2006-07 Marietta College men's basketball preview
Pioneers back to traditional motion offense and man-to-man defense

Nov. 14, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio — After two years of the Fun & Gun, the Marietta College men’s basketball team is returning to its roots for the 2006-07 season. While the Fun & Gun produced high-scoring games and record-breaking offensive numbers, the Pioneers, led by 15th-year Head Coach Doug Foote, are returning to their traditional motion offense and man-to-man defense. The change has allowed Marietta to focus on the fundamentals, which are key to success in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Eight lettermen and four starters return from the 2005-06 squad. Marietta will look to better utilize senior Matt Rucker inside the paint. Rucker, a two-year mainstay at center, averaged 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds, while finishing third in the OAC with a mark of 1.2 blocks per game. Junior forward Matt Phillips will also provide a presence down low. Phillips used his athleticism to average 9.9 points and 5.2 boards last year.

The Pioneers’ backcourt will be led by sophomore guards Isaiah Creasap and Steve Luckhardt; both made a significant impact for the team down the stretch last season. Creasap contributed 8.8 points and 0.9 steals per game, while shooting .404 (61-of-151) from beyond the arc as a freshman. Luckhardt, meanwhile, added 9.2 points per game and posted team-highs in assists (93) and steals (41).

Expect Marietta to play unselfish basketball and receive contributions from its role players, many of whom gained valuable experience during the Fun & Gun era.

Marietta will open the season at the Case Western Alumni Tip-off Tournament (Nov. 17-18). Joining the Pioneers and the Spartans at the 2006-07 tip-off tournament will be Medaille (N.Y.) and Thiel (Pa.).

The Pioneers will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., (Dec. 19-20) for the Adidas D-III Shootout. Marietta will be joined in Las Vegas by Bridgewater (Va.), Carthage (Wis.) and Olivet (Mich.). The Pioneers will once again host the 36th annual Shrine Tournament between Christmas and the New Year. Lynchburg (Va.), Olivet (Mich.) and Westminster (Pa.) are the programs coming to this season’s Shrine Tournament.

Other highlights on the schedule include the two annual Coaches vs. Cancer games,—at Marietta (Jan. 10) and at Muskingum (Feb. 7)—Alumni Day against Heidelberg (Jan. 13) and Winter Weekend (Feb. 10) versus John Carroll.

“The OAC will be as strong as ever,” said Foote. “We are looking to move back up the standings this season and will need to play solid, mistake-free basketball each time we take the floor to have success. The team and the coaches welcome the challenge and look forward to getting started.”

Here is a closer look at the Pioneers by position:

Point Guard: Look for senior Ryan Wilkinson to handle the point guard duties until sophomore Steve Luckhardt returns from injury midway through the year. Both are aggressive ball handlers, who like to take the ball to the basket. Their ability to run the offense and be a leader on defense is important in 2006. Also expect freshman Jordan Johnson to earn time as he grows more comfortable with the speed of the college game.

Shooting Guard: The coaching staff feels that sophomores Isaiah Creasap and Tyler Morando give the team one of the best set of shooters that it has had in recent history. Creasap has demonstrated his ability to shoot with anyone in the OAC and Morando has shown that potential as well. Fans should also expect to see sophomore Mike Stanek and freshman Wade Ewing come off the bench and knock down open shots on a consistent basis.

Small Forward: Once Luckhardt returns to action, Wilkinson should settle into his role at the three spot. Until then, expect one of the shooting guards and senior Eric Lechlitner to handle the duties at the position depending on the match-ups.

Power Forward: Juniors Matt Phillips and Kyle Reed will split minutes at the power forward position. Both bring different looks to the floor. Phillips is a great inside player for his size, while Reed likes to shot more from the outside. A combination will be needed for the Pioneers this season.

Center: Senior Matt Rucker and junior Adam Rockhold will once again provide a solid low-post presence this season. Rucker has the inside game needed to be successful in the OAC, and Rockhold’s athleticism makes him a dependable defender of the paint. Both are great shot blockers.

Seniors Matt Rucker (above) and Ryan Wilkinson (below) will lead a young Pioneer team in 2006-07