22 March 2000

22 March 2000
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206 and/or head coach Dennie Bridges, (309) 556-3345

Coon Named MVP of Titan Basketball Squad

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Senior Korey Coon has been elected "Most Valuable Player" for the Illinois Wesleyan University men's basketball team.
Coon, a 6-foot guard from East Peoria High School, has been the co-winner of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin "Most Outstanding Player" award for the past two seasons and was an all-CCIW first team selection for three straight years. He was also chosen to the first team of the D3hoops.com All-American team this season.
Also this year, Coon was the winner of the Jostens Trophy, recognizing the outstanding student-athlete in Division III basketball, and has been a first team GTE® Academic All-American and the College Division "Academic All-American of the Year" for the past two seasons.
This winter for the 17-8 Titans, Coon averaged 22.0 points per game, connecting on 157 of 163 free throws (.963) to win the team's annual free throw award for the fourth straight year. He was IWU's leading scorer in 17 games, including a career-high 42 against North Central.
Coon finished his career fifth in scoring at IWU with 1,782 points, No. 2 in career free throws made (449), and as the all-time leader with 245 3-point field goals.
Coon’s career free throw percentage was a school record .913 (449 of 492) and he holds the NCAA Division III and school records for consecutive free throws in a career with 70. His streak was from Feb. 13 (at North Central) to Dec. 4, 1999 (vs. Benedictine) and included 29 straight to end last year.
Junior Adam Osborn, a 6-foot-2 guard from New Holland (Lincoln HS), was chosen to be the captain for the 2000-2001 Titans. Osborn was a starter in all 25 games and averaged 11.7 points per game, hitting a career-high of 29 against Millikin Feb. 5. He connected on 40.8 percent of his 3-point efforts for the year and has 81 career 3-pointers, good for 13th all-time at IWU.
The Titans got a breakout freshman season from 6-foot-7 forward Luke Kasten (Coffeen, Hillsboro HS), a second team all-CCIW selection who set a school freshman scoring record with 407 points, eclipsing the standard of 362 by Sheldon Thompson in 1967-68.
Kasten, who led the team with 28 blocked shots, was IWU's leading rebounder in 12 games and top scorer six times. He had five "double-doubles" in points and rebounds, scoring in double figures in 19 games, including the final six of the year.
The Titans failed to advance to the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 1993 and missed the tourney for only the fourth time in 17 years of NCAA association. Bridges completed his 35th season at the Titan helm with a career mark of 643-312 and a league record of 411-125.
Bridges awarded letters to nine players, seven of whom return for next season. They are:
SENIORS - Korey Coon (East Peoria HS), Jerry Happ (Winnetka, New Trier HS).
JUNIORS - Adam Osborn (New Holland, Lincoln HS), Mike Pope (Maroa, Maroa-Forsyth HS), Todd Wente (Effingham, St. Anthony HS).
SOPHOMORE - Ryan McCreery (Mason City, Illini Central HS).
FRESHMEN - John Camardella (Arlington Heights, Hersey HS), Seth Hubbard (Normal, U High), Luke Kasten (Coffeen, Hillsboro HS).

1999-2000 ILLINOIS WESLEYAN BASKETBALL LETTERWINNERS
17-8 overall, 9-5 in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (Third Place)

