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UWGB men's basketball begins a tough schedule in November at Oklahoma State

Posted on by Kennedy
UWGB men's basketball begins a tough schedule in November at Oklahoma State

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GREEN BAY – Doug Gottlieb has had a relatively smooth career since being hired as the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball coach in May.

He bought a house in the area.

He assembled an almost entirely new 18-player roster — yes, 18 — that includes just five players who were on the team last season.

It's still early, but so far he's shown that he can manage to do his national radio show while also hosting a college basketball program. He sometimes even does media interviews during his segment breaks.

But there was at least one thing he wasn't prepared for after getting his first college coaching job, a part of the job he never really thought about.

“How hard it is to turn people down, whether for coaching jobs or for recruits,” Gottlieb said. “We only got turned away by a few kids, but we actually turned away several kids who wanted to come and we just didn't have room or it was dismissal and someone didn't want to play.

“I like building people up. I don't like cutting them off. Telling a child, “Hey, we’re not offering that to you,” is really hard. I have so many friends in coaching: “Hey, this isn’t working for this group.” That’s the hardest part. That’s the surprising thing that I didn’t necessarily imagine.”

The Doug Gottlieb era at UWGB begins with a difficult schedule in November

Phoenix fans got their first glimpse of the mostly new team last week when they won a 102-73 exhibition win over St. Norbert College at the Kress Center, a game in which veteran freshman Anthony Roy scored 46 points and 12 three-pointers achieved.

As impressive as it was, it was still against a Division III program. It probably won't be that easy against some of the teams UWGB will face soon.

It begins Monday at 8 p.m. at Oklahoma State. The home opener will be four days later against a St. Thomas team picked to finish fourth in the Summit League.

The Phoenix then play away contests against one of the best teams in the Ohio Valley Conference in Western Illinois and a Big East team in Providence.

Along with games against SIU-Edwardsville and Evansville, it ends at Ohio State in November.

Even if Gottlieb turns out to be a Hall of Fame coach, it could be a challenging start to one's resume.

UWGB started last season 4-6 under the Sundance Wicks – 3-6 if you don't count a win against NAIA member St. Francis (Ill.) – before winning four straight games on its way to one of the better ones Turnarounds in DI history was .

Gottlieb acquired some talent in the offseason that wouldn't have been possible in the past, including freshman guard and former Oklahoma State recruit Jeremiah Johnson.

But a slow start wouldn't be shocking again. If that happens, Gottlieb doesn't think it's because of a lack of chemistry on a team that mostly met for the first time just a few months ago.

“I don’t think it’s that hard,” Gottlieb said. “The hard part will be in a few weeks when some of them don’t play. Then the real challenge is that they are all a very tight group. They're all a bit like brothers now.

“The challenge is to convince them that we are a team with an agenda. This agenda is successful. But it’s actually my specialty to get kids from all over the world, from all over the country, to grow together.”

The UWGB job feels somewhat unique for Gottlieb because the campus is so small and everyone sees each other so often.

He swears every time he goes shopping at Festival Foods, he sees at least one of his players doing the same thing.

They tend to be at the gym or spending time together. So no, the bond wasn't a problem.

It will simply be the one-focus agenda that Gottlieb wants and that could prove decisive.

“We live in a society that’s all about now, now, now, now,” Gottlieb said. “Firstly, I have some who are far more experienced, so those are the ones I trust. And secondly, you can only play five. There is only one basketball.”

UWGB prepares to face Oklahoma State

The Phoenix hope to be near full strength in their opening game against the Cowboys, although veteran guard Foster Wonders remained a question mark earlier this week. The junior is dealing with a foot problem but told Gottlieb he hopes to play.

Former OSU player Isaiah Miranda was at practice this week, but it remains to be seen whether the 7-foot-1 center will travel with the team for the game. If so, it's a good bet Gottlieb will find him at least a few minutes.

This is also a big homecoming for Gottlieb. He played three seasons at OSU from 1997 to 2000 and still holds several school records.

He has been passed over by his alma mater for the men's program in the past, but he harbors no animosity toward the school.

Gottlieb has nothing negative to say about the athletic department, OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg or OSU men's coach Steve Lutz and his staff.

Instead, he feels nothing but love for her. He knows the basketball atmosphere there and wants his players to experience it.

“I think when I stop and think about it, it gives me goosebumps,” Gottlieb said of his return. “There are a lot of emotions. When I came to Stillwater, my trajectory as a person changed. My ex-wife (Angie), we were married for 20 years before we separated. I have three children. I'm on the Board of Governors. I met my best friends on earth. Everything I have built in broadcasting and coaching is based on my time there.

“I think it's really important for people to understand that I'm not playing this game for my own ego or to prove something. Actually out of incredible gratitude. I realize how special the position I currently hold is and I want to share it with all of my friends in Stillwater. Without that time there, I wouldn’t be here.”

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