One big question for every Bloomington-area boys' basketball team entering 2023-24 season

Boys' basketball is back on the court and there will be a lot of young faces debuting for Bloomington area teams.

Here's the outlook, the players to watch and the big question Bloomington North, South, Edgewood, Lighthouse Christian, Eastern Greene and Owen Valley want an answer to this season.

Can North make it 3 sectionals in a row?

COACH: Jason Speer, 94-46 in 7th year, 209-94 overall. LAST YEAR: 19-6, 3-2. Cougars made a second straight run to semistate, with two unforgettable wins in the sectional final and regional game. The post-JQ Era will force a new set of players to lead the way.

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS: Luke Lindeman, Jr. G (11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Connor O'Guinn, Sr. G (3.7 ppg).

OUTLOOK: Speer has no doubt it's a talented group, but there's also no doubt it will take some time to get the team chemistry down and for many of them to get up to varsity speed, with players from all four classes mingling. If it all works out, North will have another tested team ready to make a postseason run after a tough schedule that's going to become a 'revenge tour' for some teams. "My job is to carry on what we've always done and continue to win," Speer said. "We have several different things we will do, it's going to be a work in progress in far as getting connected. And once we do, sooner I hope rather than later, then you'll see their individual talents kind of shine."

Lindeman (6-5) is the top player back with O'Guinn and senior forward Nemo Dangerfield (6-7) getting much floor time last year. The Cougars lost a potentially valuable piece when Floridian Shyy McDonald joined four other transfers and a foreign exchange student from Germany at Kokomo this year to team up with Flory Bidunga. Especially early, as Lindeman goes, so will North, a burden, Speer said, Lindeman will have to get used to. He's improved in all facets, is a confident shooter and will need to hit the boards hard. O'Guinn will be a shooting guard and secondary ballhandler to freshman PG Derrick Cross Jr. after upping his skills to go along with his 3-point shooting acumen. Cross will have to grow up quickly, and so will sophomores Rex Speer (6-2), shooting guard, and Jalen Williams (6-5), a forward who will stretch the floor. Cross seems to always make the right play, whether that be scoring or distributing, coach Speer said, who likes the high ceiling of all his youngsters. Off the bench look for junior Caleb Fishel and sophomore Evan Chang, a track standout, Dangerfield and senior forward Dylan Stegmoller (6-5). "I'm very nervous in regards to being consistent in all facets of the game," Speer said. "How interested are we in rebounding? It takes tremendous effort to get the fastbreak game going."

SCHEDULE NOTES: December slate includes Center Grove, Franklin Central, Zionsville and a trip to the Fishers Tournament. As two-time regional champs, the Cougars know they're circled on almost everyone's calendar.

ROSTER (No., Name, Yr, Pos, Ht): 3 Caleb Fishel, Jr. G, 6-0; 4 Rex Speer, So. G, 6-2; 5 Jalen Williams, So., F, 6-5; 10 Evan Cheng, So., G, 5-11; 12 Connor O'Guinn, Sr. G, 6-2; 13 Derrick Cross Jr., Fr., G, 6-2; 22 Luke Lindeman, Jr., F, 6-5; 30 Dylan Stegmoller, Sr., F, 6-5; 44 Nehemiah Dangerfield, Sr. F, 6-7.

Can South find the winning chemistry?

COACH: J.R. Holmes, 753-243 in 42nd year at school, 896-361 overall. LAST YEAR: 16-9, 1-4 CI. Four losses were one-possession games and the defensive average (53.0 ppg), was the highest it's been in years. Injury at PG didn't help as the Panthers stumbled to the finish, losing four of their last six.

KEY RETURNERS: Zach Sims, Sr. G (11.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg); Vince Moutardier, Jr. G (7.1 ppg, 2 rpg); TJ Spears, Jr. G (7.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.9 apg); Tucker Simpson, Jr. G (3.6 ppg).

