Season Results
Season Comps
Team Stats
Roster Stats
NAIA Rankings
Forester Statistics
Statistical Leaders
Retiring Coach
Steve Platt
End of the
2007-08 Season
Overall Coaching
Record: 329-143
MCC Conference
Record: 141-63
MCC Tournament
Record: 26-9
NAIA Tourney
Record: 11-7
Final 2007-08
NAIA D2 Poll
Forester Success
1998-2008 5 Conference Titles
5 Tournament Titles
7 NAIA Tournaments
5 Sweet Sixteens
2 Final Fours
Hall of Fame
Tournament
Champions
HU's Senior
Doug Sheckler
Retiring Coach
Steve Platt
New HU Head
Coach Ty Platt
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The Foresters  2007-08 Season Season Summary
2007 Hall of Fame Tournament Champions
Final Information Update |
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The Foresters ended their
2007-08 season with 22 wins, averaging 77.3 points a game. Their high game was 117 points versus
Kuyper College. They allowed 71.5
points a game, so their average scoring margin was +5.8 points a game. |
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They averaged 1.07 points
per offensive possession (1.06 in the MCC) and allowed 1.00 points per
possession to opponents (1.02 in the MCC).
That ranked # 3 and # 7 among the 9 MCC teams. They provided assists on 59% of their field
goals. |
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Huntington was # 3 in the
MCC in assists per game, averaging 15.9.
They had an assist per turnover ratio of 1.18. The Foresters turned the ball over on 19%
of their possessions, which was # 2 in terms of the lowest turnover
percentage in the MCC. |
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HU averaged 34.7 rebounds a
game, with a rebound margin of -1.0 per game.
That ranked # 8 in the MCC Conference.
Their offensive rebounding efficiency was 28% and the defensive
rebounding efficiency was 68% (expressed as a percent of opportunity). |
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Doug Sheckler led the
Foresters in scoring with 18.2 points a game; Kyle Benge finished second with
13.7 points a game; Kevin Kyle was third with 13.7 points a game. |
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Many contributed to the
team's success this season: 25 points
or more were scored in a game by 2 different players; 20 points or more were
scored by 5 different players; 15 points or more were scored 62 times by 5 different
players; and 10 points or more were scored 116 times by 10 different players. |
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Outstanding production by
the Foresters this season: |
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Kyle Benge - 26 points (vs
St Ambrose Univ), 8 assists (vs Univ of St Francis IL) |
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Blaise Henry - 5 points (vs
Indiana Tech), 2 boards (at Central Bible College) |
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Kyle Johnson - 5 points (vs
Univ of St Francis IL), 3 assists (vs Univ of St Francis IL) |
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Kevin Kyle - 24 points (vs
Spring Arbor University), 14 boards (vs Indiana Tech) |
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David Lash - 12 points (at
Grace College), 4 boards (at Grace College) |
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Andrew Mock - 12 points (vs
Kuyper College), 9 assists (vs Calumet-St Joseph) |
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Alex Nafziger - 7 points (vs
Univ of St Francis IL), 6 boards (at Grace College) |
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Geoff Scheetz - 12 points
(vs Spring Arbor University), 4 treys (vs Spring Arbor University) |
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Doug Sheckler - 30 points
(vs Bethel College IN), 14 boards (at Taylor University) |
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Tyler Shively - 24 points
(at Spring Arbor University), 8 assists (at St Xavier University) |
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Luke Smith - 20 points (vs
Indiana Univ-South Bend), 9 boards (vs Bethel College IN) |
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Neil Stoffel - 13 boards (vs
St Ambrose Univ), 10 points (vs St Ambrose Univ) |
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Kellen Zawadzki - 13 points
(vs Calumet-St Joseph), 6 boards (vs Spring Arbor University) |
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The Foresters shot 47.0%
from the field this season, including 36.4% from three-point range. They connected on 77.1% of their free
throws. They held their opponents to
43.9% from the field this season, including 33.4% from three-point range. |
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Doug Sheckler was the field
goal percentage leader at 53.6% (3 att/gm min). He also led in three-point shooting with
38.8% (2 att/gm min). Tyler Shively
had the best free throw percentage making 91.8% at the line (1 att/gm min). |
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Forester rebounding was led
by Kevin Kyle with 7.4 a game. Doug
Sheckler had 7.3 boards per game and Luke Smith finished with 3.5 rebounds a
game. |
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The assist leader was Andrew
Mock at 3.3 a game. Kyle Benge was
second in assists with 2.8 a game and Doug Sheckler was third with 2.8
assists per game. |
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Kevin Kyle and Doug Sheckler
led the team with 7 double-doubles.
