The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Sports / Basketball prepares for a hopeful season

Basketball prepares for a hopeful season

October 10, 2013 by Daniel Zepeda

The men’s basketball team started practice last week in preparation for the upcoming season. With the move to Div. I and a roster filled mostly with transfer students, the team already has a lot to work on.

“So far, everything has been going great and the guys are working hard,” assistant coach Brette Tanner said. “Everyone is trying to learn, and with the jump to Div. I, that’s something that has to happen. We have to get everyone on the same page and get everyone to buy into our way of playing.”

The team’s main focus has been trying to get almost an entirely new roster to play as one. With only two Wildcats returning from last year, the challenge is to establish team chemistry and establish an ACU basketball style of play.

“It’s a process; everyone is coming in from different places and our job is to try to get all of them to buy into our style,” Tanner said. “We’re starting to see them mesh and everyone getting comfortable with each other. It’s gone faster and easier than I thought, which has been awesome. We have a lot of tough teams to prepare for, so we don’t have a lot of time to establish chemistry.”

The coach’s staff has already made it clear that the emphasis for this year will be put on the defense.

“We’ve spent, already, a good amount of time on the defensive side of the ball,” Tanner said. “Our goal is going to be to walk out of every gym we play in with our heads held high and people saying ‘wow, those guys really know how to play defense.’ Our defense will hopefully lead to our offense, but we’re going to look to shut teams down.”

The Wildcats will look to improve after last year’s 12-14 season filled with several close game losses that ACU could not overcome.

“We want to be a tough team that grinds our opponents and be able to play our way,” junior guard Julian Edmonson said. “If we continue to practice the way we have and stay focused, we’ll be a tough team to beat.”

ACU tips off their season with a trip to Pittsburgh, Pa. for a game against Duquesne University on Nov. 9.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Archive, Men's Basketball

Other Sports:

  • Out with the WAC, in with the UAC

  • Women’s golf drives for success despite young mid-major status

  • More than money: FBS games bring in revenue, impact program

About Daniel Zepeda

You are here: Home / Sports / Basketball prepares for a hopeful season

Other Sports:

  • Out with the WAC, in with the UAC

  • Women’s golf drives for success despite young mid-major status

  • More than money: FBS games bring in revenue, impact program

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved