The Cougars, who are ranked 19th in the NAIA Division II preseason poll, have reached the 20-win mark in 10 of the last 11 seasons and have made two straight trips to the NAIA Division II national tournament. Last season, MVNU posted a 25-7 overall record, won a share of the American Mideast Conference South Division regular-season title with a 15-3 conference mark, and was ranked 10th in the final NAIA Division II poll.

“This is what I would call a transition year,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming, who has posted a 351-209 record in 17 seasons at his alma mater. “We graduated three of our starters and lost four of our top seven players from last year. It is never easy replacing players like Mark Hess and Ryan Seesholtz who were four-year starters that made an impact on every game. It is also not very often that you have a seven-footer in the middle that changes the game defensively like Steve Mayes did. That was another great chapter in Cougar basketball.”

Making the transition a little easier for Flemming and the Cougars is the return of one of NAIA Division II’s more prolific scoring backcourts in junior guards Ben Falkenberg (left) and Dan Borcherdt. Falkenberg, who was named an NAIA Division II First Team All-American and the AMC South Division Player of the Year last year, led the nation in three-pointers made per game (3.9) and ranked fourth in scoring (24.0 points per game) and free throw percentage (.898). He became the 30th player in school history to top 1,000 points as he accomplished the feat quicker than any other MVNU player (53 games), and he already ranks 18th on the program’s career scoring list with 1,332 points.

Borcherdt (right) also had an outstanding season in his first year with the Cougars after transferring in from Army. He averaged 12.4 points and led the team with 89 assists. He was the top free throw shooter in NAIA Division II as he connected on 84 of 93 attempts (.903), and he led MVNU in scoring at the NAIA Division II national tournament by averaging 16.0 points in two games.

“We have a solid backcourt coming back in Ben and Dan,” said Flemming. “Ben is one of the most gifted offensive players we have had at MVNU. He put together an outstanding season last year prior to breaking his hand at the national tournament. He is a proven shooter beyond the arc and he is also able to create a shot penetrating to the basket or creating space on the perimeter. He is working hard to become a complete player on both ends of the floor.”

“Dan is a solid ball-handler and is always a threat to drain a perimeter shot,” said Flemming. “He has one of the purest outside shots we have seen here. Now in his second season, he will be called upon to be more of a leader on this team as well. Ben and Dan make each other better because you really cannot leave either of them to help on defense.”

Seniors Evan Yates and Connor Gregg (left in that order) return for their final season and look to finish their careers on a high note. Gregg, a post, saw action in 31 games last season with seven starts as he averaged 6.5 points and 5.3 rebounds while finishing second on the team with 21 blocked shots. Yates, a forward, also played in 27 games off the bench and averaged 2.5 points and 3.1 rebounds.

“I am anticipating that Connor will have his best season this year,” said Flemming. “He has shown flashes of stardom in the past. It is just a matter of playing at a high level more consistently. He is always one of the more athletic players on the floor. Evan brings defense and rebounding to the game. He is one of our captains this year, and although he is not naturally a vocal leader, his work ethic and intensity should be a model for our younger players.”

Junior wing Andy Francis (right) returns after playing a key role off the bench last season as he saw action in all 32 games and averaged 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds. “Andy will also be in a leadership role as a captain this season,” said Flemming. “He is a blue-collar player who brings versatility to each game. He can play several positions and contributes on both ends of the floor.”

Sophomore post players Bryce Sanborn and Joe Kalb and junior forward Matt McKinley return after seeing limited action last year. “We are hoping that Bryce can play a significant role this year,” said Flemming. “He spent last season playing against and learning from Mark Hess and Steve Mayes in practice every day. He has worked hard at his skills and endurance in the off-season to compete for playing time. Joe gained valuable experience in the junior varsity games last year. His improvement will determine if he is ready to contribute this season. His work ethic is as good as anybody’s on the team. Matt is an under-sized frontcourt player who gets the most out of his ability. He played some significant minutes in the national tournament last year and he always finds a way to contribute when he is in there.”

Sophomore guard Jonathan Gurney has also moved up from the junior varsity team and will give the team depth at the guard position. “Jonathan plays with great intensity and he is one of our better defenders,” said Flemming.

The MVNU roster also features three new players for the 2007-2008 season. Junior forward Jadin Thomas (left) averaged 13.8 points and 13.3 rebounds per game last year at Columbus State Community College and will figure into the playing mix for the Cougars. “Jadin should make a significant impact on our team,” said Flemming. “He is a versatile player who can score in the low post or step out and shoot it. He has been a very good rebounder prior to arriving here and we are counting on him filling that role for us.”

Freshman Brandon Short will be asked to play three different positions for MVNU after averaging 17.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as a senior at Orrville High School. “Brandon is very good in the open court and he has the potential to be one of our best defenders,” said Flemming. “He will back up Ben and Dan at the guard positions and will also be on the floor with them while playing the three spot. He has the quickness to break down a defender and get to the basket.”

Freshman post Adam Grimm will add depth down low for the Cougars after averaging 15.1 points and 8.3 rebounds as a senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. “Adam has a great amount of potential,” said Flemming. “He is very athletic and mobile for a player of his size. As he develops his skills, he has a chance to be a very good college player.”

Following the season opener against Cincinnati Christian, MVNU will play non-conference games against Spring Arbor (Mich.) University, Ohio Christian University, Ashland University, Daemen (N.Y.) College, Malone College, Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College, and the University of Northwestern Ohio in addition to a home and away series with Houghton (N.Y.) College. The Cougars will also take part in the annual Food for the Hungry Holiday Invitational Tournament hosted by both MVNU and Kenyon College, and MVNU will travel to the Hope (Mich.) College Tournament where the host Flying Dutchmen are ranked ninth in the NCAA Division III preseason poll.

MVNU will once again look to compete for the AMC South Division title where the Cougars were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches’ poll behind Cedarville University and Walsh University, who are ranked fourth and sixth respectively in the NAIA Division II preseason poll. The team will play home and away conference contests against Cedarville, Walsh, Ohio Dominican University, Shawnee State University, Urbana University, Wilberforce University, and the University of Rio Grande.

“I really like our potential, but there are certainly more question marks than we have had in several years,” said Flemming. “Experience in the backcourt will be a strength and inexperience in the frontcourt could be a weakness until we get several games under our belt. We will find out where we are early in the season with games against strong opponents such as Spring Arbor, Ashland, Daemen, and Malone. We will continue to attack with an up-tempo style of play on offense, and we are working hard to establish a solid defense.”

“We will need to come together quickly as many of the top teams in our conference return most of their key players,” Flemming added. “Most of our returning players have experienced two straight trips to the NAIA national tournament, so I know that there will be a desire to return. We need to start with some short-term goals, though, and work our way up to such a high goal. Much of this will depend on what kind of an impact our new players make, if our returning players can step up their game, and how our team chemistry comes together.”