By Tim Glon
ADA — The Ohio Northern men's basketball team ended its 2019-20 season on a three-game winning streak.
Fifth-year head coach Rich Bensman hopes to use that momentum as his young and talented squad hits the floor in a 12-game, covid-19 shortened 2021 campaign this January.
Bensman welcomes back three starters and nine lettermen back from last year's squad that went 9-16 overall and was 5-13 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Northern returns its top three scorers and its top rebounder, but with no seniors and only one junior it will be a young and experienced group on the floor.
Sophomore C.J. Napier (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) leads the list of returners after leading the Polar Bears in scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg) and earning Honorable Mention All-OAC honors as a freshman last year.
We will be young again, but with much more experience than last year," Bensman said. "All of our freshman that got extensive playing time last year will help us this season. Having back-to-back games each weekend will be an adjustment for our young guys. We are excited to watch them continue to develop and are confident we will get better as the season progresses."
Here is a preview of the 2021 ONU men's basketball team, by position.
Guard
Junior Brandon Waugh (Columbus/Northland) returns to his starting point guard position in 2021 as the team's only upperclassman.
He started all 25 games a year ago and averaged 10.6 ppg while leading the team with 66 assists and 42 steals.
Waugh is in his fourth season in the program and will provide valuable leadership to the younger players. He started eight games as a freshman in 2017-18 and averaged 7.2 ppg as the Polar Bears went 19-9 and reached the finals of the OAC Tournament.
He missed the 2018-19 season due to injury but has 53 games and 33 starts to his credit.
Sophomore Landen Long (Mason) was second on the team in scoring as a freshman last year, averaging 11.0 ppg and returns as the starting shooting guard.
Sophomore Daniel Unruh (Elida) returns after sitting out the 2019-20 season. He started 24 games as a freshman in 2018-19 and averaged 7.0 ppg and dished out 58 assists as a rookie.
Sophomore transfer Austin Bennett (Columbus/Westerville North), sophomore Jordan Koebel (Sunbury/Big Walnut), and a eight incoming freshmen will also battle for playing time on the perimeter.
Bennett averaged 8.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a freshman at Columbus State Community College in 2018-19. Koebel played in 11 games a year ago and is pushing for a larger role this year.
"We have good talent and depth on the perimeter," Bensman said. "Brandon Waugh will be our rock at the point. This is his fourth year in our system and he can help the younger guys with the culture and work ethic we need to have to be successful in the OAC. We also have some good returners in Long, Unruh and Koebel and are excited to have Austin Bennett in our program. There are also some incoming freshmen that could challenge for playing time so competition has been healthy during the preseason."
Forward
Napier is one of three returners at forward and can play inside or outside depending on the situation.
Sophomore Adam Scott (Wapakoneta) played in 14 of the first 15 games last year before an injury ended his season prematurely. He returns healthy and will challenge for significant playing time this winter.
Sophomore Heath Jeffries (Newark/Catholic) played in 10 games as a freshman.
"We have good talent with this group," Bensman said. "C.J. is one of the best players in the OAC as a freshman and think he could be a special player for us. Scott and Jeffries have a great deal of promise as well."
Center
Sophomores Michael Berner (Springboro) and Grant Heileman (Millersport/Sheridan) return in the post.
Berner started seven games as a freshman last year, averaging 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.
Heileman played in 10 games and should be ready for an expanded role this winter.
"Both of these young men got better during the off-season," Bensman said. "They both got bigger and stronger, which should help in their development. We are confident they will contribute significantly this year."
