No matter how successful you are, the best always believe that there is more to do. And that's certainly true as far as the 2023-24 North Park men's basketball team is concerned.

North Park isn't going to sneak up on anybody, that's for sure. After five straight dismal seasons in which the Vikings went a combined 26-87 (.230) overall and 13-64 (.169) in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play, they broke out in a big way last season under first-year head coach Sean Smith. The Vikings turned the CCIW completely on its head, finishing in second place at 13-3 and then going on to win the CCIW postseason tournament for the first time ever. In so doing they ended North Park's 32-season drought of no NCAA Division III national tournament appearances. The Vikings then went on to win the first two rounds of the national tournament in St. Louis, defeating Sewanee and 19th-ranked host Washington (MO) before succumbing to eventual national runner-up Mount Union the following weekend in the sectional semifinals to end up 24-6 for the season.

"It's hard to ask for a better Year One. I couldn't be prouder of that group," said Smith, the 2023 D3hoops.com Coach of the Year for the entire division. "The foundation they laid reinvented North Park and put us back on the national scene." But a foundation is only a starting point, and that's reflected in this season's team motto, #moretodo. "We're not afraid to talk about it," Smith declared. "We have three goals: Win the CCIW, win the CCIW tourney, and play in the last game of the year with a chance to win it. That's why we play this game. You want to be the best. We just have to make sure that we stay in the moment and don't lose focus upon the way." Senior co-captain Shamar Pumphrey echoed this sentiment: "We want nothing less than a national championship. After last year we understand that it's not so farfetched. I'm not being cocky. We have every piece, and if we put it all together, there's no stopping us."

The Vikings do have some pieces to replace in graduated seniors Jalen Boyd (2022 All-CCIW second team), Marquise Jackson (2023 All-CCIW second team, who finished fourth in Division III last season with a school-record-tying 78 steals), Jordan Boyd, and Adam Bulwa. Together they constituted three starting slots and over 41% of North Park's minutes. But both the coaching staff and the returning players are convinced that the 2023-24 edition of the royal blue and gold will improve upon last season's ledger. "Year Two will be better," insists Smith. "We will have a more aggressive press, and our halfcourt defense will be better at  knowing when to take risks and when not to take risks. We have more size and length this year, and we will shoot better as a team."

One important gain is that the Vikings now have six returning players with significant national tournament experience under their belts. This is key, as Smith attributed last season's Sweet Sixteen loss to Mount Union as being a matter of experienced bench depth. "Their older veteran group off the bench was more ready for the moment than our guys were. That deficiency is what we addressed in the off-season." Not only do the Vikings bring back a seasoned veteran core, but Smith and his assistant coaches Edwind McGhee, Lou Griffith, and Mark Smith believe that they have brought in a plethora of CCIW-caliber newcomers who can immediately step onto the floor and play prominent roles in keeping North Park's new status as a national power intact.

But it all begins with the two returning starters, both of them All-CCIW first-teamers last season, backcourt mates Pumphrey at point guard and 6'1" junior shooting guard Kolden Vanlandingham. Among the most accomplished floor generals in all of Division III, the 6'0" Pumphrey averaged 11.3 points per game last season and finished 12th in the nation in steals, 25th in assists, and 21st in assist:turnover ratio. And Vanlandingham, who was an All-Region selection by D3hoops.com last season, led the Vikings with a 15.7 scoring average and is regarded as perhaps the most explosive returning scorer in the CCIW.

Two newcomers who are good bets to join Pumphrey and Vanlandingham in the starting lineup this season are 6'9 junior center Phil Holmes, Jr. and 6'2 junior guard Kyren Gardner. Holmes, who hails from Chicago prep powerhouse Simeon by way of North Idaho College, is a player who "brings something new in terms of size and shot-blocking," according to Smith. But he's impressive as well at the offensive end of the floor, where Smith says he demonstrates "elite footwork." "The sky's the limit for him," says the coach. "We love Phil. Great voice, great leader, high-character guy." Gardner, who averaged 11.5 ppg last season for Morton College, is someone who should alarm opposing CCIW coaches and players, as Smith describes him as having "Marquise-like talent. He has next-level athleticism, is a great defender, and continues to grow as a shooter."

Also in the mix for minutes in what should be a rotation that goes eleven-, twelve-, or even thirteen-men deep are six returners: 6'3" senior guard Quillin "QD" Dixon; 6'1" sophomore guard Lance Nelson; 6'3" junior guard Preston Bax III; 6'2" junior guard Davante Robinson; 6'6" graduate student forward Karl Polk, Jr.; and 6'3" senior Kenton Lei. Dixon, a co-captain with Pumphrey and Vanlandingham, finished tenth in the CCIW in steals last season despite averaging less than 17 minutes per game. "He's arguably one of the best defenders in the CCIW," says Smith. "When we look at our plus-minus stats, all of our best lineups have QD on them. Whether he comes off the bench or starts, our level stays the same. I love coaching him." Lance Nelson, who was the lone freshman on last season's team to see regular varsity playing time, played injured all of last season but came up especially big in the season's latter stages. The hard-nosed Wisconsin native was unanimously declared by the NPU coaches to be the team's standout player in the annual intrasquad scrimmage that took place this past weekend. Bax is an intriguing wild card for Sean Smith, as the coach says Preston is "long and athletic and can be a great two-way player. His role will expand. His mental game has seen the biggest jump."

