‘The first one at home just feels right’: Hawks win Hoyt’s Pepsi Arena debut as head coach

Quincy University men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt, right, watches a play unfold while squatting in front of the Hawks' bench during Thursday night's home opener against Hannibal-LaGrange University at Pepsi Arena. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Hoyt wasn’t expecting to be hit by a tsunami from water bottles as he entered the Quincy University men’s basketball team’s locker room Thursday night. “I got soaked,” the Hawks’ first-year head coach said. “I think some of them refilled their bottles and got me again.” They wanted to make the celebration…

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Schuckman: Hoyt, Hawks ready to meet challenges game day presents

Quincy University men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt will lead the Hawks into their first game under his command at 6 p.m. Friday when they face the University of Findlay in the GMAC/GLVC Regional Crossover in Findlay, Ohio. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — In the days leading up to their first road trip of the season, Quincy University men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt asked each of his players to come by his office for a one-on-one chat. “It’s a good check-in,” Hoyt said. All with a purpose. Hoyt can gauge the pulse of his new team…

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Schuck on a Truck: QU men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt discusses start of preseason practices

QUINCY — The weather Saturday didn’t mirror what many of us think of when we talk about basketball season, which normally invokes images of a winter coats and snow-covered roads. However, the 90-degree sun-splashed day made it ideal for the Quincy University men’s basketball team to stay inside. The Hawks officially began practice for the…

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Hoyt fills QU men’s basketball coaching staff with familiar names and faces

Justin Bottorff, who was a second-team all-state selection at Quincy Notre Dame and finished his collegiate playing career at Augustana College, will be a full-time assistant coach on Brad Hoyt's men's basketball coaching staff at Quincy University. | Photo courtesy Augustana College

QUINCY — Brad Hoyt believed there was one vital element necessary when constructing his coaching staff. Familiarity. The first-year Quincy University men’s basketball coach needed at least one coach familiar with the community, one familiar with the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the NCAA Division II level, and one familiar with himself and his coaching…

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‘He’s a blue-collar guy’: QU turns to JWCC’s Hoyt to guide men’s basketball program

New Quincy University men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt speaks at a press conference announcing his hire Tuesday morning in the Hall of Fame Room on the QU campus. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Jake Hoyt owns the upper hand. As new Quincy University men’s basketball coach Brad Hoyt sees it, that won’t be the case for long. Last winter, during his freshman season at Illinois College, the coach’s son helped the Blueboys win an NCAA Division III national tournament game. His dad, who spent the past…

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‘It’s weird today’: Hoyt leaves JWCC after life-long association, school needs to fill three positions

Brad Hoyt spent 25 years at John Wood Community College as a student-athlete, basketball and administrator before leaving to become the head men's basketball coach at Quincy University. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The navigation on Brad Hoyt’s car needs to be reprogrammed. Instead of the daily drive to the John Wood Community College campus, a route he’s taken for the past 13 years as men’s basketball coach and athletic director, Hoyt will be cruising across town to the Quincy University campus to begin his new…

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Schuckman: Rabe knows sweat-on-the-brow coaches fit what QU athletic department needs

New Quincy University men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt listens to the introduction from athletic director Josh Rabe during Tuesday's press conference in the Hall of Fame Room on the QU campus. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Experience has provided Josh Rabe with perspective. During Rabe’s three years as the Quincy University athletic director, the head coach of three of the most high-profile programs on campus has resigned to pursue another coaching opportunity. None of those programs could be considered in the midst of thriving at the time. So it…

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Schuckman: Next QU men’s basketball coach faces sizable task of meeting variety of needs

John Wood Community College men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt could be one of the candidates as Quincy University searches for Steve Hawkins' replacement. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The challenge facing the next Quincy University men’s basketball coach is three-fold. One, replenish the roster. Two, put fans in the stands. Three, win games. All three are intertwined. Prior to Steve Hawkins resigning Monday to pursue another coaching opportunity, four QU players had entered the transfer portal, although two of which are…

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Shelton gets transition game into high gear as Trail Blazers blow out Danville in second half

John Wood Community College's Jordan Shelton dribbles past Danville's Ryan Caddell during Saturday afternoon's men's college basketball game at the Student Activity Center. | David Adam

QUINCY, Ill. – John Wood Community College guard Jordan Shelton spent all but five minutes of the first half of Saturday afternoon’s game against Danville Area Community College on the bench with two personal fouls. He went from spectator to spectacular in the second half. The 5-foot-11 freshman from Mexico (Mo.) High School scored all…

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Late baskets by Gianquinto help JWCC men pick up critical region victory on home floor

John Wood Community College's Cachao Gianquinto goes up for a shot during Wednesday night's game against Lincoln Land at the Student Activity Center in Quincy. | Matt Schuckman

QUINCY — An offensive rebound basket by Cachao Gianquinto put the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team ahead with 2:10 remaining in the game, and a layup by Gianquinto moments later provided the cushion necessary to post a 72-68 victory over Lincoln Land Community College on Wednesday night at the Student Activity Center. The…

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Photo gallery: JWCC completes weekend sweep to seize momentum with MWAC play looming

