2007-08 Kalamazoo College Men's Basketball Preview

At a school that has a high acceptance rate into medical school and an outstanding reputation in the sciences, you would think that chemistry would come easy. The 2007-08 Kalamazoo College Men’s Basketball team hopes that is the case, as developing team chemistry will be a key factor in their success this season.

According to sixth-year Head Coach Rob Passage, “We have a lot of new guys trying to learn our system and work their way into the program and a lot of old guys who are going to need to play expanded roles.  We have enough individual talent to be very successful. It is just a matter of how quickly and how well we can bring all the new pieces together.”

With eight seniors graduating last June, that left the program with eleven returning players, only seven with any varsity experience. The good news for the Hornets is that seven does include their two leading scorers from last season, senior forward Pat Clancy (12.4 ppg) and senior center Mat Kellogg (11.8 ppg). Those numbers earned both players All-MIAA Second Team honors in 2006-07. 

“This is the first time in several years where we have come into the season with our leading scorers returning”, said Passage. “Add Henry (McCain) to that mix and that gives us our top three scorers and rebounders back for this season.”

The senior class will be lead by its tri-captains: Clancy, Kellogg, and Matt Wagner. In addition to his scoring role, Clancy also led the team in assists and was second in rebounding. 

“Pat is a very versatile player who really stepped up for us last year”, said Passage. “I think that he is ready to build on his success of last year and really have an outstanding season.”

Kellogg, the team leader in rebounding, blocked shots, and field goal percentage, will again control the lane for the Hornets. 

According to Passage, “Mat is one of the hardest workers and strongest players that I have ever coached. He is a great presence inside on both ends of the court. One of our goals this year is to make sure that we get him more opportunities on the offensive end.”

Wagner, a three-year varsity player who saw action in twenty-one games as a junior, is penciled in at a starting guard spot this year. Averaging just less than three points per game last season, his production is expected to increase dramatically this season.

“Matt has been a behind-the-scenes guy the past three years, but I know he is ready to break out,” says Passage. “I know that he learned a lot from those guys ahead of him the past few years—Tyler Worst, Damon Krohn, Roger Garfield—and that he will be a great leader for our younger guys.”

The remaining two seniors are both coming back from junior years where they were mostly away from the court. Sean Smith studied in Ecuador last season and Trevor Hough saw some action, but had his season limited by injury.

The junior class will be a big key to the Hornets’ success this season as they will all step into larger roles left open by graduation. 

Jon Matych, an outstanding perimeter shooter, will battle at the guard spot. Playing in 18 games as a sophomore, Matych averaged just over four points per game and shot a sizzling 47% from beyond the arc. 

According to Passage, “Jon is one of those guys who, when he shoots it, the whole bench starts to stand up to cheer even before he lets it go because they know it is going in.”

Another junior guard is Ben Jerome from Bath, Mich. Jerome saw most of his action as a member of the junior varsity squad last season, but also appeared in 12 varsity games. 

“Ben has been our most improved player in practice so far this season and we are really excited about what he can gives us this year,” Passage said. “His on-court leadership, ability to push the ball and run the offense, and ball-hawking defense, will really pay off for us this season.”

The battle at the forward spot will take place between the two remaining juniors, Nate Orozco and Henry McCain. Orozco played in 24 games last season, starting in nine. He averaged just over four points per game and proved to be a force on boards. 

“Nate really stepped up for us last year and had a very productive sophomore season. He is another guy in our program that I think will benefit from an increased opportunity to show what he can do this year.”

“Having Henry back is definitely a boost for us. I think that we felt his absence the most last year on the defensive end of the court because of his ability to create turnovers and block shots,” said Passage. “His rebounding on both ends of the court will also be a key for us.”

Two sophomores return looking for varsity minutes after solid seasons on the junior varsity. Verelle Kirkwood will compete for time at the point guard position and Nick Jovanovic will be battling to back up Kellogg in the post.

The biggest freshman class in quite a few years will also add depth to the program and contribute some competition for the remaining varsity spots. The incoming class includes: A.J. Williams, Dane Carey, Matt Guldan, Ronald Wilson, Ryan Clark, Andrew Manor, Elvin Caldwell, Ryan Ahern, Taylor Plath, Tyler Stewart, Spencer Schroer, Jeff Hollenbeck, Alex Lapka, Harold Hermanson and Drew Mitchell.

The Hornets will open their season on Friday, November 16th as they play Wheaton College at 8 p.m. in the opening game of Wheaton’s Lee Pfund Classic. Their first home game is Sunday, November 25th at 3 p.m. as they host Defiance College.