ST. PAUL, Minn. – This Friday and Saturday, Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball will embark on the 2015-16 season starting with a pair of in-region contests against East Central (Okla.) and Central Missouri on Friday and Saturday.
 
The Golden Bears will be competing in Central Missouri's early season classic at the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
Friday's contest against East Central is scheduled for a 4 p.m. tip and will feature live stats as well as an online audio broadcast courtesy of KXFC 105.5 FM The X-Factor.
 
Saturday's game will feature live stats as well as an online video webcast and an audio stream courtesy of Central Missouri with a 2 p.m. tip.
 
GETTING STARTED: NON-CONFERENCE
Both opponents this weekend were picked second in their respective league preseason coaches' polls while Concordia was picked ninth. Minnesota Duluth will also make the trip south, facing the same opposition as the Golden Bears but on the opposite day. UMD was picked 10^th in the Northern Sun preseason poll. East Central is a member of the Great American (GAC) while Central Missouri is part of the Mid-America (MIAA), putting the three conferences in the NCAA Central Region at one location.
 
Concordia (2), East Central (3) and Central Missouri (1) are all receiving votes in the NABC Division II Preseason Top-25 Coaches Poll, as well with 66 total teams garnering at least one point in the preseason national rankings.
 
"This is a way tougher non-conference schedule than we had a year ago, we have some terrific Division II teams in our region and even our non-DII games are tough," said second year head coach Joey James. "Peru State is a solid NAIA program, St. Olaf is ranked #15 in Division III and Saint John's is a program rich in tradition. It's a great schedule that will challenge our guys and prepare us for tough league play."
 
The Golden Bears also travel to Bemidji State for a non-conference game for an additional in-region road contest, key factors that the NCAA Central Region committee will be evaluating throughout the season.
 
"We go into every season the same way, and I know we're picked ninth but we are competing for a conference championship. We want to host a first round NSIC Tournament game, get back to Sioux Falls for the quarterfinals and beyond to compete for a conference tournament title. And ultimately we are trying to get to the NCAA Tournament," said James.
 
The program took a major step forward last year in producing the third most overall wins in a single season by finishing 19-11 overall and setting a program record for NSIC wins with a 14-8 league finish. The team did host an NSIC Tournament First Round game and advanced to Sioux Falls for the quarterfinals.
 
"We try not to talk about last year's team too much, though," said James. "Every year presents a new team with new challenges and this particular season we have a new group with six new faces. Last year, we had a lot of veteran players, so we need to get our youth to grow up quick this year to play like college players and it starts this weekend. Our defense is what will get us there, if we can get all 13 guys on the same page defensively, then we'll have some success."
 
But a year ago, the coaching staff was attempting to install a new program philosophy to a large group of returning players who had significant experience. "Now that our current returners have been through this for a full year, we aren't having to re-teach as much whereas last year was a learning process for everyone on both ends of the floor as well as how we want to handle our business off the court."
 
He continued, "This year, we're still teaching – we always teach – but our returners have been great in helping our practices flow better."
 
Additionally, the staff has now had a full year to establish itself in recruiting. "We feel good about the recruits we brought in this past year and we're really excited about the upcoming class we'll announce during the fall signing period."
 
While James is excited about the overall progress of the program, he is quick to point out that it is still a work in progress. "Our chemistry still needs to get better on the floor. We'll always hang our hat on the defensive end but we need all of our guys, 1 through 13 to buy in. Offensively we need our execution to be better, we need the young guys to grow up and become older. Good friend of mine once said you need more birthdays sometimes, and I think we do need some birthdays with the youth we have but we'll get there."
 
OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY
The Golden Bears employ a versatile set of basketball players allowing James and the coaching staff to utilize its strengths in a variety of looks. Throughout the preseason at closed scrimmages and in the exhibition, the squad has featured a small-ball, four guard look geared at an up-tempo offense.
 
"We move the ball really well this year but we have to get better with our execution and we just aren't there yet," he commented. "It's early on and we'll have our growing pains but we'll run a lot of the same stuff as last year while adding in some new actions this year."
 
The four guard, up-tempo offense is a result of a set of versatile guards, wings and posts with a handful of players capable of playing the two, three or four spots on the floor along with a handful of other players who will be able to mix-in at two positions, whether the point and the two, the four and the five, etc.
 
"We have a lot of versatile players who we view as interchangeable and it really doesn't matter what position they are. The label just doesn't matter, we want the best four guards on the floor, especially at the 2-3-4 spots. Our sets and concepts are taught with the idea that we'll be able to move various guys in and out of the spots on the floor."
 
