Preview: Chargers host Walsh, Kentucky Wesleyan for crucial contests in G-MAC race

Jan 17, 2024

Schedule

Walsh (11-3, 5-3 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (10-5, 5-3 G-MAC) | 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI

Kentucky Wesleyan (11-4, 5-2 G-MAC) at Hillsdale (9-4, 4-2 G-MAC) | 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 | Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena | Hillsdale, MI

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Projected Starters

Hillsdale: #2 Ashton Janowski, So, G, Pewaukee, WI/Pewaukee (8.9 ppg); #4 Charles Woodhams, Jr., G, Otsego, MI/Otsego (14.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.7 apg); #22 Sam Vasiu, Sr., G, Grand Rapids, MI/NorthPointe Christian (6.7 ppg, 1.5 spg); #31 CJ Yarian, So., F, Cleveland, OH/St. Ignatius (5.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg); #33 Joe Reuter, Jr., F, Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls (15.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.6 spg)

Walsh: #1 Kobe Mitchell, So., G, Cadiz, OH/Harrison Central/U. of Akron (18.1 ppg , 5.2 rpg, 1.2 spg); #14 Colin McHale, So, G/F, Cincinnati, OH/Turpin (5.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg); #21 Garrison Keeslar, Jr., G/F, Green, OH/Green (14.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 5.5 apg 1.8 spg); #23 Zac Oddo, So., G/F, Green, OH/Green (10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg); #30 Nic Smith, Jr., F, Cincinnati, OH/Walnut Hills (5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

KWC: #1Alex Gray, Sr., F, Owensboro, KY/Apollo/Friends U. (7 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.7 apg); #2 Kennedy Miles, Sr., G, Burlington, NC/Lawson St. CC, (10.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.2 apg, 2.2 spg); #12 Edward Jones Jr., Jr., G/F, New Orleans, LA/Indianapolis Pike (11.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg); #21 Kaeveon Mitchell, Sr., G, Irvington, KY/Breckinridge Co. (8.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg); #32 Borja Fernandez, Sr., F, Bilbao, Spain/FC Barcelona/Montana St. (13.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Scouting the Opposition

Walsh: The defending 2022-23 G-MAC Champions came into the 2023-24 season with high hopes of a repeat, but come to Hillsdale on Thursday night in a precarious position after an up-and-down start to conference play.

At 5-3 in conference, Walsh is three games behind first place, and although on a four game win streak in G-MAC play, can't afford to take another loss this early.

The Cavaliers have a talented team, led by returning starters Garrison Keeslar, a two-time first-team All-G-MAC player, as well as wings Nic Smith and Zack Oddo. To that mix, Walsh has added one of the most dynamic scoring guards in the league, Akron U. transfer Kobe Mitchell, a 40% 3-point shooter who's 3rd in the G-MAC in points per game so far.

With a long, athletic lineup, Walsh is the G-MAC's top defensive team as well, conceding just 63.2 points per game. While the Cavaliers are formidable on paper, they struggled shooting the ball in their three losses, and can't afford to go cold again in January with so much ground to make up in the title race.

Walsh is coached by Jeff Young, one of the deans of the G-MAC coaching fraternity with 19 years leading the Cavaliers, and 10 national tournament appearances, three G-MAC tournament championships, and the 2005 NAIA national title.

KWC: After struggling to break through in the last few seasons, the Panthers look like they've found the right mix of transfers and returning talent to contend for a G-MAC title with a strong start in 2023-24.

Although the Panthers graduated several key players from last year's squad, Kentucky Wesleyan still brough back a solid core that included veteran wing Edward Jones Jr., sharp-shooting guard Kaeveon Mitchell and talented big man Borja Fernandez.

Kentucky Wesleyan has paired that group with a series of major additions in the transfer portal. Wing Alex Gray and NCAA Division I bounce-back Logan McIntire, both of whom have made huge contributions to the team's success so far. JuCo transfer NaVuan Peterson also plays an important role off the bench for the Panthers, as well as Palm Beach Atlantic transfer Aleksa Rakic.

Just two narrow losses to returning G-MAC Tourney champion Ashland separate Kentucky Wesleyan from the top of the standings, and the Panthers will have a shot to make a run in the second half of the season -- but a slim margin for error to claim the crown.

The Panthers are coached by Drew Cooper, who in his sixth season might have the best squad in his tenure this season, and one to end Kentucky Wesleyan's NCAA Tourney drought and G-MAC title drought.

Scouting the Chargers

The Hillsdale College Chargers have stayed in the mix in a tough, loaded Great Midwest Athletic Conference race. Hillsdale is off to a 10-5 start and 5-3 record in G-MAC play, keeping themselves in the G-MAC Tourney field and in contention for a home quarterfinal game with 12 conference contests remaining.

While this season does mark 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

Hillsdale and Walsh have had a series of great battles, starting in the GLIAC and continuing into the G-MAC. The Chargers lead the series 11-9 after a 66-51 win over the Cavaliers last season in their only meeting. The two teams have finished in the top three in each of the last two seasons of G-MAC play.
The Chargers and Kentucky Wesleyan are tied at seven wins apiece in the all-time series between the two teams after the Panthers snapped a four-game Hillsdale winning streak with a 72-71 win last season in Owensboro, Kentucky.

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 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 15 points and six rebounds in 15 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 14.4 points per game and scored a career high 26 points in a tight victory over Lake Erie to open conference play on Nov. 30. His 54.5% field goal percentage is stellar for a guard and ranks fourth among all G-MAC players.
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.
Senior Samuel Vasiu is seeing the first consistent minutes of his career for the Chargers in 2023-24, and he's made a huge impact for Hillsdale at the defensive end. Through 13 games, he's sixth among all G-MAC players with an impressive 1.5 steals per game.
A consistent theme in the Chargers' success over the last six seasons has been excellent 3-point defense. Through 13 games, Hillsdale once again ranks among the leaders in opponent 3-point percentage in both the G-MAC and nationally, with the Chargers' mark of 28.9% leading the G-MAC and tied for 11th in the nation among all NCAA DII teams. That's helped Hillsdale hold opponents to 64.8 points per game, fourth in the G-MAC and 14th in the nation as well.