2007-2008 Men's Basketball Season Outlook

The University of Great Falls Argonauts men’s basketball team enters the 2007-2008 season, the second year of the Steve Silsby-era, with eight new faces on the roster built for success now and in the future.

“We are a young team with a bunch of newcomers this year,” Head Coach Steve Silsby said. “As we continue to grow together as a team, and as a program, that should lead us to more success on the court.”

Gone from last season’s 12-19 squad are the Argos’ top three scorers in Tyrone Witherspoon, Rashaun Puryear and Keon Polee. None will be harder to replace than Witherspoon, who led the Argos in scoring last season at 16.8 points per game while shooting 65% from the field.

“There’s no question we’re going to have to have some guys step up and fill bigger roles this season than they have in the past,” Silsby said. “I’m confident that we have a good mixture of talent up front and in the backcourt that we can be competitive in the Frontier Conference this season.”

In addition to the fresh faces on his roster, Silsby welcomes three new assistant coaches to the mix; they include Mike Miranto, Ron Riley and Cody Gillespie.  Miranto joins the staff at UGF after a three-year stint as an assistant at the high school level in suburban Buffalo, NY.  Riley, a former 2nd Team Pac-10 selection during his playing career at Arizona State, comes to Great Falls with an outstanding knowledge of player development, having played in numerous professional leagues both at home and abroad, including a stint in the NBA.  Gillespie comes with an extensive knowledge of area basketball, being originally from Great Falls and having completed his playing career at MSU-Northern.

“Mike, Ron and Cody are going to be invaluable assets to our basketball program because of their understanding of the game and their passion for coaching at the collegiate level,” said Silsby.

Among the returnees from last year’s squad are seniors Jay Jamieson (Big Sandy, MT), Royce Fulp (Great Falls, MT), Leo Levid (Los Angeles, CA) and Jason Goodman (Great Falls, MT).  These battle-hardened individuals should provide the Argos with valuable experience and leadership as the new additions get adjusted to life in the Frontier Conference. 

Here is a positional breakdown of the 2007-2008 Argos:

BACKCOURT:  The Argos backcourt will be led by a pair of transfers in junior point guard Keithan Gregg (Cut Bank, MT) and senior wing player Cory Brothers (Havre, MT).  Gregg, returns to UGF after transferring to Eastern Washington University last year, where he competed in NCAA Division I tennis.  As a freshman at UGF for the 2005-06 campaign, Gregg led the entire NAIA in assists, averaging 8.2 per game.  Brothers, a transfer from conference rival MSU-Northern, averaged 8.7 points per game while shooting 49% from the field in 26 games for the Lights last season.  Brothers brings a tremendous ability to get to the basket as well as a desire to excel at the defensive end of the floor.

Jamieson returns as the Argos’ best threat from behind the three-point arc, after knocking down 45 three’s a year ago.  With a full off-season of committed work on his game, Jamieson has developed into a more complete player on both ends of the floor.

Providing Coach Silsby with depth in the backcourt are the afore-mentioned Fulp and Levid, along with newcomers Aaron Skogen (Ronan, MT), Cody Idol (Whitefish, MT) and Levi Lopez (Phoenix, AZ).  Fulp appeared in 29 games last season and he provides versatility as he can play a number of different positions on the floor and he should be one of the Argos’ top wing defenders this season.  Levid runs an efficient offense from the point guard slot and has the ability to really get after opponents on the defensive end.  Skogen, a junior transfer from Miles Community College is a drop-dead shooter with unlimited range.  Idol transfers from Carroll College with four years of eligibility after red-shirting for the Saints’ football team last year.  Lopez, a 5’6” junior college transfer from Mesa Community College, will be forced to sit out until the second semester due to his 2.5 years of remaining eligibility.  Lopez may be small in stature, but don’t doubt his heart, hustle and ability for a minute.  

FRONTCOURT:  Up front for the Argos this season will be a multitude of players with versatile talents.  Red-shirt sophomore Matt Niemeyer (Great Falls, MT), sophomore Trevor Fehr (Corvallis, MT) and red-shirt freshman Josh Volinkaty (Frenchtown, MT) lead the returnees in the frontcourt along with the crafty senior Goodman.  Niemeyer was a sparkplug off the bench for the Argos in 2006-07, shooting 49% from the field while appearing in 30 contests.  The Argos will look for increased productivity from Niemeyer in both the scoring and rebounding columns as his role expands this season.  The 6’8” Fehr gained invaluable experience last season in 16 games which should aide his development.  Volinkaty, at 6’9”, has perhaps the best upside of any of the young Argo big men and he possesses an intense desire to improve.  These three will be paced by Goodman, the ever-steady veteran.  Goodman averaged just 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last season, but his contributions go further than the stat column, as he’s developed into a team leader since transferring from the University of Washington where he was on a full football scholarship.

Rounding out the returnees up front is junior Brian Harrison (Richland, WA).  After transferring from Carroll mid-way through his freshman season, Harrison has improved his game and provides the Argos with much needed depth in the paint.

Amongst the newcomers in the Argo frontcourt are sophomores Kenny Penn (North Hollywood, CA) and Marko Lakic (Novia Sad, Serbia) as well as junior Rayshaun Ames (Little Rock, AR).  Penn brings a lot of athleticism to the frontcourt and has the ability to play numerous positions both in the post and on the perimeter.  Lakic is the first European player in UGF history after transferring from Eastern Arizona College.  He is skilled enough to play inside and out, and with increases experience and strength he should develop into a fine player for the Argos.  Ames, a 6’5” transfer from South Mountain Community College, is a silky smooth wing/post player who should thrive in Silsby’s up-tempo attack.  

SCHEDULE:  The Argos will be on the road for much of the pre-season portion of the 2007-2008 schedule.  UGF opens the season on Oct. 26-27 in the Coaches vs. Cancer/NorthWestern Energy Classic in Havre, MT, taking on Multnomah Bible College and the University of Regina.  Following that, the Argos partake in the first of three games vs. NCAA Division I opponents, traveling to Missoula, MT to play the University of Montana.  Other Division I games include a trip to Salt Lake City on Nov. 24 to play Utah Valley State and a Dec. 21 match-up against Montana State.  The Argos open the home portion of their schedule with non-league games vs. Minot State (Nov. 2) and Dickinson State (Nov. 3).  Frontier Conference play begins Jan. 4 with the Argos hosting rival Carroll College.  League play continues throughout January and February and concludes with the Frontier Conference Tournament, held Mar. 5-8 in Butte, MT, with the winner gaining an automatic bid the NAIA National Tournament.