KU MEN’S BASKETBALL READY TO DEFEND PSAC EAST TITLE

            KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University men’s basketball coach Bernie Driscoll returns his starting lineup from last season’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division co-championship team and he and the Golden Bears are hungry for more.

            With the last three PSAC East Rookie of the Year award winners on the roster, as well as All-PSAC second team guard Andre Woodlin (sr. Philadelphia/Central HS), the 2008-09 Kutztown University men’s basketball team will not be a surprise to anyone in the conference this season.

            “It’s a double-edge sword,” Driscoll said of winning a share of the Eastern Division last season. “On one hand, it’s great for the program, but on the other, teams are going to come after us this season. We’ll have to step up the challenges that brings.”

            The challenge begins with the announcement of the pre-season PSAC East men’s basketball coaches’ poll, in which Kutztown was projected to finish first.  Millersville was picked second, followed by East Stroudsburg and Cheyney.  Mansfield was fifth, followed by Shippensburg, West Chester and Bloomsburg.

            Dave Ben (sr. Coatesville/Coatesville HS) and Stephen Dennis (jr. West Chester/Henderson HS) lead the returners for KU. Both were selected pre-season All-PSAC by the coaches.  Together, the former rookie of the year winners combined to averaged 34.3 points per game last season — about 17 apiece. Dennis led the duo with 17.3 per game and was strong defensively with a team-high 41 blocks and 61 steals en route to an All-PSAC East first team selection.

            Ben came up big in several games, including a huge comeback at East Stroudsburg and a crucial win at Cheyney. Ben led the Golden Bears with 88 assists and had a team-best 40 3-pointers.

            “They are two outstanding players,” Driscoll said. “Ben will likely leave KU as the school’s all-time leading scorer and Dennis could leave as the best guard to play for us.”

            Ryan Washington (so. Glenside/Wissahickon HS), a 6-foot-7 forward, was the latest Golden Bear to win the rookie of the year award. Transferring to KU last season, he averaged 9.1 points per game and led the team in rebounding with 7.7 per game.

            More impressively to coach, however, was Washington’s passing, as he notched 61 assists over 19 games.

            “Washington is an outstanding passer and he sees the whole floor,” Driscoll said.

            Woodlin, who came on late last season, finished with 13.7 points per game. Woodlin, who has been a very consistent contributor on defense, also had 56 assists, 28 steals and 10 blocks.

            “Andre is just a great success story for us,” Driscoll said. “He has improved the most from freshman year to senior year than any player I’ve ever had here at KU.”

            Rounding out the starting lineup is center Jeremy Coombs (jr. Philadelphia/Northeast Catholic HS), who Driscoll hopes will improve in rebounding and running the court this season. Coombs, who started in 21 games last season, averaged 6.1 points and 4.3 rebounds.

            One of the biggest parts of KU’s style of play last season was its physical ability to draw fouls and get to the line. KU was one free-throw attempt short of tying the school record for trips to the charity stripe with 748 last season. Ben and Dennis made their home away from home there, combining for 323 free-throw attempts. Ben made 119-of-170 and Dennis was 117-for-153. Woodlin also crossed the century mark in attempts, hitting 90-of-119.

            KU’s bench will feature a few upstart players who could vie for playing time, or even a starting spot. At the top of that list is returning forward Mark Bower (sr. West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford) and transfer guard Julius Gray (so. Lincoln/Oxford Area).

            Gray, a 6-0 sophomore, was an all-league and all-area player as a junior and a senior at Oxford Area High School. As a freshman at Harcum Junior College, Gray average 7.4 points in 25 games recording 34 3-pointers, 60 assists and 37 steals.

            “Gray is going to be an outstanding player for us,” Driscoll said. “He is a true point guard. He understands the game at point guard.”

            Bower has returned for his senior season and made a splash in the preseason. Driscoll says Bower, who was 27-of-63 from the floor while averaging 10.7 minutes a game, is more focused and has been a pleasant surprise.

            KU also returns Steve Coffey (so. Reading/Wilson HS), Mike Connolly (so. Souderton/Souderton HS) and Ryan Nemetz (so. Wilkes-Barre/Bishop Hoban HS).

            Driscoll says Connolly, who averaged 8.1 minutes a game, is the best pure shooter on the team. Coffey also is a consistent shooter and adds a spark off the bench.

            The Golden Bears also welcome newcomers Omar Ford-Bey (fr. Chester/Girard College) and Ryan White (fr. Philadelphia/Franklin Learning Center).

            With most of the team’s depth at the guard position, Driscoll says he will likely use the four-guard set again in 2008-09.

            KU will have a tough battle to get back to the top of the PSAC East as Cheyney — who shared the division title last season with KU — East Stroudsburg, Mansfield and Millersville return a strong core of their 2007-08 rosters.

            “It’s going to be a dog fight,” Driscoll said. “Every night is going to be a battle.”

            Driscoll says getting out to a strong start will be very important for the Golden Bears, who will open the season on the road at Wilmington (Del.) at 7 p.m. Nov. 19.