2015-16 MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE 2015-16 McKENDREE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S WELCOME............................................................................ 2 DATE OPPONENT TIME McKENDREE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS ........................................................ 3 11/7 at Drake University (Exhibition) 4 p.m. THIS IS McKENDREE UNIVERSITY...........................................................4-5 11/10 ST. LOUIS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE (Exhibition) 7 p.m. HARRY M. STATHAM SPORTS CENTER .....................................................6-7 11/17 BLACKBURN COLLEGE 7 p.m. MEN’S BASKETBALL LOCKER ROOM ........................................................... 8 11/24 LINCOLN UNIVERSITY 7 p.m. McKENDREE SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTER .......................................... 9 11/25 ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY-SPRINGFIELD 7 p.m. 2015-16 McKENDREE MEN’S BASKETBALL .........................................10-27 11/28 at Trevecca Nazarene University 4 p.m. Head Coach Harry Statham ..............................................................10-11 Bearcat Coaching Staff......................................................................... 12 12/3 @ University of Southern Indiana* 7:30 p.m. Roster ................................................................................................... 14 12/5 @ Bellarmine University* 3:15 p.m. ET Season Outlook ................................................................................16-17 12/9 CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COLLEGE 7 p.m. Brandon Book/John Murphy/David Newton .......................................... 18 12/12 TREVECCA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY 7 p.m. A.J. Schmidt/Shaquille Branch/Cory Crews ......................................... 19 12/16 SALEM INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 7 p.m. David Franklin/Michael Jackson/Brian Koch ....................................... 20 Darin Winkelman/Kyle Yates/Robert Hudson ....................................... 21 1/2 ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY-PEORIA 7 p.m. Nolan Gerling/Nate Michael/Troy Pedtke ............................................. 22 1/7 @ Truman State University* 7:30 p.m. 2015-16 Opponents .........................................................................24-27 1/9 @ Quincy University* 3:15 p.m. LOOKING BACK ...................................................................................28-38 1/14 WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE* 7:30 p.m. 2014-15 Season in Review.................................................................... 28 1/16 ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY* 3 p.m. Harry Statham -- Men’s College Basketball’s All-Time Wins Leader ...... 29 1/18 @ University of Illinois at Springfield* 7:30 p.m. 2014-15 Season Results ....................................................................... 30 1/21 @ Saint Joseph’s College* 7:30 p.m. 2014-15 Season Statistics.................................................................... 31 1/23 @ University of Indianapolis* 3:15 p.m.ET Bearcat Record Book ........................................................................32-37 1/28 UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE* 7:30 p.m. Nate Clay Memorial Award .................................................................... 38 1/30 LEWIS UNIVERSITY* 3 p.m. BEARCAT BOOSTERS ............................................................................... 39 2015-16 McKENDREE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE ............................ 40 2/4 @ University of Missouri-St. Louis* 7:30 p.m. 2/6 @ Maryville University* 3 p.m. 2/11 MISSOURI S & T* 7:30 p.m. 2/13 DRURY UNIVERSITY* 3 p.m. 2/18 BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY* 7:30 p.m. 2/20 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA* 3 p.m. 2/25 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD* 7:30 p.m. 2/28 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament -- Opening Round TBA 3/3-6 Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament -- Final Site (St. Charles, Mo.) TBA Home games in BOLD CAPS All times are Central unless otherwise noted and subject to change CREDITS The 2015-16 McKendree University Men’s Basketball Recruiting and Media Guide is a production of the McKendree University Office of Sports Information. It was written and edited by Scott Cummings, Bearcat statue located in front of Holman Library on the McKendree campus. Sports Information Director, and designed by Eric Buck, Assistant Sports Information Director. Additional editorial assistance was provided by the McKendree University men’s basketball coaching staff. Cover design by Chris Luth. Printing by Proforma Collegiate Solutions of Cleveland, Ohio. PHOTOGRAPHY Photos by Christine Gill, Scott Cummings and Eric Buck. Additional