High hopes for men's basketball veterans

It's not very often that you see a college basketball team have nine seniors. The 2011-12 Fredonia State men's basketball team has just that and entering his eleventh season at SUNY Fredonia, coach Kevin Moore is already enjoying having a majority of seniors.

"The maturity level is very nice to have," said  Moore. "They understand what to expect, whether it be the competition level in the conference or the commitment they need to be putting forth at every practice. That maturity level has been great to have."

There are nine seniors in total on the roster counting two players, Amir Billups and Dalton Kashmer, who have an extra year of eligibility. Billups enters his third year of eligibility missed last season but is glad to be back.

 "It feels great to be playing again, playing the sport I love, being with my team, I love it," said Billups. Billups has one year left of eligibility after this season and said he's "definitely" coming back next year.

When asked to compare this team to Fredonia State teams in the past, Moore couldn't have been more optimistic.

 "I like this team a lot, three years ago we went to the conference final and loss to Brockport. I think this team has that potential to be that good, if not better.  As long as we continue to improve on our weaknesses and not turn the ball over too much we certainly have the potential." Moore went on to discuss what his team had to do this year.

"We have to maintain a strong defensive effort. On offense we have to know when to get the ball in the paint to Julius Bryant, as well as getting our threes when they are falling." Bryant, like Billups, missed all of last season and is back after recovering from a stress fracture in his right shin.  

"The plan at first was to come back but it just didn't heal fast enough," said Bryant. "The feeling of being back though is amazing actually. I have to thank God of course for giving me another opportunity, and more than anything I'm just glad I can do this again. A couple of guys before me had injuries their senior year but didn't have an opportunity to play again. I'm just looking to make the most out of the opportunity."

Fredonia State's first eight games are all on the road but despite this tough road schedule to start the season Bryant has one game in particular that he is looking forward to. The final game of the road trip brings them to Youngstown, Ohio where the team will be playing against Division I Youngstown State University.  

"Oh of course I'm excited, it's always good to see what you can do against a top tier team so I am excited to do that, and to show what I can offer to this team," Bryant said.  

Youngstown State plays in the Horizon League Conference which happens to be the same conference as Butler University, who has been in the last two Division I national championship games.

With many key players returning to a team that went just 6-18 last season, there is a positive outlook for the coming 2011-12 season.