"I want to play faster than a year ago, with the type of kids we are trying to recruit we want to be 4-out and 1-in, but we can go small or big with our personnel because of our flexibility. I'd love to play small-ball and up-tempo as long as we can defend and rebound."
 
Last year's squad produced the fourth most points in team history (2,196) while shooting at the seventh highest percentage (.463) from the floor.
 
DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY
James is careful to place a heavy emphasis on the defense and rebounding. While the staff is committed to a four guard, small-ball, up-tempo approach they also continue to hammer home the importance of team defense and rebounding.
 
"Our communication has to continue to get better and our intensity has to continue to go up. Our concern for this season is if we can rebound at the level we did a year ago, and that challenge is heightened with our lineup."
 
Most of the defensive looks will be similar to the heavily improved 2014-15 Golden Bears. "We'll continue to have our pack-line defense although right now we aren't consistent in practice with where I want our defense to be."
 
Last year's squad produced the most defensive rebounds (783) and highest defensive rebound average (26.1) in team history while holding opponents to a 68.0 scoring average, the third best mark in program history with program records of .407 opponent field goal percentage, .344 opponent three-point shooting and 32.3 opponent rebound average.
 
The Golden Bears finished second in the league in scoring defense, and led the conference in field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense while ranking as the league's third ranked rebounding team with a +4.1 margin, adding the second most steals per game (7.0).
 
JAMES ON THE BACKCOURT
"I like our backcourt, they are skilled kids with good feel for the game. We've got guys who can shoot and guys who can attack the basket which is a nice compliment. Defensively, they all have to get better but I do like their offensive skill level," said James.
 
POINT GUARD
Sophomore Jon Sobaski will assume responsibilities at the point after a freshman season that had a delayed start due to an early season injury. He finished his first season playing in 22 of 30 games with three starts, averaging 5.4 points and over an assist per game off the bench.
 
"He's come a long ways from a year ago and is more of a leader this year. He's tremendous at getting guys the ball at the right time but he has to be able to score for us. We like his ability on the floor as a coach and he does a nice job of managing the game. We're looking for Jon to defend better and become a more consistent shooter but we absolutely love his playmaking ability."
 
Spelling Sobaski at the point will be senior David Stanley who is shifting to primarily the point spot after being used mostly as a two as a junior. Stanley also battled back from early season injury in 2014-15 to play in 21 games as a rotation reserve averaging 12 minutes per game.
 
"We are demanding a lot more out of David this year, moving him to the point where he's taken on a bigger role for us than a year ago. He's handled it well and has the ability to be an unbelievable on-the-ball defender, but he does need to improve off the ball. We love his athleticism, he's good offensively off ball screens and has been shooting it well in the preseason. We're looking for him to continue to develop his ability to manage the game better and get a greater understanding of clock management."
 
TWO GUARD
The starting two guard will be junior college transfer Diallo Powell, a two-time All-Region performer at Lake Region State who averaged 19 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season.
 
"He has the ability to do about everything for us," said James. "He can shoot the three, he can pull-up, get to the rim and is extremely versatile. Our staff thinks he'll be a good player for us this year but he has to continue to defend at a high level and we're looking for more consistency from him."
 
While a number of players will factor into the two-guard position, redshirt freshman Matt Ambriz will have an opportunity to contribute rotation minutes for the club. Although he did not play as a redshirt in 2014-15, Ambriz is already a two-time Hoops Madness three-point shootout champion for the program.
 
"Matt is mentally tougher, he's physically tougher, he plays through mistakes and is a kid who I think can really shot it at a high level and get it going from the perimeter. He has to continue to improve his pull-up game and be better under control when he drives to the basket. While we are looking for him to improve defensively, we love his toughness this season and like Diallo we could also see him spelling the point at times throughout the season."
 
THREE GUARD
Freshman Bryndan Matthews has taken hold of the starting three position on the wing with a strong preseason including a breakout effort with 17 points on 8-12 shooting against the fourth-ranked Division III team in the country, St. Thomas in exhibition play.
 
"Bryndan has all the tools, has a terrific body for a freshman and the thing we like is that he really competes. He can turn the corner and is good at getting to the rim. He needs to be more consistent from three-point range but he can make them. He has the ability to be a big-time defender but what has set him apart in his first preseason is that he straps it up and does a nice job in practice. The big question will be if he can maintain that high level throughout the course of the season and we believe he can."
 
One of the most athletic players on the team, freshman OC Omoregie will use his dynamic ability to produce at the two, three and four positions off the bench. "He might be one of the most athletic kids we've coached but he's still trying to understand the college game and his IQ has to continue to develop and improve. We're looking for OC to have a more consistent approach and to be more disciplined on both sides of the ball. He has tremendous upside, is coachable and wants to learn and because of that with his athleticism he has an opportunity to be very good. He's explosive, can shoot it and defensively – holy smokes he can be really good for us."
 