Doug Sheckler led in blocked shots with 45 in 29 games. Tyler Shively had 37 steals in 32 games. |
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Coach Steve Platt's Record
at Huntington is now 329-143 for a 69.6% win ratio. |
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Season records, NAIA rating
and MCC standing at the end of this season: |
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2007-08 Overall Record: 22 - 10 |
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2007-08 MCC Record: 11 - 5 |
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Final MCC Standing: # 2 |
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PreSeason MCC Rating: # 4 |
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NAIA Division II Coaches
Poll Ranking (as of 2/27/08): # 27 |
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Computer Ranking within the
152 Collegiate Teams of NAIA D2 as of 3/15/08: |
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#13 Wolfe,
#15 Rothman, #14
Massey, #15 Massey MOV |
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Computer Ranking among 1,511
Collegiate Teams in North America on 3/15/08: |
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#525 Wolfe,
#496 Rothman, #515
Massey |
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RPI and Strength of Schedule
Calculations (per NCAA methodology) |
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RPI Calculation = 0.600 Strength of Schedule =
0.574
Ranks # 3 among MCC Teams
Ranks # 1 among MCC Teams |
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The Foresters had two
players in the Huntington University 1,000 Point Club. Doug Sheckler had 1,732 career points and
Kyle Benge had 1,060 career points. |
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2007-08 Season Summary
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Huntington finished the 2007-08 season with a 22-10 record for their 7th consecutive 20-win season. They had the strongest schedule of any MCC Team; their opponents had a combined record of 553-349 for a 61.3% composite win percentage and an average team win ratio of 0.605. The Foresters tied an HU team record this year and they did it twice. They shot 66.7% from the field in a game versus Kuyper and did it again 5 days later at St Xavier. The last time that mark was reached was in 1995.
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With nearly 80% underclassmen, the inexperience showed as they started 0-2 on the season, but they turned it around in the third game and went on to win six in a row against good teams, including Cedarville (NAIA D2 #4), Campbellsville (NAIA D1 #11) and Saint Xavier (NAIA D1 #32). They lost by just one point at Olivet Nazarene (NAIA D1 #18) and then won six more in a row. Later, they lost by just 6 points to Georgetown (KY), which finished the regular season 30-0 and ranked #1 in NAIA D1.
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Huntington went 11-5 in the MCC Conference this season for second place. The Foresters have not lost more than 5 MCC Conference games in any of the last 7 seasons. They have been the strongest team in the MCC over the past ten years, winning 131 games while losing just 44 to their MCC opponents. That 75% win percentage stands head and shoulders above the next best in the MCC of just 58%.
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Huntington was contending for another MCC title before they lost Doug Sheckler to a career-ending injury in the next to last game of the regular season. The loss of their only senior and a top player in points, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals was difficult for the Foresters to overcome in the MCC Tournament. The Foresters went 1-1 in the MCC Tournament this year.
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Huntington finished the season #1 in the MCC Conference in free throw percentage (77.1%), #2 in points per game (77.3), #2 in defensive rebounds per game (25.4), #2 in turnover percentage (18.6% of possessions), #3 in assists per game (15.9), #3 in assist/turnover ratio, #3 in points per offensive possession, and #3 in double-doubles (15). They were #4 in field goal percentage (47.0%), #4 in total rebounds per game (34.7) and #4 in assist/field goal ratio (0.590).
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Their only senior, Doug Sheckler had an outstanding year. He was not only the HU's MVP, but was an All-MCC First Team selection, was named the MCC Player of the Year, and was an NAIA Division II First Team All-American.
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Sheckler (6'6) led the team in scoring (18.2 points a game), defensive rebounds (5.6 a game) and blocks (1.6 a game). He shot 53.6% from the field and 38.8% from three-point range, and led the team with a 1.67 assist/turnover ratio. He was second in assists per game (2.8), offensive rebounds (1.7), total rebounds (7.3) and steals (1.1). He scored 30 points versus Bethel, had 14 rebounds at Taylor, and provided 7 assists versus Kuyper. His stats put him #4 in the MCC in scoring, #3 in double-doubles (7), #3 in defensive rebounds and #3 in blocks. He finished his college career with 1,732 points, making him 13th on HU's all-time scoring list.
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The two juniors on the team this year were Kyle Benge (6'1) and Geoff Scheetz (5'8). Benge was named All-MCC Third Team this year and was second on the team in scoring at 13.7 points a game, second in assists per game (2.8) and second in three-pointers made per game (1.3). He hit 42 three-pointers for the year, shooting 34.4% from beyond the arc. Kyle was also very accurate at the free throw line, making 82.0% of his attempts. His high games this season were 26 points versus St Ambrose and 8 assists versus St Francis (IL). Benge joined HU's 1,000 Point Club before the season ended and now has 1,060 points in his career at Huntington.
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Geoff Scheetz averaged 4.4 points this season despite averaging just 8.8 minutes a game. He was the best three-point shooter for HU, making 1.4 three pointers a game and shooting 51.7% from long range. His overall 53.3% shooting average put him in the top quartile. Geoff scored 12 points in the first MCC Tournament game versus Spring Arbor, hitting 4 of 6 from long range.
