GAME PROGRAM by Scott Ward

WHAT'S INSIDE HOT READS 2 Month at a glance 6 Out of Nowhere

Junior-transfer Derrick Barden was an unknown around these parts six months ago. Now? He’s a starter for the Bears and is a terror for opponents on the boards.

8 Hardly Tiny Tim

Sophomore Tim Huskisson admits he’s a bit surprised by the level of impact he’s made in such a short time at Northern Colorado. He credits coaching—on the court and in the

weight room—for his rapid rise.

30 History of Madness

PAUL DORWEILER / PAUL DORWEILER PHOTOGRAPHY

‘GAMEDAY’ CREDITS PUBLISHING NOTES

PRINTING

Bears Gameday is the official 2012-13 Northern Colorado Bears Gameday is updated and will be available five times Men’s Basketball program. throughout the 2012-13 season. Printing is performed by Bears Gameday is published by the Northern Colorado AlphaGraphics. Special thanks to Matt Brunner, Jeanette Athletics’ Creative Services office and is managed by Scott Errett and Ivree Monroe of AlphaGraphics. Ward, director. Assistance provided by Zach Bond of Athletics SPECIAL NOTE Communications. Domestic logistics provided by Sarah Ward. Purchase price for Bears Gameday is $5 and all proceeds PHOTOGRAPHY benefit Northern Colorado Basketball. To advertise in this Photography provided by Paul Dorweiler (Paul Dorweiler monthly in-season publication contact Ray Vasquez at 970Photography), Eric Bellamy, Barry Lapoint, Woody Myers 351-1162 (ray.vasquez@unco.edu) or Menan Bergman at (University Relations) and Dean Popejoy. 970-347-7977 (menan.bergman@unco.edu).

Brush up on your history of the Bears and the NCAA Tournament. Did you know UNC has been to four NCAA regionals and one “Big Dance?”

DEPARTMENTS 11 UNC President Kay Norton 12 AD Jay Hinrichs 14 Head coach B.J. Hill 16 Bears coaching staff 22 Meet the Bears 24 Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion 27 UNC Hall of Fame 29 UNC Roundball Club appreciation list 31 Bears Record Book 48 ‘At the Buzzer’

JANUARY HOME GAMES

MONTH AT A GLANCE

G TATE UNRUH

JANUARY 10

JANUARY 12

G JAMIE STEWART

C WILL CHERRY

ONE OF OUR OWN

COMING ATTRACTION

TATE UNRUH Jr. - #15 - Branson, Mo.

JAMIE STEWART Sr. - #1 - Detroit, Mich.

WILL CHERRY Sr. - #5 - West Oakland, Calif.

Is one of the Bears’ top weapons, coming into January averaging 9.6 points per game and averaging a team-best 29 minutes per contest ... Scored in double figures in four straight games between Nov. 21 and Dec. 5 ... Led Northern Colorado last season and ranked 15th in the Big Sky with 11.3 points per game ... Is one of the best free-throw shooters in Missouri high school history ... Hit 97 percent from the stripe last season ... Was a 2009 McDonald’s All-American nominee at Branson High School.

Like Northern Colorado junior Derrick Barden, Stewart calls The Motor City ‘home’ and is a junior-college transfer to coach Brad Huse’s program from Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Mich. ... Played in first 12 games of last year’s campaign before losing eligibility at the semester break ... Entered January scoring at a 9.4 points-per-game clip ... Was a two-year standout at Henry Ford, earning NJCAA All-America honors ... Like the Bears’ Unruh, was a McDonald’s All-American nominee at Clarenceville High School.

Injured foot in pick-up game in late September and didn’t play until early last month ... Began senior year as the all-time leader in school history in career steals ... Has been a member of two Griz teams (2009-10; 2011-12) that have advanced to the NCAA Tournament ... Holds Big Sky postseason record with 20 career steals ... Coming off a junior year that landed him on the Lou Henson Mid-Major All-American team and as a first-team All-Big Sky selection ... Finished fourth in Big Sky in scoring last year (15.8 ppg).

JANUARY 17

JANUARY 19

JANUARY 31

F RENADO PARKER

G JEFFREY FORBES

COACH BILL EVANS

COMING ATTRACTION

RENADO PARKER Sr. - #30 - Kent, Wash.

JEFFREY FORBES Sr. - #22 - Federal Way, Wash.

BILL EVANS First season at Idaho State

Came into the year as the primary offensive option inside for the Vikings ... A big, strong back-to-the-basket presence who can score, rebound and defend ... Shoots a high percentage and is very tough to defend beacuse of his power ... Came to the Viks after a standout two seasons at North Idaho Junior College ... Ended the 2012 calendar year averaging 11.8 points per game ... Scored double figures in seven of Portland State’s first nine games of the year ... Has three brothers and is majoring in Health Studies.

Entered the year ranked ninth in school history in career steals, and was also fourth in 3-pointers made and attempted ... Was struggling a bit at the end of December, averaging just five points per game and shooting just 32 percent from the field ... Finished 10th in the Big Sky last season in minutes played ... Scored 21 points and had a steal and an assist in the final 37 seconds to seal the Eagles’ 81-75 win against Idaho State in last year’s Big Sky quarterfinals ... Born in New Orleans ... Dad’s name is also Jeffrey.

Was appointed Idaho State’s 22nd head coach on March 8, 2012 ... Is in his 34th year of collegiate coaching ... Was an assistant coach at Montana the past four years and was the head coach at Southern Utah from 1992 to 2007 ... Is the winningest coach in Southern Utah history with 209 victories ... Guided Southern Utah to the 2001 NCAA Tournament where they lost 67-64 to No. 9 Boston College ... Also has was head coach at Alaska-Anchorage from 1986 to 1990 ... Evans and his wife, Sunny, have five children.

FROM THE COVER

ebounding is not always a glorious aspect of basketball. A good rebound isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as a high-arching jumper or a seeing-eye bounce pass, but its importance to a team’s success has never been debated. A good rebounding team often controls the game’s tempo and can give its offense more possessions through good work on the offensive glass. Being a good rebounder involves doing the dirty work of banging inside for position, boxing out and constantly maneuvering to grab any wayward shot. In short, rebounding takes a workmanlike mentality, and, luckily for Northern Colorado’s men’s basketball program, Derrick Barden brings his hard hat and lunch pail to work every day. For Bears fans, Barden entered this season as an unknown. A transfer from Odessa Junior College in Texas, the junior forward entered the Northern Colorado program this year and found himself immediately thrust into action as he started the season opener against Southwest and all but one other game this season for the Bears through the

end of the 2012 calendar year. While fans may have not known who Barden was in that opening win over Southwest, it didn’t take long for them to pick up what was so special about him. Against Southwest, Barden finished with 12 points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. The next game, Barden’s first road test in a Northern Colorado uniform, he showed off how good he could be on the glass as he pulled down a team-high nine rebounds against Cal Poly. That game against the Mustangs marked the first time Barden led the team in rebounding, but it certainly won’t be his last. At the time of publication, Barden had already led the team in rebounding five times with his best game on the boards coming in a tough road loss in early December to UC Riverside. In that game, his first-career double-double, Barden scored 11 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. That night’s rebounding effort ranked as the second-highest rebound total of any Big Sky player in a single game this season.

CONTINUES ON PG 42

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

TIM HUSKISSON

SOPHOMORE n FORWARD n WILLARD, MO. n 6-5 n 190 n ENTERED JANUARY WITH 27 CAREER STARTS BEARS GAMEDAY: Well, first of all: We like to start these things off with an easy question. So, how’s your second year as a Bear gone? TIM HUSKISSON: “I definitely feel like the game is starting to slow down for me. It’s kind of one of those things where your freshman year you go in with a lot of excitement and anxiety, and it was evident, at times, when I was really kind of just nervous, because I wanted to do well. And being the young guy on the court—we have a lot of redshirt guys, so they may be a sophomore, but they are academic juniors— so with that, I was definitely the youngest guy on the court, like every night. With that I gained some much-needed experience, and some maturity, and just time has allowed me to develop as a player, in terms of my body, and my skillset.” BG: That said, how important was this past offseason for you? Your reputation as a weight room workhorse is pretty prevalent.

Born: Dec. 11, 1992, in Springfield, Mo. Family: Parents (David and Marilyn Huskisson) and two brothers (David and Jonathan) and two sisters (Tina and Anna). Ya don’t say! Was an Associated Press Missouri Class 5 All-State selection as a senior ... Grew from 6-2 to 6-5 just prior to senior year ... Chose Northern Colorado overs Oral Roberts, Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois and Missouri State ... One of three Missouri prep players on UNC roster.

