Cardinal Basketball Readies to Challenge for MEC Crown

Roster
2015-16 Schedule
Meet The Team

WHEELING, W.Va. – Cardinal head coach Danny Sancomb's 2015-16 cupboard is anything but bare. The Wheeling Jesuit men's basketball coach returns his top 10 performers as his team readies to challenge for the Mountain East Conference crown.

The Cardinals were the hottest MEC team for the second half last season and made a strong push to the conference semifinals before their run came to an end. Over the run, WJU posted victories in 15 of its final 18 games with two of the three defeats by a combined six points and finished with its first 20-win season in three years.

Despite the deep and talented lineup back, WJU will have its work cut out for it. The Cardinals are picked third overall (97 points) with one first-place vote in the MEC Preseason Coaches Poll behind No. 3 ranked and defending MEC champion West Liberty (120), which received seven first-place votes, gained the topnod, while Fairmont State (106) was second.

"The MEC isextremely, extremely good this year. We should have a chance to compete with any team on any night," said Sancomb.

Behind Sancomb's optimism, the Cardinal lineup has three All-MEC players – senior guards Eric Siefert (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) and Justin Fritts (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and sophomore Pat Moseh (Springfield, Va./Bishop Ireton) – returning set to lead the charge and drive to the Conference's top spot. The three Wheeling Jesuit backcourt players averaged a combined for 44.5 points where they made 46.9-percent from the floor, pulled down 12.5 rebounds per night, handed out 292 assists and swiped 128 passes.

The Cardinal backcourt trioare a true example of what Sancomb describes as some of his team's strengths opponents will have to deal with and stop throughout the season.

"We have speed and are very, very quick. Our team has good chemistry and we share the ball," noted the WJU head coach. "We have a lot of guys that can score and we are a good rebounding team."

The three WJU guards, not only, led the team as the three leading scorers, but helped the squad finish second inleague for assists (16.6 apg) and stole 8.0 steals per night. Along with Siefert, Fritts and Moseh, the Cardinals welcome back the rest of their top 2014-15 producers, which includes five others with at least 4.5 points a game average.

But what will the keys to this WJU edition reaching its potential?

"We have to play together, be good defensively and rebounding the ball," explained Sancomb.

Along with continuing the sharing the ball success, WJU aims to improve upon its fifth-rated MEC scoring defense (75.9 ppg) and maintain its third-ranked league rebounding margin (+4.2rpg) and rebounding defense (33.2 rpg).

The Cardinals seek to continue their improvement on an already potent offense, which was the MEC's second-best (83.3 ppg) and its transitions.

"I feel we will be better defensively overall, and have improved offensive execution (with the continuity and experience down the lineup) and transition game," said Sancomb.

The 2015-16 WJU schedule features the two rival contests against No. 3 West Liberty and a pair versus Fairmont State, which is receiving votes in the preseason Top 25 poll to highlight the MEC part of the docket. The Cardinals also have December contests against two other programs gaining votes in the national poll, at Gannon (Dec. 12) and home againstAlderson Broaddus (Dec. 31). WJU also begins the year facing an improving Clarion team (Nov. 14) and a second-semester contest at Edinboro (Feb. 16).

Siefert and Fritts are joined by another Cardinal senior in 6-8 forward Tim Goff (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) as the team's elder statesmen.

All-MEC first teamer, Siefert paced the WJU offense. The point/swing player posted a 15.9-point average where he hit 45.2-percent from the floor with a team-high 161 field goals and 72 3-pointers, the MEC's seventh-most triples per game (2.32) along with 100 made free throws.

"Eric is a team captain and does everything. He is a utility player, who scores, distributes, rebounds and defends," explained Sancomb. "He has a winning attitude and shoots the ball exceptionally well."

The two-time All-MEC player, Siefert completed his junior stats with a team-best 124 assists (4.0apg) and 61 steals, while he hauled in 4.4 rebounds per night.

Another of the Cardinals' tri-captains, Drake Goddard (Fort Washington, Md./Maret School) will allow to Siefert to play at the other guard spots and adds a steady point presence. In 17 minutes a night, Goddard contributed 3.2 points, 48 assists and 21 steals his first season.

"Drake is a captain as a sophomore. He is quick. He distributes the ball well, and makes the right plays and decisions on the court," said the Cardinal coach. "He has improved his shooting tremendously, has the ability to get guys easy baskets and does everything the right way."

Despite battling injuries all last season, Fritts earned All-MEC second team acclaim after beinghonorable mention as a sophomore and Freshman of the Year three seasons ago. He dropped 15.0 ppg by hitting 46.9-percent from the field.

The senior lefty drained the fifth-most 3-pointers per night (2.46/game and 69 of 166 attempts) and seventh-best 3-point percentage (41.6-percent) in the league. Justin completed his stat line as the MEC's sixth-best free throw shooter (82 of 101 for an 81.2-percent), while he had 96 assists (3.4 per night), a 2.13 assist-per-turnover ratio, 35 steals and a 2.9 rebounds per game average.