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The sophomores were David Lash (6'4), Kyle Johnson (6'1), Neil Stoffel (6'6), Kevin Kyle (6'7) and Luke Smith (6'4). Lash scored 46 points this season while capturing 21 rebounds. He shot 54.8% from the field to lead the Foresters in shooting, but didn't have enough shots to qualify for ranking at the conference level. Lash scored 12 points and had 4 rebounds at Grace. Johnson scored 21 points this season, along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. He had 5 points and 3 assists versus St Francis (IL). Stoffel averaged 11.1 minutes per game this year, scoring 77 points and grabbing 82 rebounds. He shot 51.7% from the field and had a double-double versus St Ambrose with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
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Kevin Kyle was a key player for the Foresters this season. Kevin scored 426 points and had 230 rebounds and was named All-MCC Third Team. He had 7 double-doubles this season and two games of 20 points or more, scoring 24 points versus Spring Arbor in the first MCC Tournament game. He had a high of 14 rebounds in the opening game of the season versus Indiana Tech and put in 10 free throws versus Goshen. Kevin was first on the team in offensive rebounds (2.6) and total rebounds (7.4) per game, and first in free throws made per game (3.8). He was second in scoring at 13.7 points a game, shooting 52.4% from the field and 75.6% at the line; he was second in blocks (0.9) and third in steals (1.0) per game. His stats placed him #3 in the MCC in double-doubles, #5 in total rebounds and #5 in offensive rebounds.
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Luke Smith had a good season with 258 points, 108 rebounds, 46 assists and 20 steals. Luke averaged 8.3 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. He had season highs of 20 points versus IU-South Bend, had 9 rebounds and 3 steals versus Bethel, provided 5 assists at Central Bible, and made 3 three-point shots at Grace and. Luke connected on 82.6% of his free throws this season, putting in 17 consecutive free throws without a miss in the month of January.
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There were four freshmen on the roster this year: Andrew Mock (5'8, Wawasee HS), Alex Nafziger (6'5, Pettisville HS in OH), Tyler Shively (6'1, Columbia City HS), and Kellen Zawadzki (6'3, Tippecanoe HS in OH). Mock became starting point guard for the Foresters and averaged 3.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds a game; he had an excellent 1.52 assist/turnover ratio. Mock had high games of 12 points versus Kuyper, 9 assists versus Calumet of St Joseph, and 6 rebounds versus Cedarville. Nafziger averaged 1.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in just 6.5 minutes per game. His highs for the season were 7 points versus St Francis (IL) and 6 rebounds at Grace.
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Tyler Shively had an outstanding freshman year, getting 284 points and 101 rebounds, being named to the All-MCC Newcomer Team, being #1 in free throw percentage in all of NAIA D2, and setting a new Huntington individual record for consecutive free throws without a miss. When the season ended, Tyler had made 54 consecutive free throws, destroying the old HU record of 46 (set in 1995). We won't know what the new record will be until next season when the string continues. Tyler made 91.8% of his free throws (89 of 97) and averaged 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game along with an excellent 1.50 assist/turnover ratio. His highs were 24 points at Spring Arbor (included 4 three-point shots), 8 assists and 4 steals at St Xavier and 6 rebounds at Grace.
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Kellen Zawadzki also had a great freshman year. Kellen scored 190 points and had 87 rebounds, 45 assists, 25 steals, 6 blocks and had a 1.55 assist/turnover ratio, the best of all the Foresters. He averaged 5.9 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 15.6 minutes per game. Kellen shot 45.3% from the field and made 33 three-point shots this season. He was also an outstanding 84.6% from the free throw line, second best on the team. Kellen had two strings of 10 consecutive free throws without a miss, but ended this season with 5. He scored 10 or more points 9 times this season, with his highs being 13 points versus Calumet of St Joseph, 6 rebounds versus Spring Arbor and 5 assists versus Kuyper.
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Coach Steve Platt retired at the end of this season. He had a remarkable final year at Huntington. He had to deal with adversity at the start and adversity at the end, not to mention surgery in the middle as well. The season started out under a cloud as the basketball program, after being "cleared of wrong-doing" last spring, suddenly found itself on probation without any warning (the first step according to NAIA rules). So in addition to losing six players at the end of last year (including two All-Americans) and with an overwhelming number of underclassmen at the start of the year (10 of 13 players), Platt had to overcome the controversy and get the Foresters focused. If that weren't enough, he missed two games mid-season and then had Doug Sheckler go down before the end of the season with a broken wrist. In spite of it all, he led the Foresters to a 22-10 record and 2nd place in the MCC. Platt earned the 2007-08 MCC Coach of the Year award and truly deserved it. He had previously been named 1999-2000 MCC Coach of the Year.
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Coach Platt was the Head Coach for 14 years, having compiled 329 wins versus 143 losses with the Foresters. He holds the best win percentage of any Huntington men's basketball coach with a 0.696 win ratio. He is the only men's basketball coach in Huntington's history to win more than 150 games. Over the last ten years, Platt has led the Foresters to an overall record of 258-83 (75.7% wins) and has dominated the conference with a 131-44 record over MCC Conference opponents, including a 22-5 record (81.5% wins) in MCC Tournament games. During that time, Huntington has won 5 MCC Conference Titles and 5 MCC Conference Tournaments, and Platt has taken the Foresters to 7 NAIA National Tournaments, including 5 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights, 2 Final Fours and 1 Championship Game appearance. He's not only MCC Coach of the Year; he's MCC Coach of the Decade.
(Photos Courtesy of Huntington University) |
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