New season of UCCS Basketball looks promising

Both the UCCS Men's and Women's Basketball teams are revamped and ready to get underway as their seasons tips off this week. As Mountain Lion Basketball looks forward to entering the second season of play at the Gallogly Events Center, both teams begin the season with new faces and a fresh feeling of excitement and anticipation for the competition ahead.

The men's team has added seven to their roster since they ended last season with a quarterfinal exit in the RMAC playoffs. The Mountain Lions welcome three freshmen and four transfers as they look to make even more noise in their conference this season. Senior forward Rob Howe believes the even mix of under and upperclassmen will bring a much needed balance to the men's squad.

"You'll see a lot of the new guys complementing the veterans well. They've all played at a high level at their previous schools, and it's clear that they're going to be able to help us out all year," Howe said.

One way the new players are expected to contribute is by bringing a level of quickness and athleticism that may lend itself to the up-tempo style the Mountain Lions will have this year. "We addressed a need for athleticism," expounded Howe. "We want to try to run this season, and the guys we brought in are definitely going to help out with that."

The women's program also has a new flurry of talent this year, which will assist in turning the program around after an unsuccessful season last year. With only five ladies returning, the lady Mountain Lions are ready to start the season after a difficult preseason. According to junior guard Payden Ackerman, the team has worked hard all offseason on creating that important bond between the new faces and the veterans.

"We have done a lot of team building and the chemistry has been amazing considering it's a relatively new team," Ackerman said. "The practices and conditioning this pres-season have been intense and are already starting to show in our play."

Team chemistry will be crucial to the women's team as they are expecting immediate contributions from a highly capable incoming group of players which includes a recruiting class of six freshmen and two twin sister transfers. Ackerman believes this will allow the new players to adjust as the team aims to improve from last season's 6-21 record. Ackerman noted, "Each freshman is going to help our team greatly. They are all very hard working, and willing to step up at this level. The junior transfers, Jess and Danielle Brown, are going to be influential for this team as well. They are beyond athletic and push the tempo to a level we can all appreciate."

The men tip off tonight at 7 p.m. against Johnson and Whales at The Gallogly Events Center. The ladies commence play Thursday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. against Colorado College at The Gallogly Events Center. Both games are exhibition matches.