By Chris Parker
Miller boys basketball is coming off a 16-win season and a second-place finish in conference.
The Cardinals will look for even more this year with an experienced core of players returning to play a difficult schedule.
“Our biggest strength is our depth,” Miller head coach Brandon Weis said. “We have all improved over the last year and we will go nine deep this year. We have never had that type of depth since I’ve been here. We have a good mix of seniors, juniors, and sophomores.”
That depth will be tested against an enhanced schedule.
“We bulked up our schedule this year to help us make a deep run,” Miller head coach Brandon Weiss said. “We have to learn to compete with the best teams in our area. We have to fight through the adversity that might happen when we play against those teams.”
Owen Weiss enters his junior season as a two-time all-conference selection. He was a first-team honoree last season after he averaged 17.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
He will take on more of a vocal leadership role as a junior.
“Owen’s greatest improvement from last season to now is his leadership. As a freshman and sophomore, he was a leader on the team but this year he is more vocal. He is learning to be the extension of the coach on the floor,” Coach Weiss said.
He will mainly play point guard.
“Owen’s greatest asset is his high IQ for the game of basketball,” Coach Weiss said. “He does a great job of reading what the defense gives him. On the defensive end, he does a great job of anticipating that next pass.”
Jarod Lung earned second-team all-conference honors as a junior. He averaged 11.8 points per game with 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals per game last season.
“Jarod is very cerebral. He does a great job of taking what the defense gives him. He plays at both ends of the floor,” Coach Weiss said. “We think he can pick up his scoring this year as well as get others involved. We want to see the growth that he made a junior be made as a senior.”
Nate Hill (senior forward) and Paul Nunez (junior flex) also return with starting experience.
Hill is a three-year starter who averaged 4.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a junior.
“This past summer he (Hill) did a great job at scoring,” Coach Weiss said. “He has worked hard at knocking down the 3-point shot. He is one of our best defenders. Typically, he will guard the other team’s best player no matter what position they are in.”
Nunez is a second-year starter who averaged 6 points. 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
“Paul will play multiple positions,” Coach Weiss said. “He will play inside and out. If he is inside, we will see what opportunities we will be able to exploit. Paul will help with our interior defense this year. In the past year, he has grown five or six inches.”
Brodie Rinker (senior post), Hayden Schnake (sophomore guard/forward) and Jaylen Madsen (sophomore guard) all have to opportunity to start according to Coach Weiss.
Coach Weiss on Rinker: “Brodie has made big strides in the last couple of years. We think that he can help us give a presence inside with his height. He has great athleticism and can run the floor. He is a vital part of our pick-and-roll offense. On the defensive end, he does a good job of playing post-defense. This past summer he picked up his rebounding ability.”
Coach Weiss on Schnake: “Towards the end of last season Hayden started to come into his own. The transition from Junior High to High School affects athletes at times. He has worked hard at understanding the game. His ability to hit deep threes will help us space the court out.”
Coach Weiss on Madsen: “Jaylen is a great young athlete. He can take his defender off the dribble and hit the open three. He is quick and takes advantage of it on the defensive end. Like the other sophomores, he started to excel in the later part of last season.”
Hayden Brown will come off the bench in his sophomore season.
“Hayden will add to our depth,” Weiss said. “He got quality minutes towards the end of the year. He does a great job of running the offense and putting the ball in the hole.”
Trenton Pearce will look to make an impact as a sophomore.
“Trenton excelled at the JV level last year as a freshman,” Coach Weiss said. “He is a creative guard who likes to attack the basket and get the ball to the open person. He does a great job at the defensive side of the floor.”
Miller will be strong offensively this season, but it is the defensive end where the Cardinals will look to improve.
“We can score with most teams,” Coach Weiss said. “The area we must improve on this year to be successful is the defensive end of the floor. We must be able to limit the second and third chance points. That also means we must be able to rebound.”
Miller hosts a jamboree on Nov. 18 with Greenfield, Verona and Dadville. The Cardinals open the regular season on Nov. 22 at home against Hollister.
