By Steve Carpenter
Blue Dragon Sports Information Director

Call it an aura or vibe, but the feeling the 2021 Hutchinson Community College men's basketball team is putting out there is nothing but positive.

Nearly three months after they should have begun the season, the Blue Dragons finally reach Opening Night on Friday against Seminole State. They do so with a strong core group, which include two starters, a conference freshman of the year and two others who are ready to make their marks in their second collegiate season.

Add a couple of key transfers and eight freshmen, and 12th-year head coach Steve Eck is feeling pretty good as the pandemic delayed season is set to begin.

"They are a good bunch of guys," said Eck, who is 309-70 in his first 11 seasons with the Blue Dragons. "They work hard in practice and they get along. I enjoy going to practice. I'm looking forward to seeing this team progress."

After a strong start to the 2019-20 season, the Blue Dragons faded down the stretch to finish 23-9 overall, but was knocked out of the Region VI Tournament in the quarterfinal round, the earliest regional departure since 2012. Hutch tied with Barton for third place in the Jayhawk West and was not ranked in the final NJCAA rankings.

Hutchinson enters the season as the preseason pick to win the Jayhawk West and are No. 17 in the 2021 NJCAA Preseason rankings.

Those lofty expectations, which are nothing new to Blue Dragon Basketball, are powered by the return of 2020 Jayhawk West Freshman of the Year Josh Baker and all-conference performer Majok Kuath.

Baker is one of the highest-recruited guards in the nation entering the new season. As a freshman, Baker averaged 13.8 points while shooting 49.4 percent from 3-point range (76 of 154). Baker shot 51.1 percent overall.

Baker's 76 3-pointers last season tied for third most in Blue Dragon single-season history.

"Josh likely won't shoot that percentage this year because teams are going to guard him closer." Eck said. "He's going to need to make some tough shots. He worked hard in the off season to put the ball on the floor and pull up for jump shots. Last year he was more of a set shooter. He has expanded his game."

Kuath averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He shot 62.1 percent from the field last season. Kuath had a four-game stretch last season in January where he 26.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 78.4 percent. That play earned him an NJCAA National Player of the Week honor.

Opposing teams made the defensive adjustment to Kuath and his production was mightily slowed.

"He got banged around a little bit last year and it affected him," Eck said. "He's bigger and stronger this year. This year so far, that physical play hasn't affected him. I think Majok will keep getting better and better."

Guard Jaden Okon and forward Matt Mayers also return from last season and both have improved greatly from the players who saw only modest minutes as freshman.

Okon averaged 5.3 points. He finished the season with one of his best games as a freshman with 14 points in the Region VI Quarterfinal loss to Cowley. Mayers averaged 3.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 6.7 minutes per game.

"Matt plays harder and he's determined to do better and be a big part of the team for us," Eck said. "Jaden's jump shot is much improved this year. It wasn't bad last year, but he's also worked hard in the off season to improve himself."

A huge pick-up for the 2021 Blue Dragons is transfer point guard Isaiah Bujdoso. He played two seasons ago at Loyola-Chicago, but missed last season with an injury. Bujdoso is not a stranger to Kansas, playing at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita before going to Loyola.

Two seasons ago, Bujdoso averaged 2.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.7 steals per game in 30 games with the Ramblers.

"Last season we lost seven games in the last 30 seconds, so Isaiah would have made a difference last season," Eck said. "He brings a calmness to the team and tells everybody where to go and he is going to make smart plays. His IQ is a lot higher and he's like a second coach on the court.

"The kids listen to Isaiah and respect him."

Another key transfer to keep an eye on his guard Stephan Gabriel, who played at Bradley last season. Gabriel played in 12 games for the Braves and averaged 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from 3-point range.

Other freshmen to keep an eye on are guard Donovan Taylor and forward Bryant Selebanque.

With the season cut to 22 games because of the pandemic – the Blue Dragons open conference play Wednesday against No. 10 Coffeyville – the 2021 Blue Dragons get thrown right into the conference fray.

"There is no playing 8 or 9 non-conference games to get some confidence and get ready for the conference season," he said. "It's right now. It's happened in Division I. KU has lost three games already. Texas Tech has lost in the league. All the young guys get thrown right into the mix and there are no easy games in the league. It's going to be very interesting this season."