Opportunities and challenges abound in equal measure for the Hillsdale College men's basketball team as it enters the 2021-22 season looking to build off a historic campaign the year before.
In 2020-21, the Chargers captured a second-straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season title, the first back-to-back conference titles in school history, earned the top regional seed in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time, and won its first NCAA tournament game since 2001 on the way to a Sweet 16 appearance.
Expectations are high in 2021-22 for the Chargers, who return three starters from that 21-3 squad and were picked seventh in the nation in the NABC Division II Preseason Coaches Poll released earlier this week. That's also evidenced by the G-MAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll Presented by Under Armour, sent out by the conference office on Thursday morning.
The poll tabs the Chargers as favorites to win a third-straight G-MAC regular season title, with 91 total votes and five first-place votes, though by a narrow one vote margin over G-MAC newcomer Ashland, who won the GLIAC tournament title last season and reached the Midwest Regional semifinals.
2020-21 G-MAC regular season runner-up Findlay is third in the poll with 79 votes, and 2020-21 G-MAC tournament champion Malone is fourth with 74 votes. You can see the full poll below.
The Chargers boast arguably the best post tandem in the G-MAC and one of the best in Division II in junior Patrick Cartier and senior Austen Yarian.
Cartier, the 2021 G-MAC Male Athlete of the Year and a consensus All-American is a dominant force at both ends of the floor and at the top of every team's scouting report, while Yarian, a first-team All-G-MAC player as well, has a versatile inside-outside offensive game that can light up opposing defenses and makes double-teaming Cartier in the post a dangerous proposition.
Junior forward Tavon Brown also returns after a breakout 2020-21 season. The G-MAC All-Defensive team honoree can guard all five positions, and his continued growth as an offensive threat makes him a critical part of the Chargers' plans for 2021-22.
Hillsdale has two significant holes to fill in the starting lineup with the graduation of point guard Connor Hill and wing Davis Larson, both second-team All-G-MAC players in 2020-21. Replacing their scoring, ball-handling, and especially leadership will be key for the Chargers to build off of last season's success.
Junior guards Cole Nau and Kyle Goessler were among Hillsdale's most-used substitutes last season and will contend for bigger roles this year, as will junior wing Jack Gohlke.
Two more breakout candidates for the Chargers in 2021-22 are redshirt freshmen Charles Woodhams and Sam Vasiu, who played sparingly as true freshmen in 2020-21 but enter their second year with a much better understanding of the Chargers' offensive and defensive sets and could make big leaps.
Forwards Peter Kalthoff, a junior, Noah Applegate, a sophomore, and Eric Radisevic, a redshirt freshman, provide quality depth for the Chargers behind their experienced front-court.
Hillsdale also has an exciting freshman class, with four highly-regarded players – Cole McWhinnie, Walt Mattingly, Henry Raynor and Joe Reuter – joining the squad this season. With experienced returners ahead of them, the group may bide their time and gain experience for future seasons, but have the talent to contribute right away if necessary.
While Hillsdale has the experience and talent to be a contender again this season, the Chargers face a difficult road to a third-straight conference title and second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
The G-MAC is as deep and talented as it's ever been, with several contenders aiming to overtake Hillsdale for the crown, including 2021 G-MAC Tournament champion Malone, G-MAC runner-up Findlay, and reloaded Walsh, Kentucky Wesleyan and Cedarville squads.
The addition of Ashland, the 2021 GLIAC tournament champion, to the conference for the 2021-22 school year brings another strong contender into the mix and makes the Chargers' road even tougher.
After a year in the Atlantic Region, the G-MAC also returns to the Midwest Region for NCAA Tournament selection purposes in 2021-22. In general, the Midwest has been a deeper region historically, with high-quality conferences in the GLIAC and GLVC being joined by a rising G-MAC to create fierce competition for the eight NCAA tournament spots up for grabs.
The competition level in both conference and region means that Hillsdale will have to rise to the occasion again, as it has each of the last two seasons, in order to achieve its goals.
Hillsdale kicks off the season on Friday, Nov. 12 at Saginaw Valley State at 7 p.m. The Chargers have their first home contest less than a week later, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 17 against Ferris State. You can see the full 2021-22 schedule here.
2021-22 Great Midwest Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour
1. Hillsdale – 91 points (5 first-place votes)
2. Ashland – 90 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Findlay – 79 points (1 first-place vote)
4. Malone – 74 points (1 first-place vote)
5. Cedarville – 69 points
6. Walsh – 59 points
7. Kentucky Wesleyan – 43 points
8. Trevecca Nazarene – 32 points
9. Lake Erie – 25 points
10. Ohio Dominican – 24 points
11. Tiffin – 19 points