They're a young team. One senior. A strong influx of sophomores. And a coach whose optimism and day-at-a-time outlook for the 2011-2012 season is leading the way.
Elon men's basketball returns for its 101st season of play, under the guidance of third-year head coach Matt Matheny and senior guard Drew Spradlin. Last year, the Phoenix went 14-17 and fell in the second round of the Southern Conference tournament.
The team lost starting guard Chris Long and forward Scott Grable to graduation. Long is now playing in Europe and left some huge shoes to fill.
With that significant loss, Spradlin, a preseason All-SoCon team pick and a co-captain last year, is being looked upon to play a major leadership role.
"I'm used to it because I was a captain last year," Spradlin said. "The best way to lead is to be yourself. I try to be vocal, but everyone has different styles.
Matheny said Spradlin has done well as a leader thus far and that the team needs more of that going forward.
"Drew Spradlin has been sensational so far with his leadership," Matheny said. "It's a very, very important part of this year's team because of our youth."
The roster has a few sophomores who earned valuable playing time last year. Players like sophomore guard Jack Isenbarger are being looked upon to provide quality minutes for the Phoenix, and even some of that leadership.
"It's tougher when you've only got one senior, a little less experience and less guys talking out there," Isenbarger said. "Leadership is the biggest step I needed to take and the biggest thing I've been focusing on."
Along with Isenbarger, the sophomores include guard Sebastian Koch, whose shooting touch will be key to Elon's success on the court this year, and forward Lucas Troutman, who will patrol the paint area for the Phoenix. Matheny won't name a starting lineup yet, but he said Spradlin, Isenbarger and sophomore forward Ryley Beaumont have been "consistent."
One area in which the Phoenix can also excel is speed. Junior guard Josh Bonney and freshman guard Austin Hamilton will probably share time at the point position in replacing Long and have considerable speed.
"We feel like we're deeper," Matheny said. "We've got more guys that are ready to play for us right away. Because of that we feel like we can run the ball more."
The Phoenix will need that speed early in the year. After playing at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to start the season Nov. 3, the team will take on the University of South Carolina in Alumni Gym Nov. 15. This is the first time a Bowl Championship Series conference team will play men's basketball in Elon.
"To have them in Alumni Gym says a lot about the evolution of our program," Matheny said. "We're fortunate to have that opportunity and we'll do all that we can with a great home crowd to take advantage of that opportunity."
Other highlight games include playing North Carolina State University in historic Reynolds Coliseum Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, the University of North Carolina Dec. 29 and San Diego State University Dec. 22.
"Having a tough non-conference schedule gets us ready for conference play," Hamilton said. "So when we play (UNC-Chapel Hill), (N.C. State University), we'll try to compete and get the most out of it and get ready for the SoCon."
Matheny refuses to look too far ahead.
"We have never talked about records since I've been here," Matheny said. "We've talked about how good we can be. The thing we want to focus on is how we can get better today."
For a team on the rise, this is necessary. Matheny said the SoCon is a one bid league in terms of the NCAA tournament and the team is focused on capturing that tournament championship in Asheville, in March.
"Over the last couple years, as coach has been here, we've gotten better every month of the season," Spradlin said. "We have to win the tournament. That's what's important and we want to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season."