Coach Kowalczyk in no excuse zone (posted 1/24/07)

The sports world is a no excuse zone.  There are winners and losers.  Coaches have less patience with themselves than fans have with the coaches.  The only difference is for a coach it is their profession and life -- not some part time preoccupation.

Watching UW-Green Bay Coach Tod Kowalczyk on the sidelines these days you see a frustrated workaholic who is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of his career.  He's not a complainer and won't make excuses.  He doesn't live in that kind of world and knows it won't help him reach his goals for UWGB men's basketball.  You have to dig to get a clue of the dragons the program has faced this season.  Nothing is volunteered on that front.

For the past year Kowalczyk's staff has been operating out of temporary offices on the other side of the campus from the Phoenix Sports Center . The $34-million remodeled, expanded and re-named Kress Center opens in fall.  The staff doesn't walk but drives to practice sessions.  It's tough for impromptu work.   

This was supposed to be the Phoenix break out season and a lot of division one coaches were reluctant to schedule Green Bay .   It's a common problem for a mid-major division one program on the rise.  The season started with six of seven games on the road over 20 days.  There were some close road losses and blow outs at the hands of Michigan State and Wisconsin .   After that stretch things improved where Green Bay won eight of their next 12 games.

The player who showed the most improvement in the off season, Ryan Tillema, was out for more than a month with mononucleosis.  That is just the most recent in a series of injuries and illnesses that have slowed the team and impacted on-court chemistry.  Kowalczyk says despite the disappointments, the players are not pointing fingers and they genuinely like each other.  

When you ask Kowalczyk about the series of physical problems he admits he’s never been part of a team with this kind of luck.  

A situation earlier this season typifies the season.  During the Bowling Green game Josh Lawrence was running down the court.  Away from the action near the sidelines he was knocked cold by a punch to the back of the head.  The senior has been plagued by concussions that limited his development and even threatened to put an early end to his career.  He missed parts or all of three off seasons where injuries prevented him from working on his game and conditioning.

The health bug has forced freshman Troy Cotton into a starting role for a number of games.  It's an example of a player who had to be rushed into action ahead of schedule.  Kowalczyk says he'll be a better player for it. For the time being Cotton has had some impressive ups and some downs.

The 06-07 Nix team has seen the emergence of forward Mike Schachtner.  Kowalcyzk calls him "the most improved player on the team since the start of the season."  He's had two 30 plus games.  A feat not equaled since the days of Jeff Nordgaard and Tony Bennett, players who are considered the best in UWGB history.

This season's team is short on playmaking guards.  Senior Ryan Evanochko has had to carry a heavier burden.  Kowalczyk feels he's addressed that weakness in next year's freshman class.  Creighton transfer D'Angelo Jackson and South Texas prep star Edgar Segura are true point guards. Milwaukee Pius the XI combo guard Bryquis Perine is a playmaker who sank five three pointers in the second half of a recent game.  Kowalczyk has been down to see Perine play several times.  He says the main goal for the 6-3 lefty is to add strength. Jackson had foot surgery last summer and the rehab was lacking and caused tendonitis problems.  Since arriving in Green Bay this month the transfer is back on track with the rehab and has shown some of the quickness and explosiveness that made him a popular recruiting target last spring.  Assistant coach Brian Wardle has traveled to Texas to see Segura .  Wardle and Kowalczyk marvel over the native of Mexico 's vision and passing skills.  Kowalczyk says, "you can't teach some of the things that Edgar possesses naturally."  Kowalczyk says all three players will have an immediate chance to have an impact. 

What remains is the 06-07 season.  The biggest critic of the UWGB coach will be walking the sidelines during games -- an intense man who doesn't make excuses and rarely talks to reporters or fans about the frustrations he faces.

Footnote: 6-7, J.J. Henley is having a solid season for Lincoln Park , one of the top rated teams in Illinois .  Look for the burly Henley to hit the new weight room at the Kress Center when he arrives on campus.

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