Millikin finishes off arguably its best season in quite some time, going over .500 for the first time in over 10 years. But after a rough end to the season, with key players graduating and a former head coach leaving for Maryville, this team is in an unusual spot for next year.
The Big Blue started hot this year, winning 10 of their first 12 games before a rough end, going 4-9 and just missing out on the CCIW tournament.
The Big Blue was led by a big three this year, as Senior Nate Straughter, Junior Lane Thomann, and sophomore Ian Winkler were the leading scorers of the team, accounting for roughly 58% of the total points scored.
The team focused heavily on fast, punishing defense and relied on the big three to either get shots up or force defenses toward them, allowing other teammates to find open shots, with key bench players like Sophomore Chris Ketchum and Freshman Kobe Anderson playing great defense and making key plays.
However, this season was best summed up as a failure to clutch up in close games, and the CCIW conference is at a level Millikin is just not ready to compete in.
Of the 11 games Millikin lost, 7 were by 8 points or fewer, and 4 by 3 points or fewer. In those 8 games, Millikin led by 6 or more at some point. In most games, Millikin was leading heading into the final minutes.
Millikin’s out-of-conference record was 8-1, but when they entered the CCIW, they were 6-10, yet played as an almost dark horse.
Millikin was a rollercoaster of a team to watch in the CCIW. They would have games where they showed they could play with the best, then the next game they’d lose unexpectedly. For example, Millikin took the #16-ranked Illinois Wesleyan in the nation to a 1-point game that was lost at the buzzer, then played a 12-14 Carroll team in a must-win game and lost.
Key Athletes Leaving
Millikin says goodbye to head coach Kramer Soderberg and most of his coaching staff, with so far only Andrew Kurfin and Grant Baker rumored to stay as assistant coaches. As of now, there are no rumors of players leaving to follow Soderberg, so the team looks set to stay mostly the same.
However, a key piece of the big three is set to leave with Nate Straughter’s graduation. Nate was Millikin’s sharpest shooter and arguably one of its best defenders. He averaged 15.1 points, 3.8 boards, and a steal a game, shooting 42% from the field. But more importantly, Straughter was the leader of this Big Blue roster, and with four seniors leaving, the team will look to players like Thomann and Winkler to step up as those leaders in the locker room.
As well, Millikin will be losing its starting center, Spates. While not an elite scorer, Spates did the nitty-gritty things and was a presence on defense. He averaged 5.2 rebounds and almost a block per game. However, what Spates did best isn’t on the stat sheet, but in-game communication and defensive stops.
With two key pieces gone, let’s talk about who’s still here and what would look best for this team.
Vital Pieces to This Team
First, you have Millikin’s arguably best player on the roster, Lane Thomann. Thomann is likely going to stay at Millikin for his final year. The junior put on an amazing season, averaging 18.9 points, 8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1 steal per game. He was also the most consistent player on the team. His shooting was elite, at 50% from the field and 47% from three. He is vital to this team and will be the leader next year.
Next, you have Ian Winkler, who was cold at times but was a huge spark plug for Millikin when he was on. His long-range shooting ability kept defenders focused on him throughout the game. The only issue, as stated, is his inconsistency. Winkler had 8 games with 8 or fewer points; in one game, he was taken out early for an unknown reason. However, with another year under his belt, Winkler will take that second option position and look to thrive next season.
Also, Millikin had a very good bench last year after moving Chris Ketchum to almost the sixth-man role and pairing him with a great playmaker in Kobe Anderson. The two were able to help get bench points and find their big three to score, but Chris Ketchum announced his entry into the Transfer portal, and his future with the team remains undecided.
What Needs to Happen
These are a couple of absolutely vital things that need to happen for this team to have a great season. First will be finding a new head coach and staff to take over and adopt the culture the team built last year.
But recruiting overall is also a huge part of this next season, along with players making some changes to their games and overall tactics.
First, we’ll talk about the coach. No specific candidates are in question right now, but the team is conducting open interviews and having candidates submit applications and credentials before an interview with the hiring team. Soderberg was so successful because he was the leader they all followed while also allowing the players to have their own voices. He earned the locker room’s respect, and that’s a need for this upcoming coach.
As well, the recruiting class needs one major thing: a true big man. Millikin ran a small-ball lineup last year, with its tallest starter at 6’7. The team, despite having taller players, was unable to play them due to skill limitations and struggled to keep up with the pace. This recruiting period is a must for the team to pick up a big, agile center to support them.
Rumored Starting Roster
Point Guard: Ian Winkler
Shooting Guard: Lane Thomann
Small Forward: McGrady Noyes
Power Forward: Chris Ketchum (If decides to stay)
Center: Pat Orgliasso
6th Man: Kobe Anderson
This roster, while it looks good, still lacks height and is a way slower team than before. I hope to see Noyes take the next step in the scoring department, as he averaged only 5.2 points per game over 23 minutes.
With Anderson taking on the tweener sixth-man role, I see him taking a huge leap on offense, and I hope his consistent defensive pressure continues to overwhelm other teams.
Overall, the team has a good foundation to build on. This offseason is the most critical as they look to build on their first winning season in over 10 years. The CCIW remains the hardest men’s basketball conference, but with a good coach and a new recruiting class, this team has the potential to make a deeper run this year.
To keep up to date with everything Decaturian, follow the Dec on all socials.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Decaturian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedecaturian/
