Sports Reporter
acastro@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
Each year college sports teams across the nation have to deal with the inevitable loss of graduating seniors. This year the CMU men’s basketball team lost three seniors in its roster, but instead of dwelling on the loss, the team made strong strides towards its coveted goal of RMAC champions.
“We haven’t really had to change much,” coach Jim Heaps said. “We still play the same style, some of our younger kids are going to have to step up. That’s just how it works.”
Last year, CMU made it close to its goal, but ultimately fell 63-47 in the title game to Colorado School of Mines. Last week the team was predicted to finish third in the RMAC conference this year behind Metro State and the defending champion Orediggers.
“We want to compete for a conference title,” Heaps said. “That’s always been our goal. I think we have a group of kids who want to work towards that.”
Nine players from last year are returning to the team, including three starters, one of whom, point guard Kevin Screen, started in every game last year.
“First, we want to win league,” Screen said. “We want to get that league championship back here at Mesa. Our biggest goal is to win the national tournament, to win it all.”
However, for the first part of the season, Screen and the Mavs are going to have to make the journey without senior Chandler Burgon, who started all last season as post and had surgery for a shoulder injury.
Chandler could be out until January.
“That’s been a tough loss for us,” Heaps said. “But injuries are part of it.”
Even though the Mavs will be missing one Burgon brother during the beginning part of the season, Chandler’s brother, Colton, will be starting for the Mavs at forward after earning All-Conference last year.
“I think he’s going to be the top guy,” Heaps said. “But as usual I think we have a lot of kids to watch.”
This year’s roster is full of talent, which will undoubtedly help the team as they face off against some challenging teams this season, both on the road and at home.
“When you have a big rivalry game and the crowd is into it, there’s always more adrenaline,” Screen said.
Both Heaps and Screen are looking forward to facing off against rival Fort Lewis this season, who they’ll play in the last game of the regular season, which also happens to be the final home game for the Mavs.
“Fort Lewis is our biggest rival because we’ve played them like four or five times a year because of playoffs,” Screen said. “We’ve just kind of grown into that rivalry.”
The men’s basketball team will open its season next weekend at the Dixie State College Classic and will face off against both Dixie and Fresno Pacific University before heading home for the Thanksgiving Classic on Nov 23-24 in Brownson Arena.
Recent Comments