This year's men's basketball team isn't wasting any time getting started on their difficult and ambitious schedule. They open the season against Eastern Mennonite at midnight on Sunday, the first minute of the first day that games are allowed to be played. There's reason to be excited for this season and they don't want to waste any time.

While losing 1,000 point scorer Billy Harrison to graduation hurts, the development of the returning players as well as the addition of key newcomers has the players and coaches ready to go.

 

“The improvement of Madison Warfel and Eric Nulf will cover the scoring of Billy and the maturity of our returning players will fill our other voids,” Charger Head Coach Pete Beers said.

 

While losing Harrison was expected, losing Andrew Risser to a knee injury prior to the season was not. He is most likely out for the season and will be rehabbing for next year.

 

“Losing Risser hurts us, but our maturity will help us get past that and take us to the next step,” Beers said.

 

Despite those losses, Beers is expecting big things from each one of his players.

 

“Our bench players are strong, which makes us a deeper team than in the past,” Beers said.

 

While those coming off the bench will contribute, leading the Chargers this season will be the big men, Carl Edwards, Erich Graybill and Caleb Graves. Edwards, who averaged 11.9 points a game last season is entering his final season with the Chargers.

 

“Carl staying healthy and out of foul trouble are the two biggest things for him,” Beers said. “We are a better team when he is on the floor. He is mature enough and ready to lead this team.”

 

Graybill is coming off a freshman season that saw him average 2.5 points and seven minutes played per game.

 

“The improvements that Erich Graybill has made are very important to this team,” Beers said. “If Caleb, Carl and Erich can give good minutes, we will be competitive.”

 

One thing that may drive opposing coaches and players crazy this season is which Keltner they should be covering. They will have three to choose from as Kyle, Kevin and Keith each will play significant roles this season for the Chargers. In addition to the Keltners, Derek Scott and Warfel's improvements will also be a big part of an improved backcourt.

 

“It will be exciting to watch the Keltner brothers play,” Beers said. “All of our guards can score, we will have to wait and see who will step up and pull the team together as a unit.”

Though just a freshman, Keith Keltner has already shown glimpses in practice of how he can take over games.

 

“We are very excited about Keith,” Beers said. “He might be the one of the most well-rounded freshman I've seen in my 10 years as coach.”

 

An early season worry for the Chargers is that five players haven't practiced yet due to the success of the LBC men's soccer team. Keith and Kevin Keltner, Travis Weyandt, and Sean and Richard Westerlund have yet to practice on a daily basis with the team. Those five will also miss the opener at EMU on Sunday due to NCCAA National Championships in Florida.

 

Beers admits the Chargers' schedule is ambitious, but said that isn't a bad thing.

 

“It's tough, but it's necessary for us to have that type of schedule in order for us to take the step we want to take,” Beers said.

 

While winning is always the goal, Beers said early on the coaching staff will be looking for other things as well.

 

“I want to see us executing and achieving as a team,” Beers said. “That's a priority early in the season.”

 

Last year's team reached the NCCAA East Region Final before falling to Valley Forge Christian 73-61, Beers thinks the Chargers could go further this season, but a total team effort will be necessary night-in-and-night-out.

 

“We are looking for something more this season,” Beers said. “I think we can be more competitive with the powers of the East Region, namely Valley Forge and Baptist Bible, but Davis has a really good core group and Philadelphia Biblical will be better. The East will be very good this season.”

 

While the East will be good, Beers likes his players' mentality so far.

 

“The guys we have possess a winning mentality and I think we will find ways to overcome adversity,” Beers said. “Our chemistry is good and that is essential to our growth.”

 

Game Notes for Eastern Mennonite:

 

-EMU was 15-11 last season, going 8-4 at home.

 

-LBC was 9-18 last season, going 4-11 on the road.

 

-EMU has all five starters returning this season.

 

-LBC is 0-3 all-time vs. EMU. The Royals defeated the Chargers 88-71 in their last meeting, which was in November of 2006.