Men's Basketball Season Preview
It's not often a team gets hot in the off-season but ACC finished the season last year on the court with a 3-11 conference, 4-17 overall record, but then picked up four wins by forfeit after the season. The Lumberjacks finished retroactively with a 7-7 conference and 8-13 overall mark, good for 4th in the eight-team MCCAA Northern Conference.
This momentum should carry on to the court this winter as the team returns its second leading scorer from last season, Davarion Mitchell, who finished last season averaging with 17.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.6% from the field, 73.0% from the line and 33.3% from behind the three-point arc. Mitchell (Saginaw) was named honorable mention all-conference.
The Jacks lost leading scorer James Williams who averaged 17.1 a game as well as Nick Freel who also averaged double figures at 10.8 per game.
Coach Bobby Allen returns for his fourth year as ACC men's coach. Allen was women's head coach for over 10 years and has spent 26 years as an assistant coach for the men's team, after playing at ACC. He is assisted by Nick Failla.
Allen has two other returnees from last season: Jager Mix (Onaway), Daddy Hill (Detroit) and Iansan Simpson (Saginaw). The three combined to average 8.6 points a game last season and will be counted on for bigger roles this season.
"Each of these guys has a very important role on this year's team," Allen said. "Help out the younger players and help get them ready for league play."
Lumberjack newcomers are Eli Hennings (Flint), Robert Williams (Grand Blanc), Trevon Johnson (Grand Blanc), Malik Bingham (Flint), Nick Fileccia (Dexter), Terence Burton (Saginaw), Casey Williams (AuGres), Henry Kropp (Traverse City), Xavier Blumberg (Dexter) and Devin LaMay (Alpena).
"At practice the guys are learning how to play with each other and adjusting to two new coaches for the freshmen. The sophomores have been here for a year and they should pass along their first-year experience in the league, Allen noted. "Because we play in a very tough league and as small as we are, we all need to work together and help one another out on the floor."
The Jacks open play this weekend at the Terrace Bay Hotel Tip-Off Classic in Escanaba, playing Friday, Nov. 3 against College of Lake County (IL) and Saturday, Nov. 4 against Hibbing (MN).
Coach Allen cited Bay College, Grand Rapids CC and Muskegon CC as the teams to beat in the league this year.
As to the keys to the season, Allen said, "As a coach, playing team basketball is always what it takes to be successful. Sticking to everything you have learned from conditioning to practice and put it all together when it is time to play. The number one is to work hard and have fun."