At the beginning of the 2009-10 season, the plan for the Lancaster Bible College men's basketball team was fairly simple. Let Kevin Keltner play his game, work the ball down to Carl Edwards and we will work off of that. Keltner and Edwards were the leaders on and off the floor and it wasn't difficult for someone to figure that out.

Jump ahead to the beginning of this season and things are different. Edwards has graduated and the make-up of the team is much different. Gone is Edwards' play down low and Kyle Keltner's defense.

What this year's version of the men's basketball team has that previous teams have not had, is depth. Not simply bodies, but players who can score and rebound the ball. Kody Koser and Brett Derr, both transfers, and Andrew Risser will help replace the scoring of Edwards, as well as the defense of Kyle Keltner.

"Brett and Kody are welcome additions," LBC Head Coach Pete Beers said. "In the past, teams have been able to double team certain players and hurt us, but this season we have some other weapons that if teams focus on Kevin, we can counter."

Risser, who missed all of last season due to injury, has waited a long time to play for LBC. He only played four games during the 2008-09 season before breaking his pinky, and hurt his knee prior to the start of the 2009-10 season. In the four games he did play, he averaged 12.3 points per contest.

Despite the additions, Beers and the coaching staff know that the team will go as Kevin Keltner goes.

"He is a unique talent and we hope he is ready to shine," Beers said of Keltner. "We will depend on him, but the supporting cast around him is stronger this year."

Part of that supporting cast is Kevin's brother Keith Keltner. After averaging 8.5 points as a freshman, Keltner will be looked upon to score more and provide leadership.

"We need Keith to continue to step up and play big," Beers said. "He is very coachable and brings it everyday. He is sensitive to the needs of the team and that is a critical component for a leader to have."

Though the team is deeper, many of them are inexperienced. Beers said how the team bonds together early in the season will be important.

"We have more talent as a team then we did last season, but we have to make sure we push ourselves everyday in practice and improve our play," Beers said. "If we are pushing everyday and have more depth, hopefully then we will play as a team the whole season and not just one month of the season."

Beers said that like last season, all of the guys like one another and there is great camaraderie, but that doesn't necessarily lead to wins.

"It's great they get along, but can they push each other out of their comfort zones so we can get better," Beers questioned. "If they can do that, we can be a very successful team."


Returning Players:
-Eric Nulf, senior: Averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds last season.
-Kevin Keltner, senior: Averaged 15.7 points and 4.2 assists last season. Needs 64 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
-Travis Weyandt, junior: Averaged 2.2 points last season.
-Erich Graybill, junior: Averaged 2 points and 2.1 rebounds last season.
-Madison Warfel, junior: Averaged 13.1 points and 3.4 rebounds last season. Led the team with 66 3-pt. shots made.
-Keith Keltner, sophomore: Averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.
-Andrew Risser, sophomore: Third year with the program, but has only played fou games due to injuries.

New Players:
-Jesse Ditter, sophomore: Played for the Chargers during the 2008-09 season. Sat out last year.
-Jason Swartzentruber, freshman: Attended the same high school as Madison Warfel (Greenwood Mennonite).
-Daniel O'Malley, freshman: Played on the men's soccer team this fall along with Keith Keltner, Kevin Keltner and Travis Weyandt.
-Brett Derr, junior: Transfer student from Messiah College. Played on the JV team his freshman year.
-Dan Karl, freshman: Home school student from Lee, Massachusetts.
-Kody Koser, sophomore: Transfer student from Valley Forge Christian College. Saw action in 17 of the team's games last season.
-Brandon Santiago, freshman: Attended University High School in Orlando, Florida.
-Dan Merson, freshman: Attended Granite Baptist High School in Elkridge, Maryland.
-Jerel Chavis, freshman: Played fullback at Bowie State in 2005. Attended Magruder High School in Olney, Maryland.