TH: “It was very important. With my legs—you know, lower body—that has come over time, just being on the court. With my athleticism I was able to keep up last year from the waist down, but there are plays in basketball where you really need that upper-body strength, where you have to bang, and I didn’t have that last year. There would be times last year where I would be driving, and I would have to get low, and I was going off the guy’s shoulder, and he was just driving me right out the lane, and that was really uncomfortable for me, because I was getting kind of thrown around, and I didn’t like that at all. “So, [strength coach] Zach [Margolis] and I after the season started this program, which included a ‘Beach Body’ workout day. We would work out like normal during the rest of the week, but on Saturdays, or whatever day, we would

go in and lift just upper body, whether it was my shoulders, back, chest, arms, those things. We call them the ‘Show Muscles.’ I wanted to work those out because I felt like those were the areas where I was lacking physically. And I felt my body starting to develop immediately after that. It was about starting to eat big, too. Zach’s all about that. After our ‘Beach’ days we would go somewhere and he would make sure I had a big order and that everything was off my plate. So, that kind of helped me out. And then when I went home, having divorced parents helped with that, too, because there were two dinners if I wanted. I was like, ‘Zach is going to love this!’ So, I would go eat at my mom’s house, and then I would call my dad and be like, ‘Dad, I’m coming over. You got something to eat?’ So that kind of helped, too—just that mentality that for now, ‘This is my job.’ BG: You’ve started nearly half your games at UNC already and are kind of looked at as one of the veterans, even though you’re a sophomore. Did you think you would have that much of an impact here so quickly?” TH: “In high school every guy thinks they are the man. It’s one of those things where when you bring us together you can really tell that mentality existed with each and every one of us before we got here. I had a lot of people in my corner, though, [before coming to Northern Colorado] who just said, ‘Have the openness to learn and grow and be coachable.’ And, so, for me, it was one of those things where I felt like … I mean, I knew I was going to learn concepts and that kind of thing, but I didn’t feel comfortable with my body—it goes back to that. I didn’t feel confident, and I actually asked [Northern Colorado] Coach [B.J. Hill] to redshirt me, but he actually wanted me to play right away. That gave me confidence, because I knew that this was the

CONTINUES ON PG 47

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KAY NORTON UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT WELLESLEY COLLEGE; DENVER COLLEGE OF LAW n

Hired: July 2002 Family: Husband (Tom), five children, three grandchildren

ay Norton is the 12th president in the history of the University of Northern Colorado, and she has lived in Greeley for more than three decades. She is a vocal advocate for public higher education and for building strong and sustainable university-community relationships. During her tenure as President, the university has received the prestigious Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Preparation, and Monfort College of Business became

the first and only business college in the country to earn the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Also, during her presidency Northern Colorado’s Department of Athletics moved to Division I of the NCAA, and the University Symphony Orchestra and Jazz band have both repeatedly been honored as the best in the nation. A native of Oklahoma and graduate of Wellesley College and the University of Denver College of Law, President Norton says her college experience taught her how to think and question. She values the personal relationships and individualized experiences she gained, both inside and outside the classroom, and she says she is proud that Northern Colorado offers its students that same kind of personal experience. “We are not a mega-school,” Norton said during her 2008 State of the University Address. “We are a place that makes education personal.”

Before coming to UNC, Norton practiced law for more than 20 years, in both government and private business settings. She was appointed to the UNC Board of Trustees in 1995 and served as vice chair of the Board until 1998, when she joined the university’s staff as Vice President for University Affairs, General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Trustees. In 2002, Norton was appointed Northern Colorado’s first female president. She serves on the board of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the AASCU Commission on Presidential Leadership and Global Competitiveness, the Systems Transformation Subcommittee of the Governor’s P-20 Council, and the boards of directors for StarTek Inc., Upstate Colorado Economic Development, the Greeley Downtown Development Authority, Getsmart Schools and the International Student Exchange Program. She is also a member of the University of Denver Issues Panel on immigration.

ADMINISTRATION

JAY HINRICHS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS KANSAS (1980, 1983) n

Hired: Aug. 23, 2004 Family: Wife (Julie) and son (Jared) Alma mater: Kansas

n eight years as the Director of Athletics at the University of Northern Colorado, Jay Hinrichs has reshaped the historic and tradition-rich profile and advanced the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics into NCAA Division I membership for all 19 sport programs and athletic-support departments while instilling a Championship Culture at Northern Colorado and an eye for the future of the Bears. Hinrichs was named the Director of Athletics on August 23, 2004. Since his hiring, Hinrichs has directed the NCAA reclassification and certification process to Division I, added the men’s cross country

and indoor track and field programs for men and women, while securing membership for the Bears in the Big Sky Conference and other conferences for non-Big Sky sports. He has also led two facility renovation and expansion projects totaling $31 million. Athletic and academic facility upgrades and renovations have been a staple under Hinrichs. Included in a 2005 student-fee funded $16 million facility expansion and renovation project were seating and scoreboard improvements to Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion, the reconstruction of historic Jackson Stadium and the addition of a state-of-the-art Field House for the baseball and women’s soccer programs, and the renovation of Butler-Hancock Sports Complex -- including new tennis courts, a field house, new lighted synthetic and natural-grass practice and intramural sports fields, the construction of a new indoor climate controlled Practice Center for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball and a new east side Plaza Concourse and 2,500 seat expansion for Nottingham Field. A $15 million project was then completed on Butler-Hancock Athletics Center in August 2010, expanding and improving the Home of the Bears into one of the best student-athlete facilities in the Big Sky. Included were significant upgrades to academic areas, a new and four-times larger strength and conditioning center, the new Dan Libera Athletic Training Center, 16 new team rooms and the first Northern Colorado Athletics Hall of Fame and Sports Museum. The athletic exploits of the Northern Colorado student-athletes under Hinrichs are small when compared to their academic accomplishments. Northern Colorado has led the Big Sky Conference in graduation rates each of the last four seasons, and women’s basketball, volleyball, swimming & diving and the men’s golf teams were recently honored by their respective national coaching organizations for team GPAs. Challenged with growing the Department of Athletics’ budget to match its new standing in NCAA Division I, Hinrichs has grown the Bears’ annual budget to more than nine million

dollars. To that end, Northern Colorado Athletics fundraising has also undergone an expansion under Hinrichs -- it now includes components to Major Gifts, Special Events, sport-specific gifts, endowments, capital gifts to improve and maintain athletic facilities for the demands of tomorrow and the Blue and Gold annual fund. Head coaching hires and multi-year retention packages under Hinrichs’ watch have included Lyndsey (Benson) Oates, who has led the Bears Volleyball to four Big Sky Championships in three seasons; B.J. Hill, who led the men’s basketball program to its first-ever NCAA Tournament in 2011; Jaime White, who led the women’s basketball program to its first-ever Big Sky Championship in 2011; and former softball coach Mark Montgomery, who, in his first year at Northern Colorado, was honored as 2011 Co-PCSC Coach of the Year. Before coming to Greeley, Hinrichs worked at the University of Kansas and, before that, served 18 years in three senior-management positions for the Kansas City Royals, including Director of Stadium Operations, Assistant General Manager and Vice President for Ballpark Operations and Development. Hinrichs has served as a board of directors member and Chairman of the Board of the Kansas and Western Missouri affiliate of the National Kidney Foundation and as a Board member of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. He was also on the advisory board of Imaging Solutions Company in Wichita, Kansas, prior to his move to Northern Colorado, and he recently completed his third term on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Weld County and has been appointed to the organization’s Executive Council and was recently named to the NCAA Academic Cabinet. Hinrichs earned a bachelor’s degree in personnel administration and psychology from the University of Kansas in 1980 before earning a master’s in business administration from KU in 1983. He is married to the former Julie Miller of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and their son Jared is 14 and attends Greeley Northridge High School.

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COACHING STAFF

B.J. HILL HEAD COACH THIRD SEASON GRAND VIEW (1996), S. DAKOTA ST. (2001) n

Hired: April 19, 2010 Age: 39 Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa Family: Wife, Eliza; son, Nathan; daughter, Alana Twitter: @coachbjhill Web site: coachbjhill.com COACHING EXPERIENCE Year Position 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-05 2005-06 2006-08 2008-10 2010-pres.

