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Last year’s 23-6 record was the best-ever for a Christian
Brothers University men’s basketball team. Three starters
return to the squad in 04-05 and will be the core of what
could be one of the strongest defenses in the Gulf South Conference.
Jeff Bazeley, Jordon Jeffries and Clint Dowdle have started
each of the last three years and will provide solid leadership
and experience.
The Bucs have a tougher schedule this season with exhibition
games against the University of Memphis (the first college
contest in the new Memphis FedEx Forum) and Murray State University,
both of whom made the NCAA Tournament last season. CBU travels
to the Northern Kentucky Classic on November 19 and 20 and
will take on pre-season No. 6, Michigan Tech, as well as Northern
Michigan. The Gulf South Conference should once again prove
to be one of the toughest conferences in the nation and the
South Region boasts five teams ranked in the pre-season top
25.
Seniors
Jake Bazeley (6’4*G/F* Cincinnati,
OH) is a returning second-team All-Gulf South Conference performer
and a pre-season All-GSC selection. Bazeley averaged 14.0
points per game while dishing out a team-high 3.44 assists
per game and pulling down 5.7 rebounds per contest. Jordon
Jeffries (6’6*C*Seattle, WA) is back for his
third season down low for the Bucs. He led the team in scoring
two seasons ago and averaged 12.3 points per game this past
season. He also led the team in blocks and rebounds per game
with 1.03 and 7.4 marks. Clint Dowdle (5’10*PG*Cordova,
TN) returns to run the floor for the Bucs for the third-straight
season. Last season, Dowdle averaged 38.1 minutes per game
while scoring 9.1 points per contest and dishing out 3.1 assists
per game. He shot 39 percent from the three-point line hitting
a team-high 63 three-pointers.
Transfer Lou Wright (6’5* F*Memphis,
TN) from the University of Tennessee should step in and start
at the three or four position and Dustin Hoover
(6’6*F*Bartlett, TN.) who averaged 16 minutes off the
bench last season will round out the starting five for the
Bucs.
Juniors
Sam Bradley (6’4*G*Germantown, TN)
came on late, averaging 6.3 minutes off the bench scoring
1.6 points and pulling down 1.4 rebounds per game. Bradley
will be looked to for a strong rebounding and defensive presence
off the bench. Tal Yatsiv (6’3*G*Herzilia,
Israel) saw minimal action for the Bucs, but will provide
a strong three-point threat when called upon.
Sophomores
Adam Brock (6’6*F/C*Nolansville, TN)
averaged 1.8 minutes per game for the Bucs last season and
will bring depth to the center position. Brandon Mitchell
(6’6*C*Arlington, TN) saw action in seven games
last season, but has the potential and size to step in and
be a force down low for the Bucs.
Freshmen
Redshirt Roberto Casiano (5’8*G*Bayamon,
Puerto Rico) will help back up Dowdle at the point. His great
court vision helps him to be a reliable ball handler off the
bench. Newcomers Justin Ray (6’2*G),
Kevin Weybright (6’6*F) and Zach
Welter (6’4*G/F) all hail from Cincinnati and
make up one of the most talented freshmen recruiting classes
ever for Nienaber. Ray led his team the last two seasons in
scoring, averaging 17 points per game, shooting 42 percent
from three-point range and 83 percent from the free-throw
line. He was selected first-team All-City and All-Conference
in both basketball and football and was named to the Cincinnati
Enquirer Division I All-City team. Weybright scored a school
record 1,322 points and led his league in scoring with 510
points this past season, averaging 22 per game. He led the
league in blocked shots with 58 averaging 2.6 per game. He
was named the Associated Press Division II Southwest District
Player of the Year in Ohio last season and the Cincinnati
Enquirer named him the Division II Player of the Year in Cincinnati.
Weybright was first team All-State in both basketball and
football. He was a finalist for the LaRosa/Cincinnati High
School Athlete of the Year Award. Welter averaged 9.2 points
per game and 4.3 rebounds per game en route to being named
a second-team All-Catholic League selection. He was named
Honorable Mention All-City after shooting 52 percent from
the field and over 75 percent from the free-throw line.
“Last season was a year that we’ll never forget,
but it’s over” said head coach Mike Nienaber.
“We have four seniors who have played a big part in
turning CBU basketball around. Our hope is that they will
be able to end their careers with even greater accomplishments
and accolades than the past two years.
“Clearly this is easier said than done. The league
seems to continue to get tougher and tougher and our region
is one of the toughest in the country. The key to our success
last year was team play. We had six guys averaging near double-figures.
I believe for us to be successful, it will take a similar
effort from all of our top seven or eight players.”
With three experienced senior starters, a solid core of returning
players and strong incoming freshmen, the 2004-05 season for
the Bucs looks promising and the future is bright for Christian
Brothers University Basketball.
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