Men's basketball preview: Jackets have plenty to build on

By Mike Besso, Special to the Journal | Tuesday, November 11, 2008

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SPEARFISH — Led by the return of a strong nucleus from last year’s team, Black  Hills State University men’s basketball team expects an improved season  for 2008-09.

“I think we have a good mix  of returning young players with experience,” said coach Paul Sather.

Will John Johnson, Clay Pottorff, Cain Atkinson, Spencer Childress and Luke Enos started as freshmen a  year ago. Childress led the DAC in assists.

”Our outlook is positive,” Sather said. “We started to build our identity last year. We have a great inside game which should open things up for the  perimeter players. Our focus is getting the ball inside.

“We want to be the best defensive and rebounding team in the conference. We’ll play man-to-man defense 99 percent of the time. We’ll also try to pressure the ball when it’s to our advantage.”

BHSU plays 14 non-conference, 14 conference and two exhibition games this season.

“Dakota Wesleyan is rated No. 8 (in the NAIA Division II Preseason poll),” Sather said. “Rocky Mountain is picked to be in the top three in the Frontier Conference. MSU-Northern returns a lot of players from last year’s team.

The Yellow Jackets entertain  Rocky Mountain College on Friday and Montana Tech on Saturday in this weekend’s home opener.

BHSU will then play Peru, Neb., State and Haskell, Kan., College in the South Dakota Mines Classic on Nov. 28-29. In another tournament, the Jackets entertain University of Regina and Johnson and Wales in the Perkins Classic on Dec. 29-30.

BHSU is picked third in the DAC preseason poll, behind Minot State and Valley City State.

“Minot is the most athletic team in the conference,” Sather said. “Valley City returns all of its players. Jamestown College  (defending champion) lost its top six players. South Dakota Mines is a team that always contends. No one knows what to expect from Mayville State and Dakota State.

“I think we’re a team that should contend for the DAC title. There is a lot of parity. You better be ready to play every night.

“We talk about being the best team we can be. We want to bring home the first men’s (DAC) basketball title for Black Hills State. If we get better every day, we should be a team in contention.”

A new change this season is the 3-point line in men’s basketball. It was extended one foot to 20 feet, 9 inches. “Everyone is waiting to see the  impact it will have,” said Sather. “Teams may play more zone defense.”

Returning lettermen for the Yellow Jackets are seniors Randy Herman, a 6-foot-7 forward from Belle Fourche, and A.J. Fodness, a 6-6 forward from Lennox.

Other lettermen on the team are junior Parker Emerson, a 6-5 guard, and a host of returning sophomores. They are Spencer Childress, a 6-1 guard; Cain Atkinson, a 6-0 guard; Luke Enos, a 6-7 forward from Faith; Will John Johnson, a 6-8 forward from Whitewood; Clay Pottorff, a 6-3 guard; and Travis Haney, a 6-2 guard from Gillette, Wyo.

Newcomers by transfer are seniors Aaron Sutton, a 6-0 guard from Regis, Colo., University; and Keighton Hatten, a 6-2 guard from Concordia, Texas.

Incoming freshmen are Jeff Smith, a 6-0 guard from  Lodgepole; Matt Tasset, a 6-6, a forward;  Rob Johnson, a 5-6 forward from Dayton, Wyo.; Jerad Anderson, a 5-4 guard from Buffalo, Wyo.; Josh Barta, a 6-3 guard; and Ross Campbell, a 6-8 forward.

Atkinson was Dakota Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year last season, the first true freshman to win the award since its inception.

Rob Johnson was honored as Mr. Basketball in Wyoming last season. Missing from last year’s team are Forrest Dorr, Corey Doolan, Parfait Nayigihugu and Sam Kim.