Assistant coach Assistant coach Assistant coach Assistant coach Assistant coach Assistant coach Assoc. head coach Head coach

School North Iowa Area CC Independence CC South Dakota State Coffeyville CC Indian Hills CC Northern Colorado Northern Colorado Northern Colorado

.J. Hill is entering his third season at the helm of the Northern Colorado men’s basketball program. After guiding the Bears to their first Division NCAA Tournament in his first year as head coach and spending last season molding a promising, exciting group of young players into potential Big Sky stars, there is plenty of excitement surrounding Hill’s third season. Already, Hill has coached four All-Big Sky performers while serving as the Bears’ head coach and coached five others while on the Northern Colorado coaching staff. Hill and the rest off his staff will undoubtedly hope a few new players continue that pattern of All-Big Sky performances as the Bears head into 2012 with plenty of experience as just one big-time contributor (Mike Proctor) from last year’s squad isn’t back. There’s also plenty of talent coming back as, behind Hill’s coaching, last season’s Bears put up the best three-point shooting percentage (44.4) in the nation -- ahead of traditional powers like Indiana (second at 43.1%) and Creighton (third at 42.4%). The Bears’ three-point shooting prowess was led by sophomores Paul Garnica (48.5%) and Tate Unruh (46.2%), who first and second, respectively, in the Big Sky in three-point shooting percentage. In Hill’s second year, the Bears finished with a 9-19 (5-11 Big Sky) mark but saw continued improvement surrounding a team filled with young players. Aside from one senior (Mike Proctor) all of Hill’s contributing players at the end of last season were either freshmen or sophomores. Hill, who served as Northern Colorado’s associate head men’s basketball coach during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons and was a top Bears assistant for two years before that, was named Northern Colorado’s 18th head basketball coach on April 19, 2010. In his first year on the job, Hill led Northern Colorado to its first Big Sky Conference regular-season and postseason titles and its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bears drew a No. 15 seed in the 2011 March Madness and faced second-seeded San Diego State in the tournament’s second round in Tucson, Ariz. Northern Colorado hung with the Aztecs into the second half before falling 68-50 at McKale Center. Hill was honored as the 2011 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year and landed on numerous national coaching postseason award lists. His 21-11 mark in his first year at the helm was the most first-year wins of any of the previous 17 Northern Colorado head basketball coaches. In Hill’s four years as a Bears assistant, Northern Colorado men’s basketball improved from a team that finished dead last in 2007 in the final NCAA RPI report to a team in 2010 that won 25 games (25-8) and set the school record for most victories in a single season. Northern Colorado qualified for its first NCAA Division I postseason berth in 2009 (Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinals) before advancing in 2010 to the Big Sky Conference semifinals and then making an appearance in the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). In Hill, who came to the Bears after a successful assistant coaching career at various stops in South Dakota, Kansas and Iowa, Northern Colorado secured a tireless recruiter, a passionate basketball man and a great ambassador for the University of Northern Colorado community. With Hill’s promotion, Northern Colorado athletics affirmed its commitment to building a successful NCAA Division I basketball program that matches the level of the University of Northern Colorado’s academics and carrying on a tradition of winning on the court and in the classroom. “We all think that continuity in a sports program is paramount to its success,” Northern Colorado athletic director Jay Hinrichs said shortly after Hill’s introduction. “It was critical that we follow through with our multiyear succession plan to ensure stability throughout our men’s basketball program and not miss a beat in the development of our student-athletes.”

NORTHERN COLORADO’S ‘FIRST FAMILY OF BASKETBALL’

Hill, 36, replaced Tad Boyle, now the head coach at Colorado. “This is an unbelievable opportunity,” Hill said. “I want to thank Jay Hinrichs, President (Kay) Norton and everybody involved who believed in me. I also want to thank Tad Boyle. I’m extremely excited, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to carry on what Coach (Boyle) started and carrying it on to the next level. “I’m not going to be much different as the head coach as I have been as an assistant these past four years. I’m going to demand that our players play hard and try to get better every day. That’s all I know how to do. It’s worked so far, and I know it’s going to continue to work. We’re going to continue to strive to bring in the high-character and high-talent student-athletes that this program has been able to get in the past and will in the future, and that’s going to help us keep this basketball program going and take it to new levels.”

Prior to coming to Greeley, Hill worked as an assistant at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, where he worked alongside coach Jeff Kidder and with former Bears standouts Jabril Banks and Robert Palacios. Hill helped the Warriors to a 25-6 overall record and second-place finish in the Iowa Conference in 2006. Indian Hills was ranked as high as No. 3 nationally during the season and won seven more games than the previous year’s squad. Before his time at Indian Hills, Hill coached five seasons at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, working with head coach Jay Herkelman. In Hill’s tenure, the Red Ravens won five consecutive Jayhawk East Conference titles and three straight Region VI championships and had a combined record of 146-33 (.816 winning percentage) and advanced to the 2002 NJCAA National Championship game. Hill spent the 1999-2000 season at South Dakota

State University, where he helped the Jackrabbits to the NCAA Division II national tournament and a 21-9 overall record. SDSU finished second place in the North Central Conference that season and played a game against Northern Colorado in Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion. Hill was an assistant coach at Independence Community College during the 1998-99 season, helping the team to a 22-10 record and second-place finish in the Jayhawk East Conference. He started coaching during the 1997-98 season at North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) in Mason City, Iowa, where he was a standout player in the early 90s. A native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Hill played basketball at NIACC and at Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grand View in 1996 and his master’s degree in athletic administration from South Dakota State in 2001.

COACHING STAFF

RY MARTIN

ASSISTANT COACH n THIRD SEASON n WICHITA STATE (2007)

Ryan Martin joined the Northern Colorado coaching staff in May 2010. He came to Greeley with an impressive resume after holding various assistant coaching positions in the Midwest. He most recently had spent two years as a graduate assistant at UMKC after finishing up a standout playing career at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and later at Wichita State, where he was a member of the Shockers’ 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team. Martin played for Bears coach B.J. Hill from 2003 to 2005, when Hill was an assistant coach at Coffeyville. After just one season with the Bears he was selected in summer 2011 to attend the prestigious Villa 6 Consortium, a one-of-a-kind career-development opportunity for the best and brightest of the emerging stars on the collegiate basketball landscape. Martin joined UMKC after spending the 2007-08 season as an assistant coach at Coffeyville, where he helped lead the Ravens to a 24-9 overall record that year in southern Kansas, while assisting with practices and game-day coaching.

LOGAN BEAN

ASSISTANT COACH n THIRD SEASON n NEBRASKA (2008)

Logan Bean was promoted to assistant coach at Northern Colorado in June 2011 after he spent the previous season as the Bears’ director of operations, helping Northern Colorado to the 2010 Big Sky regular-season and postseason championships as well as an apperance in the NCAA Tournament. Bean came to Greeley after spending the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant for coach Buzz Williams and the Marquette Golden Eagles. Prior to that, Bean spent five years as a student manager for Nebraska‘s men’s basketball program, serving the final two years as head manager for former huskers coach Doc Sadler. Bean has been to six NCAA Division I postseasons and has worked with and coached 11 professional basketball players, including NBA First Round draft picks Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls) and Lazar Hayward (Minnesota Timberwolves) and NBA player Wes Matthews. Bean graduated from Nebraska in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies and with a minor in sociology.

WILL HENSLEY

ASSISTANT COACH n FIRST SEASON n NORTHERN ARIZONA (2009)

Will Hensley was hired as Northern Colorado’s director of men’s basketball operations in June 2012 and was promoted to assistant coach in November 2012. He previously was an assistant coach at Northern Arizona, which posted a 19-13 record in Hensley’s second season in 2010-11 and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. In Flagstaff Hensley coached Shane Johannsen to an All-Big Sky honorable mention selection in 2010-11 after Johannsen finished with the best field-goal percentage in the nation at 72.7 percent (ESPN.com). Hensley was a student assistant for three seasons at NAU after playing two seasons for the Lumberjacks before his playing career was shortened by injury. Hensley, who has worked myriad summer camps across the country, including camps at NAU, UCLA, Baylor, Texas A&M and for Five Star Basketball, graduated from NAU with a degree in history and education in May 2009. He is married to the former Megan Wyatt, who played volleyball at NAU and is also a graduate of the school.

