Saint John's travels to face NCAA Division II opponent Concordia-St. Paul for an exhibition game this Saturday, Nov. 5. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. - Live Stats | Watch Live
SEASON PREVIEW: Half-full, or half-empty? Both terms apply to the 2011-12 Saint John's University basketball team.
The Johnnies return two three-year starters, senior captains Aaron Barmore (6-5, 215; Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) and Andy Burns (6-0, 185; Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka). The two have combined for 153 games played, including 141 starts, and total a combined 1,352 points over their respective careers.
But the Johnnies are looking for three starters from a largely inexperienced group of 13 players that have combined for one career start and 117 points in 113 career games, as well as a handful of incoming freshmen who will challenge for playing time.
How well those new players adapt will play a key role for SJU, which looks to improve upon its 14-11 overall record last year. The Johnnies finished 10-10 in the MIAC, which tied them for sixth in the league and missed the conference playoffs due to a tie-breaker.
Head coach Jim Smith begins his 48th season with a 727-510 career record (.588) in 2011-12. College basketball's all-time wins leader in Minnesota, Smith became the 27th coach in NCAA men's basketball history to record 700 career wins two seasons ago. Smith's win total of 727 ranks him second among active NCAA Division III coaches for most victories, second all-time in Division III basketball history and 27th all-time in all divisions of collegiate basketball. He has led the Johnnies to seven MIAC titles, five MIAC playoff titles, nine trips to the NAIA tournament, and eight trips to the NCAA Division lll tournament.
Here's a preview of the Johnnies by position:
Backcourt (Point, No. 2 Wing)
One of Saint John's key returning players is Burns, who begins his fourth and final season as the Johnnies' starting point guard. Burns appeared in all 25 games last season, averaging 30.3 minutes per game. He averaged 10.9 points per game, including a career-high 35 against the University of Chicago last November. Burns finished second on the team in assists (88) and points (272). He led the squad behind the arc, however, with 49 three-pointers and a .419 shooting percentage. Burns was named All-MIAC honorable mention for the second consecutive season after earning a spot on the MIAC All-Rookie team as a freshman. He enters his senior campaign seventh on the SJU all-time assist list with 284, is 10th with 124 career treys and is 253 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
Sophomore Kevin McKenzie (5-8, 150; De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) returns as the most experienced sophomore after appearing in all 25 games last season, averaging eight minutes per contest. Junior Sam Dittberner (6-0, 175; New Prague, Minn.) is also expected to contribute at point this winter after appearing in 12 games a year ago.
Four sophomores are expected to compete for the second guard position this season: Patrick Butcher (6-0, 180; Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier), Dominic Devine (6-5, 185; Litchfield, Minn.), Nick Meyer (6-1, 190; Plymouth, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) and Jack Wittenborg (6-1, 175; Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson). Butcher averaged 6.6 minutes in 21 appearances last year for the Johnnies. A solid shooter, Butcher knocked down 41.7 percent of his three-pointers and averaged 1.9 points per game. Wittenborg finished the season with 10 rebounds and seven points, while Devine appeared in one game for the Johnnies last season. Meyer transferred to SJU last spring from the University of Wisconsin, but did not play basketball in Madison.
The four need to replace Sam Blank, who graduated in May. Blank finished third on the team with an average of 10.8 points per game last season.
Frontcourt (Nos. 3 & 4 Wing)
Junior Josh Hibbison (6-3, 185; Monticello, Minn.) and sophomore sharp-shooters Luke Januschka (6-5, 185; St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) and Seth Marx (6-4, 205; Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) are expected to compete for the No. 3 wing position this season. Hibbison (7 games), Januschka (9) and Marx (10) combined for 24 points in 26 games last winter. The Johnnies need to replace a pair of graduated seniors, Todd Herman and Chris Schwartz, at No. 3. Schwartz ended his career with 958 points and 161 career three-pointers, which is good for third in school history. Herman, meanwhile, averaged 10.4 points in 46 career games for SJU.
Barmore returns to the No. 4 spot after playing in all 25 games with 18 starts last year. The second-best shooter on the squad a season ago (.580 shooting percentage), Barmore looks to continue his solid play and take on more of a prominent role in his final year at SJU. He averaged 25.1 minutes and 7.8 points per game last season. The seasoned starter is expected to be backed up by junior Chris Neumann (6-4, 200; Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) and sophomore Travis Whiting (6-6, 215; Aurora, Minn./Mesabi East). Both look to play some crucial minutes for the Johnnies this season.
Smith needs to find a way to replace Aaron Burtzel, a three-time All-MIAC selection and 2011 All-American, who graduated last spring. He led the Johnnies in scoring (14.6 ppg.), rebounding (9.0 rpg.), shooting percentage (.629), assists (98), steals (40) and minutes per game (34.7) last season. He also tallied nine double-doubles to finish with 26 for his career, as well as 1,153 points (14th in school history), 887 rebounds (2nd), 393 assists (1st) and 135 steals (3rd) with a .598 shooting percentage (432-for-723).
Post (No. 5)
The post, one of the Johnnies' deepest yet inexperienced positions, is expected to feature the talents of junior Chris Orgas (6-8, 250; Lakeville, Minn./North), sophomore Brandon Schaust (6-6, 215; Lester Prairie, Minn./Holy Trinity), and freshmen Jacob Peterson (6-8, 250; Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins) and Otto Pfefferle (6-9, 200; Northfield, Minn.). None of the four candidates, however, have varsity experience on the collegiate level.
SJU needs to replace 6-foot-9 graduate Nermin Hujdurovic. Hujdurovic played in all 25 games for the Johnnies last winter and finished with a .538 shooting percentage, averaging nine points per game. He led the team with 27 blocks and finished second with 97 boards.
Schedule
Saint John's unofficially opens the season with an exhibition game Nov. 5 at NCAA Division II Concordia-St. Paul, nearly two weeks before the actual season opener at another Division II institution, St. Cloud State, Nov. 18. The Johnnies host Wisconsin-Stevens Point for their home opener Nov. 22 and travel to face Augsburg for the first of 20 conference games Nov. 30. SJU is scheduled to host 11 more home games, including another non-conference tilt against Martin Luther Dec. 12, and defending national Division III champion St. Thomas Jan. 2.
