COAST GUARD BASKETBALL / 2018-19 PREVIEWS

MEN

Coach: Kevin Jaskiewicz (10th season) Key returnees: Jr. G Packy Witkowski, Jr. F Noah Baldez, Jr. F Justin Kane, Jr. G Sean Graytok, Sr. G Bryce Schroeder, Jr. G Jason Frazer, Sr. G Luke Daniels, Sr. F Nolan Benson. Top newcomers: Fr. G Garrett Drummond, Fr. F Tyler Perez.

Outlook: The Bears haven't had a winning season since reaching the NCAA Division III Elite 8 in 2007-08, but Jaskiewicz believes this could be a breakout year for Coast Guard, which returns all five starters from a team that went 11-12 overall and 3-11 in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference a year ago, but were competitive all season with an offense that averaged 77.7 pointers per game and let the NEWMAC with 38 rebounds per game. "The roster is as deep as I've had in my 10 years here," said Jaskiewicz, whose team opens on Thursday against Roger Williams, "and they are comfortable in what we are doing and that is important this year with the shortened preseason." ... CGA returns its top three scorers in Witkowski (16.8), Baldez (13.2) and Kane (13-1). The 6-foot4 Witkowski is a matchup nightmare in the backcourt who also led the Bears in 3-pointers (33), 3-point field goal percentage (41.5) and free throw percentage (78.6). Baldez shot 57.1 percent from the floor with 52 assists and 37 steals, while Kane led Bears in rebounding (8.6) and had six double-doubles. "We have a guys who can score 30 in a game and we more than half our roster has scored in double figures in a game," Jaskiewicz said. "We want to play a lot of guys, play at a very fast pace and to do that, we need those guys be productive and we have the ability to do that."

WOMEN

Coach: Alex Ivansheck (7th year) Key returnees: Sr. G-F Micaela Martinelli, Sr. F Johanna Moolenaar, Jr. G Zoe Riis-Fallica, Jr. F Breanna Wood, Jr. F Laura Irish, So. G Brenna Farrington, So. G Annabella Farabaugh. Top newcomers: Fr. G Julia Guerrero, Fr. G Kyra Hartman, Fr. F Emma Puddington, Fr. F Katie White.

Outlook: Ivansheck has led the Bears to the NEWMAC tournament in each of her first six seasons, and expects to make another run at the postseason this winter with the return of three starters and a talented freshman class . ... Martinelli averaged a team-high 12.6 pointers last year during a 13-13 season, and also made a team-best 56 3-pointers . ... Riis-Fallica will run the offense as point guard while Moolenaar started 23 games at forward. "Micaela and Zoe bring great leadership to this team on and off the court," said Ivansheck, whose Bears open the season on Saturday at UMass Boston. "Those two playing well will be a key to how successful we can be this season." ... Ivansheck also said she expects all four freshman to press the returning players for playing time, improving CGA's depth. "We are going to be smaller, faster and a more up tempo team than we've been in the past," she said. "We are looking forward to getting started."