WAUKESHA, Wis. – In the 2020-21 Carroll men's basketball season preview, Head Coach Paul Combs stated that this was the youngest team he's ever had in his 22-year career. Now heading into his 23^rd season as a head coach, and ninth with the Pioneers, Combs sees the youth growing and taking over leadership qualities in the program, with additions of transfers and new backgrounds being added to the mix.
 
"Our Sophomore class had an excellent first year considering how much adversity on and off the court they all had to face individually and as a team," says Combs. "They all had an excellent off-season, and we are all looking forward to following their growth on and off the court." Sophomores Justin Steinike, Ryan Mendoza, Tyler Miller, and Josh Hudgens will return in larger roles with more experience this season.
 
The Pioneers lose just one name from last season, second-team all-conference selection, and leading scorer Tarren Hall. Hall's shoes will be big ones to fill, but senior guard Justin Gruber knows the Pioneers have potential to replace his numbers "If we can take parts of his game, like taking advantage of his opportunities, picking his spots, and playing confident, our team can carry these things over to this season and help us offensively."
 
With the COVID-19 Pandemic and other adversities facing the Pioneer program, coach Combs stresses the importance of stepping up when your name is called. Combs' motto for the season? "Give more, do more, be more." "Collectively, we all need to continue to step up and do all we can to represent and grow our program as a men's basketball family in a first-class manner," says Combs. "Our staff has challenged our young group to continue to give more, do more, and be more especially when nobody is watching. We are confident it will continue to become the Pioneer way moving forward."
 
The Pioneers open the 2021-22 campaign inside Van Male Field House on Ted H. Baker court, Sunday, November 7 at 3 PM. Van Male Field House will have fans in attendance for the first time since 2019. "Having fans back has been a much-needed breath of fresh air for Division III athletics" says Gruber. "There's nothing better than running out into a packed Van Male…We love playing off that energy and keeping it going throughout the entire season."
 
Steinike returns as the second-leading scorer from a year ago, after he finished 12^th in the CCIW in scoring. Steinike led Carroll in rebounding and steals, while big man Carter Sturgeon led with 2.0 assists per game. The Pioneers will have more opportunities this season with a full 25 game schedule, "Going through the ups and downs of an entire college basketball season…is what makes playing basketball so rewarding for me" says Gruber.
 
All Carroll men's basketball home contests will have live statistics and a live stream available at gopios.com/mbb.
 
Fast facts updates:
Head coach: Paul Combs, 9^th season (23^rd overall)

Assistant Coaches: B. Michael Glass, Michael Cameron, Devin Brevig

2020-21: Finished 5-7 (Seventh place) and 5-8 overall

Key Graduation Losses: Tarren Hall – 2021 CCIW Second-Team All-Conference. Led the Pioneers in PPG with 18.0 PPG on 54.8% shooting and 46.2% from three over 33.2 MPG.

Players to Watch: Sophomore guard Justin Steinike (Milwaukee, Wis.), senior guard Justin Gruber (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), Junior forward Carter Sturgeon (Centennial, Colo.), Sophomore guard Tyler Miller (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), Sophomore forward Josh Hudgens (Elgin, Ill.), and Sophomore guard Ryan Mendoza (Crystal Lake, Ill.)

Other Key Returners: Senior guard Gio Carrillo (Rolling Meadows, Ill.), Junior guard Ethan Balinao (Oak Forest, Ill.), Sophomore forward Paradisio Dante (Castle Rock, Colo.), Sophomore forward Jalen Tucker (Oswego, Ill.), Sophomore forward Michael Huene (Arlington Heights, Ill.), and Sophomore guard Ben Grady (Muskego, Wis.)

Promising Newcomers: Graduate transfer guard Trenton Nickel (Kiel, Wis.), freshman guard Aaron Wafford (South Elgin, Ill.), freshman guard/forward Eckahelo Simpson (Spokane, Wash.), freshman guard Garrett Rogers (Littleton, Colo.), Sophomore forward Brandon Keaton (Orland Park, Ill.), freshman guard Kobe Simpson (Spokane, Wash.), freshman guard Dom Burns (Salt Lake City, Utah), sophomore guard Marshawn Fullilove (Gurnee, Ill.), and freshman guard Nick Vaneekeren (Naperville, Ill.)