photos provided by McKendree Office of University Communications. #BearcatsUnleashed 1 MCKENDREE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. JAMES M. DENNIS Twenty-one years after Dr. James M. Dennis became the 32nd president of McKendree Greetings, University, his efforts to dramatically improve the campus landscape and community continue The 2015-16 men’s basketball season at McKendree University to reap great dividends. Dr. Dennis has led will be both memorable and historic on many fronts, and the McKendree to record growth in the academic anticipation of what lies ahead has been building for months. strength of faculty and students, academic Coach Harry Statham, his staff and players have been busy programs, enrollment, on-campus residence, preparing for the new year, and they will provide us with many fundraising, construction, athletics and co- thrilling moments throughout the season. curricular activities. Coach Statham has built a tradition of success at McKendree During Dr. Dennis’s tenure, McKendree’s through his ability to recruit student-athletes of high character, growing reputation has garnered national his long-standing recognition of talent on the basketball attention. Prestigious publications and court, and the unwavering dedication he has shown to his alma mater. The 2015-16 season will organizations, including U.S. News & World mark the 50th year that Coach Statham has been our men’s basketball coach. We take time to Report, America’s 100 Best College Buys® applaud Coach Statham not only for this tremendous milestone, but for the influence he has had and Colleges of Distinction, have recognized over the years. He is more than just the all-time wins leader in men’s college basketball history. McKendree for delivering a high-quality Harry Statham represents all that is right in the world of intercollegiate athletics, and has long undergraduate education. McKendree University been a shining light for McKendree University. also has been honored for seven straight years as one of the country’s “Great Colleges to Work The University as a whole is experiencing a wonderful period of growth, and we know that you For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education and will continue to stand alongside our student-athletes as they make us proud both on and off the a “Military Friendly School” by Victory Media. courts and playing fields with their efforts. It is a great time to be part of McKendree, and we Under Dr. Dennis’s leadership, McKendree has hope to see you on campus in the coming months and years. expanded its academic course offerings to 48 undergraduate majors and graduate degree Go Bearcats! programs in education, business administration, nursing and professional counseling. In 2011, McKendree began to offer a doctoral program in education in curriculum design and instruction. Sincerely, Successful fundraising campaigns have enabled Dr. Dennis to dramatically enhance James M. Dennis the McKendree landscape. His contributions President include new construction of academic, fine arts, athletic buildings, and residence halls and the renovation of historic campus buildings, Dr. Dennis is actively involved with numerous Presidents. In 1993, Dr. Dennis was awarded including Bothwell Chapel and Ames Dining professional and civic organizations. He a J. William Fulbright Fellowship to study in Hall. In 2014, a dramatic new entrance to currently serves on the executive board of the Germany and examine the German system of campus was dedicated and a Bearcat statue Council of Independent Colleges, the Associated higher education. was unveiled. Colleges of Illinois, and the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. Dr. Dennis’s commitment to youth and young Dr. Dennis is a leader in promoting volunteer adults is evident in his volunteer projects. He was service opportunities for college students and is a founder of the National Youth Program, which the past president of Illinois Campus Compact, offers educational and sports opportunities to an organization dedicated to volunteerism. disadvantaged young people and he founded Locally, he serves on the Leadership Council for Educational Seminars, which provides learning Southwestern Illinois and is on the boards of the opportunities for high school and college World Affairs Council and Memorial Hospital- educators throughout the country. Dedicated in East. his efforts to build a diverse campus community, Dr. Dennis actively promotes initiatives Dr. Dennis has lifelong ties to higher that encourage greater understanding and education. He grew up across the street from sensitivity. He continues to be a champion of Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., where providing qualified students the opportunity for his father was a highly regarded member of a high quality college education. the faculty. In 1966, Dr. Dennis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Occidental. He went on to earn his Ph.D. at the University of Southern California. In addition, he attended the Claremont