“Go ahead, pick us last, we don’t care.” Those were the words of Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb when asked about preseason polling from so-called experts who haven’t seen his team play. For the Phoenix, it’s a familiar position, overlooked, doubted, and left to prove themselves on the court.
Last season was one the program would rather forget, at least in the standings. The Phoenix stumbled to a 4–28 record and endured a brutal 21-game losing streak that even included a setback against a Division II opponent. But like the mythological bird they’re named for, Green Bay believes it can rise from those ashes.
Gottlieb credits the experience, though: “we experienced so many different things last year that in the moment obviously didn’t feel great experiencing, but long-term will make everything and everybody better because of it.” Now with a full offseason under his belt, Green Bay will rely on a healthy mix of returning pieces and new transfers.
Returning Players
A crucial step in that process is continuity. While many Horizon League programs underwent massive roster overhauls, Green Bay retained the second-most returning players in the conference, trailing only Detroit Mercy. That stability gives the Phoenix a foundation to build on.
Back is point guard Preston Ruedinger, the steady leader and heartbeat of the team. Junior forward Marcus Hall, one of the Horizon League’s most versatile players, also returns. Mac Wrecke and CJ O’Hara bring experience and toughness, while sophomores Brady Fitzgerald and Caden Wilkins are ready to push for minutes after developmental seasons.
Gottlieb calls keeping that core “paramount.” He stresses the value of experience: “We have some guys that are fighting to get on the court, but they know what they’re supposed to do. Their roles are established, now it’s about being better at what they do than they were last year.”
Incoming Players
Of course, roster turnover is part of life in mid-major basketball, and Green Bay has its share of newcomers. The difference this year is how those additions fit into the broader vision.
Headlining the incoming group is LeBron Thomas, a 6-3 junior guard from Vincennes University. Gottlieb doesn’t hold back on his assessment:
“He’s strong, he’s fast, he can really pass the basketball, he can finish around the hoop, and he plays exceptionally hard. He has a chance to be a special, special player.”
Another key piece is Justin Allen, the first offseason addition. A scoring machine at Carnegie Mellon, Allen averaged 25.4 points per game last season and even poured in 50 in a win over Dickinson. His offensive spark could give the Phoenix a much-needed weapon.
Green Bay also made a clear effort to improve defensively. Big men Vukasin Todorovic, Maruan Cicic, and Ramel Bethea were brought in to bring size, rebounding, and rim protection to a roster that badly needed it. Still, Gottlieb is careful not to set unrealistic expectations for instant stardom:
“We’re not going to have an Anthony Roy. There’s not going to be somebody who averages 30 a game. What we do have are guys who want to prove themselves.”
The Phoenix didn’t fully rely on the portal for offseason additions, bringing a pair of freshmen from within the US. First is Trey Schachter from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a senior, Schachter averaged 10 points per game, and better than a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio.
Green Bay dialed up a local talent for its other signee, Keegan Van Kauwenberg from Kaukauna High School, the same alma mater as former Phoenix assistant Jordan McCabe. As a senior, Van Kauwenberg averaged 24.6 points per game, including a single game school record of 56 late in the season. He also dished the ball extremely well, averaging 5.6 assists per game.
Over on the women’s side, Green Bay has done incredible things with homegrown talent. Gottlieb has certainly put an emphasis on capitalizing on Wisconsin’s vast talent pool: “We want Wisconsin kids to play at Green Bay. That’s incredibly important. Now, you don’t always have to get them out of high school. Part of what we’re doing is recruiting everybody, guys that go to high level, guys that go to low level, and then they get in the portal, and we want to bring them back.” Such is the case with guys like Hall, Ruedinger, and Wrecke.
This even translated to Gottlieb’s coaching staff. A pair of Green Bay alumni have joined the staff. The duo is headlined by Phoenix great Keifer Sykes coming in as the program’s first general manager. Sykes is still playing basketball professionally, and will serve as an ambassador for Green Bay basketball, helping fundraise and recruit.
Keil Ganz also joins the staff, coming from Northern Michigan among other stops, but having gotten his degree from Green Bay. He has done it at all levels, having coached locally at Kewaunee High School, and at a few Wisconsin based AAU programs. He also worked under Phoenix legend Gary Grzesk at St. Norbert, and created video analytics tools used in NBA scouting. Ganz will be tasked as the defensive coordinator.
Also new to the staff, though not a Wisconsin native, is Kerry Rupp. Rupp should be a familiar name to Horizon League fans, having coached with Mike Davis at Detroit Mercy, among numerous other stops. Gottlieb did add that “he’s obviously ridiculously overqualified for the position. First thing is, he was a player himself. He was a high school coach and then he was an assistant for Rick Majerus. A lot like Jerry Smith playing for Rick Pitino, if you coached with Rick Majerus, you have been taught the right way.” Rupp will focus on the offensive end of the game for Green Bay.
Outlook
The Phoenix won’t be mistaken for favorites in preseason projections. Their recent struggles guarantee that. But that’s exactly how Gottlieb and his players prefer it, overlooked and underestimated, with plenty of motivation to prove doubters wrong.
With a seasoned core, hungry newcomers, and a coach intent on forging an identity of toughness and accountability, Green Bay has a chance to make this season less about surviving and more about building. Rising from the ashes takes time, but the Phoenix are determined to take flight.
Preview Week 2025-26
MBB: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-League | Preseason Awards
WBB: Preseason Poll | Preseason All-League | Preseason Awards
Cleveland State (MBB | WBB) | Detroit Mercy (MBB | WBB) | Green Bay (MBB | WBB) | IU Indy (MBB | WBB)
Milwaukee (MBB | WBB) | Northern Kentucky (MBB | WBB) | Oakland (MBB | WBB) | Purdue Fort Wayne (MBB | WBB)
Robert Morris (MBB | WBB) | Wright State (MBB | WBB) | Youngstown State (MBB | WBB)
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