The GCSU men’s and women’s basketball teams appeared in the Peach Belt Tournament last season. However, both fell in the early rounds, with the women’s team losing in the first round to Augusta University and the men’s losing in the second round to Flagler College. With the new season right around the corner, it is a fresh start for both teams.
The teams’ rosters are complete opposites, with the men’s team headed by six freshmen and the women’s team by six seniors.
“I think we graduated five seniors, so it’s going to be a fresh start this year,” said Aidan Kudlas, a junior guard on the men’s team.
For the upcoming 2024-2025 season, the men’s basketball team has three transfers in addition to the incoming first-year students.
The team needs players to lead the young squad. With so many new faces on the team, leaders are necessary to help bring them together and allow the first and second-year students to develop.
“I think I take on more of a leadership role — more by leading by example,” said Zyair Greene, a senior shooting guard on the men’s team.
Junior guard Brendan Rigsbee was recently placed on the Peach Belt Conference Preseason All-Conference team. However, news came out that he will miss the entirety of the upcoming season.
“Losing one of our best scorers, we’re going to have to find a guy that can score, so everyone’s going to have to step up,” said Mason Etter, a freshman forward.
With the team coming off a .500 season and the added pressure of many new faces, a repeat of a season would likely be seen as a positive. The team will need to quickly find its groove in the upcoming season.
“We’re getting there, but it’ll be a process,” Kudlas said.
Many of the women’s team’s players are upperclassmen and primarily seniors, so putting something together toward a championship would be a phenomenal way to end their careers as Bobcats.
“I’m excited about the leadership, the camaraderie and the energy we have going into the season,” said Evie DePetro, a graduate shooting guard.
The women’s basketball team is coming off of a subpar, below .500 season in both overall and conference play. However, it seems that the chemistry has changed entirely, and the Bobcats are ready to show the Peach Belt Conference that they are prepared for whatever their opponents have to throw at them.
“I think that the practices have been more attentive, and since there is more experience, I think that we will be positioned in a better place,” said Natalia Bolden, a sophomore forward.
While the team is mainly made up of upperclassmen and one freshman, there are positives, which Bolden mentioned, explaining that having that leadership and experience will hopefully heavily influence the team’s chemistry.
“I think the team chemistry is great. We built it great off the court, and I think, on the court as well,” said Eva Garabadian, a freshman guard.
With so many potential leaders on the team, the Bobcats need to take advantage of them this season. Experience is the best way to learn, and the women’s basketball team possesses that.
“Our point guard, Ashiya Willis, and our post, Jada Warren, I think they will be two key players for us, being that they have been under our coaches program for the longest,” Bolden said.
The men’s team opened their season winless against Young Harris College and North Greenville University, and the women’s team opened with two wins against Young Harris and Emmanuel University.
