NW Men's Basketball Pushes Past Losing Season, Restarts With Roster Changes

[libertybearcat]

After speaking with a few coaches, I agree on following a very successful coach is not appealing. Unless you win national championships you're seen as a failure. Every coach I talked to would rather take over a struggling program than one that had the success NW did under Ben.

100%. Following great success, doesn't automatically give you success, I think it actually makes it harder to achieve success. Especially, if that success included a NC or even worse, multiple NCs. I say that as a lifelong Husker fan. We were fortunate with Osborne following Devaney... but it took Tom 21 or 22 years to win a Natty and I don't think there's a program around today that would wait that long with the same coach.

[NWHoops]

There have been a couple announcements of recruits on Social Media... maybe waiting for schools to get out and see who is available.

Look I'm not defending the hire, I am no AP apologist, but there's no way they're firing him after 3 years, so I'm taking a wait and see mode... they made progress last year, made the MIAA tourney.

I would also disagree that following Ben is an attractive position to be in for a new coach. If AP ran his coaching hire like he did with football, he didn't talk to many folks and likely NONE out of people he knew. FB has turned out pretty good so far, and not that it is that big of a deal, his Baseball hire appears to be an excellent hire 4th in the conference this year, best record in 20+ years, the softball coach has been an upgrade, and Women's golf is better. Maybe AP can judge coaches, so no reason to plie on Keely yet, he was also handcuffed in year one with a bunch of guys who couldn't play hardly any minutes for Ben and didn't fit his scheme. So, I'm a little more forgiving at this juncture.

After speaking with a few coaches, I agree on following a very successful coach is not appealing. Unless you win national championships you're seen as a failure. Every coach I talked to would rather take over a struggling program than one that had the success NW did under Ben.

[libertybearcat]

I recall Ben's first two seasons taking the helm of Bearcat basketball all too well. No question I was on that list of concerned fans over his hire. I own up to that.
but, at the same time, maybe because he was a former Bearcat "coming home", I recall being somewhat open with being fairly acceptable of McCollum's taking over that coaching job. Certainly changed those feelings as he was getting buried in his struggles those first two seasons of his most of us never forgot. But, for myself, I had never achieved anywhere close the level of "Bearcat Fan" that I eventually did with Coach Mac's accomplishments with the years that followed. I seriously doubt any Bearcat fan ever did. Tappmeyer brought fun an excitement back to Bearcat basketball during his tenure, but, despite his record and all his accomplishments, what Mac did in his 15 seasons as HC was stunning. Times change. He was gong to be a tough act to follow.

Back to Keeley. On paper, Keeley's hire made no sense with a record at an NAIA school Ottawa University Arizona in his 7 seasons there of 113-89. Conference record was 44-53 in the six seasons his Ottawa team had since it joined the GSAC down there in Arizona. I have zero idea how AD Peterson comes up with the great idea with some crazed thought that bringing in an NAIA coach to take over a basketball program at Northwest Missouri State that was clearly the most successful program not only in NCAA DII, but at all levels of NCAA basketball. Not implying that translates it would have also been the most desired job sought by any upper tier NCAA coaches. But, that Bearcat program left behind by Ben McCollum should have one of the hottest coaching tickets in basketball, certainly in NCAA D2 and D3 and among top level JC coaches. So, for me, and no question a slew of Bearcat fans, Keeley's hire was leaps and bounds far more baffling than Coach McCollum's hire in 2009.

Yeah, Liberty, I'm concerned about Keeley. But the statement I made that you quoted I stand by. It is ONLY stating my reference that I'm hearing only crickets regarding the "what's next" and "what's in the horizon" of Keeley's program for Bearcat basketball going into his third season as Head Coach. I'm anxious to hear about recruits and the direction this program is going and I'm hearing nothing ... no such announcements ... nothing. It's May 2026. Bearcat basketball graduated 7 seniors. Not happy with Keeley these past two seasons. I'm sure most fans aren't. I want to know what's next. What's coming. Still want Keeley to succeed. Not happy with him. I'm not alone. But, leave no doubt I want Bearcat basketball to succeed. Waiting to hear some excitement from Keeley's corner. Right now ... (crickets).

There have been a couple announcements of recruits on Social Media... maybe waiting for schools to get out and see who is available.

