Call it the Pioneer youth movement.
As the University of Denver men’s and women’s basketball teams begin their quests to bounce back from turbulent 2014-15 seasons, both programs will rely on an influx of young talent to make major contributions.
On the men’s side, coach Joe Scott said 13 of the 17 players on his roster are underclassmen. Among that bunch are nine freshmen, including 6-foot-5 former Denver area standouts Jake Holtzmann (Chaparral) and Thomas Neff (Arvada West).
“For us this year, our operative word is we are young, young, young,” Scott said during the Summit League’s media day teleconference Wednesday. “It’s going to be about how quickly we can get old and older and oldest. That’s going to be the battle for us.”
Hotlzmann was named to the Denver Post all-Colorado team last season after averaging 17.2 points per game for Chaparral. Neff was an all-5A player for Arvada West. Scott is also excited about the potential of 6-foot-7 freshman forward C.J. Bobbitt of Harker Heights, Texas, and 6-foot-3 freshman guard Joe Rosga out of St. Paul, Minn. It’s a group that will try to help the Pioneers rebound from a 12-18 season that featured a 6-10 mark in league play.
The women’s team has five sophomores and four freshmen, including former Pueblo West standout Haley Simental, a 5-foot-8 guard who coach Kerry Cremeans said has already injected a jolt of energy into the program.
“Just a kid with a lot of swagger as a freshman,” said Cremeans, whose team was 8-23 overall last season and 5-11 in the Summit League. “Her teammates enjoy playing with her. She provides spunk on the court, defensively and offensively. It’s been a lot of fun to coach her. A kid like that, they don’t come around all the time.”
That’s not to say the two programs don’t return some veteran talent. Paige Bradley, the lone senior on the women’s side, averaged 12.7 points per game last season, is a preseason all-league selection. And Scott will turn to the leadership of senior stalwarts Marcus Byrd and Nate Engesser, two more former Colorado prep players.
But make no mistake, in college basketball patience is rarely a luxury. Young faces will be expected to contribute for both programs as they try to climb back up the league ladder.
“The best part about it is you get the youthfulness, you get the energy,” Scott said. “They are great listeners and they want to get better. Our staff knows what the challenges are, so that presents clear and concise teaching methods. It’s refreshing to go out there and get back to the basics of who we are as a program.”
The Denver men open their season on Nov. 13 against Milwaukee in the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara, Calif. The women will open up at home that same day against Northern Colorado.
nkosmider@denverpost.com or @NickKosmider
