Cardinal Stritch University begins defense of its NAIA Division 2 National

Drew Diener

Championship today in Branson, Missouri.

The Milwaukee area school is the top seed heading into the seven-day event, despite a large roster turnover from last season.

Coming off of last year’s national championship, 5th year coach Drew Diener had 9 new faces on his roster to mesh around returning starters Derek Semenas (Senior from Rosendale/UW-Green Bay) and junior Tony Smith (Fond du Lac).

Semenas averaged 24 points a game this season and was the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Smit (11.3 ppg/5.4 apg) was also a first team all-league choice.

The Wolves (29-4) will play Northern New Mexico (16-15) in the first round at noon today (Wednesday).  Teams must win 5 games in 7 days to win the NAIA National Championship.

AUDIO: Drew Diener says they have a target on their backs :17

AUDIO: Drew Diener thinks they can win it all again :20

(Thanks to Wade Bades at affiliate KFIZ in Fond du Lac for contributing)

Win a National Title and the awards will follow.

Fond du Lac native Drew Diener did just that, in his fourth season at Cardinal Stritch,

Drew Diener

beating William Penn (Iowa) in the NAIA Division II national title game last week.

Diener has been named Rawlings NAIA Division II national coach of the year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches NAIA UPS Coach of the Year.

Senior Darren Moore of Chicago (6’7 center) was named to the NAIA Division II All-American team.  Junior guard Derek Semenas (Rosendale, WI) was selected second-team All-American.