Fall is here, and that means basketball is starting up once again. The men’s basketball team looks to build off a season which saw them go 22-9 overall and get a berth into the NAIA National Playoffs for the first time since the 2012 season.
As expected, the team is coming into this season with high expectations after last season. To add to the high expectations, Baker was selected to place third in the Heart of America Conference behind MidAmerica Nazarene and William Penn. The team also saw Junior forward Quentin Harvey and Junior forward/guard Noah Rigatuso earn first-team and second-team all-conference honors.
“Our expectations are not any different from any other team, every team wants to win conference,” Head coach Sean Dooley said. “But, for our guys it is used as motivation because we all want to finish at the top.”
The team coming into the year saw some changes as Jalen Patterson and Braden Wiggs graduated, but Dooley explains that while they are off the team he still wants to build a program that can build off of last season.
“Our thought process is we are in the midst of building a program that is at the top year in and year out,” Dooley said. “The faces may change, but the expectations and the level that we play at remains high and that is our objective from a coaching standpoint.”
Dooley further explained that last season gave them the confidence to continue to build a program and compete at the highest level. One player who is a returning player from last year’s team has high expectations for this season.
“My expectations are to have a great season and to make a deep run in the [NAIA] National Tournament,” Junior guard Korey Jones said. “We have a great group of guys who are all connected and driven to the same goal, and I think we can accomplish great things with this team.”
Jones explained that he has a good feeling about this season due to the team’s roster. Jones also received an accolade in preseason as he was selected as a part of the NAIA all-defensive team alongside Harvey.
“It’s definitely a blessing and an honor to be recognized in that way,” Jones said. “I take my defense very seriously and try to give my all on both ends of the floor so I appreciate for being recognized for it.”
One of the biggest changes came in the offseason for Wildcats basketball as Jalen Patterson, one of Baker’s highest scoring players in school history, graduated. Dooley explained that while the team loses a key player, the four transfers they got in the offseason will fill the gap.
“Those four guys really fit what we lost in some aspects, and we will plug those guys in and they’ll be able to play and I believe they will have similar impacts [to the guys we lost,” Dooley said.
Men’s basketball goes on the road to start the season against Baptist Bible (Mo.) in Springfield on Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. Dooley also had this to add about the season.
“We have two games against Ottawa and Georgetown College next week at home,” Dooley said. “These games will be a test for our guys as Ottawa is an old rival and Georgetown is ranked number five in the country.”
