Pioneers to face the Badgers in preseason

Waukesha, Wis. - When David Schultz became head coach of the Carroll College men's basketball team in 2002, he brought a "we will play anyone, anywhere, anytime" attitude. Since taking the reins, Schultz has routinely put together one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the region - annually playing top teams from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin to go along with an already tough Midwest Conference schedule.

Schultz has taken his "attitude" one step further by scheduling the ultimate preseason game. For the first time in school history, the Pioneers will face off against an NCAA Division I opponent when they take on the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison.

"This is a great opportunity for our basketball program and athletic department," said Schultz. "Our players are excited and looking forward to it. This game gives players an opportunity to play in a place and against players they wouldn't normally get."

The Badgers are not just an average, run-of-the-mill Division I team.

They enter the 2006-2007 season as a legitimate candidate for the national championship. UW ranks in the top 10 of several preseason polls, including seventh by Foxsports.com and ninth according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com.

UW will feature a deep and talented squad that returns four starters and five letter-winners from a year ago, including senior Alando Tucker, who led the Big Ten in scoring at 20.0 points per game. In addition to the returning cast, sixth-year head coach Bo Ryan has added three scholarship players, led by Jason Bohannon, Iowa's "Mr. Basketball" this past season.

"We are very thankful to Coach Ryan for giving us this opportunity,"

said Schultz. "We're hopeful we can make the game worthwhile for them and help them get ready for the Big Ten season. More importantly, we hope it helps us get ready for our season."

Despite graduating point guard James Johnson and forward Jason Scheper (both were all-conference selections), the Pioneers, ranked #21 in the final D3hoops.com poll a year ago, will suit up several experienced players in 2006-2007, including one of the league's most dynamic players in senior guard Nathan Drury (Littleton, COlo./Littleton). Drury earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-region accolades a year ago and figures to be a strong contender for the league's MVP honor and all-American status. He led Carroll with 18.8 points per game a year ago and finished second on the team with 124 assists.

Fellow seniors Paul Toshner (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead) and Buck Colomy (Littleton, Colo./Littleton) also return after playing starting roles a year ago. Toshner, a crafty power forward, averaged 13.1 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game to earn all-conference. Colomy, a three-point shooting swingman and defensive stopper, averaged 7.7 points per game.

This will mark the third season the NCAA has allowed Division I teams to compete against teams from Division II and III.