ANTHONY URRUTIA

GRADUATE ASSISTANT MANAGER n NORTHERN COLORADO (2011)

Anthony Urrutia B.J. Hill’s program as a team manager prior to the 2010-11 season, and he was promoted to graduate assistant manager in summer 2011. Urrutia came to Northern Colorado after spending some time as a player at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College, where he was team captain, and at Colorado Christian in Denver. Before that, Urrutia lettered three times in basketball at Monarch (Colo.) High and was honored as an all-conference and All-Boulder County player. Urrutia, from Lafayette, Colo., earned his communication degree in 2011 from Northern Colorado with a minor in sociology.

ZACH MARGOLIS

SPORTS PERFORMANCE n NORTHERN ARIZONA (2008); TEXAS (2011)

Zach Margolis joined the University of Northern Colorado Sports Performance staff in August 2011. He assists in the strength and conditioning of all the Bears’ student-athletes and works directly with men’s and women’s basketball. Margolis joined the Bears from the University of Texas, where he served as the graduate assistant strength coach the previous two years. He worked with the Longhorn football and volleyball teams throughout the season, and both teams advanced to the national title game. Prior to Texas, Margolis spent two seasons on staff at his alma mater, Northern Arizona.

RAWLEY KLINGSMITH

ATHLETIC TRAININGn NORTHERN COLORADO (2000); OREGON 2002

Rawley Klingsmith joined the Northern Colorado Sports Medicine staff in 2004 and in January 2012 was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Human Performance - Head Athletic Trainer. Klingsmith serves as head men’s basketball athletic trainer in addition to assisting with all of Northern Colorado’s 19 intercollegiate sports, assisting with student athletic training instruction and coordinating physician/ doctor involvement. Klingsmith graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in May of 2000 with a bachelor of arts degree in kinesiology/athletic training and then earned his master’s at Oregon in 2002.

MENAN BERGMAN

DIRECTOR OF ROUNDBALL CLUB n N. COLORADO (2000)

Menan Bergman took over director duties of Northern Colorado Basketball’s Roundball Club during summer 2012. The Roundball Club is vital to the success of the Bears, and Bergman’s addition is another step in the Bears’ transformation into a top-notch NCAA Division I program. Bergman, who’s lived in Greeley for 15 years and is a Colorado native, joined B.J. Hill’s program after previously working as a golf professional at Pelican Lakes, Highland Hills and City Park Nine golf courses. He graduated from Northern Colorado in 2000 with a degree in kinesiology and is married to Dianna Bergman.

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JAMES DAVIS JR.

RS-Fr., Guard l 6-1, 170 San Lorenzo, Calif.

5 TEVIN SVIHOVEC

TIM HUSKISSON

So., Forward l 6-5, 190 Willard, Mo.

DERRICK BARDEN

Jr., Forward l 6-5, 215 Detroit, Mich.

RS-So., Guard l 6-2, 190 Kingwood, Texas

CODY McDAVIS

EMMANUEL ADDO

RS-Jr., Forward l 6-7, 220 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

XZAIVIER JAMES

Jr., Guard l 5-11, 175 Greeley, Colo.

Fr., Forward l 6-8, 200 Phoenix, Ariz.

TATE UNRUH

RS-Jr., Guard l 6-4, 175 Branson, Mo.

25 BRYCE DOUVIER

So., Forward l 6-6, 215 Sedgwick, Kan.

PAUL GARNICA

Jr., Guard l 6-0, 160 San Antonio, Texas

BRENDAN KEANE

So., Forward l 6-9, 235 Oakland, Calif.

30 GREG TUCKER

Fr., Guard l 6-2, 190 Charleston, Mo.

34 CONNOR OSBORNE

RS-Jr., Center l 6-9, 270 Littleton, Colo.

HOME OF THE BEARS

BUTLER-HANCOCK SPORTS PAVILION NORTHERN COLORADO IS 282-186 HERE SINCE IT OPENED IN 1974

n behalf of Northern Colorado Athletics and Director of Athletics Jay Hinrichs, welcome to the “Home of the Bears.”

Named for longtime Northern Colorado coaches Pete Butler and John Hancock, Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion first opened as “Butler-Hancock Hall” on Feb. 4, 1975. The building’s name was changed to “Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion” during the 2004-05 school year and remains home for Northern Colorado’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as its volleyball and wrestling teams. The building has undergone impressive renovations during the last decade, including in 2006, when, as part of a $16 million dollar student-fee referendum, Butler-Hancock received a much needed makeover. New chairback seats were installed throughout, a new sound system and

message and scoreboard center were added, as were renovated restrooms, an on-site ticket center and improved entry points. Butler-Hancock’s official seating capacity was originally 4,500, but the renovations in 2006-07 brought that down to 2,992, creating a much more intimate feeling for spectators. Northern Colorado Men’s Basketball has experienced a pretty sizeable homecourt advantage inside Butler-Hancock’s brick walls and are well over .500 at home since it opened in 1975. That home winning tradition has continued since 2007, when the Bears began playing at the NCAA Division I level, too. After struggling in its inaugural season at Division I, Northern Colorado has strung together five winning seasons at home in the last six years, including two years ago, when the Bears finished 14-0 for just the third undefeat-

ed season in school history. The biggest “names” to play in Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion in the last decade include Oregon State (2006), San Diego State (2008) and New Mexico State (2011). Butler-Hancock has been the site of numerous memorable events in its history, including the 2011 Big Sky Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, which was won by the Bears and broadcast nationally on Altitude (semifinal) and ESPN2 (final). Butler-Hancock, the host of myriad NCAA regional tournaments, was also the site of the 1992, 1996 and 2001 NCAA Division II National Wrestling Championships, and in summer 2002, Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion hosted a men’s Olympic volleyball exhibition match between the United States and Korean national teams.

Good Luck UNC Bears Larson Ins Agcy Inc Mark Larson, Agent 4895 W 10th Street Greeley, CO 80634 Bus: 970-356-8700

Give it your best shot. From one winning team to another. We are all looking forward to another great season. Go Bears!! Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.速

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UNC HALL OF FAME LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF BUTLER-HANCOCK ATHLETICS CENTER THE NORTHERN COLORADO HALL OF FAME BEGAN IN 1994, WITH EIGHT INDIVIDUALS COMPRISING THE INAUGURAL CLASS. NOW, IN ITS 20TH YEAR, THE HALL HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE 128 INDIVIDUALS AND 30 TEAMS. NOMINATIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE UNC HALL OF FAME ARE ALWAYS ACCEPTED. FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT UNCBEARS.COM

CLASS OF 1994

L.C. Pete Butler - Coach/Administrator (1940-73) Rosemary Fri - Coach/Administrator (1963-05) Leonard Groom - Wrestling (1967-69) John Hancock - Coach/Administrator (1925-66) Tom Petroff - Baseball Coach (1971-85) Lou Piel - Softball/Basketball (1976-80) Greg Riddoch - Baseball (1965-67) Greeley Timothy - Multisports (1922-25)

CLASS OF 1995

Lark Birdsong - Volleyball/Basketball/Tennis/Track (1968-72) Don Govoni - Wrestling (1950-52) Roy Hardin - Football (1933-35) John Koehler - Baseball (1959-61) Dave Stalls - Football (1973-76) Carla Stearns - Volleyball/Softball/Basketball (1978-83) Bill Thomas - Track & Field (1979-83) Dr. James Wheeler - Team Physician (1958-93)

CLASS OF 1998

DON MEYER

CLASS OF 2001

Kristy Jordan - Volleyball (1977-80) Tom Backus - Football/Wrestling (1934-39) Robert Reed - Football/Basketball/Baseball (1936-40) Bob Blasi - Football Coach (1966-84) Joe Strain - Baseball (1973-76) Elmo Cromer - Football/Basketball/Baseball/Track (1930s) Joe Tennessen - Contributor Bob DeMeo - Baseball (1970-74) Larry Wagner - Wrestling (1968-71) Barb Eaton - Tennis (1980-82) 1983 Women’s Tennis Team Jack LaBonde - Wrestling Coach (1966-80) CLASS OF 2002 Dan Libera - Athletic Trainer (1971-97) Jim Alexander - Wrestling (1965-67) Len Lordino - Wrestling (1958-62) Linda Delk - Volleyball (1976-2002) Dick Monfort - Contributor Ben Dreith - Baseball/Basketball/Football (1946-50) Tony Rossi - Gymnastics Coach/Trainer (1949-83) Venus Jennings - Basketball/Softball (1975-78) CLASS OF 1996 Deb Ponis - Volleyball/Tennis (1993-97) Frank Carbajal - Baseball/Basketball (1958-61) Frank Wainright - Football (1987-90) Joe Drew - Football (1966-69) 1955 Baseball Team Sandra Elliott - Tennis (1983-86) CLASS OF 2003 Jack Flasche - Wrestling (1961-64) Stanley Benson - Swimming (1971-75) Mike Higgins - Basketball (1985-89) R.W. Eaks - Golf/Basketball (1971-75) Don Meyer - Baseball/Basketball (1964-67) Dr. Betty Everett - Women’s Athletics (1951-81) Buck Rollins - Football Coach (1967-85) Lisa Jacobsen Loptien - Soccer (1985-88) George Sage - Baseball/Basketball (52-55); J. Michael (Mike) Thompson - Track & Field (1986-90) Basketball Coach (63-69) 1949 Baseball Team Linda Witt - Swimming/Track/Basketball/Softball/Field 1993 Volleyball Team Hockey (1975-78) John Zurbrigen - Football (1969-71)/Contributor

