The Pioneers will have to overcome an awful tragedy as Theard passed away due to a heart attack in early Summer.  The sudden death shocked the community and he will be replaced by his assistant Dick Peth.  The city will rally around Peth and have dedicated the season to Theard who was developing quite a program in the City in the Clouds!  He will be missed in Denver forever as he was an intelligent and affable man.  Peth has big shoes to fill but he is the right man for the job but there is no way this will not affect this team. 

The Denver Pioneers are going into a transitional year and not just because they are jumping back into Division 1 basketball. This team from the Rocky Mountains will be looking to climb up as high as they can this year but the new coach also understands there are limitations.  Peth will rely on a large group of junior college kids to replenish a cupboard that is full but full of lower-level talent.  There is a pair of talented seniors who will lead the way as both came here last year after transferring from other programs. Juco transfer Byron Beck probably has the most upside on the team even if it may be as a role player.  A project as some like to claim, Beck showed his potential a little last year when he got on the court. He came on strong and though he is not a great scorer he does what it takes to help the team.  Beck showed great defense and rebounding and did put produce some points down the stretch.  Beck averaged over 14 points and 8 rebounds in the last ten games.  He is a good shooter with a nice hook from either hand and is tough on the boards.  He is built more like a power forward but played often at center and held his own. He might not be a Mel Daniels but he has held his own when asked to guard other centers.  Ask Big Mel about their showdown in January?  He can play and will definitely help somebody at the next level. But he ha one more year to prove that Theard’s confidence in him when he took a chance on this kid from Kittitas Washington playing at Columbia Basin JC.  Not exactly the big time but Beck at 6’9 225 is big enough to hang with anyone and because he can run for a big guy fits right into this cities sprots dynamic. The fans love him in the Mile High City for his all-out hustle and his toughness and desire to play hard at all times.  He is the original gamer and the Mile High City loves that.   

Fellow senior Vincent Boryla is of the same ilk.  Kind of left for dead early and getting very little playing time, Boryla decided to leave Notre Dame and head west.  It took him a minute to get eligible last year but he came on late and showed great stuff.  A great defender who can score form the outside or in, Boryla is a solid wing.  He can flat shoot and at 6’5 can get his shot off against just about anyone.  He has the game to succeed at the next level as he is unselfish and defends and has the size to guard other wings.  He may not be a star but he is another who does what it takes to succeed.  And he just might be the most talented kid that ever made his way from Indiana to Colorado ever. 

As stated above, Peth has a lot of new faces in his program so cohesiveness will be an issue.  Denver relies heavily on junior college transfers and it takes a while before all the players got to know each other. But there are also some four-year kids who have hung around and become darn good basketball players and will be counted on even more then usual in the leadership department.  The unquestioned leader of this team is senior guard Harry Hollines.  The sharp shooting lefty was the main man from the beginning.  One of the only four year players on the roster, Hollines is consistent not only with his ability to score but with never ending encouragement to his teammates and support of Coach Theard’s system.  He never gave in and was rewarded with a terrific junior year. He led the team in scoring and loves the new three-point line.  He may not be quite athletic enough to be a two guard at the D-1 level but in Denver he is a Legend!  He can flat out play basketball and loves the game. 

Senior Dick Brott, pardon the pun, brought it all year long.  Brott was Mr. Consistent inside and could be the best defensive big man this side of San Francisco.  His ability to shut down vaunted big men is legendary around Denver and the players that he has went against know how tough he is on the defensive end.  He may not be Russell but don’t tell that to Cliff Meely who Brott held to under ten points for the only time last season.  He is also a great rebounder who can also score a little and is the consummate team player.  Brott goes 6’8 and 220 was there for every bell and always produced in the paint.  He is not a gifted athlete but is a nice player who gave the team toughness, phenomenal defense and many, many boards throughout his career.  His sidekick in crime Dale Toft will also be back for more.  This 6’6 corn fed kid from Alaska played the enforcer underneath so that Brott could do his work. Toft does not care much about scoring but he can but he is one of the carryovers who might be vulnerable to all of the new talent Peth is bringing in. He should not break up this dynamic duo up front at least until they prove they can not hang with the D-1 players because after all they have been a part of some great teams which include a 52 game winning streak in Hamilton Gym.  Those fans might not be so much fun if things turn south and the Brott and Toft show were not on the court. 

Now for some of the other guys coming back who are penciled in for big roles at least right now. Junior Tom Jorgenson is the incumbent at point guard and knows how to run a team.  He can score a little and can really pass but his strongest attribute is his confidence.  He like many others may not be athletic enough for this level but he will get the first crack at running the team again.  Sophomores Peter Faller and Doug Wilson will split the backup point guard spot as they did last year. They both got their fair share of minutes as they traded back and forth from varsity to JV.  They will be competing once again for the field general position behind Jorgy. This may sound like a broken record but both are solid leaders and can distribute the ball but both lack the kind of athleticism that Division One requires. Senior Gene Steinke missed most of last year which opened the door for Jorgenson but will be back and still has a C on his uniform.  Fellow seniors Keith Patton, Jerry Cole, Jack Hauser, Joe Hughes and Dennis Hodge are back in competition for roles off the bench on the wings.  None of these guys are exactly a Skywalker but are solid players.  Some will make it and some won’t.  Frank Mixon, Paul Hickey and Jim Peay are a trio of undersized senior post players back for one more year.  Peay was a star here once but at 6’3 has little chance of playing at this level and we are not talking the altitude. Hickey is also 6’3 and Mixon 6’4 so those JC kids have every opportunity to play here.  That is probably why so many are coming to Denver.  There are a couple more kids on the roster who could help if they get a shot.  Senior Jimmy Darden has bounced around to many places but the kid could really help in the back court if he is deemed eligible.  David Atkins is the team’s funnyman but missed all of last year. Atkins decided to go to some open mic nights under the pseudonym Sinbad and is supposedly hilarious.  Atkins says his first love is basketball and is back for another shot but knows he has a magic carpet waiting for him in the comedy world if he does make the team. 

The Denver Pioneers are not going to anytime soon challenge the Broncos for the hearts of the Mile High City’s fans.  They do play an exciting fast paced style of basketball.  They have been a dominant program in NAIA after dropping down from D-1 a few years ago.  They are back with the big boys now and are coming off a big blow to their program and city.  Coach Floyd Theard passed away last summer with a heart attack and will be missed.  He also led the team to 52 straight wins at Hamilton Gym. It is going to take time for this city to heal from this but to be honest not many people even know about the Pioneers let alone care about them in this football crazed city.  Theard’s assistant Dick Pet is taking over the reins of this team but knows he has a mountain in front of him that is insurmountable.  He is replacing a great man who was also extremely successful right in the middle of a transition that moves this program about three notches up the college basketball totem pole.  He is bringing in as many JC kids as he can to bring up the talent bar but that is quite a leap. But as Van Halen and George Micheal say ‘you might as well jump…and you got to have faith!