SPOKANE, Wash. -- The 2004-05 season was one of adjustment and hard lessons for the Whitworth College men’s basketball team. The Pirates had to learn to get along without all-time leading scorer Bryan Depew. Whitworth had to learn to win with defense when the shots weren’t falling. The Bucs had to learn where their strengths were, and how to exploit those abilities.

With three weeks to play in the season, Whitworth was 8-10 overall and 4-6 in the Northwest Conference, facing a game against eventual NWC champion Puget Sound. The Pirates were looking at a losing season. But Whitworth responded, holding UPS to its second lowest regular season scoring total of the year before losing a hard fought contest. The Pirates then went on to win their final five contests to finish the year with a record of 13-11 overall and 9-7 in the NWC.

Whitworth hopes to take the lessons learned at the end of last season, and apply them to this year.

"Last year was a year when we gained valuable experience," said Pirates head coach Jim Hayford (5th year, 75-28). "Our hope is to benefit this year from that prior experience. We have also added some talented new players that help make up a roster that can seriously consider post-season play."

The Pirates return four starters from last season, including three who earned some sort of all-conference honor. Two are seniors - Lance Pecht (F, Spokane, Wash. - Lewis-Clark St.) and George Tucker (F, San Ramon, Calif. - Diablo Valley College), and two are juniors - Jon Young (G, Tracy, Calif. - Tracy) and Bryan Williams (G, Colbert, Wash. - Mead).

Hayford will rely heavily on his seniors this winter.

"Every good team needs strong senior leadership and I believe that this year’s senior class has a great combination of on-court ability and off-court enthusiasm and dedication," he said. "Lance is one of the premier players in the conference and George is the heart and soul of our team."

Pecht was named First Team All-Northwest Conference last season after averaging 15.3 points per game (17.6 in NWC games) and 5.5 rebounds. He will start again at small forward. Tucker averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds while starting 15 games at power forward for the Bucs.

Young averaged 15.3 points per game while leading the NWC in three pointers made per contest (4.0) and earning Second Team All-NWC honors. He broke his own Whitworth record for three pointers made in a season with 92 (making 41%). Williams was an Honorable Mention All-NWC choice after averaging 12.5 points and 5.6 assists per contest.

The remaining starting position left to fill is the post. Mat Fletcher (Sr., Moraga, Calif. - Diablo Valley College) started four games and averaged 2.0 points and 1.1 rebounds. Kevin Hasenfus (Jr., Lodi, Calif. - San Joaquin Delta College) is likely to make an immediate impact as a newcomer this season. Another transfer, Antonio McClinon (Sr., Inglewood, Calif. - Evergreen State), could play a key role in the middle as well.

Rob Simons (So., Helena, Mont. - Capital), who played in 18 games as a freshman, will be able to provide solid back up behind either Young or Pecht. So will James Jones (Jr., Manchester, England - Univ. of Saint Mary [Kan.]), who averaged 11.2 points per game for the NAIA team.

Jacob Jones (RS So., G, Moses Lake, Wash. - Day Star Christian), who started half of the team’s games last season, will move over to the point and provide solid back up for Williams. He averaged 5.5 points per game.

When the Pirates chose to play a different style, Pecht may move over into Tucker’s spot while the three perimeter positions get smaller. But at other times, Calvin Jurich (Fr., Spokane, Wash. - University HS) will come off of the bench to spell Tucker. Jurich was the Greater Spokane League’s MVP last season.

Three other Pirate freshmen come in with solid credentials and backgrounds. Daemin Hickey (G, Reno, Nev. - Bishop Manogue), Tristan Montgomery (G, Kent, Wash. - Kent-Meridian) and Clint Hagen (RS Fr., F, Chewelah, Wash. - Jenkins) will all develop into future key contributors to the Pirate program and could see spot action this season.

Whitworth plays a challenging non-conference schedule that only includes one home game. The Bucs will open the season at a tournament hosted by 2005 NCAA Division III runner up Calvin College. The lone home contest is November 29th against NAIA Montana Tech. Whitworth will play three tournaments in late December and early January and get in six non-conference, in-region NCAA Division III contests.

"The non-conference schedule should show us where we stand in the West region," said Hayford. "If we do well it will give us an opportunity to not only be prepared for NWC play but could also give us an edge on the expanded size NCAA Tournament."

The Northwest Conference is as challenging as ever. UPS is a heavy favorite to defend its title, according to the preseason poll of NWC coaches. George Fox returns four starters from last season’s runner up team. Whitworth ended up third in the preseason poll. Willamette and Lewis & Clark figure to challenge based on the quality of their returning players.

"I expect the conference to be the best it has been in my five seasons," said Hayford.