Basketball outlook for next year

With both of our men’s and women’s team falling in the first round of the WIAC tournament last week, it’s already time to look at next year for each squad.

Men:

The main issue for Ken Koelbl’s squad will be replacing Trevor Stratton in the backcourt. Having a capable scoring guard to complement Tony Mane freed up Mane the past two seasons en route to leading the WIAC in scoring. Stratton averaged 15 points this season as a senior, including a season-high 26 in the Eagles’ upset of  #5 ranked UW-Stevens Point. Capable of hitting an outside shot and driving to the rim, Koelbl will most likely look to sophomore Cory Degner to fill this role. Degner showed great potential late in the season, including a career-high 17 in last week’s loss vs. UW-Superior, where he looked extremely confident on the court and showed great potential as a scorer for next season.

The Eagles will also be forced to replace some size on the front line, including 6’9″ Andy Merklein, 6’5″ Andrew Haass and 6’6″ Derek Wilcox. This burden will fall on the shoulders of sophomores Al Chery (6’4″) and Kurt Kincaid (6’6″), and junior Alex Milsap (6’7″).  All three have seen significant playing time in their career and will be familiar with what it takes to compete with the size they’ll see in the WIAC.

The obvious returner is all-conference performer Mane, who should be fully recovered from the ankle injury suffered against UW-Stevens Point.

Projected 2010-11 Starting Lineup:

G – Tony Mane

G – Cory Degner

F – Al Chery

F – Kurt Kincaid

C – Alex Milsap

Women:

Coach Lois Heeren will only be losing one member from this years 18-8 squad. 5’10″ guard Hanna Lang, who made her contribution off the bench this year, is the lone graduating senior for the Eagles. That means the women’s team will return a potent squad, including the balanced frontcourt of 5’10″ junior Melissa Lang (10.9 ppg), 6’0″ junior Dana Churchill (11.8 ppg), 6’0″ freshman Stacie Van Handel (11.1 ppg), and 6’4″ junior Danielle Frank (9.7 ppg, 10.7 rpg). In addition to guards Taylor Larson and Lindsey Litrenta, both juniors, UW-L should have no problem remaining in the upper echelon of the WIAC.

Projected 2010-11 Starting Lineup:

G -Lindsey Litrenta

G – Taylor Larson

F – Dana Churchill

F- Melissa Lang

C – Danielle Frank