2008-09 Boys Basketball Capsules
Kaneland Knights
Coach: Dennis Hansen
Last season: 10-17 overall, 6-8 Western Sun Conference; lost in regional title game to Burlington Central.
Projected starters
Ryley Bailey, junior, guard
Ryan Blake, senior, guard
Shoen Denglinger, sophomore, guard/forward
Dave Dudzinski, junior, center
Brody Root, senior, guard
Key reserves
Steve Columbe, junior, forward
Christian Dylan, senior, center
Curtis Lubic, senior, guard
Chris Ott, senior, guard
Sean Pollack, junior, forward
Mike Pritchard, senior, forward
Joe Spitzzeri, senior, guard
Donovan Williams, junior, guard
Season outlook: Dudzinski and Root will be expected to help replace graduated leading scorer Nick Wagner. Dudzinski showed flashes of brilliance as a sophomore starter last year, and the 6-foot-9-inch center presents severe matchup problems when he stays out of foul trouble. Coach Dennis Hansen said Root had the best offseason of anybody in the program and will make a big impact.
Dudzinski makes the Knights defense go as well, since he proved to be a dominant rebounder last season and clogs up the middle. Root also excels on the defensive end and is the team's best on-ball defender.
This team was inconsistent with a young rotation last year. A year older, the Knights are aiming at a conference title.
Opponent's take: "(Coach) Dennis (Hansen) does a real good job with that team. They have a real good returning post player (Dudzinski) and he's only a junior. He's got very good footwork for a big man and he goes to the basket strong. They'll be strong on the inside and play good defense. If they get some guard play, they could be right in the conference race."
— An anonymous Western Sun Conference coach
Schedule
Tue 11/25/08 @ Strombom Tournament 7:30 p.m.
Fri 11/28/08 @ Strombom Tournament TBA
Sat 11/29/08 @ Strombom Tournament TBA
Tue 12/02/08 Glenbard South 7 p.m.
Fri 12/05/08 @ Dekalb 7 p.m.
Wed 12/17/08 @ Rochelle 7 p.m.
Mon 12/22/08 @ Marengo Tournament TBA
Tue 12/23/08 @ Marengo Touranment TBA
Fri 12/26/08 @ Marengo Tournament TBA
Sat 12/27/08 @ Marengo Tournament TBA
Sat 1/03/09 Yorkville 6 p.m.
Tue 1/06/09 @ Geneva 7 p.m.
Fri 1/09/09 @ Batavia 7 p.m.
Sat 1/10/09 Burlington Central 7:30 p.m.
Fri 1/16/09 @ Glenbard South 7 p.m.
Fri 1/23/09 DeKalb 7 p.m.
Fri 1/30/09 Rochelle 7 p.m.
Sat 1/31/09 @ Hampshire 4:30 p.m.
Fri 2/06/09 @ Yorkville 7 p.m.
Sat 2/07/09 Sycamore 5:30 p.m.
Tue 2/10/09 Marengo 7 p.m.
Fri 2/13/09 @ Sycamore 7 p.m.
Sat 2/14/09 @ Marmion 6 p.m.
Fri 2/20/09 Geneva 7 p.m.
Fri 2/27/09 Batavia 7 p.m.
