Your future, our focus
NWC Men Looking To Build On 2013-14 Success
The Northwest College men’s basketball team is young this season.
But it’s likely no one will be worried about the team’s youth with sophomore Chris Boucher lurking around the rim.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore transfer is coming off a strong freshman campaign at New Mexico Junior College in which he averaged 11.8 points, four blocks and nearly seven rebounds in 32 contests. The forward’s presence could open up the floor for several other Trappers this season.
“He draws a heck of a lot of attention, and that’s going to be great for us,” said NWC sophomore Colin May. “Chris is a great shooter, rebounds well and really gives teams trouble. We’re excited to have him.”
Boucher said he feels at home with the Trappers, and is envisioning big things for himself and his new teammates.
“I want to win a national championship,” Boucher said. “I look around at our players and I know we can do it. It’s just going to depend on whether or not we live up to our potential.”
Third-year Trapper head coach Brian Erickson said he has been fielding phone calls just about every day from major Division I programs inquiring about Boucher. But Erickson added that the focus will not be on one player this year, as the Trappers look to improve on their 18-14 record from a year ago, and a tough second-round loss to Sheridan in the Region IX Tournament.
“There are a lot of good components to this team,” Erickson said. “We did some extra recruiting this year so we could field a scout team during practices to give our regular rotation a better idea of what they’ll be facing in the upcoming weeks.
“So far, the extra guys have really helped, and have really pushed guys to be at their best and fight to keep their jobs.”
The Trappers currently carry 20 players, only eight of which are sophomores and only six of those second-year players played for NWC last season. Erickson said building chemistry within his team will be the focus in the early going.
“These first few games are going to be about finding out how the new guys work with the vets, and about figuring out who we are as a team,” Erickson said. “We have a great group and some really talented kids, but it’s about putting it all together.”
Judging by the Trappers’ first two games, a 97-91 win over Eastern Wyoming College on Oct. 31, and a 111-107 overtime loss to Western Nebraska Community College on Nov. 1, that may happen quickly.
Against EWC, five NWC players scored in double figures, led by May’s 19 points and followed by 15 each from Boucher and William Desilien. Against WNCC, freshman Ammar Rehman scored a robust 28 points with four 3-pointers. Desilien added a doubledouble with 25 points and 13 assists, and Boucher drained 20 with nine rebounds.
“We have some shooters on this team, but right now, we’re looking for a few go-to guys in key situations,” Erickson said. “We’re definitely going to need some guys to show that they can knock down some shots.”
Based on his player personnel, Erickson plans to run an aggressive offense, with an emphasis on attacking the rim this year. The Trappers' best returning scorers from last season, May and Hubbard, played in 57 combined games during the regular season and averaged 9.4 points collectively. So to say NWC will be looking to establish a consistent scoring threat early might be an understatement.
Erickson is also calling for his team to run a high-tempo press defense, but is waiting for his team to click better defensively.
“I think this year, we have guys with a better overall basketball IQ, and we’ve got a better low post presence than I thought we would ... and our big men are shooting well and knocking down 3-pointers,” Erickson said. “But now we have to put it together on the defensive side of the ball, because you’re not going to go out there and blow every team out, and the guys know that.”
Erickson shared Boucher’s optimism that this year’s Trappers could compete at a national level, but isn’t shying away from the fact that his team has a mountain to climb.
“Are the pieces in place? I think so,” Erickson said. “But now that we know where we want to go this season, it becomes a matter of how we’re going to get there. That’s the big question that our guys are going to have to answer this season.”