MARIETTA, Ohio — Coming off the best season in program history and with a wealth of experience returning, the expectations for the Pioneers are extremely high entering the 2015-16 campaign. Head coach
Jon VanderWal, in his ninth season at the helm, returns two starters and seven letter winners from last winter's team that went 28-4 overall and 16-2 in the OAC.
The Pioneers open the new season in the friendly confines of Ban Johnson Arena on Friday (Nov. 13) against Westminster College. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. If you are not able to attend the game in person, live statistics and video links can be found
HERE.
Adding excitement for the Pioneer faithful is the return of three-point marksman
Brennan McKean (Jeromesville, Ohio/Northwestern), who missed last season after suffering a knee injury that required surgery. McKean started all 26 games as a junior and led Marietta with 49 three-pointers. His experience and leadership will be valuable assets to this year's squad.
In addition McKean, a fifth-year senior, the Pioneers return three other seniors. Leading the way in the post is second team All-OAC performer
Eddy Grenert (Wooster, Ohio/Triway). Grenert started all 32 games last season and averaged 11.1 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds. The versatile big man can also step outside and sink the three-pointer as he did 32 times last season.
Complimenting Grenert's inside game will be senior
Luis Garcia (Miami, Fla./Florida Christian) on the wing. Garcia made 27 starts a year ago and averaged 9.6 points per game. He led the Pioneers with 31 steals and 47 three-pointers.
Rounding out the senior class is
A.J. Ireland (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom-Carroll). Ireland made seven starts last season and averaged over 10 minutes per game. He is capable of knocking down the trey from anywhere on the floor. Ireland averaged 3.6 points a year ago.
Junior
A.J. Edwards (Aurora, Ohio/Twinsburg) used a seven-minute performance in the NCAA Tournament to serve notice that he is capable of totally dominating a game. The 6-foot-5 post player scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds in just seven minutes of playing time to lead Marietta's come from behind win over St. Olaf in the Sweet 16. For the season, he averaged 6.0 points and 3.5 boards while blocking 22 shots, the second most on the team.
6-foot-6 junior post player
Jack Thome (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Chagrin Falls) will be counted on to play significant minutes in the front court as well. Thome averaged 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in limited playing time last season.
Sophomore point guard
Dillon Young (Laurelville, Ohio/Logan Elm) played in all 30 games last winter and averaged over 17 minutes per night. He will be the opening night starter at the point as the Pioneers look for Young to improve on his 5.6 points per game from a year ago. Young connected on 43% of his three-pointers as a rookie and finished fourth on the team with 61 assists.
Adding depth on the perimeter will be junior
Tyler Irish (St. Johns, Fla./Bartram Trail), sophomore
Connor McCreary (Bucyrus, Ohio/Colonel Crawford) and transfer
Anthony Wallace (Wheeling, W.Va./The Linsly School). Irish and McCreary both saw playing time off the bench last season and will be counted on to play a larger role this year. Wallace transferred to Marietta after redshirting at Division II powerhouse West Liberty State University last year.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
