SWCC men usher in new era

It’s a new era for Southwestern men’s basketball.

The Spartans enter the 2019-20 season with not only completely new roster, but a revamped coaching staff led by former Spartan Devin Kastrup.

Kastrup, who played for the Spartans from 2011-13, was an assistant coach at his other alma mater Western Colorado University. An experienced alumni who has coached across the nation and played overseas is excited to usher in a new era and to bring Southwestern back to the championship pedigree it was just years ago.

“It’s hard to explain how excited I am,” said Kastrup. “Being an alumni here, this program is very special to me. I know what Todd (Lorensen) had done here and what Blake (Peterson) had done to get this program to a place of national relevance. I’m going to work every day and work as hard as I can to get us back up to that level where we’re competing for championships. But, we want to make sure we have guys that are doing it the right way and who are representing the community and Southwestern in a positive light.”

The new team consists of eight freshmen and two sophomores. Former Orient-Macksburg guard Noah Nichols joined the program as a redshirt freshman.

The new roster will provide challenges, but leaves much of the expectations up in the air as to what to expect from each player this season with an offense and defense that will mould as time progresses.

“In terms of our style, I give our guys a lot of freedom,” said Kastrup. “I want them to play with a lot of freedom, but with that I want them to be very disciplined. We’re going to share the ball and play like a team and cry to create mismatches.

“I want to create situations where our guys can go out and play because I think that’s when they’ll be the most successful,” added Kastrup.

The team will look to erase any memory of the year prior for SWCC basketball. After opening the season with a 10-game winning streak in 2018, the Spartans finished 3-27, forfeiting much of the season due to playing ineligible players seeing floor time. In early August former head coach Blake Peterson stepped down. Peterson’s assistant, DJ Jenkins, departed in July.

Filling the role with a short amount of time to build a roster before the start of the school year, Kastrup noted the decision to come back to Creston was one he was not expecting to make.

“When I left Creston, I couldn’t have ever imagined coming back and coaching here,” said Kastrup. “I’m humbled to have walked the same sidelines that (former head coach) Mike Holmes has walked on and other great coaches have been on. I know there has been a strong history of great coaches here”

Once stepping into the position, Kastrup tagged friend and former teammate Dominique Wright-Hardie as his assistant. The relationship between the two is close and Kastrup expects it to translate well inside the coaches box this season.

“I’ve known Dom for a long time, so we’re very comfortable with each other. In terms of coaching, I know he’s going to have great relations with our guys and he’s going to push them and hold them to the same standards that I am about. I don’t think anybody knows me better than him so I think he’ll be able to help our players understand what the expectations are and help them reach it.”

Gelling a new coaching staff with a new unit has been a process, but with no expectations for the team and a group with an open mind, it may bring relief as the team finds its groove for the season.

“When you have new guys come in, all from different areas, ... it’s going to take a second to gel,” said Kastrup. “It’s going to take a second to figure out who’s going to lead and who does what well, not off the floor, but on the floor as well. I think our guys have done a great job and bought into it together.”

Back-to-back opener

Southwestern opens the season with back-to-back home games, starting Friday at 7 p.m. against Independence and Saturday 3 p.m. against Graceland JV.

The consecutive games to open the season has Kastrup and the team ready to get started and see what they’re capable of.

Among multiple players making their college debuts Friday, Kastrup listed a few he will be intrigued to see how they perform once tip off comes.

“I’m curious to see what Donzell Johnson does. He came in pretty under recruited and has had an amazing fall,” said Kastrup. “I’m really curious to see how he does. James Kelly as an undersized five creates a lot of mismatches and I think with the right mindset he could be someone who’s an all-conference guy.

Kastrup knows the youth is no excuse for mistakes as the team looks to make noise again.

“Just because we’re young, that doesn’t give us an excuse. I still expect our guys to grow throughout the entire year. How we try to mitigate that is by allowing them freedom of movement and sharing the ball, things you can’t necessarily scout. ... Basketball is an unscripted game and I want our guys to execute in the unscripted moments.”

Roster

F Kyle Hawthorne Fr. 6’3”

G Charles Johnson Fr. 6’0”

G Jimmie Richardson Fr. 6’1”

G Creshaun Brown Fr. 6’3”

G Donzell Brown Fr. 6’2”

G Sebastian Zehnder So. 6’3”

G Demetrius Johnson Fr. 6’4”

F James Kelly Fr. 6’5”

G/F Akeen Woods So. 6’4”

F Noah Nichols RSFr. 6’4”

F Maniel Wugol Fr. 6’5”

Schedule

Nov. 1 – vs. Independence Community College, 7 p.m.

Nov. 2 – vs. Graceland University JV, 3 p.m.

Nov. 6 – vs. Quakerlake Prep Academy, 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 – vs. Peru State JV, 7 p.m.

Nov. 12 – vs. Highland, 7 p.m.

Nov. 15 – at Southeast Community College, 5 p.m.

Nov. 16 – at Central CC-Columbus, 1 p.m.

Nov. 19 – at Marshalltown, 7 p.m.

Nov. 22 – vs. Kansas City, Kansas CC, 7 p.m.

Nov. 26 – at Iowa Western, 6 p.m.

Nov. 30 – vs. North Central Missouri, 3 p.m.

Dec. 4 – vs. North Iowa Area, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 7 – at Ellsworth, 3 p.m.

Dec. 10 – at Indian Hills, 7 p.m.

Dec. 13 – at Independence, 7 p.m.

Dec. 14 – at Kansas City, Kansas CC, 4 p.m.

Dec. 17 – at Southeastern, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 – Metropolitanm 7 p.m.

Jan. 8 – at Iowa Lakes, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 11 – Iowa Central, 3 p.m.

Jan. 18 – at Kirkwood, 3 p.m.

Jan. 22 – Little Priest Tribal, 7 p.m.

Jan. 25 – at Des Moines Area, 3 p.m.

Feb. 1 – Kirkwood, 3 p.m.

Feb. 5 – at Iowa Central, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 – Iowa Lakes, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 – at Little Priest Tribal, 7 p.m.

Feb. 22 – Ellsworth, 3 p.m.

Feb. 26 – Des Moies Area, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 29 – North Iowa Area, 3 p.m.