Millikin University Men's Basketball Team Opens Season Saturday

DECATUR -- The Millikin men’s basketball team has high expectations heading into the 2014-15 season as Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer’s rebuilding efforts takes focus. After gaining valuable experience the last two seasons, Nadelhoffer’s initial recruiting class has reached its junior season and is ready to take the Big Blue to the next level.

While the juniors will be the core of the Big Blue team this season, Nadelhoffer has added a strong group of freshmen that will challenge for playing time and make contributions on the court throughout the season. With assistant coaches TJ Caughell and Jon Lester leaving Millikin for new opportunities, Nadelhoffer believes new assistants Matt Zosel and Blake Woodard have the experience and background to help the Big Blue program reach that next level.

Nadelhoffer believes this year’s team is a cohesive group that has great team chemistry. Millikin has spent the early season practice sessions focusing on defense and physical toughness. The Big Blue will employ a new defensive system this season that centers on ball pressure and rebounding. A strength of this year’s team is speed and quickness and the new defense will emphasize Millikin’s defense to offense transition.

Junior guards TJ Griffin (St. Louis, McCluer H.S.) and Tives Gardner (Springfield, Southeast H.S.) will continue to be key players on the offensive end of the floor this season. Griffin averaged 19 points per game last season while Gardner scored 11 points per game. Nadelhoffer and the Big Blue will look to spread the scoring around more this season in a more patterned offense that should lead to more assists and open shots. Juniors Elijah Kinmon (Fairview Heights, O’Fallon H.S.) and Parker Day (Winchester, H.S.) along with sophomore Bryn Agnew (Towanda, University H.S.) are expected to see time in the Millikin starting lineup this season. Kinmon’s debut will be delayed this season as he recovers from an injury.

Nadelhoffer believes that every player on the varsity roster will get minutes and make contributions this season. Senior Drew Bollier (Atlanta, Ga., Oglethorpe University), Jacob Kueker (Red Bud, H.S.) and Tommy Pilackas (Lebanon, H.S.) will all have major roles for the Big Blue this season. Bollier transferred to Millikin as a sophomore as one of Nadelhoffer’s first recruits. He is a team captain along with Gardner and brings great servant leadership to the program. Kueker averaged nine points a game last season while Pilackas averaged eight a game. Both players have shown they have the ability to be big time scorers. Sophomore Brody Bence will see key minutes as he continues to develop his inside game.

While several freshmen will play this season, Nadelhoffer expects four players to have an immediate impact. That group is led by 6-6 forward Nathan Biggs (Chesterfield, Mo., Parkway Central H.S.) and 6-5 forward Zach Long (Indianapolis, Indiana, Pike H.S.). Guards Nick Novak (Bolingbrook, Plainfield East H.S.) and TJ Sims (Bloomington, H.S.) are also expected to see minutes early in the season.

Leighton Lark, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Effingham, is on the roster along with Brody Bench, a 6-foot-8 freshman from Shelbyville.      

Millikin will open with its first four games on the road starting a contest against Westminster College in the CCIW\SLIAC Challenge on Saturday, November 15. The home opener is Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m. against Principia College.