It’s hard to believe, but college basketball season is almost here. This week, we’ll preview Michigan’s 11 NAIA schools.

By Patrick Hayes

At a glance

• Coach: Ryan Cottingham, 14th season
• Last year: 18-14, 9-9
• Conference: Mid-Central College Conference
• Key losses: Derek Belote, Caleb Byers
• Key additions: Greg Hamilton (freshman from Middleville), Jiles Neely (freshman from Milan), Xavier Prather (freshman from Gull Lake), Tyler Hughes (transfer from Lansing Community College)
• Team roster
• Team website
• Spring Arbor news on BallinMichigan

Overview

Spring Arbor only managed a .500 conference finish last season, but with virtually every key player back along with a solid recruiting class, the team could make a big move in the MCCC.

Strengths

The Cougars will score the ball. The top three scorers from last season are all back, including Chris Bellamy, who averaged 20.7 points per game. Bellamy shot 46 percent, including 43 percent from 3-point range. Bellamy was an All-American last season.

Also back are Rob Hogans (14.9 points per game) and Matt Howe (13.8 points per game).

Howe and Bellamy are also strong on the glass, averaging 6.8 and 5.9 rebounds per game respectively. Howe averaged just over one blocked shot per game and Bellamy averaged two steals per game.

Spring Arbor is a great long range shooting team. The Cougars made 38 percent of their 3-pointers collectively last season.

Weaknesses

Spring Arbor turned the ball over more than their opponents last season, which was costly for a team that was involved in a lot of close games.

Circle these dates …

• Nov. 27 – Spring Arbor takes on St. Francis, a team that finished one game higher in the standings. They split their matchups last season with Spring Arbor winning by 12 and losing by two.
• Dec. 1 – Marian finished two games ahead of Spring Arbor last season and won two out of three games against Spring Arbor.
• Jan. 2 – Grace finished tied for first in the league, three games in front of Spring Arbor last season. Grace won both meetings with the Cougars last season.
• Jan. 5 – Indiana Wesleyan tied for first in the league last season. Spring Arbor was 1-1 against them last season.

Outlook

With the talent they have returning, Spring Arbor should move into the league title conversation.

Previously

• Lawrence Tech Blue Devils prepare for reboot
• Marygrove makes move to Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference
• Siena Heights tries to turn around fortunes with new coach
• Bolstered by strong recruiting class, University of Michigan-Dearborn looking to escape WHAC cellar
• First-year coach hopes to help Concordia build on .500 WHAC finish
• Aquinas must replace a couple key players after solid season
• Madonna returns an All-American in its quest for WHAC title
• Cornerstone looks to overtake Davenport in the standings
• Can Davenport repeat as WHAC champs?
• Davenport picked as preseason WHAC favorite, two from Concordia, Madonna make preseason All-WHAC

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