DEFENDING CHAMPION DRAGONS ARE BACK TO WORK FOR 2018

HutchCC Sports Information

It doesn't seem like it, but it has in fact been 220 days since the Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team walked off the Sports Arena court as 2017 National Champions.

As those great memories continue to fill the home of the Blue Dragons, head coach Steve Eck knows it's time to turn the page to 2018.

Practice started on Sunday for the Blue Dragons for the November 1 season opener against the Friends University JV.

Eck returns a good nucleus from last year's team that also won the 2017 Jayhawk Conference championship and advanced to the Region VI championship game.

Six players, including three who either started or was in the main rotation of players are back.

Starting guard J.J. Rhymes averaged 16.0 points shooting 47.7 percent from the field. Rhymes averaged 4.6 rebounds per game.

Guard Devonte Bandoo averaged 13.7 points after shooting 53.0 percent from the field and 31.5 percent from 3-poitn range.

Forward Kai Mitchell averages 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 57.1 percent.

Forward Sal Nuhu shot 50.5 percent in averaging 4.7 points and 3.9 rebounds.

Also back are forward Fatir Hines and guard Tiylar Cotton.

Eck will mix in six new freshmen into the mix for 2018.

The 2017 Blue Dragons shot 50.6 percent from the field and averaged 92.6 points offensively and 75.4 points defensively in building a 35-2 overall record.