Wilkes Men's Basketball 2020-2021 Season Preview: Stepping Up
WILKES-BARRE - The Wilkes University men's basketball squad returns to the courts for the 2020-2021 season after an 11-14 finish, with a 4-10 record in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play. Head coach Izzi Metz enters his seventh season in the position, with an 87-72 record as the Colonels head coach. When asked about the season going forward, he said; "This season is unlike any we have ever experienced due to Covid-19. We are playing eight conference games and hopefully a conference playoff of some sort. So our goal for this season is to get our team ready to compete at a high level against quality opponents in a short amount of preparation time."
He continued by talking about his expectations for the season; "At Wilkes, we always want to win. But we must enjoy the process of improvement within our practices and games. I know our guys are grateful to have a season when so many other teams do not. This season will be over in a blink and we don't want to waste this opportunity to be together, improve and compete."
"We return 11 players from last year including a couple key guys who missed all or part of last season with injuries. It's great to get that experience back in the lineup, especially with jumping right into conference play after limited practice time," said Metz when asked about his returning players. The Colonels field nine upperclassmen and nine underclassmen in this year's edition of the squad. Metz has high hopes in his senior class, saying that "We need our five seniors to lead and help the team navigate this next 6 weeks."
The senior group is headlined by forward Derek Heiserman (Lansdale, PA/North Penn), who started in 19 games last season while averaging .523 shooting from the floor and 4.2 rebounds per game. Guard Landon Henry (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) is set to return after missing the 2019-20 season, having averaged 17.4 minutes a game across 49 games played in his first two seasons with the Navy and Gold. Guard Jack Bova (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) and forward Cooper Chaffee (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) are also set to make big contributions in their final season with the Colonels, as is guard Trystan Griffith (Fairfield, PA/Fairfield).
The junior class features two key contributors from last year's squad. Forward Jake Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) leads all returning scorers and rebounders from last season with an average of 9.4 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game respectively. Guard Sean Coller (Hershey, PA/Hershey) averaged 8.7 points per game, and started in all 17 games he played in last season. Guards Drake Marshall (Gainesville, VA/Patriot) and Donovan Breeding (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) also put up points in their 25 and 24 games played respectively, with Marshall averaging 6.2 and Breeding 5.4.
The Colonels return a pair of guards from last year's freshman class. Sophomore Nickerson DeMelfi (Newbury Park, CA/Newbury Park) started 21 games in his first year with the most steals of any returning Colonel, while Bradley Anacreon (Nesconset, NY/Sachem North) is set to contribute more in his second year with the Navy and Gold as well.
Metz expects to see the incoming freshman class contribute, saying "We have seven first year players in our program. Six are healthy and expected to play this season. Every year we want our new players to come in and compete for playing time and push the upperclassmen. That makes our program stronger as a whole when that happens. We have a lot of confidence in all seven first year players." The Colonels field a sizable first year class this season, over a third of their 18-man roster. The five first year guards include Zachary Gula (Walnutport, PA/Northampton), Matthew Davidheiser (Reading, PA /Exeter Township), Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff), Brennan Higgins (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area), and Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley). Two forwards round out the first year class, with Trent Fisher (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) and Jason Eberhart (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) set to contribute.
Metz has high praise for the conference at large going forward, especially with the new additions of Lycoming and Arcadia to the MAC Freedom this season. "They (Lycoming and Arcadia) were the two best teams in the MAC Commonwealth last season and throw in Stevens who won our league last year in their first Freedom season," he said. "I think this conference has improved greatly in the seven years I've been at Wilkes. It's night and day more competitive from top to bottom."
He continued by focusing on the tough road ahead; "Our schedule is very challenging. We play Desales, Arcadia, FDU and Delaware Valley this season twice each. All will be well coached and talented." The Colonels open their 2020-21 season with a home/away doubleheader versus MAC Freedom foe DeSales. They play the first game at DeSales on February 11th, before opening the home slate with a Friday night tilt against the Bulldogs on February 12th. Both games are set to start at 7:00 p.m.
