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The
state of the program April 9, 2008
UW-Green
Bay coach Tod Kowalczyk was a full time poker player it would be easier to
explain the 07-08 season, and much of his rebuilding efforts over the past few
years….. no luck, time to fold and get some air. Kowalczyk is not built that
way.
After a disappointing .500 season the Phoenix coach has been going non stop. He
has already gotten two commitments from rising high school seniors. When I
caught up to him he was just back from the Minnesota High School Basketball
Tournament. It was the morning after a long road trip, and Kowalczyk was
gracious despite the clear signs of fatigue.
Every player who has stayed in the Green Bay program has graduated. There are
few division one coaches in the country who can match that record. The on court
record has been respectable but not the breakthrough post-season tournament kind
that Kowalczyk and Green Bays fan want.
07-08 could have been the season but three killer events stalled progress for a
team that had no margin for problems.
Freshman point guard Rahmon Fletcher made the all newcomers team but was knocked
out of action with what was considered a season ending foot injury during a game
at Valparaiso. A potential road W turned into a defeat and was a major
psychological loss for the team.
A high ankle sprain to “glue guy” post player Randy Berry put him on the
pines for seven games and playing on one leg for three games. At the beginning
of the season forward Mike Schachtner was the best player in the Horizon League
scoring inside and out and pretty much unstoppable. Undisclosed personal
problems stalled his production in the second half of the season.
Kowalczyk saBeyond poker player luck - if Kowalczyk problems turning the corner
can be traced to one issue - it is a failure to find the right players to man
the point guard position. With All Newcomer Rahmon Fletcher “separating
himself” in the point guard battle that piece of the puzzle seems to be in
place.
In the coming season Kowalczyk returns three veteran senior starters who have
the potential to be all league players. If Schachtner, Ryan Tillema and all
defensive league player Terry Evans have the kind of season they are capable of
having -- if Fletcher and the young guards continue to grow -- if the string of
poker player bad luck ends in 08-09 then the UWGB Phoenix will be the best since
the glory days of Dick Bennett.
If if if.
In any of my talks with Coach Kowalczyk it appears you can learn more from how
he says things rather than what he says. It requires reading between the lines.
That is why you do not see specific quotes in this story . An educated guess
from this writer – Kowalczyk’s retiring mentor and assistant coach Dale Race
has at least one more major gift to give his protégée .
The league Green Bay plays in now is radically stronger than in the days when
the Nix were regularly going to the NCAA and NIT. Kowalczyk has a stronger bond
with the players than ever before. Without ever complaining you sense he feels
the community expectations. He is dealing with it by focusing on the work that
is needed. When asked about his life he talks about being a better coach now
than when he first arrived and he talks about the life balance marriage and
fatherhood has brought.
At least two players are expected to see court action from UWGB in the coming
season. Brent Eaton is ranked among the top 20 players in Indiana high school
ball. He averaged 22.2 points per game this past season for Northridge High
School. The 6-5, three point specialist has been compared to former Marquette
star and current Nix assistant coach Brian Wardle. Eaton scored 1,564 points in
his prep career. 6-7 J.J. Henley is coming off a redshirt season. The Chicago
native should provide more muscle and athleticism on the inside.
UWGB has commitments from two rising seniors: 6-9 post Clayton Heuer of
Wisconsin Rapids averaged 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in his junior
years. Former UWGB coach Dick Bennett has described Heuer as a high skill player
who must develop foot speed to reach his potential. He’s rated at the seventh
best rising senior by Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook. 6-0 guard Seth Evans of
Seneca, Illinois high school is a coach’s son, on a team that has captured a
state title in Illinois. Starting for a smaller school since his freshman year,
Evans has been described as one of the most underrated prep players in the
state. He’s a second team all stater who averaged 21.1 points per game
shooting nearly 54 percent from the field, 43 percent from three point range.ys
the turning point for his team came against the consensus top 15
Butler Bulldogs. It was a tough home loss.
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