Life without Steve Djurickovic starts now, as the four-time first-team All-CCIW and two-time NABC All-American guard graduated this past spring after re-writing major portions of the Red Men's record book. "Steve Djurickovic has graduated," says coach Bosko Djurickovic (257-133 in 15 years at Carthage/453-212, 25 years overall), "and it's time for all of us to move on. I obviously had a different relationship with Steve than I had with our other great players, but it's time to move on."
Coach Bosko Djurickovic returns seven-of-14 letterwinners and four-of-five starters from last year's 16-9 team (9-5, 5th College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin). The four returning starters are second-team All-CCIW guard Malcom Kelly (Jr., Kenosha, Wis./Reuther, 13.2 points per game), 2010 third-team all-conference forward Tyler Pierce (Jr., Westmont, Ill., 9.3 points, 3.9 rebounds), 2010 third-team All-CCIW forward Mitch Thompson (Jr., Orland Park, Ill.,/Sandburg, 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds) and guard Max Cary (Sr., Geneva, Ill., 8.6 points, 2.9 rebounds). Also returning are center Nick Bauch (So., Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic, played in 21 games, made 11 starts, 3.1 points, 2.8 rebounds), guard Marlon Senior (So., Skokie, Ill./Niles North, played in 16 games) and guard Pace Bennett (Sr., Moline, Ill., Alleman, played in 19 games).
Top recruits include guard Ryan Chapman (Fr., Buffalo Grove, Ill./Lincolnshire-Stevenson, All-North Suburban League and Daily Herald honorable mention all-area), Melvin Claybrook (So., Racine, Wis.), guard Reese Herth (Fr., Morton Grove, Ill./Skokie-Niles West, 2008-09 Pioneer Press all-area), guard Antwan Hill (Fr., Romeoville, Ill., honorable mention all-area), center Luke Johnson (Fr., Naperville, Ill./West Chicago-Wheaton Academy, honorable mention all-state by both the Associated Press and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, Chicago Sun-Times second-team all-state and Suburban Christian Conference MVP), forward Kiston Lee (Fr., Decatur, Ill./MacArthur, first-team All-Big 12 Conference) and guard Donte Logan (Fr., Evanston, Ill./Skokie-Niles West, All-Central Suburban League).
"In a way, concludes Djurickovic, "I'm more excited this year without Steve Djurickovic on the roster. This should be a really good team. Last year's team just didn't do as much as it had a right to expect—there's no question about that. With three returning all-conference players, plus Max Cary who would have been an All-CCIW pick at least once had he not been hurt or sick, plus a dynamic group of freshmen, I'm really excited. This should be one of the more-fun teams and one of the better teams that we've had here in some time."
Carthage opens the season at the Carroll University "Johnson Bank Tip-Off Tournament." The Red Men play in two other tournaments: the eighth-annual CCIW/MIAA Classic at Calvin College and the California Lutheran University "Thrivent Financial Tournament." Other non-conference games include Olivet Nazarene University, Lake Forest College, Albion College, Coe College and Cardinal Stritch University.