Last Season: 4-21, 2-12 8th place
Win that made you raise an eyebrow: Anderson, 85-77 OT
Loss that made you raise an eyebrow: none
Seniors: Jaren Edsall, Clint Burgdorf, Adam Ruhle
It was a tough season in Olivet, after graduating a significant part of their 2011 squad and possibly the best Comet in 3 decades in Michael McClary, it was always going to be tough. The one ray of light on the season came early with a surprise win over an Anderson team that finished 14-11, low points were frequent and often.
Things went South really fast at the Christmas break when Olivet lost 3 more players for various reasons including starters Matt El and Eric Mack. A depleted Olivet team took its lumps in the MIAA, somehow managed to beat Alma twice but when all was said and done the Comets were a comfortable 8th place despite being just 1 game back of Kalamazoo. This was Olivet's worst record since 1997. Head Coach Gene Gifford was dismissed after 5 seasons.
2012-2013
Key Returnees: Alvino Ashley, Marquis Childers, Dakotah Ellis, Paul Lombard, Dylan Roe, Matt Smith, Steve Wheelock, Blake Krum (either El or Mack can return, I just forget which one)
After a coaching search that saw the college publicly acknowledge its 4 finalists, Olivet hired Saginaw Valley State Assistant Chris Coles. Who wasn't one of them.
I don't know anything about Coles as a coach, but he has a tough job ahead of him. Unless Coles brings in a great group of Freshmen, JC or other transfers its hard to see Olivet being a lot better next season, in fact it might be easier to see them being worse. Coaching changes sometimes means players leave so I don't expect the full compliment of the above players to return.
I think next year looks pretty grim for the Comets.
Range of finish: 7th or 8th
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