It was no secret that UW-Stout was a little thin last season in their perimeter game.
The Blue Devils finished seventh overall in the WIAC in scoring (64.9 p/g) and were dead last in both 3-point field goal percentage (.329) and 3-point field goals made (114).
Had it not been for honorable mention wing guard Jerrel Enerson-Matthews (So, Anoka, Minn), the stats would have been even more dismal. Enerson-Matthews was fifth in the WIAC in scoring (15.4 ppg) and sixth in 3-pointers made (2.0 ppg, 50 overall).
Blue Devil head coach Eddie Andrist begins his 34th overall year of coaching and his eighth at Stout. With a coaching background that includes high school, college and international teams, it was obvious to Andrist what he had to do to improve on last year's 12-13 overall record and 5-11 sixth place finish in the rough and tumble WIAC.
Andrist addressed the deficit through a number of transfers and also addressed the issue with a solid freshmen recruiting class.
"We are very excited about our transfers," Andrist said. "When three of your top four transfers likely will be starters, you know that they have to be good."
Transfers Miles Webb (Sr, Brooklyn Park, Minn), Alex Mason (Jr, St. Paul, Minn), John Donald (Jr, Milwaukee) and Jerrod Buchholtz (Fr, Durand) will be immediate impact players, Andrist said.
Coupled with returners Enerson-Matthews, Eric Heisler (Sr, Savage, Minn) and Marco Gotta (Sr, Hurley), Stout is looking to be the surprise team of the WIAC.
Mason is expected to step in at the point guard spot, while Webb will extend Stout's range on the perimeter.
Mason played at Mesabi Community College in Virginia, Minn. "Alex has great court vision and will make everyone a better player," Andrist said.
Webb was a junior college All-American at North Dakota State College of Science before matriculating to Division I University of Idaho. Webb saw action with the Vandals, scoring 18 points in games against Utah State and Louisiana Tech.
Buchholtz is a transfer from Viterbo University, but did not play basketball for the V-Hawks. Buchholtz transferred to Stout for last year's second semester. At 6-foot-5, Buchholtz brings size to the guard spot.
"I have known and watched Jerrod for the past seven years and have always been amazed with how he shoots the basketball," Andrist said. "He is a true shooter."
Donald, a transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College, is listed as a forward, but is capable of playing both inside and outside, Andrist said.
"John Donald is another key piece to the puzzle that will get us back to the top of the WIAC," Andrist said, referring ot the 2005-06 season. "We really like the view from up there."
Donald averaged 15 points and six rebounds his freshman year at Iowa Lakes, but injuries limited him last season.
Andrist calls Enerson-Matthews a true team player, and his notoriety from last season will have little effect on his play.
"I know that "Rel" does not worry about what people know or don't know," Andrist said. "He is so unselfish, all he wants to do is win." Enerson-Matthews was third on the team last year in assists (70).
Over the past four years, the 7-foot Nonemacher twins have dominated attention for the Blue Devils, but they have graduated and Stout will certainly look different this year.
"We will be a more 94-foot team," Andrist said, "and we want to serve notice that you will have to pack two lunches to play us. We want to run more than ever and press people hard."
Heisler and Gotta will certainly figure into those plans.
Gotta, who transferred to Stout last season, played in 24 games and gave the Blue Devils a big body. Averaging 13 minutes, Gotta scored nearly four points and nearly two rebounds per game.
Heisler has played the last three years under the long shadows of the Nonemacher boys, and it is time for him to step out, said Andrist.
Only Enerson-Matthews and Jason Clopton logged more minutes than Heisler last year. Heisler was third on the team in rebounds (5.2 rpg) and scoring (9.8 ppg).
"It is time for Eric to show everyone why he has made it four years and why he can be a force inside for the Blue Devils," Andrist said.
Other key players figure to be guards Jason Theis (Jr, Chaska, Minn), Brandon White-Blackmon (So, Brooklyn Park, Minn) and Josh Huettl (So, Eau Claire).
Theis saw action in 11 games last season due to injury, but is expected to play at the point guard spot.
White-Blackmon surprised and delighted both the coaching staff and fans last season, coming off the varsity reserve squad to play in 21 games and start seven.
Huettl started his freshman season strong, but injury cut his season to only 16 games. Huettl did make 10-of-31 3-pointers, and could help the perimeter game.
While Andrist believes his team will be one of the smallest in the WIAC, the Blue Devils are not without a 7-footer. Jesse Piehl (Jr, Tripoli, Iowa), who played at Stout as a freshman, then transferred to Gogebic Community College last season, returns.
Dre Jefferson (Sr, Minneapolis, Minn) saw action in 14 games last year, and averaged 3.9 points in 11 minutes of play.
Returners rounding out the squad are Doug Beal (So, Belle Plaine, Minn) and Brian Wickboldt (So, Clayton). Freshmen include: Brady Goldschmidt (Fr, Lena), Chris Jardine (Fr, Port Wing), Jamal Khan (Fr, Maple Grove, Minn), Jarrad Knutson (Fr, Glenville, Minn), Deante Michade (Fr, Brooklyn Park, Minn), and Isaiah Tucker (Fr, Oshkosh).
Lionel Jones and Mike Kraft return as assistant coaches and will be joined by first year coach Kris Babler. Kraft and Babler will work with the post players, while Jones will work with the perimeter players.
Andrist had the opportunity last summer to coach the Qatar National team for the second time, this time with an older group of players as Qatar looked to qualify to the 2008 Olympics during the Asian Games.
Although the Qatar team did not advance, Andrist was able to continue to learn.
"I learned a lot about coach Eddie Andrist this summer," Andrist said. "This summer was like an international clinic. It has made me a better coach and leader."
Working on the perimeter game has been the main focus of the preseason, Andrist said.
"We are shooting the ball well, especially from the 3-point line, which is a great sign," Andrist said. "Good shooting makes up for some other deficiencies a team may have. We are not very big across the back line, so we need to utilize some quickness.
"As the dust has settled with so many new faces, our focus has been on strengthening our perimeter game. We feel very strongly that we will be able to control the ball out front on both ends of the floor."
The Blue Devils will open the 2007-08 season when they host the UW-Stout Tournament. Stout will play Finlandia in their opener, Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. Viterbo will play Mayville at 5 p.m.