OUTLOOK: Holmes returns for an incredible 54th year and is just four wins short of an unprecedented 900th career win and four games short of 1,000 with the Panthers. Speaking of short, South may often start a five-guard lineup this year without much size or true post player ready to go, which is what 6-8 sophomore Matt Tierney is working on. There is good experience back with Sims, Spears and Moutardier who started or played major minutes last year, while Cruz Sanchez got some minutes off the bench. Holmes will rotate Sanchez and starting sophomore Jack Clark at the point with Spears moving back to the wing more often. Senior Alex Shaevitz (6-5) is back, coming in off football, and will bring a high level of athleticism and energy. Simpson will not be available until February at the earliest most likely after suffering an ACL injury in June. Depth is thin at the moment as unproven players continue to prove themselves.

Overall, Holmes is looking for more consistency out of the returning players. He has a team that will try to play more uptempo, but that will all start with how well they remain unselfish and embrace defense and rebounding to get the run game started. "We have some shooters, sometimes even when they don't have a shot," Holmes said. "We just don't have the chemistry yet. A lot of guys are trying to be the guy, but everybody can't be the guy. We'll see in the pressure of a game who can make plays." Sims will be a scoring threat from all over and off the dribble with his ability to finish through contact. Moutardier and Spears (36 3s) will be dangerous from the arc. "I hope we become more consistent," Holmes said. "We can hit shots, so we can score better than last year. We can run a little more. With the players we have, experience should not be a problem."

SCHEDULE NOTES: Basically the same as last year with Evansville Harrison replacing Rock Creek and Indianapolis Home School moved to mid-January. Panthers will return to the Richmond Tournament where they've made the title game four years in a row.

ROSTER (No., Name, Pos, Yr, Ht.): 2 Tucker Simpson, Jr., G, 6-1; 3 Jack Clark, So., G 6-0; 4 Alex Shaevitz, Sr., F, 6-5; 10 TJ Spears, Jr., G, 5-9; 12 Andrew Elsesser, Sr., F, 6-2; 14 Zach Sims, Sr., G, 6-2; 15 Josh Clark, Sr., F, 5-10; 20 Cruz Sanchez, Jr., G, 5-11; 21 Malakai Goodman, Sr., 6-2, F; 33 Matt Tierney, So., C, 6-8; 34 Vincent Moutardier, Jr., F, 6-3.

How far will experience carry Edgewood?

COACH: Matt Wadsworth, 51-52 in 5th year at school, 192-180 overall. LAST YEAR: 10-15, 7-3 WIC. Mustangs roared back in conference play after a 1-3 start, but couldn't translate that to sectional success, losing five of their last seven and falling in the semifinals.

KEY RETURNERS: Mialin White, Sr. G (8 ppg, 4 rpg, 3.3 apg); Carson Huttenlocker, Jr. G (5.7 ppg); Kam Ranard; Jr. F (6.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg); Jacob Boggs, Sr. F (6.3 ppg, 5 rpg); Carl Norris, Jr. F (5.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg).

OUTLOOK: No team in the area has more varsity experience back this season and the Mustangs hope it can get them back over .500 and compete for a WIC title. White can key things from the point and he can score from the arc, on pull-ups and drives. Huttenlocker returns as a dangerous 3-point threat. Boggs, a 6-4, can spread the floor and will be important to the Mustangs on the glass, as will Kam Ranard, who gives Edgewood a true post presence, more with his strength than his height (6-2). Norris will provide another blue-collar player when he returns from an injury. Junior guards Nolan Reynolds (who started the opener), and Owen McGovern, senior forward Ziggy Teran and 6-5 freshman Caden Jones join them to improve the team's depth.

SCHEDULE NOTES: Same lineup as last year. Mustangs will test themselves early against two good 4A squads then face 1A power Bloomfield and defending sectional champ Indian Creek on the road and Sullivan right before Christmas. Edgewood will compete in the Wabash Valley Classic again.

ROSTER (No., Name, Cl., Pos., Ht.): 2 Nolan Reynolds, Jr., G, 6-0; 4 Owen McGowen, Jr., G, 5-11; 10 Carson Huttenlocker, Jr. G, 6-0; 11 Jacob Boggs, Sr., F, 6-4; 12 Reece Roberts, So., G, 5-10; 13 Mialin White, Sr., G, 6-1; 21 Luke Waugh, Jr., G, 5-11; 23 Ziggy Teran, Sr. F, 5-11; 24 Carl Norris, Jr., F, 6-1; 30 Caden Jones, Fr. F, 6-5; 44 Kam Ranard, Jr., F, 6-2; 45 Evan Dodds, Sr., F, 6-5.

