Coach Wagner Amazed By Talent Of Current Seasiders
By Jack Danilewicz
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Del.icio.usBYU-Hawaii head men’s basketball coach Ken Wagner can’t help but regard his current team as generalists rather than specialists. If anything, he’s loaded with options.
“We have a lot of guys who are interchangeable,” said Wagner, whose team finished 22-6 (14-2 in league play) in 2009-10. “It’s going to be a fun group to work with.”
The Seasiders are on a high after advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division II Tournament for the third year in a row last March. (BYUH was recently tabbed as the preseason pick to win the Pacific West.)
BYUH’s non-conference schedule plainly reflects the program’s upward mobility, as they opened 2010-11 with a scrimmage versus the University of Hawaii two weeks ago and played at Division I BYU-Provo of the Mountain West Conference last Thursday.
BYUH, ranked 24th nationally in Division II at present, was to be shorthanded in those games, as Wagner was still awaiting clearance from the NCAA on 6-9 post player Fernando De Favari, a junior originally from Brazil. His status is expected to be determined any day. Junior guard Jett Chang, the Pac West Conference’s preseason Player of the Year, a native of Yilan, Taiwan, has been slowed by an ankle injury.
A year ago, Chang averaged a team-high 19.2 points per game and shot 53 percent from the field. He also led the team in minutes, playing 31.1 an outing. When Chang is back at 100 percent, he’ll team up with Marques Whippy to form one of the top back courts in the nation in DII.
“Both are excellent shooters and good defenders,” Wagner said.
Whippy was recently named to the preseason All-Conference team. He averaged 11.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game last season.
“Marques is tremendous,” Wagner said. “He’s an absolutely incredible rebounder. His quickness is amazing for a kid his size. He’s very quick to the ball.”
Defense has been BYUH’s forte in the Wagner era, and the veteran coach likes his team’s defensive prospects again this year.
“We’re very quick, although not big. This could be one of the best defensive teams we’ve had. It’s a really good group.”
Also back is former Kahuku standout Junior Ale, who played for BYUH as a freshman before leaving on a mission. He has three years of eligibility remaining and was projected to be in the starting lineup last Friday at BYU-Provo.
“He returned to us in mid-January and practiced with us,” Wagner said. “He’s very good. He’s been playing well. He’s real athletic.”
Radford product Gary Satterwhite also returns after averaging 11 points per game.
“Gary’s been playing well,” Wagner said. “He does a great job on defense. Offensively, he has a midrange game that’s good.”
One reason BYUH has stayed successful is its ability to win on the road and also dominate at home. The Seasiders won all eight home conference games last year and were 11-1 overall.
The home opener, meanwhile, is set for 9:30 p.m. Friday when BYUH hosts Taiyun (China) in an exhibition at Cannon Activities Center.
A trip to California will quickly follow with games next Monday and Tuesday against Cal State-Dominguez Hills and Cal State-San Bernardino, respectively.
The Seasiders’ first home appearances are Nov. 26 and 27 against Oakland City (Indiana).
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