SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Whitworth University men’s basketball team finds itself in a familiar position heading into the 2008-09 season. Just like in the fall of 2006 and fall of 2007, head coach Jim Hayford is trying to figure out how to replace the Northwest Conference Player of the Year from his previous season’s line up, and then lead the group to a conference title. It has happened each of the last two years, so Hayford is trying to make it happen one more time.

He has the benefit of three returning starters, including one of the nation’s top Division III point guards, and a strong recruiting class to help make it happen.

Jim Hayford

“We will be a strong, physical team with great size,” said Hayford, who is 140-46 heading into his eighth season as the Bucs’ coach. “This will hopefully translate into a great rebounding team.”

Whatever tools Hayford has at hand, Northwest Conference coaches have selected the Pirates second in the preseason poll, despite the graduation of 2008 NWC Player of the Year Ryan Symes and First Team All-NWC honoree Colin Willemsen.

The situation is similar to last fall, when Whitworth had to move on without 2007 NWC Player of the Year Brian Williams and won the conference title. And the previous season the Bucs went on to win a conference championship without 2006 NWC Player of the Year Lance Pecht.

“I was a little surprised we were picked so high, considering the toll graduation took on our program,” said Hayford. “We have finished first or second in six of the last seven years, so maybe this year’s team is respected based on our past players. I do know we will go into every game with the belief that we can come together and find a way to win.”

Ross Nakamura

While size and strength may end up being the hallmarks of this year’s team, no one should overlook the Pirates at point guard. Ross Nakamura (Sr., Moraga, Calif.) is a Bob Cousy Award nominee who led all of NCAA Division III in assist-to-turnover ratio last season. With 128 assists and only 30 turnovers in 27 games, his ratio was a remarkable 4.3 to 1. In addition, he averaged 9.4 points per game while making 43% of his three point tries.

“Ross is as good a point guard as you will find at our level in the nation,” said Hayford. “He is an excellent decision maker and a deadly three point shooter.”

Tim Sellereit (Sr., Bellingham, Wash.) developed into one of the top sixth men in the NWC last season while backing up Nakamura. He averaged 8.1 points per game. Clay Gebbers (So., Brewster, Wash.) and Ben Iddins (RS Fr., Clinton, Wash.) give the Bucs great depth at the position.

David Riley

Out on the wing Whitworth welcomes back David Riley (So., Palo Alto, Calif.). Riley gives Whitworth a sharp shooter with size (6-5). He led the team in three-pointers per game (2.6) and made 43% of his attempts last winter. He broke the school record for three-pointers in a game with eight in only the second game of his career.

The other starting wing position is up for grabs, but Bo Gregg (Jr., Lewiston, Idaho) may have the inside track. The 6-5 Gregg was the leading scorer for a Community Colleges of Spokane team that finished 30-2 and advanced to the NWAACC championship game in 2008. Gregg will be challenged for that starting spot by Troy Kalbhenn (Jr., Burlingame, Calif.) and Jordan Call (Fr., Kirkland, Wash.) Kalbhenn is a transfer from West Valley College (Saratoga, Calif.), while Call was a standout at Juanita High School.

Mike Odland (Jr., Seattle, Wash.), Andreas Samus (Fr., Dusseldorf, Germany) and Steve Stockton (Sr., Spokane, Wash.) are three other players who provide solid depth on the wing and will push for playing time.

Calvin Jurich

The Pirates should also be strong and deep at the post position. Calvin Jurich (Sr., 6-6, Spokane, Wash.) returns after starting most of the Pirates’ games last year. He had a breakthrough with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the tournament championship win over Puget Sound. Nate Montgomery (Jr., 6-8, Sammamish, Wash.) started 12 games last season before suffering an injury that limited his playing time during the second half of the season.

Hayford is also excited about two newcomers for the post position. Felix Friedt (Fr., Dusseldorf, Germany), who measures 6-8 and 249 pounds, has the maturity and skill to make an immediate impact for the Pirates. Extended minutes for Michal Taylor (Fr., Aspen, Colo.), a standout from Aspen High School, could come later as he gains the strength and experience necessary to compete at the collegiate level.

Whitworth will find out quickly what kind of team it has when the Pirates open the season against SUNY-Brockport (21-8 in 2008) at the Johns Hopkins Invitational on November 21st. A meeting with the host Blue Jays could follow. Whitworth will also play in the CIT/Oxy Thanksgiving Classic and the University of Redlands Lee Fulmer Classic, an event the Bucs have won twice. Whitworth will host Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) and Simpson (Iowa) at the Whitworth-Ameriprise Classic in Burlingame, California to round out the non-conference schedule.

The NWC slate will be as challenging as ever. Puget Sound, with four returning starters, finished first in the NWC coaches poll. Willamette also returns four starters from last season’s squad. Lewis & Clark is always a challenge, while Pacific and Linfield have shown great improvement over the last couple of seasons.

“Our league will be very tough,” said Hayford. “Our overall schedule is our toughest yet. Let’s see if we can build on past success and have the kind of season that everyone talks about with great pride.”