That Wayland Baptist is ranked 20
th in the NAIA but fourth in the Sooner Athletic Conference gives an indication that
Ty Harrelson and his Pioneers basketball team will have their hands full – once again – during the 2018-19 season.
Beginning his fourth season at the helm of the Pioneers, Harrelson has high hopes for a team that returns three double-digit scorers from a squad whose NAIA Elite Eight appearance was the second-best in program history. Harrelson also added five newcomers to the mix to help replace the four players lost off last year's 25-10 that finished as SAC Tournament runners-up.
"It's a different team," Harrelson said in looking over his 2018-19 roster. "We lost four key contributors to graduation, including our leader in
Ruben Lopez. We're going to be a little bit different but still expect the same things.
"We have a well-balanced team, inside and out."
The Pioneers tip off the season Monday as host of the McDonald's Classic in Hutcherson Center. Wayland plays at 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday against Arlington Baptist and St. Thomas-Houston, while 6 p.m. games sees fellow SAC member Oklahoma-Panhandle State playing those same teams.
"We hope to see everybody Monday night," Harrelson said.
The coach said both Arlington Baptist and St. Thomas "will be good tests for us."
St. Thomas opened its season Monday and scored 104 points in a three-point loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan. "They are really talented offensively and get up and down the floor," Harrelson said. "And the scouting report on Arlington Baptist says they might have their best team in the last 20 years or so."
For the most part Harrelson liked what he saw when the Pioneers scrimmaged at West Texas A&M earlier this week, especially on defense where last season Wayland ranked fourth in the NAIA in field goal percentage by opponents (39.6 percent).
"We did a good job putting forth defensive effort and pressure. We're going to want to press and disrupt the other team as much as possible," he said.
Offensively, the Pioneers will look to value each possession.
"We want to increase our assists and reduce our turnovers. Right now we need to start executing it better. We're not where we want to be offensively yet."
The Pioneers bring back three of their top five scorers from a year ago. Gone is Lopez, the one-tie walk-on turned Honorable Mention All-American who not only led Wayland in scoring (13.9 ppg) but also assists (4.4), in addition to ranking sixth national in free throw shooting percentage (88.6).
While Lopez won't be on the court, he'll be on Wayland's bench serving as a graduate assistant coach.
"Ruben is there to share his knowledge and help the guys who do play the point-guard position," Harrelson said. "It's definitely an advantage and a strength to have him back."
Also missing will be 6-foot-7
Samuel Kalwanyi, the SAC Defensive Player of the Year who in addition to his 11.9 points averaged a team-best 9.4 rebounds.
Returning will be a trio of guards in senior
Trevonta Robertson, an honorable mention all-conference pick for his 13.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg, junior
J.J. Culver (10.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.6 spg), and top 3-point threat senior
Josh Throns (11.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg).
"I feel like we have several threats, including those three guys who averaged double-digit scoring for us," Harrelson said. "I also feel like we have a couple of returners who had smaller roles last year, and we brought in a couple of players who can play."
The returners include junior guard
Chris Doerue. "Chris has been in the program for three years and has stepped in for Ruben. He's done a good job in the preseason executing the offense and knowing what we want."
Other letterwinners are sophomore guards
Tre Fillmore and
Dominic Cervantez. "Tre has also played really well, and Dominic is very solid on the defensive end and has really improved since last season."
Senior forward
Rokas Mazionis is back after avergaing 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds. Both he and Throns started about half of Wayland's games last season.
"We run a lot of our offense through Rokas. He's very strong for us inside," Harrelson said.
The Pioneers hope to pick up another veteran at semester in 6-6 sophomore
Russell Harrison, who sat out last season after averaging 14.1 ppg and 5.9 rpg in 2016-17.
"If we can get Russell eligible at semester we should be hitting our stride come February and March, which is when you want to do it," Harrelson said.
The five newcomers are juniors
CJ Obinwa and
Jack Nobles, both transfers from Collin College, 6-8 senior forward
Spencer Lindsey from Oklahoma Baptist, 6-8 junior forward
Jeremy Betjol of Frank Phillips College, and 6-7 freshman forward
Tom Crutchley of New Zealand.
"CJ, Spencer and Jeremy are all really good, solid additions. (They're) guys who will come in and play their roles effectively," Harrelson said. "Tom is developing nicely. We have to get him a little bit stronger. He's working on some of his offensive skills. Jack is the rock on our defense right now. He's going to step in and take the minutes that
Tyrone Davis left last year."
While Harrelson is flattered with the Pioneers' No. 20 ranking, he knows it's mostly based on what last year's team accomplished.
"It's nice to be recognized, but at the same time a lot of that is from the success we had last year."
For Wayland to repeat last year's success, or even take it a step further, Harrelson said the Pioneers Must "take everything one possession at a time, one game at a time and continue to see improvement individually and as a whole."
