The Monmouth College men’s basketball team is eager to get its first win of the season with several new faces, including head coach, Mark Vershaw. The Scots are hoping to put up the first “W” of the season this Saturday, Dec. 8 at home against Central College.

For the first time in 35 seasons, the Scots are playing under a new head coach. Terry Glasgow, the Scots’ former head coach, whose all-time record at Monmouth was 469-313, retired after the end of last season.

Even though the Scots are winless this season, the team has worked hard in practice all season long. Kyle Weyeneth, a junior forward for the Scots, said, “The more we play in practice, the more everybody pulls together as a group. We are on the verge of some wins because we are very confident in ourselves. Since we’ve been together, we have become more acceptable to Coach Vershaw’s game plan.”

The Scots have many returning contributors from last season. Weyeneth said, “A large number of upperclassmen returning is always beneficial.”

Returning seniors for the team include: Jesse Haskett, Bob Hoffman, Andy Moore, Brett Peurach, Blaise Rogers, Scott Scholten, Joe Terwelp and Wes Wrage.

The Scots have many freshmen this season and among the new faces are: Eric Grant, Corey Gruber, Robbie Hinkle, Fletcher Morgan, Alex Tanney and Quinn Wilkin.

Terwelp, the Scots’ returning leading scorer and rebounder, averaged 16.7 points-per-game and 6.6 rebounds last season.

Rogers, a returning starter from last year, is out of action due to a broken bone in his foot. Rogers, a huge impact player, is expected to get back on the court shortly.

Moore and Haskett return as starters who will give the Scots momentum as they push forward to the second half of the season.

The Scots have played three conference games and three non-conference games so far. “We had tough non-conference schedule games to start the season off. However, we have experience now, which gives us momentum going into the second half of the season,” added Weyeneth.

Starting Jan. 8, 2008, the Scots will play the remaining 13 conference games. “When it comes to conference play, we should match up a little better,” said Weyeneth.

On Nov. 24, the team hosted St. Ambrose University and lost 80-76. In Monmouth’s third game, they lost to Robert Morris College 79-52 on Nov. 25. The Scots’ next three games were all conference games, including a loss to Carroll College at home 83-78.

On Dec. 1, the team lost to Lawrence University 90-75 at home. The Scots’ latest game was on Dec. 5 at home against Grinnell College, and the men lost 100-80. Overall, the Scots are 0-5, with a 0-3 conference mark.

The team has much to look forward to in the upcoming games. Tanney is leading the Scots in points, averaging 15 points-per-game. Terwelp is next, averaging 13.

Long-range shooters, Scholten and Tanney, are a combined 25 of 56 from beyond the arch.

The Scots next game is on Saturday, Dec. 8 at home, against Central College. “We have a lot of guys off the bench who play with energy, we just need to carry that success into the second half of the season,” added Weyeneth.

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