by Bryce Reedy
As the fall sports come closer to their postseason, winter sports are just about to get underway. One of those winter teams is CMU’s men’s basketball team.
After going 21-9 last season (16- 6 in the conference) the Mavericks were picked to finish sixth in the RMAC preseason polls. This placing is in large part due to CMU losing last season’s Division II player of the year in Ryan Stephan. Despite losing Stephan, the Mavericks are going to attack the season just like every other year.
“I think we are going to attack it like any other season,” head coach Andy Shantz said. “[We have] just [been] coming in and working hard trying to figure out what our strengths and weaknesses are. We are going through that process. I know that Ryan isn’t here this year but you have to go through that process every year because every year the team dynamics change and the personnel change. Players have a different role even when you have a lot of returners.”
Players also believe that it will be a smooth transition to life without Stephan.
“I think it will be different but not hard,” guard CJ Davis said. “[…] We still have a lot of guys here from last year. It will be a smooth transition. […] It is always going to be tough losing Ryan considering how big a part of the team he was.”
One of the players that is going to be having a larger role on the team is senior guard Eimer Lopez. Lopez was the only Maverick selected to the preseason All-RMAC team this offseason. He averaged 12.6 points per game last season and led the league with 133 assists.
“It feels great,” Lopez said on being selected to the All-RMAC team. “Being recognized by other coaches brings a confidence within myself and I am honored to be an All-RMAC preseason player. Now I just have to prove it for the post season.”
Shantz and the rest of the team envision a big role for Lopez this season.
“I expect a lot from him,” Shantz said. “You could really see him coming on the second half of last season. […] Eimer has had a great
off season and has had a great attitude coming in. He has stepped up his leadership role this year, which we need.”
Lopez himself knows that he is going to have to play a bigger role if this team is going to be successful moving forward.
“I think since Ryan isn’t here somebody else has to step up,” Lopez said. “I think coach [Shantz] trusts me and my game and my talents. So I think I am going to be more of a go to guy and I am going to be the leader of the team.”
The Mavericks have also brought in a couple of new faces to help the team transition into the new season. Two of those players showcased their talents in the Midnight Madness event on Oct. 21 for their first appearance in a Maverick uniform. Those two were senior guard James Sylvester who transferred to CMU from Coppin State University and freshman forward Ludvig Saldh who came to Grand Junction from Gothenburg, Sweden.
“I hope they contribute,” Shantz said. “We have quite a few returners, but those are a couple guys we brought in that we thought can play
right away.”
While this team will look different without Stephan on the floor, and the gameplan each week is going to be new this season, one thing has not changed: the goal.
“Obviously win,” Davis said. “If I said anything other than that I
would be crazy. […] nothing has changed the championship is still the expectation for us.”
CMU’s first game will be on the road against Dallas Baptist University on Nov. 11 in the Heartland Conference Shootout event.
