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Wagner knows he’s going to have to coach even harder this winter just to coax his team into the top half of the MCC.
The V-Hawks will start a true freshman point guard (Eric Ambrose), a red-shirt freshman (forward Scott Buschman), a sophomore guard (Greg Jefferies) and a junior transfer (forward Drew Knutson) alongside veteran forward Jeremy Fradette.
Viterbo was picked sixth in the eight-team conference.
“Nobody’s expecting much from us,” Wagner said.
The V-Hawks lost their opener to Grace College 106-80 on Nov. 4, committing 35 turnovers. Wagner said his young players — two freshmen and three sophomores saw significant time off the bench — didn’t know what to expect when they showed up for practice the following Monday.
What they got was teased.
“I said, ‘We were picked sixth and Saturday’s game didn’t change anyone’s minds,’” Wagner said. “They probably thought I was going to hammer down on them a little bit, but we’ve got to keep it in perspective.”
Not that Wagner is going to write this off as a lost season.
“It’s not going to happen for us down the road if we’re not dedicated now,” Wagner said. “We’re going all we can to make this year’s team right.”
Five reasons to watch
1. Jeremy Fradette
The 6-foot-7 senior forward enters this season with 1,135 career points, 14th on Viterbo’s all-time list. With seven freshmen and eight sophomores on the roster, Fradette, a Soldiers Grove, Wis., native, has added team leader to his list of duties. Fradette averaged 12.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last season and was All-MCC first team.
“It’s a lot of fun being a leader; guys are coming to me asking questions,” Fradette said. “I really like what I see because there’s a lot of talent in that gym right now. I think they’ll come around.”
2. Underdog mentality
Viterbo was picked to finish sixth in the eight-team MCC this season. Coach Wayne Wagner understands why: he has two starters returning and a slew of unproven freshmen and sophomores in key roles. But Wagner has insisted from day one of practice that his players not buy into the fact that they’re supposed to struggle.
“I never want to allow for us to make our youth an excuse,” Wagner said. “We’re young but we’re going into every game to win.”
3. Eric Ambrose
Ambrose, a true freshman from Twin Lakes, Wis. (Badger High School) is the V-Hawks’ starting point guard of the present and the future. The 6-foot Ambrose grabbed Wagner’s attention from the first day of fall practice with his talent and aggressiveness.
“For a young guy, he sets a pretty good tone,” Wagner said. “He’s still learning but there’s no question in his desire and ability.”
Ambrose scored 17 points and committed just three turnovers in 27½ minutes in his first college game, Nov. 4, a 106-80 loss to Grace College.
“We learned a lot about what we have and what our strengths and weaknesses are,” Ambrose said. “But we also realized how much potential this team does have.”
4. Invest in the future
Sure, the V-Hawks are young and will have some rocky nights at Beggs Gymnasium. But fans who stick with the team in its formative years will be rewarded — and not accused of being bandwagon-jumpers — if this team develops into an MCC power two years from now.
“We’re looking to keep the core group together,” Ambrose said. “If we keep plugging, in a couple of years we’re going to be a contender.”
5. Go local
Three Viterbo starters played prep basketball in the Coulee Region, including Fradette (North Crawford), guard Greg Jefferies (Hillsboro) and forward Drew Knutson (Holmen). La Crosse native (Central) Steve Gates and Tyler Hanold (Ithaca) will play roles as reserve guards.
