By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn men's basketball coach Brett Ballard knows you don't lose players like Tyler Geiman, Jalen Lewis and Jonny Clausing without feeling it.
But as the Ichabods prepare to open official practice on Saturday for the 2022-2023 season, Ballard feels good about the group he'll go to battle with.
Michael Keegan (23) is a top returner for Washburn men's basketball, which officially opens practice on Saturday. [File photo/TSN]
Brett Ballard's Washburn University men's basketball team is coming off a 22-11 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance last season. [File photo/TSN]
"When you loe guys who were as good of players as Geiman and Lewis and Clausing and as good of people as they were, it's always concerning,'' said Ballard, whose Ichabods went 22-11 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. "But I will say this about our returning core group of guys, they have been phenomenal, starting last spring.
"With our workouts last spring and this summer and with our fall stuff they have been really invested, really connected, great effort, attitude, all the things you look for, so that's really encouraging because you never know. You lose a group and you wonder what your culture's going to be like, but I'm really pleased with where this group is.''
Washburn will build this year's team around veterans like 6-foot-6 sophomore Michael Keegan, 6-3 junior Connor Deffebaugh, 6-3 junior Tyler Nelson and 6-4 sophomore Levi Braun.
Keegan averaged 9.4 points and 6.1 rebounds a year ago while Deffebaugh averaged 9.1 points and Nelson 6.5 points.
Braun, the former Hayden standout, averaged 4.1 points last season and connected on 32 3-pointers.
The Ichabods also return sophomores Jaden Monday (6-0 guard) and Andrew Orr (6-8 forward), who saw playing time last season as true freshman when Washburn was beset by early-season injuries.
"I think those guys are ready,'' Ballard said. "Jaden and Andrew both got a little bit of experience last year, which was good, and a lot of time you see the biggest jump between your freshman and sophomore year.
"I think that experience they got was good for them and they've learned from that. Both of them got better, both of them matured, and I think those guys will be a big part of what we do for sure.''
Washburn has also added nine newcomers, including four incoming freshmen, and Ballard said the WU veterans have done a good job of helping the newcomers get prepared for the upcoming season.
"They've been great,'' Ballard said. "I think it starts with leading themselves and making sure they''re prepared to go every day, which they have been, but they've been very good communicating with those guys and being an example for those guys and I'm happy with where our new guys are.
"The freshmen have come in and probably been as ready as any group we've had, just as far as handling what we've thrown at them so far.''
Several newcomers caught Ballard's eye in preseason workouts.
"So far I've been really impressed with Brady Christainsen, the kid from Lincoln, Neb.,'' Ballard said. "He has a college-ready body, he plays extremely hard, rebounds the ball at a high level and he's got a good foundation to his skill set so he's been good. Zaid Dajani, the kid from Olathe Northwest, has been very good. He plays really hard and has a good IQ and a good motor.
"Jordan Vincent, who sat out last year with a hip injury, is still not a 100-percent health-wise, but is getting closer. I think Jordan's another guy that handles the ball and has a feel and an IQ that we look for. Our other guys have been good, too, but those guys have stood out a little bit.''
Washburn will make its unofficial debut on Nov. 1 at Bramlage Coliseum with an exhibition game against Jerome Tang's Kansas State team.
"For us, we will have practiced two weeks going into that game so I want to go over there and play well,'' Ballard said. "I think we'll take whatever happens with a grain of salt because of the limited amount of real practices that we will have had, but I'm looking forward to it because I think that will be coach Tang's first game with a crowd so I would anticipate it woul be a pretty good atmosphere, which I think will be great for our guys to play in and this should be a lot of fun for sure.''
The Ichabods will officially open the year on Nov. 11 and 12 at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. against Henderson State and Augustana.
Washburn will play its home opener at Lee Arena on Nov. 16 against William Jewell.
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