The Allen Community College men’s basketball team is looking to continue is impressive national tournament run from last season as it hits the hardwood for a new year.
The Red Devils finished with a 28-7 record and 13-1 mark in conference action. The team also knocked off Johnson County three times to reach the national tournament in Danville, Ill., in March.
Like every season, the Jayhawk conference is expected to be a dogfight for the top spots and Allen is to compete again in a lengthy six-month season.
“We have a lot of guys back from a successful team that went 28-7,” said Allen men’s basketball head coach Andy Shaw. “We have 12 returners, six third-year sophomores due to the COVID year, six true sophomores and four freshmen.”
Last season, the Red Devils had the second-leading rebounder in the conference in Brayden Thompson.
“It’s Brayden’s third year in the program. He’s a big, physical rebounder. He was First Team All-Defense a year ago,” Shaw said.
“Nick Whittick is a third-year point guard,” Shaw continued. “I trust him with the ball and he’s the best defender I’ve ever had.”
“Ahmed Mahgoub, he makes winning plays, it’s not always the scoring he does but the other little dirty work he can do to help you win games.
“Chris Dixon is a true sophomore. We’re going to need him to help with some of the scoring.”
This depth is what will take ACC back to the national tournament, Shaw predicted.
This season is the only year that sophomores have a third year of eligibility due to the COVID year.
“This is the oldest team I’ll ever have at a junior college level and these guys have played a whole extra season together,” said Shaw. “To have that many third-year sophomores is something special. There are some things they just know what to do based on years prior. If we’re fortunate enough to get back to Danville, it will be because of the experience.”
Defense wins championships. At least that’s what Allen proved last season.
“We were a great offensive scoring team, but we won a lot of games with our defense,” said Shaw. “We held half of our conference opponents in the 50’s. Defense and rebounding is why we had the success last year and this year will be the same recipe.”
The Red Devils are also priding themselves on their toughness this season.