CLASS OF 1997

MIKE HIGGINS

CLASS OF 2000

Dana (Cash) Ausec - Volleyball (1990-93) Jan Breckenridge - Softball (1976-79) Carolyxn Cody - Gymnastics Coach (1967-81) Kevin Jelden - Football (1979-83) Vic Nottingham - Tennis (1948-52)/Contributor Frank Slack - Multi-sports (1936-39) 1968-69 Wrestling Team

Jim Lochner - Baseball (1959-62) Tatjana (Smith) Sanders - Volleyball (1993-95) Nancy (Weber) Sylvester -Track & Field (1994-97) 1996 Football Team

CLASS OF 2007

Karl Dodge - Track & Field (1988-93) Ed Dyer - Baseball (1961-64) Billy Holmes - Football (1994-97) Jim Lord - Contributor Mandy Nilsen - Soccer (1998-01) Stormie Wells - Volleyball (1992-95) 1997 Football Team

CLASS OF 2008-09

Fritz Brennecke - Football/Baseball (1934-35) Jules Doubenmier - Faculty/Staff (1925-61) Pat Haggerty - Baseball/Basketball (1951) Gary Harper - Baseball (1961-63) Dr. Robert Heiny - Faculty/Staff (1967-present) Jim Hruska - Basketball (1956-60) Joe Lindahl - Faculty/Staff (1954-82) Rick Petri - Golf (1976-79) Jeff Potts - Golf (1977-81) *Aaron Smith - Football (1994-98) Andrea Wallace - Tennis (1991-94) Trish Williamson - Basketball (1987-91) 1965-66 Men’s Basketball Team 1992 Women’s Tennis Team

CLASS OF 2010

CLASS OF 2004

Joe Bonacquista - Baseball (1962-64) Erin Deffenbaugh - Volleyball (2000-04) Jim Fallis - Director of Athletics (1993-04) Scott Gates - Wrestling (1988-92) Dirk Johnson - Football (1994-97) Lester Kroeger - Wrestling (1951-57) Loren Snyder - Football (1983-86) Melissa (Borell) Vaughn - Basketball (1999-03) Harry Wise - Baseball/Basketball/Football (1945-51) 1963-64 Wrestling

CLASS OF 2005

Jim Crider - Wrestling (1961-65) Reed Doughty - Football (2002-05) Vincent Jackson - Football/Basketball (2001-04) Joyce Jordahl - Volleyball (1996-99) Sabra Maas - Swimming & Diving (1993-96) Jay Valentine - Track & Field (1985-89) 1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962 Baseball Teams

Tom Beck - Football (1993-96) Dennis Colson - Basketball/Track & Field/Baseball (1963-68) Gerry Dattilio - Football (1972-75) Alexis Gardner - Softball (1976-79) Terry (Wenzinger) Goldwater - Women’s Swimming (1990-94) Mike Rogers - Wrestling (1967-69) 1974 Baseball Team

Sharon Akiyama - Gymnastics (1973-76) Tom Benich - Track & Field Coach (1963-86) Ernie Andrade - Baseball (1960-62) Merle Ogle - Tennis/Basketball (1927-30) Derek Chaney - Basketball (1990-94) Dr. Aaron Parkhurst - Team Physician (1971-99) Don Cumley - Football/Track & Field/Billiards (1939Gloria Rodriguez - Softball/Basketball Coach (1969-77) 41 & 46-48) Theo Holland - Basketball/Track & Field (1957-61) Teresa Stratman - Swimming (1989-93) Corte McGuffey - Football (1996-99) 1978 Softball Team Kim Schiemenz - Volleyball/Track & Field (1995-00) CLASS OF 1999 1978-79 Men’s Golf Team Duane Banks - Baseball/Basketball (1958-64) 1981 Volleyball Team Mike Bennett - Track & Field (1989-92) CLASS OF 2006 Joe Klune - Wrestling (1942-43, 45-57) Irv Brown - Basketball/Baseball/Contributor (B.A. 1957) Judy McCreery-Chamberlin - Track (1978-80) Joe Glenn - Football Coach (1987-99) Dean Schott - Gymnastics (1980-83) Mike Tomasini - FootballWrestling/Track (1964-67) Shelley (Lindstrom) Johnson - Basketball (1988-92) 1969 Football Team Dave Keller, Baseball/Basketball (1979-82)

CLASS OF 2011

CLASS OF 2012

Tom Barbour - SID/Contributor (1977-present) Teale (Goble) Hemphill - Basketball/Volleyball (1999-02) Sharon Hoffman - Basketball/Softball (1971-75) Mike Leberknight - Wrestling (1989-93) Vance Lechman - Football (1986-89) *Bob Oliver - AD/Contributor (1982-92) 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981 Softball Teams * - Elected but not inducted

Anonymous Manuel and Melissa Agripino Steve and Teresa Baker Tom and Kim Barbour Byron and Chris Bateman Mike and Judy Bond Matt and Sonja Brucklacher Michael and Lindsey Bustamante Dale and Julie Butcher Matt and Lacee Cantu John and Susan Cowart MJ Crespin Josh and Karen Elliott Dick and Anne Farr Randy and Roxanne Francis Travis and Jennifer Gillmore Bob Heiny Jerry and Sandra Helgeson Jay and Kelli Helzer Ryan and Jessica Hicks Brett and Julie Hill Ed and Rene Holloway

Steve Hoskins Jeff and Michelle Johnson Keith and Debbie Johnson Jeff and Susan Kincaid Craig and Melanie Kingman Lee and Karen Korins Steve and Megan Laforest Mark and Maureen Larson Matt and Leona Larson Doug and Julie Leafgren Martin and Vicki Lind Jim and Janet Listen Dan and Nancy Maus Jamie May Dave and Heather McCleave Mark and Nancy Meilahn Kellen Miles and Alisha Dart Robbie and Brook Miner Dick Monfort Bob Murphy Randy and Chris Moser

Bud and Jessica Noffsinger Tom and Kay Norton Vic and Eddye Nottingham Mike Oakes Jerry and Mary Jo Osborne Norm and Katie Peercy Aaron Prior Luis and Shuree Ramirez John and Angela Schmidt Kipp and Michelle Sheets Mike and Lori Shoop Andy and Angela Slaughter Mike and Virginia Slaughter Todd and Stacy Svihovec Don and Bettie Stone Mike and Jill Trotter Rob Uehran Patrick and Nicole Varney Randy and Nicole Watkins Dan Wheeler Bruce and Laura White John and Kathy Zurbrigen

In our short time at the NCAA Division I level our program has experienced a great deal of success, including championships on the court and tremendous accomplishments in the classroom. That success is attributed to the combined efforts of a committed program, University, and community toward our foundational goals which remain: n Recruit and graduate student-athletes who maintain a high level of character and represent you and the University Northern Colorado in the highest standards. n Winning Big Sky Conference championships We need YOU to help us reach these goals year after year. By joining the Roundball Club you will be investing in a program on the rise and helping to improve the lives of our student-athletes足. We look forward to the challenges that come with added success, but we need your support to keep this program climing to even greater heights. For information on joining the team contact Menan Bergman at menan.bergman@unco.edu COACH B.J. HILL

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

Northern Colorado Basketball, under the direction of Northern Colorado Hall of Fame coach George Sage, was one of the nation’s most successful NCAA Division II programs between 1963 and 1966. The Bears’ 1963-64 team (right) finished 18-8 and advanced to the NCAA Southwest Regional in Beaumont, Texas. It featured Wellington Webb, who became Denver’s first African-American mayor in 1991 and served the city for three terms.

