The 2018-19 Madison College men's basketball season will not be the first rodeo for new head coach
Jamal Palmer, and prior experience tells him that patience will be needed. Palmer, who is starting his fourth year with the program and beginning his second stint as a head coach, will put three returning players and 11 new players through their first test when the season begins Thursday night at McHenry County College.
"I'm looking for our guys to develop as a team," states Palmer, who was announced as the program's next head coach midway through the 2017-18 season. "We have the potential to be very good, but it doesn't happen overnight. We have depth in every position this year, which should be to our advantage."
The three players back from last winter all played significant roles, and minutes, in their first year of collegiate basketball. Point guard
Nathaniel Buss, a 5"11" native of Verona, Wisconsin, averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds.
Sean Suchomel, a 6'2" shooting guard from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, played the most minutes of anyone on the team a year ago, while also putting up 9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals a night. Elkhorn, Wisconsin, product
Alex Easterday is the top scorer to return this year after registering 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist as a 6'3" guard/forward.
"Alex brings toughness along with the ability to knock down long distance shots. Nate will provide on-court leadership and is a pesky defender. And Sean is a very smart player that can play a multitude of positions and could create mismatches for opposing teams."
As for the current crop of new players on the
2018-19 roster, which includes eight true first year players and three transfers, Palmer is looking for consistency and production. What he'll also get is size, led by former Janesville Craig HS standout
Adam Anhold. The 6'8" forward came to Madison College after a brief stop at NCAA Division II Bemidji State University. The team's only other true forward is 6'6" forward
Alex Berg, who went head-to-head with Anhold during his prep days at Madison La Follette HS.
"This class will add depth and scoring along with the ability to cause havoc on defense," Palmer summarizes about his collection of new players.
The WolfPack will need to lean on each other for support early this season, as they will open the
2018-19 schedule with four games away from
H. Douglas Redsten Gymnasium. Game one on November 1 against the NJCAA Division II Scots will tip at approximately 7:15 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, before the team travels to Freeport on Saturday to battle NJCAA Division I Highland Community College, fresh off another trip to the NJCAA National Tournament. The following weekend will see the 'Pack participate in the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Tournament and play games against the host Golden Rams and St. Cloud Technical College (MN) in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
The home opener is set for Wednesday, November 14 against NJCAA Division I Sauk Valley Community College as part of a four-game homestand to finish the first month of the season. When the calendar flips to 2019, Madison College will open North Central Community College Conference competition on January 3 against Joliet Junior College in Madison, followed by a Saturday matinee at Rock Valley College. The Wolves and Golden Eagles are ranked #9 and #10, respectively, in the
NJCAA Division III Poll.
"We have a difficult early season schedule, but if our team competes daily, we will be successful. We plan to continue to build on the success we had as a basketball team, but, more importantly, develop outside of basketball in academics and life."
Madison College posted an 18-11 record last winter, and should find some extra stability with the return of third year assistant coach
Roy Boone to the sideline. The Madison, Wisconsin, native and former Wisconsin Badgers standout was
promoted to Associate Head Coach in May. Former student manager
Andres Rodriguez has also been promoted and will now sit on the bench as an official assistant coach, alongside new staff member
Mike Kurschner and
Ricky Landais.
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