Copyright Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
Christopher Newport has made the last nine NCAA Division III men’s basketball championship tournaments, the nation’s longest active streak, and the Captains seem likely to make it 10. Ranked ninth by d3hoops.com and predicted first in the Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference, their biggest task will be to replace the production of Jahn Hines. He scored more than 2,000 career points, averaging 19.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and more than a steal per game as a senior. “A four-time All-American who was an elite passer and scorer, you just don’t replace,” said John Krikorian, beginning his 15th season coaching CNU. “We’ll have the opportunity to be a little bit more balanced and showcase our depth and experience.” That experience includes Hines’ younger brother Collin (7.7 ppg, 7 rpg. 2.3 apg), a 6-foot-5 guard and the Captains’ only senior, and nine juniors. They include 6-3 Toa Hollenbeck (14.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 apg), 5-10 point guard Tyson Henderson (9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.6 apg), 6-7 Ethan Ward (9.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-6 Jason Ofcarcik (6.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-5 Ryan Derderian (2.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and 6-3 Isaiah Dozier (4.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Hines is from Norview High, Hollenbeck from Grassfield, Ward from Landstown and Dozier from Oscar Smith. “We’re going to play a lot of guys, especially early,” Krikorian said. “That allows your practices to be really competitive. I like where we’re at.” Twelve of the Captains got to travel to Barcelona, Spain, in August, to practice, sightsee and play a couple of exhibitions. “It was a great bonding experience,” Krikorian said. Collin Hines “is really growing into his own as a leader,” Krikorian said. “It’s been cool to kind of see him take the lead.” As usual, the schedule will be challenging. Based on the d3hoops.com preseason poll, opponents include No. 2 Randolph-Macon, No. 3 Emory, No. 14 Virginia Wesleyan, No. 22 Catholic, Stockton (receiving votes below the top 25), Denison (receiving votes) and, of course, a pair against No. 15 Mary Washington, which upended the Captains to win last season’s C2C tourney. Newcomers don’t figure to have a huge impact for CNU, though Zyir Baskerville, a 6-3 wing who competed for two seasons for Division II Virginia Union, played well in a scrimmage against Elizabeth City State, according to Krikorian. Most of the roster is healthy, though sophomore Reese Ketron, a 6-foot-10 forward, is out for the year with a shoulder injury. Knox Axselle, a 6-5 forward who led Atlee to last season’s state Class 4 championship, will miss the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in a dunk contest. Christopher Newport men at a glance Last year: 23-6, Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament runner-up, lost in NCAA Division III round of 32 Coach: John Krikorian (337-78 in 14 seasons) Season opener: 6 p.m. Nov. 7 at Penn State Altoona C2C predicted order of finish, as selected by coaches: 1. Christopher Newport; 2. Mary Washington; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Salisbury; 5. Johnson & Wales-Charlotte; 6. Regent; 7. Warren Wilson. Schedule November: 7: at Penn State Altoona, 6 p.m.; 12: vs. Randolph-Macon, 7 p.m.; 15: at Catholic, TBA; 19: at N.C. Wesleyan, 7 p.m.; 22: vs. Cairn, 4 p.m.; 29: vs. Dickinson, 4 p.m. (as part of CNU Holiday INNvitational); 30: vs. Pfeiffer, 4 p.m. (as part of CNU Holiday INNvitational). December: 3: at Marymount, 7 p.m.; 6: at Southern Virginia, 4 p.m.; 16: vs. Virginia Wesleyan, 7 p.m.; 19: vs. Emory (at Jay Bilas Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina); 20: vs. Denison (at Jay Bilas Classic); 29: vs. Hood (in Captains Shootout), 7 p.m.; 30: vs. Rochester Institute of Technology (in Captains Shootout), 7 p.m. January: 2: Rowan (in Galloway, New Jersey), TBA; 3: at Stockton, TBA; 7: vs. Johns Hopkins, 7 p.m.; 17: vs. East Texas Baptist, 4 p.m.; 18: vs. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 4 p.m.; 25: at Pfeiffer, 3 p.m.; 29: UC Santa Cruz, 7 p.m. February: 4: Mary Washington, 7 p.m.; 11: at Salisbury, 7 p.m.; 14: at Mary Washington, 4 p.m.; 21: vs. Salisbury, 7 p.m.; 26-28: C2C Tournament (in Santa Cruz, California), TBA.
