Both the men and women’s basketball teams have started practicing and preparing for the upcoming season.
The women had a preseason game on Oct. 28 against Arkansas State University 68-79. According to coach Tim Kirby, women’s basketball head coach, having a majority of the team return this year is a huge advantage to the team.
This year there will be six seniors on the team. According to Kirby, the returning players show the new players what being on a college basketball team is like. Senior forward Kristen Celsor said she is looking forward to having a team that is very strong in all the positions. Celsor said she has high hopes for the team.
“We have a lot of strong new girls so I am hoping we make it to the NCAA tournament,” Celsor said. “We are definitely a big group of sisters. I think this is going to help us go very far this year.”
The men’s team will tip off this season in a few short weeks at home in the Rhodes Field House.
“I am excited to see this year’s team,” Head Coach Jeff Morgan said about the men’s basketball team. “Every season is different so it is exciting for me to see how guys grow up in the program, how they grow as people, how they grow as teammates and how we grow as a team.”
According to Morgan, the Bisons lost four essential players last year but will have three seniors this year that are going to put forth a lot of valuable leadership and experience on the court. Morgan said the Bisons are going into this season with the goal of advancing in the NCAA tournament. Senior Hayden Johnson said this is an important goal for him as well.
“We are looking for a lot of hard work this year and having guys come in and play their roles and contribute,” Johnson said. “We are deep enough this year to make a good run and be competitive and be the best that we can be.”
According to Johnson, the team’s success is based on the team chemistry on and off the court and the chemistry between the student body and the team. Johnson said a huge reason the team did so well last year was because of the support of the Rhodes Rowdies.
“It definitely makes a difference and played a huge part in us winning our conference championship last year,” Johnson said. “We hope the students know how much of part they are in the games.”
The first home games will take place on Nov. 14 against Christian Brothers University.
