Two new coaches and two new players will change the scene at HU basketball games, but expectations remain the same.
The Foresters have built a tradition of MCC Conference Titles, MCC Tournament wins, and trips to Branson for the NAIA National Tournament. When you're successful, people expect success, so putting on a Forester uniform has big responsibilities.
LAST SEASON IN REVIEW
• Another 20+ Win Season
• #1 NAIA D2 Strength of Schedule
• #2 Finish in the MCC Conference
• #4 RPI Rating in all NAIA D2
Huntington finished the 2007-08 season with a 22-10 record, playing the toughest schedule in NAIA D2. It didn't start well. After graduating four starters and two NAIA All-Americans, the inexperience playing together showed as HU lost their first two games by an average of 21.5 points.
But then, they turned it around and won 10 of the next 11, with their only loss being by 1 point on the court of an NAIA D1 school. Along the way, they tied a team record set in 1995 by shooting 66.7% from the field not just once, but twice.
CONTINUING THE TRADITION
Over the past ten years, Huntington has compiled a 258-93 record for a 0.735 win ratio, including a 131-44 record (0.749 win ratio) versus tough MCC opponents.
In that time, the Foresters have won 5 MCC Conference Titles, 5 MCC Tournament Championships, and have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament 7 times.
Success has become an expectation for the men's basketball program, and the players and coaches wouldn't want it any other way. But while some things stay the same, some things change.
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Seniors: Kyle Benge and Geoff Scheetz
Changes in Coaches
Coach Steve Platt retired after 14 seasons and his son, Ty Platt, takes over the reins.
Coach Ty Platt has been on the Foresters' coaching staff for the past three seasons. Prior to that, he coached at both the high school and college levels. As head coach at the high school level, he won more than 125 games, a conference title, a sectional title, and was named Coach of the Year.
Last month, Coach Ty Platt announced the addition of Chase Verba to the Forester coaching staff. Chase played at HU during the 2002-06 seasons when the Foresters won 108 of 142 games (0.760 win ratio).
Mark Green continues as assistant coach with the Foresters. Mark is now in his 4th year with the program. Earlier, he was a very successful freshman basketball coach at Columbia City HS, with a 32-8 record.
Changes in Players
Most of the team is back, but two will not return for this season. Doug Sheckler, All-MCC First Team, MCC Player of the Year, and NAIA All American graduated.
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