Kankakee Times

The Kankakee Community College (KCC) men’s basketball team will begin its 2016-17 season on Nov. 1 at home against Elgin Community College.

The KCC Cavaliers finished last season with a 22-10 record. Despite a successful season, the team came up short with a disappointing loss in the Region IV Men's NJCAA tournament.

This year’s team will have 12 players on its active roster, including three veterans and nine freshmen. Two players are sitting out.

| Contributed photo

Second-year head coach Chris Gardner said this year’s team has more raw talent compared with last year’s team.

“Last year’s team would beat them, but the great part is that by the end of this season, this current team could be better than last year’s team,” Gardner said.

Gardner describes this team as having less ego.

“We had a lot of headstrong guys last year,” Gardner said. “You could factor that it was my first year as head coach. Those guys knew me as an assistant, so we had to get adjusted. I used to be the guy that they would lean on, but now I’m the guy who has to get on you too.”

Gardner said the sting of the playoff loss has made the team hungry to do something great this year.

The starting lineup has size in the front court with sophomores Latrell Tidwell (6-foot-7), Grant Billings (6-foot-9) and Simeon Lepichev (6-foot-10). The freshman back court is a question mark as to who is going to be the most consistent.

“They all did some good and bad things as expected in their first pre-season game action, so we have work to do,” Gardner said. “What I will appreciate this year is that we will be more detailed, and we’ll be fine tuning. The players make a conscious effort to rectify mistakes.”

The Cavaliers will be a good shooting team and drive the basketball, Gardner said.

“Our big guys can also stretch you out and can work you inside and outside," Gardner said. "We are a little bit smaller than last year, but what I am seeing is the new guys who are playing in multiple position spots are working hard on the little things, with the boxing out, rebounding, scrapping and getting on the floor. The guys are really prideful.”

The players are a tight-knit group, Gardner said.

“I think it is because there are so many freshmen,” Gardner said. “I think some of them knew each other, so they already had a relationship before. It seems like a good mix of guys. They are not trying to overpower anybody. Hopefully, the guys can stay humble and keep progressing every day. That should turn into some wins. Maybe we will break a few records like we did last year.”

Gardner said the schedule is tougher, but that it should be a fun and  interesting year.

“I think we will surprise some people because we will compete and play hard," Gardner said. "Hopefully, that translates into us getting us back to Hutchinson Kansas (the NJCAA National Tournament) for the first time in 16 years. That’s the goal.”

The team will wear throwback uniforms opening night to recognize the school’s 50th anniversary.

Gardner said the program teaches his players skills off the court.

“We stress a family environment,” Gardner said. “The game relates so much to life. We try to teach them how to prepare for games and how to prepare for class because essentially, those values will prepare them for life.”