden Benke, who averaged three points and three rebounds a night last season, will also see minutes. “We will definitely be stronger inside – as Krispin has improved over the summer and DeAngelo will be an impact player on the defensive end,” said Jensen. “Bryden is one of the strongest players on the team, while Antonio is a tenacious rebounder.”
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: For the first time in over 15 years, the Coyotes will play a total of seven non-conference home games – as the squad will host a trio of tournaments over the first month of the season. After opening with games at the Quinn Classic in La Grande, Ore., against Walla Walla and Carroll, the Yotes return home for five-straight games, beginning with the United Heritage Insurance Mayors’ Cup clash with Northwest Nazarene. The squad will host the Wendy’s Classic – meeting Portland Bible and Montana Tech, followed by the Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out, playing Lewis-Clark State and a return match-up with Walla Walla. The Yotes will head to California for Thanksgiving, playing in the Holy Names Classic against host Holy Names and William Jessup of the California Pacific Conference, before closing out the non-conference schedule by hosting the NNU/C of I Holiday Classic – meeting Multnomah and Montana Western.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE: Year in and year out, the CCC proves to be one of the premier NAIA Division II leagues in the country – though in 2011-12, there is no true clear-cut favorite. Oregon Tech won their third-straight regular-season title a year ago, but will need to replace All-America guard Joseph Foster. The Owls return three starters, including All-CCC guard Kyle Gomez. Eastern Oregon will also be a team to beat, as the Mountaineers have made four-straight trips to the national tournament. EOU will return All-CCC guard Jamar Johnson, but will have to replace a pair of All-CCC guards in Thomas McCarthy and J.C. Cook. Warner Pacific will again be in the mix – but with a new head coach, as Jared Valentine replaces his father, longtime coach Bart Valentine at the helm of the Knights. WP will have to replace top scorer Webster Moreland, but return a trio of players that averaged 10-or-more points per game. Northwest, which advanced to the NAIA Tournament last season, must replace All-CCC posts Greg George and Greg Peters. Both Corban and Concordia return the bulk of their rosters – Corban returning All-CCC selections Jordan Carter and Erik Cronrath, with Concordia returning All-CCC picks Jourdan Sweeney and Adam Herman. Evergreen State returns All-CCC wing Marice Tolliver, Southern Oregon returns the athletic Jordan Highland, while Northwest Christian returns guard Brian Hampton. The 18-game CCC schedule begins on Dec. 2.