What does big turnover mean for Lighthouse Christian?

COACH: John Winders, first year. LAST YEAR: 17-8, 6-1 Southern Roads. Lions won an SRC Tourney title and went on to pick up the first two sectional wins in school history to make the finals against state-ranked Bloomfield. LCA averaged 67 ppg.

KEY RETURNER: Brock Banks, Jr. G (5.3 ppg).

OUTLOOK: Winders, whose wife is an assistant for the girls team his daughters play on, takes over the boys team with Jeff Mills leaving after two years. He inherits an almost totally new team with graduation taking seven seniors, including All-Area pick Coda Snyder. "That's a big deal," Winders said. "We only have a couple boys who played any varsity minutes, so it's a building year. However, the boys who are playing, we have several juniors, one senior and a lot of freshmen, are young and hungry and ready to play. They're coachable and listening well, which has been really good."

In lieu of experience, Winders said his team needs to be scrappy and smart at the same time, as foul trouble won't be good for a team with just nine players. LCA will bank on Banks to lead the way: ballhandling, scoring after a busy off-season and leadership as a team captain. Senior Trevor Thomas fills another guard spot while 6-3 freshman Aiden Jones and junior Jared McAdams are the forwards and 6-5 junior Keaton Jones starts at center. Winders likes Aiden Jones' potential as a good shooter and sees Keaton as a good source of rebounds. Getting to the basket will be key to the offense and Jared has improved in that department. The offense will have to be more balanced but the Lions won't be on the run quite like last year. One of Winders' big goals is to improve the basketball IQ across the entire team with all but the one senior set to come back.

OUTLOOK: Coach Jeff Mills departed after a highly successful two-year, but so did a huge senior class, led by All-Area player Coda Snyder, who gobbled up most of the minutes leaving a major rebuild. Just one player, Banks, played in most of LCA's games last year, with senior guard Trevor Thomas and 6-5 junior center Keaton Jones, getting time off the bench.

SCHEDULE NOTES: Same lineup of teams as last year, but the Lions will open with four straight home games to settle in. On the backside, they'll have only one home game in February.

ROSTER (No., Name, Yr., Pos, Ht.): 0 Joshua Wang, Fr., G, 5-8; 1 Aiden Jones, Fr., F, 6-3; 3 Trevor Thomas Sr., G, 5-11; 4 Jared McAdams, Jr., F, 6-2; 10 Brock Banks, Jr., G, 5-10; 14 Nathan Biggs, Fr., G, 5-11; 24 Elijah Lautenbach, Jr., F, 6-1; 31 Keaton Jones, Jr. C, 6-5; 32 Jeremy Yang, Fr., F, 5-10.

Why is Eastern Greene rebuilding again?

COACH: Jamie Hudson, 34-60 in 5th year, 191-202 overall. LAST YEAR: 8-16, 2-5 SWIAC. T-Birds' young team got off to a 4-1 start, then suffered through an 11-game losing streak in a brutal part of their schedule.

KEY RETURNERS: Will Inman (10.5 ppg); Jack Rees, Jr., F; Roman Valentine, Jr., G.

OUTLOOK: Eastern was set to have its entire varsity roster back but five players, including second, third and fourth leading scorers did not return. Inman led the team in scoring and steals (25) and second in assists while hitting 47 3-pointers. Rees also returns as a starter and Valentine played a lot last year as well. Hudson is disappointed in the losses after the summer workouts but is focusing on the players who want to be there. "Basketball is hard and you have to spend a lot of time on it," he said. Inman, Rees and senior Jonas Hawk, QB for the football team who missed a lot of last year with a broken foot, will give the T-Birds some leadership. Valentine is one of EG's best athletes, having played soccer while running cross country this fall. It's a smaller group, but they've put in the work. "I like where I'm at," Hudson said. I love the team chemistry. It's the best it's been in a while. The kids play for each other, they're an unselfish group. And they have a high basketball IQ."

