GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles open the 2019-20 campaign in a typical Head Coach
Kim Elders way, taking on two of the top five teams in the country as part of the WHAC/CL Challenge. CU will travel down to Marion, Indiana with Aquinas as both squads will play a match against Crossroads League foes No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan and defending National Champion No. 1 Spring Arbor. Cornerstone will play the host IWU first on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by the game vs. Spring Arbor at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Live video, audio, and stat links are available for both games and can be found at cugoldeneagles.com.
Opponent:(4) Indiana Wesleyan
Date: Friday, October 25
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Marion, Ind. (Luckey Arena)
Coverage: Live Video/Stats/Audio
Opponent:(1) Spring Arbor
Date: Saturday, October 26
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Marion, Ind. (Luckey Arena)
Coverage: Live Video/Stats/Audio
Hall of Fame Coach E
Head Coach
Kim Elders is set to enter his 27th season at the helm of the Cornerstone men's basketball program, and comes off a season where he has received some of the highest honors for his coaching success. Last spring, Elders was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame during the NAIA DII National Tournament last year. On top of that, Coach Elders was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame (BCAM) this past fall. Elders comes into his 27th season with a 678-242 all-time record and has won a total of three NAIA DII National Championships, 11 WHAC Championships, and 10 WHAC Tournament Championships.
Core Returns
The Golden Eagles return their entire roster from 2018-19 minus one significant player in graduated senior
Sam Vander Sluis. Despite the loss of a two-time NAIA All-American and the programs career, season, and single game rebounding leader, Cornerstone returns the remaining four starters from 2018-19 including NAIA Honorable Mention junior point guard
Christian Rodriguez.
Tough Schedule
Cornerstone opens the season with a typical Coach Elders schedule, playing three NAIA DII Top 25 opponents in their first four games. CU opens at No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan and vs. No. 1 defending National Champion Spring Arbor. CU will then come home for the Cornerstone Classic and take on NCCAA National Champion Grace Christian and NAIA No. 4 Morningside.
NAIA Top 25 Poll
The NAIA DII Preseason Top 25 poll has been released and the WHAC is well represented with Madonna at No. 9, Cornerstone at No. 12, Indiana Tech at No. 23, and receiving votes Siena Heights.
Scouting the Wildcats
IWU has already opened the 2019-20 season and gone 1-1 so far, splitting with two schools from Ontario. Last season the Wildcats made it to the NAIA DII National Tournament Quarterfinals before being knocked out by Oregon Tech. NAIA First Team All-American Kyle Mangus returns to IWU for his junior campaign after leading the Wildcats with 23.6 PPG as a sophomore while shooting 56.5% from the field.
Scouting the Cougars
The defending NAIA DII National Champions Spring Arbor begin 2019-20 as expected as the No. 1 overall team in the country. The Cougars lost just one player to graduation last season in shooting guard Tom Hamilton, but returns everyone else from the 2018-19 National Championship roster. Last season, the Cougars relied on balance to make an incredible run for their first ever National Championship, having six players average 9+ points per game.
Men's Basketball Contact:
Jesse Campbell
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