Look I'm not defending the hire, I am no AP apologist, but there's no way they're firing him after 3 years, so I'm taking a wait and see mode... they made progress last year, made the MIAA tourney.

I would also disagree that following Ben is an attractive position to be in for a new coach. If AP ran his coaching hire like he did with football, he didn't talk to many folks and likely NONE out of people he knew. FB has turned out pretty good so far, and not that it is that big of a deal, his Baseball hire appears to be an excellent hire 4th in the conference this year, best record in 20+ years, the softball coach has been an upgrade, and Women's golf is better. Maybe AP can judge coaches, so no reason to plie on Keely yet, he was also handcuffed in year one with a bunch of guys who couldn't play hardly any minutes for Ben and didn't fit his scheme. So, I'm a little more forgiving at this juncture.

[ZubCat81]

As opposed to the hotbed of activity surrounding every other program in the region? Come on Zub, are you just looking for things to gripe about? If the team doesn't make marked improvement in the coming year, then start in on him. Have you forgotten how bad Ben's first 2 years were? Lots of folks were calling for his job then, myself included, but cooler heads prevailed and look what he accomplished. I don't recall there being many bright spots in those first 2 years.

I recall Ben's first two seasons taking the helm of Bearcat basketball all too well. No question I was on that list of concerned fans over his hire. I own up to that.
but, at the same time, maybe because he was a former Bearcat "coming home", I recall being somewhat open with being fairly acceptable of McCollum's taking over that coaching job. Certainly changed those feelings as he was getting buried in his struggles those first two seasons of his most of us never forgot. But, for myself, I had never achieved anywhere close the level of "Bearcat Fan" that I eventually did with Coach Mac's accomplishments with the years that followed. I seriously doubt any Bearcat fan ever did. Tappmeyer brought fun an excitement back to Bearcat basketball during his tenure, but, despite his record and all his accomplishments, what Mac did in his 15 seasons as HC was stunning. Times change. He was gong to be a tough act to follow.

Back to Keeley. On paper, Keeley's hire made no sense with a record at an NAIA school Ottawa University Arizona in his 7 seasons there of 113-89. Conference record was 44-53 in the six seasons his Ottawa team had since it joined the GSAC down there in Arizona. I have zero idea how AD Peterson comes up with the great idea with some crazed thought that bringing in an NAIA coach to take over a basketball program at Northwest Missouri State that was clearly the most successful program not only in NCAA DII, but at all levels of NCAA basketball. Not implying that translates it would have also been the most desired job sought by any upper tier NCAA coaches. But, that Bearcat program left behind by Ben McCollum should have one of the hottest coaching tickets in basketball, certainly in NCAA D2 and D3 and among top level JC coaches. So, for me, and no question a slew of Bearcat fans, Keeley's hire was leaps and bounds far more baffling than Coach McCollum's hire in 2009.

Yeah, Liberty, I'm concerned about Keeley. But the statement I made that you quoted I stand by. It is ONLY stating my reference that I'm hearing only crickets regarding the "what's next" and "what's in the horizon" of Keeley's program for Bearcat basketball going into his third season as Head Coach. I'm anxious to hear about recruits and the direction this program is going and I'm hearing nothing ... no such announcements ... nothing. It's May 2026. Bearcat basketball graduated 7 seniors. Not happy with Keeley these past two seasons. I'm sure most fans aren't. I want to know what's next. What's coming. Still want Keeley to succeed. Not happy with him. I'm not alone. But, leave no doubt I want Bearcat basketball to succeed. Waiting to hear some excitement from Keeley's corner. Right now ... (crickets).

[libertybearcat]

NW Bearcat Basketball 2026-27 ... ('crickets')

There is an eeiry silence with HC Keeley and the Bearcat BB program, i.e., recruiting. However, did see the FB photo announcement (see above) of the seven (7) graduating seniors from this past 2025-26. season.

As opposed to the hotbed of activity surrounding every other program in the region? Come on Zub, are you just looking for things to gripe about? If the team doesn't make marked improvement in the coming year, then start in on him. Have you forgotten how bad Ben's first 2 years were? Lots of folks were calling for his job then, myself included, but cooler heads prevailed and look what he accomplished. I don't recall there being many bright spots in those first 2 years.