They'll welcome in a couple of freshmen guards in Coby Sykes and Ayden Deckard and sophomore forward Dane Talbott. Inman has gotten bigger and stronger and Hudson is looking for him to be more of a vocal leader. Rees is a hard-nosed defender who will look to score a bit more. Valentine will do "pretty much anything you ask him to do. Whatever you need done," Hudson said. Sykes will be handed the PG reins. A lefty, he's ready and has a bright future, but EG will have to live with his growing pains. Deckard and Hawk are solid defenders. Talbott is looking for his first full season after dealing with illness last year and brings athleticism and a good jumper. With no one taller than the 6-2 Inman, Eastern is looking to speed things up a bit, which also means a strong group effort on the boards to be successful. Look for the T-Birds to bring some full-court pressure is hopes of getting turnovers and quick buckets before falling back into their pack-line defense.

SCHEDULE NOTES: T-Birds have added the one-day Loogootee Tournament the Saturday after Thanksgiving and will head to the Monrovia Tournament after Christmas. January looks like another tough row to hoe again.

ROSTER (No., Name, Yr., Pos, Ht): 2 Will Inman, Jr., G, 6-2; 4 Jonas Hawk, Sr., G, 5-8; 10 Coy bSykes, Fr., G, 5-9; 12 Ayden Deckard, Fr., G, 5-8; 14 Roman Valentine, Jr., G, 5-8; 20 Jack Rees, Jr., F, 6-1; 24 Dane Talbott, So., F, 6-1.

How will Owen Valley gel with its new coach?

COACH: Matt McGowen, first year. LAST YEAR: 8-16, 5-5 WIC. Patriots lost 11 of their last 14 and were held under 50 points 10 times.

KEY RETURNERS: Derrick Atkinson, F, Sr; (13 ppg, 7 rpg) Caden Gonser, Sr. G (10 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg); Cason Robertson, Sr.; Caleb Bixler, Sr.

OUTLOOK: Patriots will start over again with a new coach with Jon Neill's departure after just two seasons. He feels fortunate to have four players with plenty of varsity experience back, led by Atkinson and Gonser, a three-year starter. Senior Kaden Hamilton is the fifth starter. "They have great chemistry together," McGowen said. "They've all been together for several years and that's made it easier on me when it comes to implementing what we want to do. And having those seniors made that process easier. They play very well together."

Atkinson led the offense last year and will do it again this year as an athletic three-level scorer who can get points in the high or low post and off the dribble. "I can put him in any situation no matter the defender and find a spot for him to be successful," McGowen said. Gonser's quickness with the ball is as good as anyone McGowen saw in his six years at Mooresville and he'll spearhead the break as OV wants to play more uptempo. His jumper is deadly as well. Robertson will see some time up top while Bixler is the Patriots' glue guy and a tough defender. Hamilton will be a long-range, floor-spacer. Off the bench, McGowen will use junior guard Rhett Manuel as a defensive stopper and shooter; junior Joey Ross with his high energy and 6-5 Jesse Durnil inside. The chemistry they are showing must translate to the other end. "We've got to be better on defense," McGowen said. "The first thing I noticed on film, in the sectional game, we were up and down. We've got to be gritty on defense. We saw that in our scrimmage, so that's a positive sign."

SCHEDULE NOTES: Added Indianapolis Metropolitan on Dec. 20 to break up what was an 18-day span between games last December. Will return to the Clay City Tournament over Christmas break.

ROSTER (No., Name): 1 Noah Hall, So.; 3 Kaden Hamilton, Sr.; 4. Austin Manuel, Sr.; 5 Dillon Bell, So.; 11 Cason Robertson, Sr.; 12 Joey Ross, Sr.; Derrek Atkinson, Sr.; 23 Rhett Manuel, Jr.; 24 Caden Gonser, Sr.; 30 Caleb Bixler, Sr.; 33. Jesse Durnil, Sr.; 44 Jordan Mahon, Jr.

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on X (Twitter) @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: One big question for every Bloomington-area boys' basketball team