Millikin Men’s Basketball Ready for 2015-16 Season

DECATUR -- The Millikin University men’s basketball team heads into the 2015-16 season with high expectations as Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer’s rebuilding program has produced experienced senior players in keys roles for the first time in his tenure.
    
Nadelhoffer believes the senior leadership is key for the Big Blue this season.

“The seniors know our expectations and they know what it takes to win in the CCIW,” said Nadelhoffer. “This group has stuck it out and stayed together for four years.  It hasn’t always been easy, but they have made it through the tough times and have helped the program grow.”
    
Seniors TJ Griffin (St. Louis, Missouri, McCluer H.S.), Elijah Kinmon (Fairview Heights, O’Fallon H.S.), Tommy Pilackas (Lebanon, H.S.) and Bryn Agnew (Towanda, University H.S.) will all play major roles in the Big Blue success in 2015-16.  Nadelhoffer believes this year’s team might be the deepest team he has had at Millikin.  He has been impressed with the improvement shown by all of the returners.  They have worked hard in the off season getting better on the court and improving team chemistry.
    
Nadelhoffer is blessed to have a talented group of guards led by Griffin and sophomore TJ Sims (Bloomington, H.S.), who rank among the conference best.  Griffin averaged 15 points per game last season and needs only 50 points this season to reach 1,000 points in his Big Blue career.  Sims showed the impact he can have on a game last season averaging 15 points a game.  Sims earned CCIW All-Conference Third Team honors as a freshman after averaging 20 points a game during conference play.

“I think they are up there with the best in the league, but the question is can they win,” said Nadelhoffer.  “As an individual you can put up great numbers, but if you are not leading your team to victories you haven’t done your job.  Winning matters.  I have talked to both players about how important it is for them to make others around them better.”
    
Freshman Jack Simpson (Springfield, Missouri, Kickapoo H.S.) is another talented guard that Nadelhoffer believes will find his way into the starting line-up this season.
    
The Big Blue’s sophomore class is very strong and should make significant contributions throughout the season.  Zach Long (Indianapolis, Indiana, Pike H.S.), DJ Heinrichs (Indianapolis, Indiana, Franklin Central H.S.), Nick Novak (Bolingbrook, Plainfield East H.S.), Chase Smith (Avon, Indiana, Mooresville H.S.) and Leighton Lark (Effingham, H.S.) all could see significant minutes this season.
    
At 6-9, transfer junior Matt Kruse (Monticello, H.S.) provides the Big Blue some much needed size.  Freshmen Tyler Pygon (Orland Park, Providence Catholic H.S.) and Nathan Lovekamp (Cerro Gordo, H.S.) will add depth to the Big Blue back court.  All three players should contribute this season.
    
Nadelhoffer is changing up the Big Blue offense a little in 2015-16 adding more motion to the offense.  He describes the new approach as motion with structure that allows the players more freedom to create scoring opportunities.
    
“I am excited for the season,” said Nadelhoffer.  “It is a new year and I believe we are very close to where we want to be, but we are going to find out how good we are very quickly.”
    
Millikin opens the season with two home games starting with a November 14 game against Rose-Hulman and a Nov. 18 contest with Aurora University.  Millikin will then play five games away from home before returning to the Griswold Center in early December.