North Dakota Preview: Thompson
The Thompson Tommies went into last season with unfinished business on the basketball court. The team comprised mostly of athletes that had enjoyed state titles in football and baseball got the one thing missing from the trophy case: a state…
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Continue ReadingThe Thompson Tommies went into last season with unfinished business on the basketball court. The team comprised mostly of athletes that had enjoyed state titles in football and baseball got the one thing missing from the trophy case: a state basketball title. Thanks to terrific defense, efficient offense and no shortage of clutch performances, the Tommies won a state championship. While the catalyst pieces from that group are gone, a solid core of role players remain.
KEY RETURNERS: Chance Danner, Clay Odenbach
Danner started last year and had his share of big moments, especially early in the season when he was asked to take on a bigger scoring role while Cadyn Schwabe was out with an injury. He finished the year averaging seven points and seven rebounds, while making his greatest impact on the defensive end of the floor. Danner is a physical kid, who can carve out space inside, rebound his area and finish at a high rate. He’s got double-double potential this winter.
Odenbach was a key frontcourt piece for the Tommies last year as well, serving as one of the team’s defensive cornerstones. He finished the year averaging eight points and five rebounds, but like Danner, his defense was a calling card. He’s got the size, strength and athleticism to defend multiple positions and he can rebound at a high rate too.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Pierce Cooper, Jacob Dick, Sam Roller, Garrett Webber
Cooper was a key perimeter piece for the Tommies in his junior season, averaging five points in a complementary role to Schwabe and Marcus Hughes. He was one of the team’s best 3-point shooters, knocking down 35 percent of his long-range attempts. He’ll ascend into a much more featured role now.
Dick was in the rotation last year, serving as a key rotation guy behind Schwabe and Hughes too. When he did play, he produced, averaging five points and three assists per game. He’ll take on primary ball-handling responsibility this winter and become a much more prominent piece in the offense.
Roller didn’t get much varsity run last year as the Tommies were stocked with an awesome senior class, but he’ll be in line for a potential starting role this winter, now as an upperclassman. Roller is coming off a really nice football season and should be able to provide athleticism, defense and slashing ability on the wing.
Webber will serve as a depth piece in the frontcourt behind Danner and Odenbach, and should have an opportunity to play regular minutes. He won’t be a featured offensive piece in all likelihood, but should be able to provide solid defense and rebounding on the interior.
QUESTION: Who fills the void from the departing senior class?
Thompson went into last season with legitimate state title aspirations and the Tommies followed through on it. That group was led by three terrific multi-year starting seniors along with a handful of guys who had been in the program for years and contributed a lot. Those seniors are now gone. Replacing them is a near-impossible task. So how does this team function when faced with a different existence? Can the Tommies adapt on the fly and continue to win?
SEASON OUTLOOK
Thompson won’t go into the year with quite the same kind of hype it had last year. The Tommies might not even be ranked (if they are, it is based on last year’s accomplishments more than returning production). But there are enough pieces still around and Thompson traditionally has the kind of athletes that will allow the program to sustain winning. A pair of potential double-double big men and two top-seven perimeter guys back is a good foundation and the team will lean on what should be a very good defense early. Thompson may not have a state-title winning ceiling, but don’t expect the Tommies to fall off a cliff.