Midway, Ky. -- The Midway University men's basketball team gets their 2017-18 season underway on Monday night when they travel down the road to Georgetown, Ky. to take on No. 4 Georgetown College.
Tip-off for the Eagles and Tigers is set for 7 p.m. ET inside Davis-Reid Alumni Gym on the campus of Georgetown College. The game is part of three games in the opening week of the season for the Eagles.
"Just like any other team in the preseason, we've had our ups and downs," said head coach, Joe Krupinski, whose team is entering their second season as a program. "We have a nice mix of returning players as well as some new guys where unlike last year everything was brand new."
Krupinski added, "Things are progressing quicker than they did a year ago, but we still have some significant contributors that are new and it's going to take some time for the team to gel."
Among those returners are a pair of seniors that the Eagles will turn to for leadership as well as contributions throughout the season. The seniors include, Bryson Harris (Louisville, Ky.) and DJ Townsend (Somerset, Ky.). The Eagles have another senior in Jamille Jones (Louisville, Ky.) but he serves as a student assistant and is entering his second season in that capacity.
Both Harris and Townsend saw limited action last year after playing one semester apiece. Harris played in 13 games and was averaging 16.8 points per contest as well at 4.7 rebounds per game. Townsend appeared in 14 games and averaged 9.4 points per game, while shooting 41.7 percent from the three.
"As they say, your team is only as good as your seniors," noted Krupinski. "Their effort and attitude have been great so far in the first month of preseason and we'll obviously look to them to lead us on the court, but also off the court as well."
Along with the two returning seniors come nine other returners that were thrust into action last season. Krupinski added, "Some of our returners were thrust into action last year because of our situation, but now in year two I think they know what it takes to win games."
Although his team features 11 returners with the two seniors, Krupinski knows that his team is young with nine freshman, eight sophomores, three juniors and the two seniors.
"We are definitely going to be looking for some young guys to step up this season," said Krupinski. "We are big into playing the guys that are going to help us win, that's the reason we brought them in because we believe that they can help us win."
Krupinski's young squad will also be dealt with playing a challenging schedule. The Eagles will face four teams that are ranked in the NAIA D-II rankings as well as two teams that are ranked inside the NAIA D-I top-25. The slate also features four exhibitions against NCAA opponents.
"We're going to challenge ourselves again and that's how you prepare yourselves for league play later in the season," Krupinski said. "Without a scrimmage we are going to find a lot out about our team in the first week of the season."
Krupinski is also ushering in a new staff after former assistant, Marquis Estill bolted for the same job at Georgetown. The Eagles will welcome Drew Messmer, Ryan Tremblay and Quentin Henderson to the coaching staff.
"Those guys have been great," noted Krupinski. "They each have different levels of experience and areas that they excel at; they've gotten assimilated with the team well and the guys trust them and their knowledge of the game."
After a trip to Georgetown, the Eagles will travel to Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) on Wednesday. Then after a couple of game on the road, the Eagles will have their home opener on Friday, November 3, when they host Cincinnati-Clermont (Ohio) at 7:30 p.m. ET inside Marshall Gymnasium.
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