DENVER – Make sure you pick up a program on your way into the Auraria Event Center when the MSU Denver men's basketball team plays its season opener.
"It's a brand-new roster," Roadrunners coach Michael Bahl said.
But, in Friday's 5 p.m. game against Stanislaus State (Calif.), it shouldn't take long to figure out that getting to know the players in the Roadrunners' lineup will be worth the effort.
Because, despite losing 76.3 percent of its scoring and 66 percent of its rebounding from last year's 15-14 team, Metropolitan State University of Denver may lack a long list of returning recognizable names – but it has some intriguing potential.
"We don't want to rely on one or two guys," Bahl said. "When we were really good here, we had four or five guys in double figures. We had four or five guys who could score 20 on any given night. And I think we're headed back in that direction."
Four starters, including All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference guard Cameron Williams (Omaha, NE/Omaha South H.S.) (who averaged 21.5 points per game), have to be replaced.
And most of the returning production comes from 6-foot-7 forward Jaryn Taylor (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa), who averaged 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Guard Enrique Cortes-Zotes (3.6 points, 3.7 rebounds) and 6-8 forward Cain van Heyningen (Amsterdam, Netherlands/Open schoolgemeenschap Bijlmer) (3.3 points, 3.2 rebounds) are the other two on the 17-player roster who have played in a game for MSU Denver.
"It's the guys who have already been here that we have to count on – Jaryn, Enrique and Cain," Bahl said.
But they won't be alone, and they aren't the only ones with experience.
Two transfers – 6-4 Druce Asah (Tracy, Calif./Tracy) and 6-3 Garrett Carter (Rialto, Calif./Etiwanda) – were double-figures scorers last year for Division II programs (Cal State East Bay and Cal State Los Angeles, respectively).
"We think those guys can sort of come in right off the bat and help, but they have to understand that they don't have to do it by themselves," Bahl said. "It's going to be by committee. That's what's going to make us a dangerous team – we have multiple guys who can do multiple things. So we're not relying on just one guy to do everything for us."
Kendall McIntosh (Oakley, Calif./Freedom), 6-7, had solid junior college numbers after being the most valuable player of his high school conference in California.
Guards Marcus Jefferson (Lewisville, Texas/Lewisville) and Andrew Mork, and 6-7 Elijah Straughter (Fresno, Calif./Clovis North), are all redshirt freshmen who sat out last year as a senior-laden roster finished up their careers. Jefferson is the younger brother of MSU Denver legend Brandon Jefferson, a former Division II national player of the year.
Guard Demetrius Jackson (Orange County, Calif./El Toro) is a true freshman who has impressed early.
And that's just scratching the surface of a talented roster. Who knows who else may emerge?
"We're trying to find our way still," Bahl said. "And that's the sign of a young team. We're going to play quite a few guys (early in the season) to see which groups work well together and which groups don't work well together – which players work well together and which players don't work well together. But it's exciting. We have a bunch of guys who are excited to play. They're excited to wear the Roadrunners uniform."
Anticipation becomes reality when Stanislaus State comes to town. The Warriors are 2-0 and lost to Division I Pacific in an exhibition game Tuesday night. They also return most of their firepower from a team that went 17-12 last season, and they have been picked to finish fourth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
"They return quite a bit," Bahl said. "That makes a difference early in the season. So we've got our work cut out for us. But in all honesty, I'm more worried about us. We've got to make sure that we do the things that we need to do."
Bahl focused on finding better shooters in the offseason – the Roadrunners ranked 218th among 350 Division II teams by shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 300th in free-throw percentage at 63.6.
"I firmly believe (shooting) cost us three or four games last year," Bahl said. "We had good looks at times, but the game comes down to being able to put that orange ball into the hole. I think we have guys who are going to be able to do that more consistently this year.
"The game is changing, and we want to be able to shoot a little better, and when we get fouled we want to shoot mid-70s and not low-60s."
Last year MSU Denver lost five games by three points or less, and two others by seven or less.
Still, somehow the Roadrunners were able to overcome the wayward shooting well enough to finish one game above .500 overall and 14-8 in the RMAC to tie for fifth.
How? Defense. And that hasn't gone out of style.
"I'm a defensive coach first," Bahl said. "Offense will take care of itself. We're going to have to get stops early and often. We told our guys the other day that in order for us to have success early in the season, it's not going to be offense, it's going to be defense."
Bahl paused and extended the thought, sharing more than what he had told his players.
"Of course, in order for us to have success late in the season, it's going to be because of our defense, too," he said with a smirk. "Defense is like an insurance policy – you've got to have it."
If it all comes together, the Roadrunners may be able to exceed expectations. They are picked to finish fifth in the RMAC.
"People forget that it takes time," Bahl said. "We want to be so good right now, but we're going to have some headaches – some growing pains – early. That's just part of the process with these guys.
"We do have good players, who are good guys, and they like each other. That helps a lot, makes the transition smoother. We're only going to get better. Every practice and every game. And that's what's exciting about it. We're not a finished product. We tell our guys it's not where you start, it's where you finish."
