Junior forward Matt Krause is the most experienced player returning for Franklin College.
Preseason basketball polls, conversation-worthy as they often are, aren’t always known for their accuracy.
Franklin College men’s coach Brian Lebowitz hopes the trend continues.
A little more than seven months removed from winning their first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament since 2007, the Grizzlies have been rewarded with the projection of fifth place as the 2021-22 season nears.
The Grizzlies didn’t need additional motivation, but, well, there’s a fresh helping.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys who are hungry and I think will make an impact for us,” said 6-foot-6 junior forward Matt Krause, the top returnee in points (11.2) and rebounds (10.2). “We still have those championship-level expectations.”
Coming off a season pushed back and shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 season turned out to be just 2021.
Games were played from early January to early March inside of mostly empty gymnasiums. Franklin College finished its condensed schedule in the face of constant uncertainty with a 9-6 record, the punctuation mark being a 73-54 romp at Transylvania in the HCAC title contest.
A peculiar two months, but gratifying all the same.
“There were parts of last year that were definitely challenging, and times when you’re in the thick of things that it was exhausting,” Lebowitz said of his debut season after previously serving as an FC assistant. “But looking back, it was fun. It was rewarding.
“Watching the kids grow into young men was really great, and seeing our four seniors graduate on a high note was probably the best part.”
The four departures took with them 63 percent of the Grizzlies’ points, meaning the current unit might be forced to lean on Krause early until an offensive identity is formed.
No shortage of worthy candidates are using preseason practices to make a name for themselves as Franklin College prepares to open the regular season Wednesday evening at home against Otterbein.
Forward Ty Wright, a 6-6 sophomore, produced nine points a game in his first season and looks to expand his role. Senior Lukas Swan appears prepared to take over point guard duties, though freshmen Reggie McDonald and Mitch O’Mara are expected to press for minutes.
“Definitely the two most experienced players are Matt and Ty. Beyond the two of them, it’s going to be a lot of inexperience,” Lebowitz said. “We have a lot of very talented, very hungry young players. A lot of kids excited to prove themselves.”
Junior forward Ryan Wiggins could also be on the cusp of a breakout season; T.J. Deere, a 6-5 sophomore swingman who last played at Thomas More University in the 2019-20 season is expected to be a factor, as is Whiteland product Carter Crowe, a 6-5 junior forward who averaged 2.2 points and 1.2 boards.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who can provide good minutes for us,” said Krause, who is capable of playing post or small forward depending on matchups. “I think the 2 and 3 positions are going to be big in the sense we have players who’ll have the opportunity to get big minutes.”