"Fritts had a tough year last year due to injury. He never played at 100-percent and still had a great year," pointed out Sancomb. "He shoots exceptionally well, goes to the basket where he will be able to finish this year due to having a healthy ankle. Fritts is a great passer and improved defensively. He will have a great year."

After growing a couple inches in the offseason, the MEC Freshman of YearMoseh is set to improve upon his standout first year. The 6-5 guard recorded a 13.6-point average with a .492 shooting percentage (135 of 288) and connected on 19 of 47 long-range attempts (.404-percent). The sophomore was also third in rebounding (5.2 rpg), assists (72) and steals (32).

"Pat is great in the open court, has great strength and ability to score bypositing up or shooting the 3-pointer. He has the ability to get to the foul line on a consistent basis and defends on ball exceptionally well," added Sancomb.

Joining the four guards, junior Chase Lawson (Sardinia, Ohio/Eastern Brown), freshman Malik Grandy (Laurel, Md./Chaplegate Christian) and second-year player Desi Wiseman (Waldorf, Md./Westlake) will add their talents to the backcourt mix.

"Chase is a key player for us this year," stressed Sancomb. "He is a great 3-point shooter, sees the floor well and had a very good understanding of the offense."

Lawson comes off a season where he contributed 6.3 points a night and 37 assists in a 17.5-minute average per contest. He added 45 treys and stole 18 balls.

The 6-3 Grandy brings another young scorer to the Cardinal lineup. He pumped in 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals a night for Chapelgate Christian Academy last year.

"Malik shoots the ball well, is strong and attacks the rim as he is very athletic and able to defend on the ball," said the WJU coach. "He picks up things well and has a chance to be really good."

Another quick point option, Wiseman chipped in 1.2 points and 20 rebounds over the 22 games he saw action last season.

Looking to break into the lineup rotation, senior brothers Sam Peduto and Joe Peduto (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) and redshirt junior Jordan Fair (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) complete the WJU backcourt.

Turning to the frontline, Wheeling Jesuit will be more experienced and improved in another solid area. Senior Goff joins junior rebound-specialist Kyle Ritz (Cambridge, Ohio/Cambridge) and athletic sophomore Haywood Highsmith (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) as the inside foundation.

Goff, the third Cardinal team captain, is a great leader, who contributed 5.5 points on over 50-percent shooting (52 of 103) and 2.6 rebounds per night.

"Tim has great leadership skills and the perfect stretch four-guy, who shoots, passes and moves without the ball very well," noted Sancomb.

Ritz paced the MEC in offensive rebounding last season (2.84rpg) and ranked ninth in overall rebounding (7.1 rpg) in his second season. The 6-7 forward netted 11.1 points per night by making 61.1-percent of his attempts (129 of 211). Ritz added 43 assists, 24 blocks and 28 steals.

"Kyle is great on the offensive glass, passes extremely well and improved his offensive game. He will be more of an offensive threat this year," said the Cardinal head coach.

The 6-6 Highsmith adds a shot blocker to the inside mix. The sophomore returns as the second-leading MEC shot blocker after swatting 1.19 shots per night and 37 total blocks in 31 contests. He finished 12^th in the league at 6.6 rebounds per night and 1.97 on the offensive glass per game. Haywood chipped in 9.7 points off 52.9-percent shooting from the floor (119 of 225), while he added 30 assists and 23 steals.

"Haywood is an extremely athletic player, who handles the ball well and has improved his 3-pointshoot," noted Sancomb. "He is our most versatile defensive player, who can guard guys bigger or smaller, with the ability to block shots."

Juniors Matt Stewart (Pittsburgh, Pa./Norwin) and Mark Winters (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) along with incoming freshman Dominique Tham (Arlington, Va./Wakefield) complete the six WJU inside post players.

Stewart and Winters look to move into the Cardinal frontline rotation on a nightly basis. The two combined for 16 minutes per night and averaged 5.8 points a year ago. Stewart netted 4.5 points and grabbed 1.9 boards eachgame, while Winters added 16 points.

"Matt is in great shape and has the ability to score with his back to the basket. He is also shooting the ball from 3-point range very well now and cleans the boards," said Sancomb. "Winters is big, strong and shoots the ball solid."

Tham is the second WJU top freshman joining the lineup. The 6-4 swingman was a Virginia All-State player each of the past two seasons where he averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds with 92 blocked shots. He was a 1,321-point scorer for Wakefield High.

With Sancomb's cupboard overflowing with scoring options and quality lineup options, the 2015-16 Cardinal men's basketball squad is ready to exceed its MEC third-place preseason placing, raise the league title banner in Charleston and graba NCAA Division II national playoff bid.

-GoCards-

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