2021-22 Outlook: Core Principles Still at Heart of Wooster’s Identity

The first normal-looking season of College of Wooster men's basketball under the direction of Fighting Scots' legend Doug Cline '95 is rapidly approaching. While there has been a changing of the guard in the program, many of the key principles that have resulted in Wooster ranking as the winningest NCAA Div. III Team of the 2000s (.818; 525-117) are still at the core identity of Fighting Scots' basketball.

"I just want to continue doing the things that Coach Moore emphasized for 33 years at Wooster," summed up Cline, who starred for the Scots in the early-to-mid 1990s and has been part of the staff ever since. "That's trying to be the best defensive team in the conference, hopefully one of the better ones in the country. That's being a team that takes good shots and shoots a high percentage on offense, because they don't take bad shots. That's being one of the better rebounding teams. And, on top of all of that, playing as a team. Nobody cares who gets the credit. Those are things I learned from Coach Moore, and it's been very, very successful here."

Wooster had limited practice and competition opportunities during the 2020-21 academic year, and Cline's preaching how essential it is to "take advantage of those opportunities," especially with just six players who were part of Scots' basketball prior to COVID left in the program.

"Whether it's a freshman, sophomore, or transfer, a lot of guys are new to what a regular basketball season is here at Wooster, and what Wooster basketball is really all about," summed up Cline. "I think we have really good potential to be a really good team. We found some things out in the limited time we played last year. The one plus that came out of last year was a lot of guys got opportunities to play some basketball against other opponents. That let us evaluate guys, learn what they needed to work on, and what we needed to work on as a team. It gave the young guys a little bit of a taste of what Wooster basketball is about. They got a feeling of how tense these games are, how physical the games are. Now, it's all about coming together, becoming a better defensive team, becoming a better rebounding team, and learning how to play with each other."

Wooster does have a strong senior class that has significant championship-level experience. Brandon Styers headlines the returnees as a first-team D3hoops.com All-Great Lakes Region selection a season ago, and he ranked sixth nationally and third among Div. III guards in field-goal percentage (67.2 percent, 41-of-61).

"I don't know if you can have a better leader," summed up Cline, when highlighting his returning all-region selection. "He's not the most vocal guy, and that's all right, some guys are like that. He leads by example. I don't know if we've had a guy who works as hard as him in season and out of season. He really elevated his game last year. He knew it was his time. He put in all the work, bought in, and is a more confident player. He's become a tremendous athlete, and buys in to running on offense, rebounding, all of those things. I know he'll be the leader of this team. Hopefully the younger guys will follow his lead and work like he does. If they follow his lead, we can be a really good team."

Najee Hardaway, a two-year starter gives the Scots another senior presence with significant game experience within the program. Thanks to an abundance of depth, especially down low, Hardaway projects to move back to a more natural position on the wing after playing a lot out of position at the four spot due to need.

"Najee is a very team player and a very coachable guy," shared Cline. "He has to be more consistent at both ends. That's what we are trying to get him to do. He has all kinds of ability and has shone through in big games for us in the past. We have big expectations, and we want Najee to take the next step by becoming a more consistent player at both ends. We want him to elevate his defense and rebounding, and we need to take advantage of his athleticism in transition."

Fan favorite Khaylen Mahdi is fully healthy and brings a relentless pursuit to the team on the defensive end. Hamilton Johnson and JG Gillard round out the senior class, and both have filled numerous roles during their time with the program.

Elsewhere, junior Tayler McNeal came in as a transfer last year and led the team in scoring at 16.7 points per game. The all-around player proved he could match up with any spot on the court, and was one of Div. III's best when it came to drawing charges. Sophomores Mitch Heilman, Brennan South, and Carter Warstler return on the perimeter, and sophomores Jake Hoffman and JJ Cline give the Scots versatility when it comes to what positions they can fill.

"We do have veterans in these groups," summed up Cline. "A few of them have played quite a few games for us, and big, important games. We have some older guys who haven't played in as many games, then transfers, sophomores, or first-year guys, who have not played very much, if any, for us, but have ability to help us out. It's all about just buying into everything we teach and working hard every day to improve offensively and defensively. I don't think anybody at any position will have to play long, extended minutes, because we have good depth everywhere."

Wooster's had really good post players throughout its history, but this year's group could be extra special due to the depth the Scots have in the interior, something that was lacking a bit in recent years. Within that depth is a wide range of skillsets without much drop off in size.

"We are young," shared Cline. "Most of the guys who will play in the post for us are sophomores, who didn't have much experience last year, or transfers who weren't here before. They've bought in to posting up, something that is a lost art any more. They've bought in and have been very coachable. They aren't there yet with development, but could be there eventually with continued hard work like they are doing."

Gillard gives the Scots a senior presence down low, while rising sophomores Eric Mudd and Elijah Meredith showed great potential during the limited 2020-21 season. The Scots added a big boost down low with transfers Nick Everett and Turner Kurt, while junior Nate Andrews could help out as well.

"I don't think a lot of teams have the depth we have inside," added Cline. "We can go way deeper than four. We might not be quite as tall past four, but not bad, with guys who can rebound, play post defense, and score in the post. We always think you can't be the most successful team you can be unless you have post options."

Sophomore transfer Sabe Doolittle and first-year Jamir Billings round out the Scots projected to contribute on the varsity level.

Wooster opens the season with the program's annual Al Van Wie/Wooster Rotary Classic on November 19-20, with Saint Vincent College, Spalding University, and Ripon College rounding out the field. Prior to Thanksgiving, Wooster's at the University of Mount Union for a 6 p.m. game on November 24, while North Coast Athletic Conference play starts on November 30 when Wooster visits Oberlin College for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. In December, Wooster heads to Santa Cruz, California, for two games that will be played at Kaiser Permanente Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors' NBA G League affiliate. Later in the month, one of small college basketball's longest-running events is back, as Wooster is set to host the 58th E.M. "Mose" Hole/Wooster Kiwanis Classic. The Scots welcome La Roche College, University of Lynchburg, and Muskingum University to Timken Gymnasium for two nights of exciting basketball, December 29-30. NCAC play resumes in January, with key dates including a home date with Wittenberg University (January 15, 7 p.m.), senior day against Wabash College (February 12, 2 p.m.), and a road trip to Wittenberg (February 19, 7 p.m.) to cap the regular season.

"The NCAC has been really tough of late," summed up Cline. "Every night you have to show up and you are going to be tested. There's good players and good coaches across the league. That's what we want. The only way we're going to become the best team we can possibly be is to have a good league to play in January and February. I think it will be a tough, tight race. It just depends on who improves, who keeps getting better, and who gets some breaks. I think it will be a good, competitive league season."