Ohio Wesleyan University | Battling Bishop Athletics

2007-08 Season Preview

[ Jesse Jean ] If the old adage that it’s what’s up front that counts holds true, then Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt and the Battling Bishops should be in for a thrilling 2007-08 season.

Ohio Wesleyan made a pair of important strides last season in establishing itself as a premier team in the North Coast Athletic Conference. The Battling Bishops defeated Wittenberg twice, marking the first time since the 1949-50 season that an Ohio Wesleyan team had accomplished that feat. The second win over Wittenberg also gave Ohio Wesleyan its first appearance in the NCAC tournament championship game since 1990.

Head coach Mike DeWitt will look to a group of 9 returning lettermen, including 2 starters, to help the Bishops continue that momentum and contend for the NCAC championship.

"Our goal this year is the same as every year — to win a conference championship," DeWitt said. "The past couple of years, we've come closer and closer to that, and we believe that this year, we have a good chance to achieve that goal."

[ Dustin Rudegeair ] The Bishops return a pair of All-NCAC post players in seniors Dustin Rudegeair (Yellow Springs) and Jesse Jean (Alexandria, Va./Hyde (Conn.) School).

Rudegeair ranked second on the team in scoring and rebounding average last year on the way to second-team all-conference honors. His 12.8 points per game ranked 15th in the NCAC, while his 5.9 rebounds per game was 13th. Rudegeair also ranked seventh in the league in field goal percentage.

Jean, who moved into the starting lineup when Ben Chojnacki was sidelined with a knee injury, ended up as an honorable mention All-NCAC selection. He averaged 10.0 points per game and was a presence at both ends of the court, ranking fifth in the conference in field goal percentage (.565), ninth in rebounding (6.5/game) and fourth in blocked shots (1.39/game).

Further bolstering the Bishop front line are senior Ryan Rozak (Fairview Park/Fairview), who turned in important minutes in a reserve role last year; and 6-7 senior Elliott Kaple (New Washington/Buckeye Central), who missed most of last season with an ankle injury.

An impressive crop of newcomers includes 6-8 sophomore Brent Pleiman (Russia), a first-team All-Ohio selection in high school who returns from a back injury that shelved him for the entire season; and 6-6 freshman Andrew Martin (New Albany), a 2-time all-district pick in high school. Freshman Kevin Sergeant (Sidney/Lehman Catholic) will provide additional depth.

"The strength of the team this year will be our returning post players," DeWitt said, "but we have a lot of guys who will contribute."

[ Kyle Holliday ] Senior Brian Cafarella (Westerville/North) and juniors Kyle Holliday (Van Wert) and Kyle Miller (Delaware/Hayes) will vie for the starting wing positions after solid seasons off the bench last year.

Cafarella emerged as one of the conference's top 3-point shooters, ranking third in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.441) and eighth in 3-point field goals (1.61/game). Holliday, a versatile player who has seen action both inside and outside, is the top returning scorer (6.9 points/game) and rebounder (3.0/game) at the wing spots. Miller proved to be a fine outside shooter in his first season at Ohio Wesleyan, hitting 3-pointers at a .424 clip on the way to 4.2 points per game.

Junior Mitch Noggle (Dublin/Coffman) also returns, and freshmen Dillon McBride (Medina) and Mike Schwartz (Upper Arlington) also should contribute. McBride was an all-district pick in high school, while Schwartz set high school season and career assist records.

"We have a lot of different options at the wing spots," DeWitt said. "There are 3 guys back who played a lot of minutes last year, and 2 freshmen who come from very good high school programs."

Senior Casey Teeters (Westerville/Columbus St. Charles) and sophomore Robby Gardiner (Dublin/Coffman) give Ohio Wesleyan solid veterans at the point guard spot.

Teeters ranked sixth in the conference in assists last season (2.62/game) and contributed 5.0 points per game, while Gardiner averaged nearly 2.0 assists per game in a reserve role.

Junior Ryan Willis (South Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) is back, and freshman Brady McCaffrey (Alpharetta, Ga./Marist) also will battle for playing time, with Schwartz able to fill in here if needed.

Ohio Wesleyan opens the season at the Midway Classic, facing a field that also includes Chicago, a 2007 NCAA Division III tournanment team, and Trinity (Texas), a 2006 NCAA tournament team. The Bishops then visit Rochester -- a preseason top-10 pick by Street & Smith -- for a tournament before visiting Heartland Conference tournament finalist Defiance. Ohio Wesleyan opens its home slate against traditional rival Capital, another 2007 NCAA tournament team, before jumping into the NCAC schedule by hosting 2007 NCAA Division III semifinalist Wooster. Otterbein's Smokey Ballenger Classic, featuring a competitive field of Albion, Hanover and Otterbein, rounds out of the non-conference schedule. Highlighting the NCAC schedule are a pair of dates against 2006 national runner-up Wittenberg and traditionally-tough Wabash, as well as a single game against up-and-coming Kenyon.