River Forest, Ill. -- The 2021-22 season has arrived for the Concordia University Chicago men's basketball team, fresh off their Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) South tournament appearance a year ago.
The team finished 5-11 in last year's abbreviated season, but came on strong at the end, winning four of their last six contests. There were a few factors that contributed to the team piecing things together as the season progressed, but perhaps the biggest was the gradual acclimation of the newcomers. Then-junior Jordan Matthews (Chicago, Ill.), along with the freshman core of Justin Greenlee (Brown Deer, Wis.), William Bishop-Green (Chicago, Ill.), and Emanuel Wilson (Wheaton, Ill.) were all top five in minutes played for the Cougars during their first year with the team.
As the season wore on, each of them became more comfortable in their roles and confident in their ability to make meaningful contributions to their team while also becoming much more familiar with each other as players.
Matthews quickly made himself a household name in River Forest, leading the team in both points and assists with 17.5 and 3.4 per game, respectively. His stellar season earned the Loras College transfer All-NACC South First Team honors.
Another reason for their late surge was the return of Brent Hatten (Olney, Ill.), who missed the first eight games of his sophomore campaign. His presence was felt immediately down the stretch as he averaged 14 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, including four double-doubles.
This year's team brings back 85 percent of its total scoring from a year ago, including their top-six scorers. One of those scorers is senior Izak Ruddell (Saint Joseph, Mich.), who averaged 14 PPG a last season while also taking home NACC South Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the team with 27 steals and 83 rebounds.
Returning all that talent is a tremendous start toward taking the next step this season, but what may put the team over the top is the additions around those players. It's not just added depth for the Cougars, but serious contributors who will be thrown into the mix this season.
Seniors Landen Gladney (Chicago, Ill.) and Jalen Meeks (Aurora, Colo.) along with junior Tavarus Davis-Williams (Fox Lake, Ill.) will all return to the floor after missing the 2020-21 season. Gladney (6'5") and Davis-Williams (6'7") figure to be the most relied on bigs for CUC and contribute heavily on both ends of the floor. Meeks, on the other hand, was the team's leading scorer two seasons ago at 20.7 PPG, while Gladney was third with 14.2.
Beyond the familiar faces rejoining Coach Kollar's squad, there is also a trio of freshmen who are eager to make an impact any way they can. Jacob Collicott (Lafayette, Ind.), Barcus Jackson Jr. (Belleville, Ill.) and Liam Cameron (Ventura, Calif.) all gave Cougar fans a glimpse at what they can do during the dunk contest portion of Tuesday night's Cougar Madness. Cameron, a seven-footer, will provide the team a great deal of size off the bench.
"They've meshed very well with the returners," Kollar said of his freshmen. "That's a credit to our upper-classman for making everyone feel like they're a part of this thing. Everyone is competing at a high level and they will have that opportunity on a daily basis to earn a role."
There are a couple of highlights on the schedule this season for CUC. First, the team will open with a trip out to Colorado Springs, Colo., to take on Colorado College on Friday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m MDT. Their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 20 will feature a battle with the No. 5 team in the country, the Pioneers of Wisconsin Platteville. Finally, they finish-off their non-conference slate by traveling to Angola, Ind., to take on No. 7 Trine University on Thursday, Dec. 30.
The Cougars will be back to a full conference schedule this year after only facing the Illinois NACC schools last winter. They'll play at least one game against every conference opponent, including newcomer St. Norbert College. They're scheduled to face Concordia University Wisconsin, Marian University, Benedectine University, Lakeland University, Dominican University and Rockford University two times each.
This season also marks the return of the Concordia Invitational Tournament, which will take place in Seward, Neb., on the campus of Concordia University Nebraska from Jan. 28-29.
"There's a lot to be excited about this season," Kollar said. "We have a great group of guys who love to compete for the guy next to them. I can't wait to see this group continue to grow closer together and develop as the year goes on."
