The Trojans
return three experienced seniors for the 2007-2008 basketball season.
Returning senior and NAIA All-American Honorable Mention center Joe Backus
will once again pace the Trojan attack offensively (19.8 points per game,
7.8 rebounds per game) and will be looked upon to anchor the defense.
Senior point guard Derek Powell returns as well finishing last year with a
team high 76 assists, and senior wing Jordan Hughes is looking to continue
his sharp outside shooting.
Returning
starter Brett Gardner will assume major leadership responsibilities as he
continues to lead the way in energy, effort, and enthusiasm. Brian
Bolin and Bryce Kreutzfeldt were major contributors last year as freshmen
and will be expected to add to the inside-out attack that the Trojans are
accustomed to playing.
New to the
roster this year are two transfers, junior Sean Baitinger from Elk Grove, CA
and junior Josh Boyer from Hurley, SD. Both Baitinger and Boyer will
add scoring and defense to the Trojan line-up. Also new for DSU is
their impressive freshman class. Derek Kreutzfeldt from Chester High
School, Jason DeZeeuw from Elkton High School and Bryce Synder from West
Central High School are true freshmen who Coach Kooiman says will make an
immediate impact. "We definitely have brought in some talent the last
two years with our freshmen classes, and fee fortunate to have some of the
South Dakota's best on our roster," said Kooiman.
The Trojans
begin the season with four games on the road before opening at home with the
Ed Harter Classic on November 9th and 10th. They have been picked to
finish 8th in the Dakota Athletic Conference coaches' poll, but truly
believe they are capable of much better. Coach Kooiman adds, "We have
a good mix of returners and new guys to create a balance attack. Our
success will depend on how committed we are to each other on the defensive
end. When ware able to trust each other on both ends of the floor, we
will be hard to beat."
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Basketball