JOHN CAMARDELLA, Arlington Heights (Hersey HS) - John Camardella, a 6-foot-4 freshman forward, earned his first basketball letter at IWU…He played in 17 games and averaged 3.9 points and 2.8 assists per game…He had single-game highs of 12 points (at North Central), eight rebounds (in three separate games), and three assists (vs. Carthage)…Was IWU's leading rebounder with eight at North Central…Camardella made 23 of 25 free throw tries for a .920 percentage…He is the son of Roz Camardella.
KOREY COON, East Peoria (HS) - Korey Coon, a 6-foot senior guard, earned his fourth basketball letter at IWU and was chosen as the team's "Most Valuable Player"…Was team captain for the 1999-2000 Titans…Scored in double figures in 24 of 25 games and led IWU in scoring 17 times…Had single-season highs of 42 points (vs. North Central, also a career high), six rebounds (vs. Millikin), and five assists (at Nebraska Wesleyan)…Tied his own school game record with eight 3-point field goals vs. North Central (2/23/00)…For the fourth straight year, was the winner of the team's annual free throw award as he connected on school-record 96.3 percent of his charity tosses (157 of 163)…Finished his career fifth in scoring at IWU with 1,782 points, No. 2 in career free throws made (449), and as the all-time leader with 245 3-point field goals…Coon’s career free throw percentage was a school record .913 (449 of 492) and he holds the NCAA Division III and school records for consecutive free throws in a career with 70. His streak was from Feb. 13 (at North Central) to Dec. 4, 1999 (vs. Benedictine) and included 29 straight to end last year…Also etched his name in the CCIW record books for career free throw percentage in league play with a mark of .914 (224 of 245), topping the mark of .890, set by Gary Jackson of Millikin (1980-81, 89 of 100)…Coon also finished as the CCIW's eighth best 3-point shooter with an accuracy of .459 (123 of 268), tied with IWU's Steve Kuehl, who shot .459 from 1989-93.Was the co-winner of the CCIW "Fred Young Most Outstanding Player" award for the second straight year and first team all-CCIW player for the third straight season…First team All-American, D3hoops.com…Winner of the Jostens Trophy, recognizing the top student-athlete in Division III basketball…A first team Academic All-American and College Division "Academic All-American of the Year" for the past two seasons as a history/risk management major, he is the son of Larry and Nancy Coon…
JERRY HAPP, Winnetka (New Trier HS) - Jerry Happ, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, earned his fourth basketball letter at IWU...Happ played and started nine games before a knee injury ended his season…He was averaging 7.6 points and 6.9 rebounds and was IWU's leading rebounder in six of the nine games in which he played…He tied his career-best with 18 points against Olivet Nazarene and had his career high of nine rebounds (vs. both Chicago and Olivet Nazarene)…Also had five assists at Nebraska Wesleyan…Business administration major…He is the son of Jerry and Molly Happ.
SETH HUBBARD, Normal (U High) - Seth Hubbard, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward, earned his first basketball letter at IWU as he played in all 25 varsity games…Had single-game highs of 14 points (at Aurora), nine rebounds (at Millikin), and four assists (vs. Carthage)…Shot 56.3 percent from the field (45 of 80) for the year and averaged 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds…Undecided on his college major…He is the son of Cal and Vivian Hubbard.
LUKE KASTEN, Coffeen (Hillsboro HS) - Luke Kasten, a 6-foot-7 forward, earned his first basketball letter at IWU…Was named to the second team of all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squads…Played and started all 25 games, averaging 30 minutes per game…Had single-game highs of 27 points (vs. Roanoke in season opener and vs. North Park), 15 rebounds and four assists (both vs. Wheaton)…Was IWU's leading rebounder in 12 games and led IWU in scoring six times…Had five "double-doubles" in points and rebounds and scored in double figures in 19 games, including final six…Set a school record for scoring as a freshman with 407 points, eclipsing the old mark of 362 by Sheldon Thompson in 1967-68…Led team with 28 blocked shots…He is the son of Ron and Rhonda Kasten.
RYAN McCREERY, Mason City (Illini Central HS) - Ryan McCreery, a 6-foot-5 sophomore forward, earned his first basketball letter at IWU…Played in 24 games and was a starter in nine…Had single-game highs of six points (vs. Augustana), six rebounds (vs. Augustana and at North Park), and four assists (vs. Elmhurst)…Political science major…He is the son of Mike and Linda McCreery.
ADAM OSBORN, New Holland (Lincoln HS) - Adam Osborn, a 6-foot-2 junior guard, earned his third basketball letter at IWU and was chosen to be team captain for 2000-2001…Played and started all 25 games, averaging 32 minutes per game…Averaged 11.7 points with 3.1 rebounds per game and led team with 89 assists and 36 steals…Had single-game season and career highs of 29 points (vs. Millikin), eight rebounds (at Carthage), and nine assists (vs. Elmhurst)...Was IWU's leading scorer in two games…After three seasons, Osborn is 13th in school history with 81 3-point field goals…A business major, he is the son of Richard and Linda Osborn.
MIKE POPE, Maroa (Maroa-Forsyth HS) - Mike Pope, a 6-foot-5 junior forward, earned his third basketball letter at IWU…Played in all 25 games and was a starter in seven…Was IWU's top rebounder in four games…Had single-game highs of 15 points (vs. Elmhurst), 10 rebounds (at North Park), and seven assists (vs. Wheaton)…Connected on 81.1 percent of his free throw tries (30 of 37) and was second on team with 20 blocked shots…Business major…He is the son of David and Shirley Pope.
TODD WENTE, Effingham (St. Anthony HS) - Todd Wente, a 6-foot-6 junior forward/center, earned his third basketball letter at IWU...Played in 23 games and was a starter in 18…Averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 25 minutes per game...Had single-game season highs of 15 points (vs. Millikin and at Carthage), 13 rebounds (at Wheaton, also a career-high), and six assists, also a career-best (at Elmhurst)…Was IWU's leading rebounder in three games, finished second on team with 21 steals and third with 15 blocked shots…A biology/pre-med major, he is the son of Michael and Patricia Wente.