The John Wood Community College men's basketball players along the bench listen to instructions from Trail Blazers coach Brad Hoyt. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s 62-51 victory over Kishwaukee College on Sunday at JWCC’s Student Activity Center capped a perfect weekend as the Trail Blazers won both of their games in the JWCC New Year’s Classic. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the afternoon with the Trail Blazers and…

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Trail Blazers unable to stop bounce back as Stormers fend off second-half rally

John Wood Community College's Breiton Klingele, left, and Logan Robbins trap Milwaukee Area Technical College's Jayquan Hickles during Saturday's game at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Hoyt knows the yo-yo happens. “Finding a way to stop the bounce back is what’s critical,” he said. The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team couldn’t do that Saturday afternoon. Although Milwaukee Area Technical College led from start to finish in an 82-69 victory at the Student Athletic Center, the Trail…

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‘Weekend full of toughness’: Trail Blazers begin to forge identity with pair of victories

John Wood Community College men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt watched the Trail Blazers improve to 3-0 with a pair of victories in the John Wood Classic at the Student Activity Center. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Hoyt used two words to describe the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team’s defensive effort last weekend he hopes will be the same two words he uses to characterize the Trail Blazers all season. Toughness and physicality. JWCC won a pair of games in the John Wood Classic last weekend at…

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Added responsibilities on campus do not change Hoyt’s focus in leading JWCC hoops program

John Wood Community College men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt is entering his 13th consecutive season coaching the Trail Blazers and 14th overall. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The number of times Brad Hoyt criss-crosses the John Wood Community College campus on a given day probably isn’t as high as some might think. The number of questions he fields from every corner of the campus … well, that’s a number he’d rather not calculate. The JWCC men’s basketball coach’s “my door…

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Crim: Coaching, teaching basketball keeps JWCC assistant Rafferty in ‘his happy place’

John Wood Community College assistant men's basketball coach Pat Rafferty, who has been coaching nearly a half-century, continues to provide insight for JWCC coach Brad Hoyt and the Trail Blazers. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Pat Rafferty says he will know when it’s finally time to walk away from basketball and coaching. At 72, after spending nearly a half-century with teams in high school and college gymnasiums, that time has yet to arrive. “He’s in his happy place,” John Wood Community College coach Brad Hoyt said of his…

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First-half drought too much for John Wood men to overcome in home setback

John Wood Community College's Logan Robbins dribbles past Parkland's Isaac Mapson during Saturday afternoon's men's basketball game in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — When you’re a .500 team, you win some and you lose some. You will have good moments and bad moments.  The John Wood Community College men’s basketball team lost Saturday afternoon at home to Parkland College 65-62. The Trail Blazers’ record sits at 14-13, and like their season, the contest included good things…

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Schuckman: JWCC showcases family-based culture for entire community to see

A pair of John Wood Community College cheerleaders try to entice passerbys to get their car washed as part of the Blazer Bash, which was held Saturday on the JWCC campus. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Saturday felt like a warm, welcoming hug. John Wood Community College opened its arms to the community, and Quincy embraced it. “Yeah, this is neat,” Trail Blazers athletic director Brad Hoyt said as he surveyed the meshing of JWCC athletes and personnel with fans and community members across a large swath of the…

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Search for right fit leads QHS all-stater Talton to JWCC to continue basketball career

Quincy High School's Jeremiah Talton, right, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play basketball at John Wood Community College. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Jeremiah Talton wanted to play for a college basketball coach he could build a relationship with beyond the court and a program that would help his game mature. He didn’t have to leave town to find the right combination. The Quincy High School all-state swingman signed his national letter of intent with John…

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Trail Blazers believe November setback will benefit them in February’s postseason pursuit

John Wood Community College's Jarvis Jennings, right, begins his drive to the basket with 20 seconds remaining in overtime and Saturday's game against Des Moines Area Community College tied at 81. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Come February, Jarvis Jennings believes the scenario plays out differently. Three months from now, Brad Hoyt expects to make a wiser decision. Together, they are supremely confident the John Wood Community College men’s basketball team will be entertaining a shot at reaching the NJCAA Division II national tournament because of what transpired Saturday…

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Trail Blazers hope experienced, savvy lineup leads to more national success

John Wood Community College men's basketball coach Brad Hoyt has four starters returning this season, including first-team All-American forward Jarvis Jennings. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone. Brad Hoyt is counting on the first part of Irish poet Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated adage to hold true. If the second part is more accurate, the veteran John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach might find himself feeling a little more haggard come…

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Sit down with the AD: Brad Hoyt discusses the future of JWCC athletics

Brad Hoyt, who serves as the head men's basketball coach and athletic director at John Wood Community College, is pushing the Trail Blazers in pursuit of more championship moments. Submitted photo

QUINCY — Brad Hoyt thrives on chasing championship moments. The John Wood Community College men’s basketball coach places such a high priority on that concept his players use the “championships are cool” mantra whenever they discuss expectations and goals. The other JWCC coaches are embracing the idea, too. It’s why Hoyt, who also serves as…

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