2023-24 Season Preview: Men's Basketball

Immanuel Allen dirbble the ball at the top of the key on the road at SFA

Photo by: Cassie Kelley

10/25/2023 11:01:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Ray Fink

ABILENE – Abilene Christian looks to improve its strengths, continue its defensive mindset and better its record from a year ago when men's basketball season begins this weekend.

ACU was 13-17 a year ago and finished with a 7-11 conference mark. The Wildcats made the Western Athletic Conference Tournament last season, but this season that postseason field narrows to the top eight teams in Las Vegas next March. The league coaches have ACU making that trip, ranking them fifth in the preseason poll.

That ranking comes despite the loss of three starters: Tobias Cameron (9.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Damien Daniels (8.8 ppg and 111 assists) and Joe Pleasant (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg).

ACU returns five players who started at least six games last season, including leading scorer Immanuel Allen (10.8 ppg) at guard, leading shot-blocker Airion Simmons and guard Ali Abdou Dibba, who all averaged more than nine points per game. Hunter Jack Madden and Cameron Steele return with a combined 18 starts.

Also returning are forward Leonardo Bettiol and guards JV Seat, Muodubem Muoneke and Colby Tanner.

Every one of the players will be integral to the success of the team this season.

"All of them (have expanded roles this season), said ACU Head Coach Brette Tanner. "We have 10 players that are either new or have only played one year in our program. We need everyone who was here last year to step up and play a bigger role this season."

The newcomers include two freshmen and three transfers. Guards Nasir DeGruy comes to ACU from LSU-Eunice and Kavion McClain transfers from Howard College. Aidan Igiehon, a 6-10 forward, comes to the Cats from WAC rival Grand Canyon. Igiehon averaged 2.6 points and 3.3 rebounds at GCU last season. DeGruy averaged 11.3 points and 3.0 assists last season at LSU-E.

Joining the Wildcats as freshmen are 6-4 guard Yaniel Rivera out of Bayamon, Puerto Rico (Dade Christian High School), and 6-9 forward Ma'Shy Hill from Austin (Spire Institute Academy).

"I think our fans are going to like all of the new guys," predicted Tanner. "Each of them brings something different to the table."

Among the nation's best in assist/turnover margin last season, the Cats look to go with a group, primarily of new players, to run the offense this season.

"I think it will be by committee," said Tanner. "We have three lead guards in Kavion, Nasir and Yaniel. Hunter Jack can run the point for us as well."

The strength of last year's team – and the team's signature under Tanner – has been its defense.

"Defense is the identity of our team," said Tanner. "We have led the country in turnovers forced and turnover ratio and have consistently been in the top 5 in the country in both categories. It is something we stress and the players know is important."

The concept doesn't feature one or two lockdown defenders; instead, it uses a unified approach.

"I don't think we have any specific guys," said Tanner. "We talk all the time that we don't play "man-to-man" defense. We play "team" defense. The sum is bigger than its parts. We have to have each other's back on rotations. The guys that have been in the program the longest typically are better just based on experience. The exciting thing about this team is that I think we have some new guys that are figuring things out pretty quickly."

It's a tried and true method that opponents will remember but who will still have to manage the intensity of it.

"There is no secret to what we do," Tanner said. "Everyone knows that we are going to pressure the wings and try to force our opponent to speed up. We rely on being able to steal possessions away."

While the defense is the trademark of Tanner's Cats, the team also looks to improve offensively.

"Our strength is always our defense," said Tanner. "However, I do think that we shoot the ball better this year than some of our teams in the past. If we can stretch the floor it will open up things inside and allow us to be more versatile on offense."

The Wildcats expect tough tests with a rugged non-conference schedule to prep them for the arduous WAC schedule.

"This is easily the most difficult non-conference schedule that we have ever played," Tanner said. "When you look at our schedule you can see potential losing streaks. You see tough opponents. But we aren't scared of playing the schedule we have. We can win those games too. If you don't believe that then you are in the wrong locker room. A basketball season is long. We are going to attack each game by itself, trust the process and get better. At our level, all that matters is January to March. We have 20 league games this year. We have to be as good as we can for those 20 games. The rest of them are just there to help us get ready for that grind."

After a home exhibition against Arlington Baptist on Saturday, the Wildcats tip off the regular season on Monday, Nov. 6, at Oklahoma State. The team then travels to North Carolina State on Nov. 11.

The home opener pits the Wildcats against Prairie View A&M on Tuesday, Nov. 14.

ACU heads to the US Virgin Islands to take on San Jose State on Nov. 17. The tournament format includes two other games against a field that consists of Norfolk State, Fordham, Hampton, Kent State, Missouri State and Florida Gulf Coast.

WAC action begins on the road on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Texas-Arlington.

December sees the Cats at home for four consecutive games with a WAC contest against Stephen F. Austin on Saturday, Dec. 2, followed by Northern Arizona on Wednesday, Dec. 6, Howard Payne on Dec. 10 and UTEP on Dec. 17.

The UTEP game marks the return of former ACU head coach Joe Golding, who guided the Wildcats to two NCAA Tournament appearances. All men's basketball players who participated during the four-year transition to Division I are especially invited to attend.

ACU gets back on the road for the final two games of 2023 – a Dec. 21 contest at Arkansas and a Dec. 30 trip to Western Kentucky.

The Wildcats zero in on the WAC starting in January. Texas-Rio Grande Valley visits on Saturday, Jan. 6. ACU heads to the west coast on Jan. 11 at Grand Canyon and Dec. 13 at California Baptist.

After a trip to Tarleton State on Thursday, Jan. 18, the Wildcats come home for four games. ACU hosts UT-Arlington on Jan. 20, Utah Tech on Jan. 25, Southern Utah on Jan. 27 and Tarleton State on Feb. 1.

The Wildcats go back on the road for four games, starting with a trip to Seattle on Feb. 8. The Cats go to Utah Valley on Feb. 10, UTRGV on Feb. 15 and SFA on Feb. 17.

California Baptist and Grand Canyon visit on Feb. 22 and 24, respectively. ACU heads out on its final road trip to Southern Utah on Feb. 29 and Utah Tech on March 2.

The final home games are March 7 against Seattle and March 9 against Utah Valley.

The WAC Tournament returns to Las Vegas March 11-16.

Season tickets are on sale now.