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2008-09 Bulldog PreviewBULLDOG BASKETBALLThe 2008-09 version of the Union College men’sbasketball team will return many familiar faces, butlost are several key members from last year’s 19-winseason.Union head coach Kelly Combs will have to look to replace61 percent of the Bulldogs’ points, 54 percent of rebounds, 62percent of assists and 72 percent of the 3-point baskets. Thegroup also combined to start 130 games.Gone are the top-three scorers, All-Appalachian AthleticConference Second Team member Aaron Dunaway, 1,000-point scorer Chris Stunson and Brian Kirk’s 7.90 point-pergameaverage.However, All-AAC Freshman Team member MichaelHester (Independence, Ky.) returns after he ranked fourth onthe squad in points. Fifth-year senior Ryne Bretz (Carlisle,Ky.) and Kearney Demus (Lexington, Ky.) are out on the wingwhile the post players will be young for the seventh-year headcoach.A mix of transfer playersand incomingfreshmen gives Combsoptions allover the floor for the2008-09 squad.The expectations ofchallengingfor an AAC crown arethere, but the Bulldogswill have to overcome adifficult schedule toclimb to the top ofthe standings.POINTGUARDSCombs isexcitedaboutthe pointguardposition.Returningis Hesterafterhe sawaction inall 32 gameslast seasonwith four startsmixedin.Heaveraged 6.97 points per game and led the team with 90 assists.Hester also made his presence known on the defensive side ofthe court with a team-high 55 steals. In 12 games, he led theteam in steals and assists 11 times. Of the returning players, hegrabbed the second-most rebounds with 79 during the season.“Hester was able to play a lot and learned from Brian Kirklast season,” Combs commented.Newcomers Tino Washington (Lexington, Ky.) andAntonio Murry (Antioch, Tenn.) bring collegiate experienceand add depth to the position.“We were fortunate to bring in a pair of point guards withWashington and Murry’s skills and experience,” Combs said.He also said that the depth at the position will help movethe tempo to a quicker pace and give him the ability to addpressure defensively.WINGSBretz andscoredDemus return on the perimeter. Bretz40 points in the four games beforean injury sidelined him for theremainder of the season. During hisjunior year, he averaged 8.2 pointsper game over 31 games.“I look for Bretz to be back tothe form that he started the season atbefore the injury,” Combs said.“He brings an ability to scorefrom anywhere.”Demus did not starta single game in the2007-08 season, but sawaction in 22 contests.The junior averaged6.5 points per gameand averaged1.6 reboundsper game.However,he had sevengames with double-digitpoint totals.“He will add ascoring threat and weexpect him to providemore leadership on thisteam,” Combs said ofDemus.Beau Brown6 • Union College