6th-rated Braves open Saturday

Leaves falling fast?

Check.

Christmas commercials starting to air?

Check.

Husson College men’s basketball team once again loaded with talent and ready to open the season?

Braves head coach Bruce MacGregor said he thinks so, noting as he checked his preaseason list for the final time this week, “I’ve now spent more than half my adult life sitting in this chair.”

Season No. 25 for MacGregor at the Bangor-based NAIA Division II institution begins Saturday at the University of New Brunswick Tournament when the Braves take on Dalhousie University.

The pressure is already on. The preseason NAIA Div.II poll has picked Husson No. 6 in the nation, a fact MacGregor faces with a shrug.

“We haven’t played a game yet so it really doesn’t mean much, although it’s nice to have that kind of respect,” said MacGregor, who needs six wins to reach 500 for his career.

With seven veterans and three starters returning from last year’s 27-10 team, which advanced two games into the Division II National Tournament in Texas, Husson appears to have a solid foundation to build on.

MacGregor said his probable starting lineup at UNB will begin with 5-foot-9 junior Ray Alley at point guard. Alley averaged 17.4 points and 4.4 assists per game a season ago, mostly as a sixth man. He shot 53.8 percent from the floor, including 36 percent from 3-point range (83 of 229).

“Raymond continues to get better,” said MacGregor. “He’ll play a vital role for us, both offensively and defensively.”

At the shooting or 2-guard spot, MacGregor said he will either start 6-foot-1 junior Dwayne Knowlton, who averaged 4.5 points last year as a sub, or 6-4 senior Scott Brown (12.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg). If Brown doesn’t start in the backcourt, he will definitely start at small forward.

Up front, 6-7 senior Jake Dragutinovic will man the center spot. He averaged 5.8 points and 5.5 rebounds last year backing up graduated center Brian Burrell.

At the power forward or four spot will be 6-5 senior Jeff Shakoor (11.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg). Either Brown or 6-4 junior Rich Mazurek, the team’s most accurate returning 3-point shooter (44 percent), will start at the small forward or three position.

“Richie is coming off a stress fracture, but he’s cleared to play,” MacGregor said.

Husson’s bench will be used early and often, according to the coach.

Tiffin Ballou, a 6-9, 250-pound junior college transfer from Passaic, N.J., could be the key member of the bench. MacGregor said Ballou’s development will be determined by how well he adapts to balancing academics with basketball.

Another transfer, 6-6 Darren Toon, who came from Iona College, will see action at either the two or three spot.

Backing up Alley at point guard will be 5-10 junior Victory Garay and 5-11 freshman Bryan Jefferson. Jason Belanger, a 6-foot freshman out of Caribou High, will provide depth at the two guard, along with 6-foot walk-on Tom Brichetto, who can play either guard spot.

Frontcourt depth will be provided by 6-7 sophomore Rob Rice (another JC transfer), 6-4 junior Corey Smith, and 6-6 freshman Rick Sinclair out of Hermon High.

“I think we’ve got a nice balance of inside and outside players,” summed up MacGregor.

The Schedule…

October 24-25 at U-New Brunswick Tournament – Dalhousie, Laval, UNB November 7 U-New Brunswick 3 p.m. 13-14 at UMPI Star City Shootout 6 p.m., TBA 20 at UM-Machias 7 p.m. 22 St. Joseph-Provider 3 p.m. 29 New Hampshire College 2 p.m. December 2 at Colby 7:30 5-6 Paul Bunyan Tournament – St. Thomas Aquinas, Southern Maine, Teikyo Post 5:30 & 7:30; 3 & 5 p.m. 9 at UM-Farmington 7:30 12 Lyndon State 7:30 January 2-3 at St. John, N.B., Toutnament, TBA 8-9 Husson Tournament – UMPI, U-New England, Bridgeport 5:30 & 7:30, 3 & 5 p.m. 11 at Thomas 7:30 14 at St. Joseph’s 7:30 16 at Nyack 8 p.m. 17 at Caldwell 2 p.m. 20 UMPI 7 p.m. 23 at U-New England 4 p.m. 26 UM-Farmington 7:30 28 Westbrook 7:30 30 at UMPI 7 p.m. February 6 U-New England 7:30 8 Thomas 7:30 11 UM-Machias 7:30 14 Castleton State 7 p.m. 17 St. Joseph’s 7:30 20 Green Mountain 7 p.m. 25 NAIA quarterfinals TBA