The future is now for the Green Bay Phoenix. The vaunted 2005 recruiting class now enters their junior years and the pressure to live up to expectations mounts. The Phoenix had a decent run last season winning 18 games, but finished in the middle of the Horizon League pack with a 7-9 conference mark. Do-everything point guard Ryan Evanochko leaves a gaping hole which will most likely be filled by a freshman. That’s an awful lot of pressure to put on a newcomer, but the expectations to compete for the Horizon League crown don’t just go away when you have a talented, experienced crew returning for their third season in the Horizon League.
Mike Schachtner has established himself as the star of the squad earning pre-season first team all conference honors. The 6’9” junior forward finished 10th in the league in scoring last season and is among the most deadly shooters in the conference. The lanky 215 pounder hit three-pointers at better than a 45% clip and shot nearly 50% from the floor on the season. He was also second in the league in free-throw shooting percentage.
Perhaps no one embodies Green Bay basketball more than Ryan Tillema. The 6’8” junior came to Green Bay as a highly celebrated recruit, perhaps a steal for head coach Tod Kowalczyk. While he has been productive, though, he has yet to fulfill the lofty expectations many had for him. Tillema battled mono for part of last season, but still led the team in three-point field goals attempted. If he finally lives up to the lofty expectations it could propel the Phoenix to the top of the standings.
Randy Berry is another lanky forward at 6’9” and 225 pounds, but unlike Schachtner and Tillema he does his work in the paint. Barry appeared in 31 games last season and chipped in just over two points and three rebounds. He’ll have to contribute more this season.
Perhaps the best defensive player in the conference is rock solid forward Terry Evans. At 6’5’ and 195 pounds Evans finished third in the league in blocked shots and second in steals. Evans has tremendous athleticism and can play numerous positions for Kowalczyk.
Ball State transfer Pat Nelson at 6’9” and 240 pounds also figures to get in the mix in the frontcourt. Longtime reserves Tevah Morriss and Cordero Barkley will reprise their roles again.
The loss of Evanochko forced Kowalczyk to heavily recruit the guard position and four freshmen find themselves battling for the starting point guard duties. To this point, a pair has stood out in Rahmon Fletcher and Bryquis Perine.
Fletcher is a 5’10” speedster from Kansas City who also had offers from Missouri State and Southern Illinois. Perine at 6’3” and 165 is also very fast and the duo could allow the usually stodgy Green Bay offensive attack to get up and running at times this season.
Milwaukee native D’Angalo Jackson becomes eligible in the second semester after transferring from Creighton and will give the Phoenix yet another option at point. Yet another freshman, Edgar Segura, from Texas by way of Mexico is a bit raw, but has potential.
The one mainstay of the backcourt is sophomore guard Troy Cotton. The 6’1” guard was deadly from three-point range, hitting better than 46% of his shots from behind the arc. He appeared in all 33 games with 22 starts for the Phoenix and will look to up his 7.6 points per game scoring average. If the Phoenix get in a bind don’t be surprised if the veteran “sophomore” is asked to play some point guard as well.
More has certainly been expected of the Phoenix up to this point, year five of the Kowalczyk regime. This may be the season to finally get over the hump, though. With veterans all over the court except the point guard spot the Phoenix certainly have the talent and experience to compete for the Horizon League crown, but can they live up to those lofty expectations?
--Joe Dlugosz is the editor of Ramblermania.com, a website dedicated to Loyola-Chicago sports information. For more of Joe's writing, visit: www.ramblermania.com --ed.
