The definition of a strong program is one where success is maintained even through periods of significant change.
The 2023-24 Hillsdale College men's basketball team proved that it's got what it takes to be a year-in, year-out challenger with another strong season, placing in the top three of the final G-MAC standings for the seventh-straight season in what could have been a rebuilding year for the program.
The Chargers entered the campaign looking to overcome heavy losses to graduation from the previous season, as four starters and a top substitute moved on from a 23-win squad that made the NCAA DII Tournament. Additionally, for the first time in over a decade and a half, Hillsdale had new leadership, as Keven Bradley, previously the team's associate head coach, succeeded John Tharp as the new head coach of the Chargers men's basketball team.
Playing with an inexperienced rotation, the Chargers exceeded every outside expectation, picking up early quality wins over Wayne State, Saginaw Valley State and Grand Valley State to head into conference play in a solid position. Then, in one of the most competitive G-MAC seasons in recent memory, with eight teams finishing within four games of first place, the Chargers held their own, going 12-2 at home on the season, blowing out eventual G-MAC co-champion Kentucky Wesleyan at home, 80-60, on Jan. 20 and also picking up home victories over Cedarville (76-68 on Feb. 15), Ashland (67-49 on Feb. 17) and rival Findlay (82-65 on Feb. 29) in the final three weeks of February to finish with a 13-7 record in G-MAC play and tying for third place in the standings.
Hillsdale's lone returning starter from 2022-23, junior forward Joe Reuter, had a phenomenal season, leading the Chargers in scoring, rebounding, assists, blocks and steals while earning first-team All-G-MAC honors. Reuter finished with double-figures in 23 of Hillsdale's 28 games, and set a new career high with a 30 point, nine rebound, six assist performance in an 89-71 victory at Lake Erie on Feb. 10.
Along with Reuter, several other Chargers stepped up in big ways, taking advantage of increased playing time to make a critical impact on Hillsdale's season. Junior guard Charles Woodhams became a key scoring threat for Hillsdale, averaging 13 points per game and srtting career highs across the board, while sophomore point guard Ashton Janowski also proved to be an important scoring threat on the floor. Perhaps the biggest and most critical leap came from senior Samuel Vasiu, who went from a bit player in his first three seasons to a starting guard and key defender for Hillsdale across all 28 games. Vasiu especially developed a reputation as one of the top turnover creators in the G-MAC, spending most of the season in the top 10 in steals per game in the conference.
As a team, Hillsdale continued to play the excellent, elite-level defense that has become the Chargers' calling card in the last decade, giving up just 63.9 points per game, the second best mark in the G-MAC and eighth best in the country. Hillsdale especially shut down opponents from the 3-point line, setting a program record for lowest opposing 3-point percentage since the 3-point line was introduced in the mid-80s. Teams hit just 29.3% of their 3-pointers against the Chargers, the best mark in the G-MAC and tied for the fourth-best mark in the entire nation.
Hillsdale's season came to a tough end in the G-MAC Tournament, as a stirring comeback from over 20 points down in the second half came up just one point short in a 72-71 road loss to Thomas More in the quarterfinal round. Still, Hillsdale finished the campaign with an 18-10 record, and have a bright future ahead. Only Vasiu graduates from the 2023-24 team, as all 14 other players are slated to return in 2024-25, giving the Chargers a level of continuity that will be unmatched in both the G-MAC and the NCAA DII scene at large. A more veteran version of the Chargers will attempt to get the team back to the NCAA Tournament next season and breach the 20-win mark for the fifth time in the last decade.
Photo by Reva Ludwig