Northern Colorado’s 1988-89 team is considered one of the best squads in school history. It garnered numerous school records and finished the year with a No. 11 ranking in the final NCAA Division II national poll. Toby Moser (31) and Mike Higgins (55) both played for the Bears that season and are found throughout the Northern Colorado Record book.

After serving as a Northern Colorado assistant for four seasons, coach B.J. Hill was handed the Bears’ head coaching reigns in April 2010 and took Northern Colorado and its fans on a memorable ride. The Bears, featuring Honorable Mention All-American Devon Beitzel (32), ended the year with a remarkable 10-1 run and advanced to the Big Sky Conference Championship before earning a spot in their first NCAA Division I Tournament field.

CAREER RECORDS A GLANCE AT SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN NORTHERN COLORADO HISTORY 1,000 POINT CLUB

1. Mike Higgins (1985-89) 2. Chuck Knostman (1981-85) 3. Devon Beitzel (2006-11) 4. Derek Chaney (1990-94) 5. Sean Taibi (2004-08) 6. Jim Hruska (1956-60) 7. John McFarland (1994-97) 8. Will Figures (2006-10) 9. Henry Clausen (1966-69) 10. Lovell Hooks (1971-75) 11. Sean Nolen (2000-2005) 12. Kirk Archibeque (2003-08) 13. Dennis Colson (1965-68) 14. Dwight Montgomery (1975-80) 15. Antwine Williams (1996-98) 16. R.W. Eaks (1971-75) 17. Toby Moser (1986-90) 18. Kevin Knudson (1998-03) * Emmanuel Addo

REBOUNDS

1. Mike Higgins (1985-89) 2. Robert Skinner (1976-80) 3. Jim Hruska (1956-60) 4. Toby Moser (1986-90) 5. Mike Proctor (2008-12) 6. Tom Kummer (1971-75) 7. Robert Ruffin (1959-62) 8. Kirk Archibeque (2003-08) 9. Daryl Brumlee (1965-68) 10. Henry Clausen (1966-69) * Emmanuel Addo

ASSISTS

1. Sean Nolen (2000-05) 2. Derek Chaney (1990-94) 3. Matt Kline (2003-07) 4. John Olander (1988-92) 5. Carlos Martinez (1996-00) 6. Troy Graefe (1983-85) 7. Knute Peterson (1982-85) 8. Scott Watson (1986-90) 9. Will Figures (2006-10) 10. Brian Simmons (1986-88) * Paul Garnica

2,112 1,664 1,568 1,491 1,363 1,330 1,326 1,287 1,235 1,228 1,226 1,173 1,171 1,074 1,072 1,062 1,060 1,004 529 959 767 754 669 658 648 617 610 594 589 241 427 384 337 327 313 299 273 251 231 222 132

BLOCKS

1. Mike Higgins (1985-89) 2. Ryan Adle (1996-99) 3. Dave Mellick (1989-92) 4. Jason Jacob (1993-97) 5. Dennis Jenkins (1984-85) 6. Todd Lane (1990-93) 7. Terrance Williams (1991-93) 8. David Britt (1997-99) 9. Kirk Archibeque (2003-08) 10. Mike Proctor (2008-12) * Connor Osborne

STEALS

1. Knute Peterson (1981-85) 2. Devon Beitzel (2006-11) 3. Antwine Williams (1996-98) 4. Mike Higgins (1985-89) Sean Nolen (2000-2005) 6. Derek Chaney (1990-94) 7. Erik Olson (2002-06) 8. Tedd Sabus (1984-88) 9. Kevin Knudson (1998-03) 10. Carlos Martinez (1996-00) * Paul Garnica

FIELD GOALS MADE

1. Mike Higgins (1985-89) 2. Chuck Knotsman (1981-85) 3. Robert Skinner (1976-80) 4. John McFarland (1994-97) 5. Lovell Hooks (1871-75) 6. Henry Clausen (1966-69) 7. Devon Beitzel (2006-11) 8. Dwight Montgomery (1975-80) 9. Derek Chaney (1990-94) 10. Sean Taibi (2004-08) * Emmanuel Addo

302 158 146 78 69 66 60 59 53 53 37

3-POINTERS MADE

1. Sean Taibi (2004-08) 2. Devon Beitzel (2006-11) 3. Sean Nolen (2000-05) 4. Kevin Knudson (1998-03) 5. Marvin Jones (1994-97) 6. Derek Chaney (1990-94) 7. Will Figures (2006-10) 8. Carlos Martinez (1996-00) 9. Brad Schick (1995-98) 10. John Olander (1988-92) * Tate Unruh

FREE THROWS MADE

160 151 134 131 131 130 123 113 107 106 70

1. Mike Higgins (1985-89) 2. Jim Hruska (1956-60) 3. Will Figures (2006-10) 4. Derek Chaney (1990-94) 5. Devon Beitzel (2006-11) 6. Dennis Colson (1965-68) 7. Sean Nolen (200-2005) 8. Chuck Knostman (1981-85) 9. Kirk Archibeque (2003-08) 10. Knute Peterson (1981-85) * Emmanuel Addo

787 695 539 537 515 513 499 495 479 407 187

1. Neal Kingman (2006-11) 2. Chris Kaba (2006-11) Will Figures (2006-10) 4. Taylor Montgomery (2007-11) 5. Mike Proctor 6. Devon Beitzel (2006-11) John Olander (1988-92) 8. Mike Higgins (1985-89) Matt Kline (2003-07) Sean Nolen (200-05) * Emmanuel Addo/Paul Garnica

GAMES PLAYED

257 235 189 188 172 163 154 147 131 130 97 535 420 385 370 335 309 295 274 273 271 128 129 121 121 120 118 115 115 114 114 114 69

NCAA Division I players (entire careers) in bold * - denotes active leader

CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY

GAME RECORDS SOME OF THE BEST SINGLE-GAME EFFORTS IN THE BEARSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DIVISION I HISTORY POINTS SCORED 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7.

34 33 32 32 31 30 29 29 29 29

Svihovec, Tevin Figures, Will Beitzel, Devon Beitzel, Devon Beitzel, Devon Svihovec, Tevin Beitzel, Devon Beitzel, Devon Birden, Dwayne Figures, Will

REBOUNDS

Cal Poly at Weber State Sac. State No. Arizona at Montana St. at Idaho State at Weber State at Colo. St. E. Washington at Montana St.

2/18/12 2/13/10 03/02/11 12/29/08 02/10/11 1/26/12 01/29/11 12/20/10 1/04/07 2/21/07

at San Jose St. Sac. State No. Arizona E. Washington at Montana St. at Idaho State Cal Poly

12/20/08 03/02/11 12/29/08 1/04/07 2/21/07 1/26/12 2/18/12

at E. Washington

1/20/07

FIELD GOALS 1. 2.

12 11 11 11 11 11 11

Beitzel, Devon Beitzel, Devon Beitzel, Devon Birden, Dwayne Figures, Will Svihovec, Tevin Svihovec, Tevin

8. 10 Archibeque, Kirk

10 Beitzel, Devon at Colo. St. 12/20/10 10 Taibi, Sean Northern Arizona 1/11/07 10 Unruh, Tate at Marquette 12/17/11

3-POINTERS 1. 7 7 3. 6

Figures, Will Taibi, Sean 10 players

at Montana St. 2/21/07 Denver 12/10/06

FREE THROWS 1. 16 Beitzel, Devon at Idaho St. 02/28/11 2. 15 Beitzel, Devon vs Southern 12/23/08 3. 14 Beitzel, Devon E. Washington 02/03/11 14 Beitzel, Devon Montana 03/09/11 5. 12 Beitzel, Devon at Denver 12/18/10 12 Figures, Will at North Dakota 11/27/09 7. 11 Beitzel, Devon at Montana St. 03/01/08 11 Figures, Will No. Arizona 2/7/10 9. 10 16x Recent: Svihovec, Tevin 12/21/12

1. 17 Proctor, Mike at No. Arizona 1/30/12 2. 14 Palacios, Robert Colo. State 12/01/07 3. 14 Derrick Barden at UC Riverside 12/01/12 4. 13 Montgomery, Taylor J. & Wales 11/27/07

13 Proctor, Mike 13 Proctor, Mike

No. Arizona 12/31/11 Montana St. 2/11/12

7. 12 Six times (recent: Tim Huskisson -- 12/01/12)

ASSISTS

1. 8 Garnica, Paul 8 Kline, Matt 8 Lloyd, Elliott 8 Lloyd, Elliott 8 Pngtkpls, T 8 Pngtkpls, T 7. 7 Lloyd, Elliott 7 Pena, John 7 Pngtkpls, T 7 Pngtkpls, T 7 Svihovec, Tevin