[ZubCat81]

Northwest Missouri State Basketball·
Congratulations to our 7 Seniors who will walk across the stage and graduate this weekend! You have left your mark on Bearcat Basketball! OABAAB!

[ZubCat81]

NW Bearcat Basketball 2026-27 ... ('crickets')

There is an eeiry silence with HC Keeley and the Bearcat BB program, i.e., recruiting. However, did see the FB photo announcement (see above) of the seven (7) graduating seniors from this past 2025-26. season.

[NWFanatic]

MIAA Tourney
NW got a technical for 6 men on the court during play in the 1st half. Gair tried to hide behind the Lions bench when he realized it…crazy…hope those 2 pts don’t end up mattering

[NWHoops]

I'd think moving up will be tough when the top 3 scorers -- Gair, Williams, Mays -- are done. (side note: that trio combined to play for 15 programs). Keep most everyone else around (some will portal) and maybe find another group of effective transfers.

Gair will be addition by substraction

[libertybearcat]

I'd think moving up will be tough when the top 3 scorers -- Gair, Williams, Mays -- are done. (side note: that trio combined to play for 15 programs). Keep most everyone else around (some will portal) and maybe find another group of effective transfers.

Didn't say it was easy, but with the way the fan base seems to be right now, I think he needs to keep making progress and with the portal, replacing scoring isn't necessarily impossible to do.

[Try II]

Agreed... making progress is a good sign for the program. Hope he can get more of his type of guys and move up into the 4-6 range in the conference next year.

I'd think moving up will be tough when the top 3 scorers -- Gair, Williams, Mays -- are done. (side note: that trio combined to play for 15 programs). Keep most everyone else around (some will portal) and maybe find another group of effective transfers.

[libertybearcat]

Congrats to MK for making the MIAA(10th seed) in his 2nd year and improving win total by 9/lowering losses by 7(so far)

Agreed... making progress is a good sign for the program. Hope he can get more of his type of guys and move up into the 4-6 range in the conference next year.

[NWFanatic]

Congrats to MK for making the MIAA(10th seed) in his 2nd year and improving win total by 9/lowering losses by 7(so far)

[libertybearcat]

Taking over for a legend can be tricky. I see some similarities to the transition at Southwest in the early 2000s. After Tim Miles moved on to NDSU after his historic run leading the team to the Elite Eight, he was replaced by Greg Stemen. While Stemen had been Miles' assistant, most of his success was at the lower JUCO level. The drop-off for the Mustangs wasn't as sharp, but it still happened. Over his first four seasons, the program got worse every year. The team went from 28 wins and a region championship in Miles' last year to consecutive sub-.500 seasons in Year 3 and 4 under Stemen. But slowly the team turned it around. Just four years after that, the Mustangs were back in the Elite Eight. Will Northwest be as patient? I'm guessing not. But I do think there's at least some reason to not abandon ship yet.

Good question. I haven't heard about any money guys complaining about him, as long as that doesn't happen and he keeps an upward trajectory he'll be okay. They sat on head FB coach Rich Wright a year or two too long. NW doesn't seem to pull the plug quickly on coaches unless there is something really wrong... only one I can think of was several years ago the women's BB coach quit/fired middle of the year because of his treatment of the players. Plus he is the current ADs hire, so that may help him too.

[Stanger86]

He's a good guy, I'm hoping things work out for him. Seems like a lot of Bearcat fans have gotten spoiled the last 30 years... Ben struggled his first 2 years as HC at NW and he figured it out. I believe MK was hamstrung in year one having to keep several of Ben's guys who didn't play much for Ben and don't fit what MK wants to do. So, I'm giving at least one more year before I get to riled up about things with him.

Taking over for a legend can be tricky. I see some similarities to the transition at Southwest in the early 2000s. After Tim Miles moved on to NDSU after his historic run leading the team to the Elite Eight, he was replaced by Greg Stemen. While Stemen had been Miles' assistant, most of his success was at the lower JUCO level. The drop-off for the Mustangs wasn't as sharp, but it still happened. Over his first four seasons, the program got worse every year. The team went from 28 wins and a region championship in Miles' last year to consecutive sub-.500 seasons in Year 3 and 4 under Stemen. But slowly the team turned it around. Just four years after that, the Mustangs were back in the Elite Eight. Will Northwest be as patient? I'm guessing not. But I do think there's at least some reason to not abandon ship yet.