The sharp-shooting Davante Robinson, who shot an even .500 (22-44) from beyond the arc last season, has worked hard in the off-season to become a better defender. "He's carved a niche for himself," said Smith. "He has a great heart and a great head on his shoulders. He puts in his work, and will definitely impact some games."

Karl Polk is the longest-tenured Viking, as this will be his fifth (Covid exemption) season at North Park. "He could've left, but he's bought in," points out Smith. "He's a sneaky impact player with a great motor who will be in the big-man mix." And Kenton Lei, who was on the fringes of the rotation last season as a junior, should benefit from a change in position. Smith said of Lei, "He's a strong uber-athlete  who will move from wing to play the 5 in small-ball lineups for us. He's bought into the new role. All he asks is, 'Where can I get minutes at?'"

Among the transfers seeking rotation roles besides Holmes and Kyren Gardner are 6'5 graduate student guard Trey Brooks; 6'0" junior point guard T.J. Gardner; 6'0" junior shooting guard Julian Gatewood; 6'0" sophomore twins Mike and Nick Vuckovic; 6'8" junior forward Nabil Kone; and 6'6" junior forward Taijon Berry. Brooks, a D2 transfer from Lake Erie College, was a 2,000-point All-State player in Ohio who got lost in the shuffle at his last school. "He's a lot like Jalen [Boyd]," said Smith. "But he's a more natural scorer. He can guard multiple positions. We're excited about his impact here." T.J. Gardner, who made previous stops at McHenry College (where he was the Illinois Skyway Conference Freshman of the Year) and Murray State College, has Sean Smith very excited about his potential. "Talk about tough! His on-ball defense is insane! He's older and more experienced, and he's a guy who makes the right play every time." Smith likes his offensive potential as well; "I wouldn't be surprised if he pops off for a couple double-digit games," said the coach. "He will make North Park's depth elite." Last season, as a starter for Aurora University who averaged 9.3 ppg, Julian Gatewood led the Spartans with 22 three-pointers and a .393 three-point shooting percentage, and was nearly immaculate at the free-throw line (28-31, .903). Significantly, in his two games against CCIW opponents, he recorded 12 points and 7 rebounds against North Central, and 17 points and 9 rebounds against Augustana. "He's arguably the best shooter on the team, and he's also an underrated defender," said Sean Smith. "He can use his playmaking ability to influence games and spread the floor, and he can also go get his own. He gives us scoring punch off the bench. Best of all, he's hungry to win."

The Vuckovic brothers, who transferred in from local juco Harper College, present an intriguing change of pace for the Vikings. "They're CCIW-caliber players," insists Smith. "They're fearless, they make good decisions, and they're great shooters. Best of all, they're gym rats. We're confident that they'll raise our level when called upon." Nabil Kone, who came to North Park after his former school, Trinity International University in north suburban Deerfield, disbanded its athletic department, is another player who gives the Vikings a different look. The Bamako, Mali native is a relentless athlete whose motor, according to Sean Smith, "does not stop. He is a great defensive player who can guard positions one thru five and is a strong rim protector. He's also giving us more than we thought we'd get, offensively. People will be surprised by him. He's strong as an ox and gets his hands on a lot of loose balls, and he'll give us extra possessions by his hard work. He's had quite an interesting story on his journey from Mali to here, and we love having him at North Park. He has a strong love for Jesus and wants all the right things." Taijon Berry, who transferred in from Moraine Valley CC, was a late addition to the roster. "He can play the 4 or 5 and has shot-blocking and defensive ability. He knows his role and plays it."

Beyond all that is a freshman class that Sean Smith feels could really become something special for North Park men's basketball. "The staff did a great job of identifying the kind of players we want here: Athletic, long, good multiple-position players who are also high-character guys. Our freshmen are buying into what their roles will be." Some, Smith said, are potential CCIW-rotation players who just need time to develop on the JV team, but there are two freshmen in particular who are ready to play varsity minutes right away: 6'8" forward D.J. Wallace and 6'6" forward Trevon Roots. "D.J. is a unicorn," said Smith. "He's a legit 6'8" with guard skills who, as is typical of guys his size, was expected to play center in high school but will be a wing for us. He erases shots at the rim, can knock down the three, and can drive to the basket. He has a high IQ and is ready to make an impact on a championship team. He's fearless, and he knows what to do." Trevon Roots is a freakishly athletic big man with a world of potential whom his coach raves about. "He's a great shot-blocker with a great wingspan who is starting to catch on to the offense. He has a great motor. His potential impact cannot be understated."

The team is a long way away from being a finished product. Sean Smith believes that his team needs to improve its halfcourt offense's efficiency – making the right reads, moving the ball quicker, making better shooting decisions – and he'd like to add more layers to North Park's already-fearsome full-court press. "There's another level we can go," he added, and reaching that level will require what Shamar Pumphrey calls "paying attention to the smaller details."

The stage is set for a magical season at the corner of Foster & Kedzie on Chicago's North Side, where there's a smallish gym from whose ceiling hangs five Division III men's basketball national championship banners. Sean Smith believes that the #moretodo his team has emblazoned on its warmup shirts involves making room at the west end of that gymnasium for another banner. "The fire has been lit. You want to win number six. Let's go win number six!"