Jo. &Wales 12/3/11 Denver 12/10/06 at New Mexico St. 02/19/11 Sacramento St. 03/02/11 at Portland St. 01/18/07 at Sacramento St. 1/31/07 at Marquette 12/17/11 No. Arizona 12/29/08 No. Arizona 1/11/07 Portland St. 1/6/07 at E.Washington 2/15/12

STEALS

1. 9 2. 7 3. 5 5

Tim Huskisson at Wichita St. 12/8/12 Palacios, Robert Jo. &Wales 11/27/07 Beitzel, Devon vs Wyoming 12/12/09 Bonner, Yahosh vs Southern Utah 11/15/09

Montgomery, Taylor Tabor College

5 5 8. 4

Mason, Jefferson at Montana 2/24/07 Pena, John No. Arizona 12/29/08 14 players

BLOCKS

1. 4 2. 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 10. 2

11/12/10

Proctor, Mike No. Arizona 2/7/10 Archibeque, Kirk Sac. State 12/30/06 Archibeque, Kirk at Montana 2/24/07 Kaba, Chris at Idaho St. 2/28/11 Osborne, Connor New Mexico St. 11/12/11 Osborne, Connor Jo. & Wales 12/3/11 Osborne, Connor Jo. & Wales 2/23/10 Proctor, Mike Montana St. 1/31/10 Huskisson, Tim at So.Utah 12/29/12 54 players

POINTS SCORED (TEAM)

1. 127 2. 105 3. 104 4. 101 5. 98 6. 95 7. 94 8. 93 93 10. 91 91 91

Southwest Texas State vs VMI vs McNeese State Johnson & Wales Louisiana Monroe at Idaho State Tabor College San Jose State Sacramento State at Montana State UC-Colorado Springs

3-POINTERS (TEAM) 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 9.

18 16 14 13 13 12 12 12 11

San Jose State at Eastern Washington UC-Colorado Springs Northern Arizona at UNI Sacramento State at Portland State at Illinois 14 times

FREE THROWS (TEAM) 1. 2. 4. 6. 9.

35 32 32 31 31 29 29 29 28 28

at Montana State Northern Arizona Texas State vs VMI vs Southern at Idaho State Montana State at Denver Eastern Washington Weber State

MOST ASSISTS (TEAM)

1. 33 2. 24 3. 22 4. 21 21 6. 20

Southwest vs VMI Johnson & Wales vs McNeese State UC-Colorado Springs Five times

11/10/12 11/29/08 11/09/07 11/13/09 12/3/11 12/16/09 1/26/12 11/12/10 12/21/09 01/13/08 03/01/08 11/17/06 12/21/09 01/17/08 11/17/06 01/31/08 11/20/11 01/13/08 02/19/09 12/12/10

03/01/08 03/08/11 11/29/08 11/09/07 12/23/08 02/28/11 1/31/10 12/18/10 02/03/11 1/7/10 11/10/12 11/09/07 2/23/10 11/13/09 11/17/06

“The glory of sport is witnessing a well-coached team perform as a single unit, striving for a common goal and ultimately bringing distinction to the jersey the players represent.” Dick Vitale

Performing as a single unit and bringing distinction to our community. That’s what it means to be Unified. We Are Unified Title, Ask For Us By Name. 3690 W. 10th Street, 2nd Floor Greeley, CO 80634 (970) 356-3551 office www.unifiedtitle.com

Mike Oakes

Vice President moakes@unifiedtitle.com (970) 371-4405

Chris Moser

Business Development cmoser@unifiedtitle.com (970) 405-4844

GO BEARS

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CONTINUES FROM PG 6

Only Eastern Washington’s Martin Seiferth’s 17 boards against Cal State Northridge ranked ahead of Barden’s special night. Those 14 rebounds were also the most of any Bear since Mike Proctor ripped down 17 boards last January against Northern Arizona. It’s fitting that Barden’s name has already been linked with Proctor, as it is Proctor’s role as a workhorse down low that head coach B.J. Hill was hoping Barden would fill when he decided to join the Bears last summer. While Proctor’s production was impressive— he left the Northern Colorado program as its sixth-leading career rebounder—the early results appear to prove that Barden is up to the task. “Anytime you’re able to get a guy who you feel can step in and fill a role—obviously with losing Mike [Proctor], I think Mike finished as the fifth-leading rebounder in the conference last year—we knew we had some shoes to fill,” Hill says. “So anytime you think you can fill and maybe surpass that need, you’re obviously very excited as a coach. “That’s what I thought we would be able to do with Derrick, is fill Mike’s shoes rebounding and maybe be able to give us a little more on the offensive end, and that’s what he’s been able to do.” Knowing that Proctor’s departure after last season would open up a need for rebounding, Hill and his staff set out to find a player they could bring in to immediately contribute. They hit the jackpot when they signed Barden after his career at Odessa. During his two years with the Wranglers, Barden established himself as one of the premier junior college players in the nation. In his second season at Odessa, he was named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-America Third Team. That year he averaged nearly 20 points per game and 12 rebounds per game. During his first season with the Wranglers, he led the nation by averaging five offensive

rebounds per contest. He was twice named National Junior College Player of the Week and, perhaps most impressively, left Odessa as just the second player in school history to record more than 1,000 career points and 500 career rebounds. That fact is made even more impressive considering the only other player to have such a career at Odessa: former UNLV star and No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Larry Johnson. To go along with the many individual accolades Barden garnered at Odessa, his Wranglers also experienced plenty of team success as they were ranked in the national NJCAA top five during his final season. Barden’s journey to Northern Colorado has indeed been a unique one as the Detroit, Mich., native left his home up north for a totally different, not to mention warmer, climate in Odessa. “I had never been to Texas so I wanted to see what a new environment was like,” Barden says. “I liked it there. It was small—very small—but I liked the weather. It was so cold in Detroit.” Before Odessa, Barden was a prep star for Denby High School in Detroit, where he averaged 21 points per game and seven rebounds. Perhaps the highlight of his career at Denby came during a regional final matchup against No. 2-ranked Pershing, who came into the game with a 22-3 record. Pershing was led by current Michigan State star Keith Appling, but it was Denby who pulled off the upset behind Barden’s 20 points and 13 rebounds. “That was a great experience playing against Keith Appling,” Barden says. “He is very talented, and Pershing had a good team, but we got the win and that was huge for us.” It was at Denby that Barden began cultivating himself into a relentless rebounder. A lot of that motivation came intrinsically, but he says his father, Derrick Barden Sr., had a lot to do with his basketball path, too.

The elder Barden played basketball at Fresno State from 1986 to 1989 and played much the same way his son does now for the Bears. Barden Sr.’s name is, in fact, still included in the Fresno State record books, where he sits in third on the career blocks list (132) and 10th on the rebounding list (670). “My dad always wanted me to be like him and play basketball,” Barden says. “He definitely influenced me, and I did want to be like him, but I also wanted to create my own path and not follow completely in his footsteps. “I started really chasing down rebounds in the 12th grade, and then that’s when I became the rebound king at Odessa. Now, I’m just trying to carry that over to my time with UNC.” After putting up numbers like Barden did during his time at Odessa, it was obvious he was going to have a number of schools competing for his attention. Fortunately for the Bears, Northern Colorado assistant coach Logan Bean had a relationship with the coaching staff at Odessa and that helped seal Barden’s commitment to come to Greeley. “[Northern Colorado] just feels like home,” Barden says. “They treat me like family and I love it here. On my visit they treated me like I was already on the team, and that was a big reason for me coming here. When I was still at Odessa, I had a visit scheduled here, but I had plane problems and couldn’t go, so that day Coach Hill flew down to Odessa to come see me. That meant a lot.” Hill says he knew getting Barden to come to Greeley was a priority for his program. “When you recruit guys and you let them know they are a priority to you, all you want back are guys who appreciate that and their actions show that they appreciate that,” Hill says. “Logan did a great job of recruiting Derrick, but as a head coach you have to decide which kids to put your time into because you can’t put it into everybody. “You want the kids who are going to recip-

“

Northern Colorado just feels like home. They treat me like family and I love it here. On my visit they treated me like I was already on the team, and that was a big reason for me coming here. When I was still at Odessa, I had a visit scheduled here, but I had plane problems and couldn’t go, so that day Coach Hill flew down to Odessa to come see me. That meant a lot.

