STORM LAKE, Iowa (November 11, 2021) - The expectations will be high going into the start of the 2021-22 season for the Buena Vista University men's basketball team as the Beavers return all five starters and will tip-off their campaign this Friday and Saturday during the SLIAC/A-R-C Challenge, hosted by Fontbonne University.
The Challenge began a few years ago and features four teams - two from the American Rivers Conference and two from the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. BVU will begin play on Friday evening against Westminster College (Mo.) before taking on Fontbonne on Saturday. Simpson College is the fourth member of the Challenge and will face-off against both non-conference foes opposite of BVU.
The Match-Ups:
Friday, Nov. 12 | Westminster (0-2) vs. Buena Vista (0-0) | LIVE STATS
Saturday, Nov. 13 | Buena Vista (0-0) at Fontbonne (0-0) | LIVE STATS
ABOUT BUENA VISTA
BVU head coach Trevor Johnson is set to begin his third year at the helm here in 2021-22 and has gone 27-11 overall during his first two years, but will have all five starters back from last year's group that went 9-3 overall (6-2 A-R-C), including a trip into the A-R-C Tournament Championship game. The team has been picked by the league coaches to finish second this season, just behind defending champion, Dubuque and received votes in the Preseason Top-25 D3hoops.com Poll. Buena Vista has its eyes set on capturing the program's 13th conference title but the first since 2015.
Offensively, the Beavers averaged over 80.0ppg and shot 47 percent from the field a year ago and averaging over 10.0 made three-point buckets per contest. Senior Michael Demers, who was an All-Region selection by D3hoops.com, paved the way by averaging 19.5ppg and 5.6rpg. Freshman Zane Neubaum was right behind at 13.5ppg and 4.4rpg. The duo also combined to make 55 three-point treys. Senior Jake Thompson gives BVU more depth to its inside-out presence and is coming off a career year where he averaged over 11.0ppg, grabbed 4.5rpg and dished out 3.5apg. Fellow senior Garrett Sittner was the fourth player to average double figures in scoring (10.1ppg) and was an 88.0 percent shooter (22-of-25) from the free-throw line.
Johnson will also have plenty of experienced bodies to turn to off the bench while also mixing in a handful of talented freshmen to the mix this season. Senior Jacob Privia played in all 12 games last season and averaged 5.3ppg and nearly 2.0rpg while playing 12.8 minutes per outing. Trey Valentine is also among the top returners off the bench, playing six games and averaging over 10.0 minutes.
ABOUT WESTMINSTER
The Bluejays have dropped each of their first two games of the season by a combined five points. The year began with a 108-107 setback at home versus Grinnell College last Sunday before going on the road and dropping a 79-75 contest at Knox College on Wednesday. The team has four players averaging double figures in scoring out of the gate, led by Landon Harrison's 15.5ppg. Tre Kempker is right behind at 13.5ppg while shooting a team-leading 57 percent from the floor. Ethan Thompson has seven of the 15 made three-pointers as Westminster is shooting nearly 40 percent from the arc despite their opponents shooting nearly 50 percent (31-of-64). The team is coming off a 2-7 campaign in 2020-21 which included a 2-6 mark against SLIAC foes.
ABOUT FONTBONNE
The Griffins tip-off their 2021-22 on Friday night when they take on Simpson College in the late game at 8:00 p.m. The team, which is coming off a 6-7 season and an appearance in the SLIAC Tourament championship game a year ago, was picked fifth in the SLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll heading into this season. All-Conference Second Team selection Anthony Jones is back and will look to lead the team after turning in 17.3ppg on 51 percent shooting from the floor. He'll be joined by fellow returners, Caden Clark and Elijah Rice, who both averaged better than 10.0ppg for a team that put up nearly 88.0ppg. Defensively, the team hauled in 40 rebounds per night and chalked up over 10 steals per contest. Six newcomers will also join the roster to add depth for head coach Lance Thornhill who is beginning his fourth season.