FOUR GUARD
Concordia's most decorated returner is reigning All-NSIC Second Team selection Cole Olstad, the program's 16^th-ranked career scorer at 1,045 points entering his senior year. He also led the team in rebounding (5.7) and steals (1.7), ranking second in the league in swipes. He's also the league's third-ranked free throw shooter (.833) while getting to the line 133 times, making the fifth most in a season in team history (111).
 
"First of all, Cole's versatile and he'll play the four, three and probably some two for us. He's done a great job of being a leader on and off the floor and we expect him to have a big senior year for us. We know what he's going to bring every night, he'll be a consistent double-figure scorer and be one of our rebounding leaders. He's steady and you can depend on him. He can shoot, get to the rim and get to the free throw line in bunches. We are looking for Cole to continue to improve defensively and anchor down that end of the floor."
 
Another freshman, Brandon McRoy will see minutes at the four position but brings a different dimension with his strength and power to the position. "Holy smokes, Brandon does not look like a freshman although he does play like one at times and that's where we look for him to continue to grow. But he's like a mini-Barkley, or a bowling ball getting to the rim and he really finishes well around the rim. He shoots it okay, and has been working at his shot every day in the gym. We're looking for his urgency to improve and to help us rebound at a higher level."
 
JAMES ON THE FRONTCOURT
"Our inside game is a year older and now mostly upperclassmen. We've just gotta do a good job of pounding that in there this season."
 
Senior posts Mike Yahnke and Shea Mandli each bring plenty of experience down low and are both able to play the four and five. Mandli has played in 81 games over three years with 30 starts while Yahnke has played in 76 games with 50 starts. Last year, Mandli averaged 7.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in over 19 minutes while Yahnke averaged 6.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in over 16 minutes.
 
Yahnke was among the team leaders in rebounding before a midseason injury forced him to miss significant action.
 
"What we like about Mike is that he's physical but can step out and shoot the mid-range jumper out to 17-18 feet consistently. He's one of those guys we expect to be a top rebounder and one of our best post defenders. He brings a level of toughness to our team, but we need him to stay healthy and he's handling that well."
 
"Shea has really battled in the post and done a great job so far, we're looking for him to finish through contact more. I like Shea's basketball IQ, he has a good understanding of how to play the game of basketball and that goes a long ways for our program. We expect a lot out of Shea this year and he'll be playing a bigger role for us than last year. We need him and Cole to lead us every day in practice. We need him to improve defensively and on the glass."
 
Overall, James concluded that the staff is expecting a big senior season from the two senior posts.
 
While Yahnke and Mandli provide a veteran presence and are expected to play major minutes inside, the program is excited about redshirting freshman Cole Peters, a 6-foot, 8-inch athlete who won the program's slam dunk contest this year at Hoops Madness in his introduction to college basketball.
 
"While Cole will be redshirting this year, he is an extremely athletic kid that needs to add strength in the weight room and continue to develop his feel for the game. Cole hasn't been playing high level basketball for a long time and has a tremendous upside as a result. His big thing this year will be to continue to learn, soak it up every day, get in the gym and weight room and this is a great developmental year to focus on that."
 
CENTERS
A true center, 7-foot, 2-inch junior Josh Monroy gives the Golden Bears a lengthy force inside that most teams in the Northern Sun simply aren't able to match up with. As a sophomore, Monroy averaged 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds with 20 blocked shots while playing 11.5 minutes per game, starting 23 of the 27 games he appeared in.
 
He finished the year strong, however, scoring in double figures four times in the last nine games including his only double-double.
 
"Josh played his best basketball in the last three weeks of the season and followed that up with a terrific spring, and an okay summer. Right now, what we like most is that he impacts the defensive end with his size, shot blocking and rim protecting ability. He's vastly improved offensively from where he was a year ago and we'll see a different, more aggressive and tougher Josh this season. He has to stay within himself offensively and continue to be one of the best rim protectors in the league."
 
Providing depth down low is freshman Steven Kragt. "Steven has a nice frame, is a big-body kid and might be one of the nicest kids we've ever coached," said James. "But sometimes, he's nice to a fault. He's a great teammate and we want that to continue, but we're looking for him to develop his competitive edge as a college player and to be more physical in the post. He's extremely coachable, wants to learn every single day and we love that. He can also step out and shoot the three and inside he has a knack for drawing a lot of fouls in practice. We are looking for him to improve his athleticism and defense and we want that motor to go up another level. He's a hard worker and a great kid who can be a good player for us."