”

rocate that attention, and when I saw that out of Derrick, I think that helped build our relationship right away and help secure that commitment from him.” Once Barden arrived in Greeley, it was clear he had both the ability and attitude to play at the NCAA Division I level. It didn’t take long for the other Northern Colorado players to take notice. “He’s just an all-around animal,” Northern Colorado redshirt-junior Connor Osborne says. “He’s 6-foot-5, but you wouldn’t think he’s 6-5—he doesn’t play like he’s 6-5, he plays like he’s 6-8. I definitely think that’s a pick up for all of us. When he’s got that high motor, and he’s moving, I think that gets everybody going.” His constant motor and tenacious effort has had an effect on the team, as it forces everyone to play up to his level even during practice. “I’m kind of waiting for the others to take on his mentality and his work ethic and desire,” Hill says. “We’ve got some guys who are very talented in our frontcourt, but they don’t play with the hunger that Derrick plays with. If they did, they would be really hard to guard. That’s the best thing about him: you just know what you’re going to get from Derrick. As a coach, you know what you’re going to get. You know what type of effort and energy you’re going to get.” Now that the Bears are past their nonconference schedule and into the Big Sky portion of the season, it’s clear that Barden is getting even better as he adjusts to the pace of play at the NCAA Division I level. During the Bears’ four-game stretch against Wichita State, Tabor College, North Dakota and Southern Utah, Barden led Northern Colorado by averaging just more than 14 points per game, and he snagged nearly eight rebounds per contest, too. In that stretch, his offense really began clicking as he scored 19 against Wichita State before notching a career-high 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a Big Sky road win against North Dakota. In that game against

UND, Barden was extremely efficient, scoring his 20 points on nine-of-10 shooting. For the season, Barden was leading all starters with 55 percent shooting from the field—not bad for a guy who likes to make a name for himself crashing the glass. “I’m getting comfortable now, playing at the Division I level,” Barden says. “At first, I wasn’t used to how fast we played because we liked a lot slower pace at Odessa, but now I’m feeling more comfortable. I get a lot of my points off of chased down rebounds and garbage buckets. Sometimes I’ll get a wide open shot and I’m not afraid to take it.” Hill says one of the best aspects of Barden’s offensive game is his ability to post up hard every time. This allows him to gain position down low and use his length and explosive athletic ability to get buckets around the rim. “This is usually about the time the junior college guys start to feel comfortable,” Hill says. “It usually takes a semester, sometimes it takes longer. It usually takes longer for the guys who aren’t as open to coaching, but that’s the best thing I can say about Derrick is how open he has been, how receptive he’s been, to coaching, even though he came in with the accolades of being a junior college All-American. He’s been really open to receiving coaching to make himself a better player.” The thought of Barden improving even more is perhaps a scary one indeed for the rest of the Big Sky, as he is already the conference’s third-leading rebounder. Now, with Big Sky play in full swing and Northern Colorado having played its first four conference games on the road, Barden and the rest of the Bears are excited to get home and play in front of a friendly Butler-Hancock crowd. “I’m excited just to play with this team and try to win a Big Sky championship,” Barden says. “It’s been tough on the road games with the crowd yelling and talking trash, but now that we’re coming home, hopefully we can gain some momentum.”

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Go Bears!!!

CONTINUES FROM PG 8 big, bad college life, and guys were going to have two or three years’ under their belt, and I might be going up against a guy some game that was a redshirt junior or senior, with four or five years’ experience, and I’m just a few games out of high school, just a true freshman trying to keep up. But Coach had a lot of faith in me. Every time he would find me a little bit discouraged he would keep it positive, and that just gave me more and more confidence to utilize my ability on the court.” BG: Along the same lines, you are definitely a cornerstone in Coach Hill’s program and looked at as a team leader. How do you approach that, being a sophomore? TH: “It’s exciting and kind of scary at the same time. I take a lot of things personally, in terms of our success, and I think that’s why I’ve had some success here early on. My love for the game and for the guys on the court—even if wasn’t basketball … if it was badminton or something, where I was on a team of that kind … It’s all about the team—so I think my leadership doesn’t come from me being vocal, day in and day out. It comes from me working hard every day and winning sprints, and pushing [junior forward] Derrick [Barden] when he was pushing me trying to get offensive rebounds in practice. You know, those types of things. I think guys see that, where I’m trying my very best, even when I’m tired. “We all get tired, and we all make mistakes, but I think what our team needs to be, and what I try to put forth every day in practice and in games is, ‘Even when you’re tired, be the first guy on the floor for a loose ball; be the first guy to step over and take a charge.’ You can’t teach ‘hustle.’ You can only teach ‘skill,’ and concepts, and I think that’s where my role is, and I think guys have seen that. I still very much look up to the juniors, like [redshirt junior] Tevin [Svihovec], who’s a little older than me—I look up to them a lot. But the guys who are my age, the guys who I came in with, we definitely have this bond, and that’s helped a lot. I think my biggest contribution to the team is kind of being the leader of my class—trying to keep them up and staying positive and helping out however they

can. I just try to lead the best way I can.” BG: Alright, let’s talk about the Missouri Connection, with you, Tate Unruh and Greg Tucker all coming from Missouri. Talk about playing in Colorado with three guys from the Show-Me state. TH: “Coming in, I didn’t know how I was going to feel about being away from home. [Redshirt-junior] Tate [Unruh] comes from a great family. He’s just a program guy. He’s the kind of guy who gets kids to commit. Honestly, he’s part of the reason why I came here, because I looked at him and thought, ‘If he can do it, if he can leave Missouri and make an impact out here, so can I.’ We have similar families. Both of us have a Christian background, and so I was kind of in his ear on my official [recruiting] visit, asking him how he felt about it, because I just wanted to ask questions and be confident with the decision that I made. So, Tate was that guy who kind of gave me the confidence that I made the right decision in coming here.” “We have talked a lot over the past two years as a team about having a foxhole mentality, talking about who would we want beside you, on either side, covering your back, and Tate’s that guy for me. He calls me out when I’m doing wrong and picks me up when I’m down. That made me feel really good about my decision. “And, you know, ‘Tuck’ (freshman Greg Tucker) is a new guy, and he’s got all the ability in the world. He has it all. If he had four or two, or maybe even just one more inch, he would be a handful. He’s a great kid. He works extremely hard, and he just has a natural knack for the game. Me and Tate are from southwest Missouri, and Tuck is from the Boot Heel area (the southeast area of the state, geographically shaped like a boot heel), and it’s a whole different culture down there, but he’s a good guy, and he’s a good player. So, that relationship is definitely building for sure. I think, with the “Missouri Boys’, since we are so close in connection, I think we have to push each other. BG: What’s been your favorite thing about living in Greeley the past two years?

TH: “Freshman year was rough because we were kind of isolated from the rest of the community, but then you figure out where things are and you meet new people. To me, it’s definitely just the people I’ve met in Greeley, because you meet kids in the dorms, and that’s cool, but when you see people out in public and then you go to the games and you see the same faces,that makes it feel like home. I’ve found myself calling Greeley ‘home’ now because ‘home’ is just where the people who are important to you are. So, Springfield [Mo.] is home, but this is home, too.” BG: And finally, we’ve got to touch on your singing. You showcased it a little at this year’s Reverse Raffle student-athlete talent show … any chance you’ll bust out for a national anthem at some point in your time here? TH: “The guys I live with always say I should do it (sing the national anthem) sometime. I know [former player] Yahosh [Bonner] was really good at singing, and he would do it sometimes, so, who knows? “Singing has been a part of me my whole life, with my dad being a pastor. My mom would always round up all five of us kids, and we’d go up on the pulpit and sing. There are pictures out there, you should look it up on Facebook, where I’m widemouthed and singing my heart out as a little kid. I don’t even know how old I am, maybe 2 or 3, but it’s pretty funny. It’s nuts. It’s hilarious. [Singing] is something that has always been a part of me, although as basketball became more important in my life, especially in high school, there came a point where I had to choose, and it kind of hurt a little bit. I actually ended up hurting a relationship with one of my choir teachers, but if I hadn’t have done that (decided on basketball) I wouldn’t be here. It was kind of a life-changing decision, and I’m glad I did it. I enjoy singing, but I had to decide what I wanted in the long run, and that was basketball. “I miss it, but I’m kind of bringing it back and giving people a taste of it. It’s my personality. I sing all the time while I’m cooking or when I’m taking a shower. If I’m singing I’m happy!”

MC 47

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