The Wildcats lost their leader in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game and are coming off a 9-20 season.
Despite this, senior Nick Iversen and the other members of the men’s basketball team, who won four of its last five in 2008, are excited for the upcoming season.
“We are not going to be as deep off the bench,” Iversen said. “We had a lot of seniors graduate, but the coaches did a good job of getting talent, and we have adjusted well.”
One of the biggest additions is 6-foot-9-inch senior Justin Houser. He has attended three other schools, the most recent being NCAA Division II University of South Carolina Upstate. He is a Shawnee Mission Northwest graduate.
“I feel I bring leadership and the experience of playing Division I teams that the other guys lack,” Houser said.
Iversen said Houser is a good addition.
“Houser has that senior savvy and will be able to step in right away and have a large impact,” Iversen said.
Head coach Rick Weaver said Houser will be called on to do the bulk of the rebounding, especially now that fellow big man senior Mike Mokeski is likely out four to six weeks with a knee injury.
Senior Matt Quandt recognizes the team lacks some size.
“We shouldn’t have a problem with rebounding, as long as we never miss.”
The ‘Cats may not make everything, but shooting should be one of the team’s strong points. Returning letterman Iversen and fellow senior Heath Baird both shot better than 43 percent from downtown last year.
The Wildcats were 6-14 in conference play last year and had separate losing streaks of six and 10 games. They don’t lack experience, as they have seven seniors and two junior college transfers. The eight players that will get the majority of minutes are all juniors and seniors.
Quandt said the team is ahead of where it was at the start of last season.
“We were five times better at our preseason scrimmage versus Johnson County (Community College) this year,” he said. “Everyone is doing what they need to do to get better.”
The squad will play its alumni game Saturday.
The team will open its season against St. Mary at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.