Every now and then graduation catches Colby College men’s basketball coach Dick Whitmore off-guard. Literally.

For the first time in 11 seasons, Whitmore does not return an experienced point guard to his team, a fact CBB rivals Bowdoin and Bates are hoping might help them to challenge the two-time defending ECAC New England Division III champion White Mules for a tournament berth, as well as for the CBB title.

All three teams begin their seasons later this week.

“We don’t have a proven point guard, and when you look at the start of a season and you don’t have that, you have to be concerned,” said Whitmore, who opens his 22nd season at the Waterville-based school Friday night when the Mules host UM-Farmington in Colby’s tipoff tournament.

What Colby does have is a trio of starters back from last year’s 23-4 title team. They are 6-foot-2 senior guard John Daileanes, a long-range shooter who averaged 19.5 points per game; 6-5 senior forward John Rimas, an inside specialist who averaged nine rebounds a night; and 6-5 junior center Paul Butler (6 ppg, 6.5 rpg), out of Bangor High.

“Butler is the hub,” said Whitmore. “I think he’ll be more involved in more scoring options this year. He’ll still be a lead rebounder and defensive stopper.”

Gary Bergeron, a 6-4 sophomore forward, is the favorite to move into the vacant starting frontcourt slot left by Kevin Whitmore.

As for the point guard situation, Whitmore is still measuring the various strengths and weaknesses of 5-10 sophomore Chip Clark out of Bangor High; 5-10 junior Jason Dorion of Bath, younger brother of graduated starter Tom Dorion; and 5-11 freshman Matt Gaudet, a top recruit out of Mountain Valley High in Rumford.

“I think there are two or three possibilities there. They could all see a lot of minutes,” said Whitmore, noting he expects to play a lot of people in general.

Bates of Lewiston returns all five starters from last year’s 15-9 team. But first-year head coach Phil Moresi, who takes over for Rick Boyages on an interim basis, got a scare last weekend when senior point guard Darrell Akins suffered an undetermined foot injury.

“We’ll have to wait and see how long he’s out,” said Moresi, whose team opens Saturday at the John Jay Tournament in New York.

Even if Akins is out, the Bobcats will have a strong nucleus led by 6-5 senior forward Sean McDonagh (17.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg), 6-foot senior guard Tim Collins (13.5 ppg), 6-5 senior center Jake Murray (10.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), and 6-5 junior forward Keith Ferdinando (11.3 ppg).

Expected to make a significant contribution is 6-9 sophomore center Ross Morceau, who Moresi calls “greatly improved.”

“Our focus has been the last 10 minutes of the second half,” said Moresi, noting Bates lost five games last year by one point.

Bowdoin coach Tim Gilbride, now in his seventh season, has three starters back from a 14-8 squad a year ago. But one of the trio, 6-3 junior guard Tony Abbiati, is coming off recent knee surgery and may be sidelined for awhile.

Leading the Polar Bears is 5-11 senior point guard Dennis Jacobi (13.2 ppg, 7.7 apg), who has finished in the top 10 nationally in assists each of the last two seasons. He’ll dish to 6-6 junior center Mike Ricard (12.5 ppg, 9 rpg).

Other likely starters are 6-3 junior forward Eric Bell (7.1 ppg), 6-3 senior forward Mike Brown, and 6-2 sophomore swingman Elijah Whitehead.

“I think we’ll have a pretty good inside game,” said Gilbride, whose team opens Saturday against UM-Augusta. “Our shooting will be OK without Tony. But we’ll be better with him.”