DENVER – There are nine new players on the MSU Denver men's basketball roster, but make no mistake, this isn't a fresh-faced young team.
 
"We have a lot of older, mature guys," MSU Denver coach Michael Bahl said. "I think that experience, and from guys who have played at a high level, has helped the process of moving things along. They all come from programs where they've been taught, and they're used to putting in long days and they're used to film work, weights and practice – all that stuff.
 
"That transition has been really good, as opposed to having nine freshmen who don't really know everything that's going on."
 
MSU Denver opens its season Saturday at 4 p.m. in a home game against Oklahoma Christian to tip off the Conference Challenge. Black Hills State faces Arkansas-Fort Smith at 6 p.m.
 
On Sunday the Roadrunners play Arkansas-Fort Smith at 2 p.m., with Black Hills State and Oklahoma Christian squaring off at 4 p.m. to conclude the weekend.
 
"Everyone in the program is really excited," Bahl said. "There's a good vibe. The COVID year was different … we were still practicing at this point, and it felt like we were practicing forever last year – and we didn't really know if we were going to get to play games.
 
"Getting back to school has been positive, and our guys have different living arrangements this year so there's a new feel to it for everyone. I know I'm excited and the players are excited. We're ready to roll. The hay's in the barn now, and we'll see what happens."
 
Any discussion of MSU Denver's returning cast starts with Laolu Oke, the 6-foot-8 forward who was the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year last season after winning the league's Defensive Player of the Week honor six times. Oke finished third in NCAA Division II with 12.2 rebounds per game, a school record, and he also shot 67.6 percent (73 of 108) on field goals for another school record. He was the Division II leader with an average of 5.5 offensive rebounds per game, and was eighth with 207 total rebounds. He led the RMAC in all of those three rebounding categories, and he was also fifth nationally and led the RMAC with 10 double-doubles – including a school-record tying four straight (a streak that is currently active).
 
He also tied a school record with 20 rebounds in one game. And by averaging 11.3 points per game, he merely averaged a double-double.
 
"I think he's a marked man, in terms of rebounding and people knowing where he is and knowing his value," Bahl said. "Maybe the days of him getting 20 rebounds are over. But I still think his impact is felt in other parts of his game. His voice is one thing, and he's also progressed offensively. People are going to be surprised by his ability to score around the basket a little more. And then he has so much versatility defensively.
 
"But at the end of the day, the best thing he does is rebound. And we've talked to him about, if you can draw two or three fouls against the other team, that's just as good as two or three rebounds. You'll see the same Lou in terms of his energy and enthusiasm."
 
Other returning starters include point guard Keyshaad Dixon, wing sharpshooter Tyrei Randall, and stretch-4 Maris Colton.
 
Dixon averaged 6.2 points and a team-best 3.9 assists per game, the 6-6 Randall was third on the team in scoring (12.2 per game) while making 34 3s, and the 6-8 Colton finished strong after an early-season injury and wound up averaging 8.2 points and 3.1 rebounds. Veteran Chris Simpson, another 6-6 wing shooter, is also bidding for playing time.
 
MSU Denver's list of newcomers includes Division I transfers Miles Gibson (Eastern Michigan) and Ra'Shawn Langston (McNeese State), junior college transfers Isaac Lungren, Jake Chrisman and Ghage Kenan, and Chandler Bevans, from NAIA Central Methodist (Mo.).
 
Gibson, a 6-6 wing, produced several double-doubles at the Division I level, while the 6-3 Langston has scored nearly 1,500 points between junior college and Division I. Lungren is another 6-6 wing shooter, the 6-8 Chrisman is a developing post player, Kenan is a solid point guard at 5-9, and the 6-7 Bevans is moving up in competition after posting quality numbers last season.
 
"We think we're a pretty deep team, and when we sub we don't think there's going to be a tremendous drop-off," Bahl said.
 
Freshmen on the roster include guards Keiren Brown, Jaden Kennis and Camden Smithburg.
 
With so much experience, MSU Denver may be a little ahead of expectations defensively.
 
"Offensively we're still a work in progress," Bahl said. "But defensively, I think we are, just with some of the things we can do on the fly, ways we can cover, some of the schemes we're coming up with, and things that guys pick up on because of what they've done before – it's nothing new to them. In that regard we're a lot farther along defensively."
 
Meanwhile, this weekend's opponents were picked 13^th (Oklahoma Christian) and 11^th (Arkansas-Fort Smith) in the 17-team Lone Star Conference. Oklahoma Christian was 6-12 last season, while Arkansas-Fort Smith was 5-11.
 
"They've got new guys, too," Bahl said. "Both teams have a lot of new faces that will come in and play. COVID hit both of those programs pretty hard, so you just take it for what it's worth. Both programs are good tests for us, good games to have, especially at home. It should be a good weekend of basketball."