Schedule
Grand Valley St. (2-2, 0-0 GLIAC) at Hillsdale (3-1, 0-0 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI
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Additional Info
Hillsdale Roster | GVSU Roster | 2023-24 Hillsdale Stats | 2023-24 GVSU Stats
Projected Starters
Hillsdale: #2 Ashton Janowski, So, G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (9.8 ppg); #4 Charles Woodhams, Jr., G, Otsego, MI/Otsego (18.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg); #14 Walt Mattingly, So., F, Fort Mitchell, KY/Lake Forest (3.3 ppg, 3 rpg); #31 CJ Yarian, So., F, Cleveland, OH/St. Ignatius (5.3 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3 apg); #33 Joe Reuter, Jr., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (17.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.3 spg, 1 bpg)
GVSU: #1 Britain Harris, So., G, Gary, IN/Don Bosco Institute (11.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2 spg); #4 Jalen Charity, So., G, Grand Rapids, MI/Northview (4.5 ppg , 3.5 rpg); #5 Trevor Smith, So, G, Rochester Hills, MI/Stoney Creek (7.3 ppg, 3.3 apg); #11 William Dunn, Jr., F, Quincy, MI/Youngstown St. (11.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1 spg, 1 bpg); #21 Marius Grazulis, Sr, F, Marquette, MI/Marquette (15 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
Scouting the Opposition
Grand Valley St.: Always one of the most talented teams in the Midwest Region, the Lakers are looking to put things all together this year and make their first NCAA DII Tournament appearance since 2019.
The 2023-24 Lakers stand out for their tremendous size up front, with a skilled and experienced 6-11 center in Marius Grazulis, and another dominant post presence in Youngstown State transfer William Dunn. Wing Jalen Charity also has great length, and GVSU has several more strong big men to bring off the bench as well.
Five players average double-figures for the Lakers so far this year, as the post tandem are joined by returning starters Trevon Gunter and Britain Harris, as well as Mason Docks, another NCAA DI bounceback from Maryland-Baltimore County with big scoring potential off the bench.
The Lakers are 2-2 overall but have competitive losses to both of the preseason top two teams in the G-MAC, Ashland and Walsh, and a close win over another G-MAC contender in Findlay, making them a great measuring stick for where the Chargers stand a little less than a week out from the start of conference play.
GVSU is coached by Cornell Mann, who is entering his second season in charge in 2023-24. Mann, who succeeded long-tenured GVSU head coach Ric Wesley last year, has a decorated resume as an assistant at six different DI programs prior to GVSU.
Scouting the Chargers
It's a new era for the Hillsdale College men's basketball team, as new head coach Keven Bradley begins the 2023-24 era with four new starters on the court after the Chargers graduated six seniors from the 2022-23 squad.
But while it is a new beginning for Hillsdale, there's plenty of continuity with the program's recent successes and the foundation built over the past two decades. Before taking the head job this past spring, Bradley spent three seasons as Hillsdale's associate head coach, helping guide the program to a 2020-21 G-MAC title, three 20-plus win seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, two Sweet 16 appearances, and a 2022 NCAA DII Midwest Regional title and Elite Eight appearance. His background makes him very familiar with the Chargers program and how to keep things rolling.
And while Hillsdale bid farewell to four starters this offseason, several important players return for Bradley in the 2023-24 season, led by the lone starting holdover, junior Joe Reuter, who earned second-team All-G-MAC honors while averaging 12.5 points and six rebounds per game for a 23-win Chargers squad in 2022-23. While Reuter has had a role to play for the Chargers since his first day on campus, this season will be a big chance for the junior to take on a key leadership role with the squad as an upperclassman.
Along with Reuter, Hillsdale also brings back a trio of important substitutes from 2022-23 who look poised to compete for starting roles. Guards Charles Woodhams, a redshirt junior, and Ashton Janowski, a true sophomore, were big in moments off the bench for Hillsdale last season and should see their roles increase in 2023-24, while fellow guards Sam Vasiu and Cole McWhinnie should take on bigger roles as well.
In the paint, Radisevic could step in as the Chargers' post presence after serving as the first big man off the bench in last year's rotation. Redshirt sophomore Walt Mattingly should also see a bigger role, as will redshirt freshmen C.J. Yarian and Garrett Bolte, who will both see their first collegiate action this season.
Hillsdale should also get some quality minutes from a five-player freshman class. Guards Logan Beaston and Mikey McCollum were both proficient scorers at the high school level and could bring some offensive punch, while Caleb Glaser and Connor Stonebraker will get a chance to break into the lineup in the post as well.
A young Chargers squad is looking to keep alive a string of six consecutive seasons with 19 or more wins, a stretch that includes four NCAA Tournament appearances and two G-MAC titles despite tough competition from a league that is rising rapidly in talent and accolades.
Matchup History
- This is Hillsdale's first meeting with Grand Valley State since leaving the GLIAC for the G-MAC following the 2016-17 season. The Lakers have the better of the overall series, 44-28, but Hillsdale got the better of the matchup in their final four years in the G-MAC, putting up a 5-2 record against the Lakers. GVSU won the most recent meeting, on Dec. 8, 2016, 75-49.
Other Notes
- The Chargers were picked to finish sixth in the G-MAC Preseason Poll released in late October. Defending G-MAC Tournament Champion Ashland was picked to win the league, and 2022-23 regular season champion Walsh was picked to finish second. Since joining the league in 2017-18, Hillsdale has never finished worse than third in the final G-MAC standings.
- Hillsdale was ranked 24th in the nation in the second D2CSC Media Poll of 2023-24, and third in the Midwest Region. The Chargers also received votes in the first NABC poll of 2023-24. Hillsdale has been ranked in at least one poll during the season for each of the last four seasons.
- Hillsdale is looking to continue an impressive run of recent success over the last six seasons that includes two G-MAC Championships, four 20-plus win campaigns, four NCAA DII Tournament berths, two Sweet 16 appearances, and a Midwest Regional title and Elite Eight appearance in 2021-22. The Chargers have had 21 or more wins in each of the last three seasons, and made an unprecedented three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
- While Hillsdale graduated four starters and three All-G-MAC players from last season's 23 win team, the Chargers do have significant returning talent, led by junior Joe Reuter. The G-MAC Freshman of the Year in 2021-22 and a second team All-G-MAC honoree in 2022-23, Reuter averaged 12.5 points and six rebounds per game last year as a key player for Hillsdale, and is off to an impressive start, averaging over 17 points and five rebounds in four games this season. With a young squad in 2023-24, the Chargers will lean heavily on his experience and leadership.
- Junior Charles Woodhams made an impact off the bench for the Chargers last season, with six double digit scoring games and a season-high of 18 points against Cedarville on Dec. 1. Now in the starting lineup for the Chargers, he's starting to put up those big numbers on a nightly basis. The Otsego, Michigan native is averaging 18.3 points per game and scored a career high 21 points twice in wins over Saginaw Valley State and UM-Dearborn in four games this season.
- Redshirt freshman CJ Yarian put together a special performance in his debut for the Chargers, recording 15 rebounds and eight assists in Hillsdale's 71-65 victory over Wayne State on Friday, Nov. 10. It's the most combined rebounds and assists in a single game by a Charger since Matt Mlynarchek put up 16 rebounds and seven assists against Mercyhurst on Jan. 20, 2003, over 20 years ago. The younger brother of three-time All-G-MAC player Austen Yarian, CJ figures to be an important part of the rotation for the Chargers in 2023-24.