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August 4th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Northern
Arizona Lumberjacks
Overall Rank:
#100
Conference
Rank: #1 Big Sky
2005-06:
21-11, 12-2, 1st
2005-06
postseason: NIT
 The Lumberjacks
of Northern Arizona won the Big Sky last year and return all but
one player this year. Losing out in the conference tournament
to Montana shifted the attention away from Coach Mike Adras’
squad a year ago, but the attention should be squarely back on
the team from Flagstaff this season.
Who’s Out:
The Jacks only lose one player, but it is a big time player.
Kelly Golob led the squad with 14.3 points per game. However,
the scoring slack can be picked up by super sixth man Steven
Sir, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility.
Who’s In:
Not that
they need any help, but the Lumberjacks will get it. DeJuan
Stevens averaged 12.7 points per game two years ago. Last
season the 6-3 guard sat out and redshirted due to a suspension
for violating team rules. He probably won’t find a way into the
starting lineup, unless Sir once again will be the sixth man,
but in any event, Stevens will help replace the scoring loss
left behind by Golob. Junior college transfer Nathan Geiser has
the potential to become yet another double digit scorer for NAU.
Last year Geiser averaged 17.2 points per game and shot 45% from
behind the arc at Northern Oklahoma College. Deveric Taylor is
a versatile guard who can help out the Lumberjacks in multiple
spots. He’s won at every level he’s played at and will continue
that mentality for NAU. Incoming freshman forward Nick Larson
will provide some depth up front. The son of a coach, Larson is
a smart player and the 6-8 Ventura, California product isn’t
opposed to stepping out and hitting the long ball with
consistency.
Who to Watch:
There
is too much talent returning to spend all of our time with the
newcomers. Despite the loss of Golob, the backcourt is amazing;
starting at the point with Josh Wilson. As a freshman last year
the 6-2 Longview, Washington native averaged a conference best
6.1 assists. The turnover numbers were a little high, but we’ll
give him some slack for being a freshman. With a year of
experience under his belt, Wilson can run a team full of
upperclassmen. Tyrone Bazy isn’t a threat from long range, but
last year’s Big Sky newcomer of the year sure can score. Bazy,
the only player to start all 32 games last season, averaged 11.5
points, 2.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds for NAU. Along with Sir
and Stevens, this is a backcourt that opposing Big Sky coaches,
players and fans will have nightmares about.
Final
Projection:
It could be a
little better in the paint, but there are choices. Ruben
Boykin, Jr. is a beast under the basket averaging 13.3 points
and a team high 7.2 boards. His partner up front will either be
Ryan McCurdy or Kyle Landry. Both are juniors, have starting
experience and put up similar numbers a year ago. Landry is a
little more effective scoring in the paint, while McCurdy is
more athletic and a presence under the basket on the defensive
end. No matter which one starts, both will play quite a bit.
Will Hensley showed some promise as a redshirt freshman last
year and will add to the depth up front. It sounds like good
times in Flagstaff, which outside of Lowell Observatory might
not even be possible. But Eastern Washington and Montana have
the tools to spoil Northern Arizona’s tournament dreams…again.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Josh Wilson,
Sophomore, Guard, 6.2 points per game
Tyrone Bazy,
Senior, Guard, 11.5 points per game
Steven Sir,
Senior, Guard, 11.1 points per game
Ruben Boykin,
Senior, Forward, 13.3 points per game
Ryan McCurdy,
Junior, Forward, 6.6 points per game
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