With each dribbling ball, pacing foot and group huddle, the St. Thomas men’s basketball team prepares for the new season.

Coach John Tauer said the team began training three weeks ago with two things in mind.

“We’re trying to keep that culture of excellence going,” Tauer said. “We’re certainly always trying to fight for the MIAC; we’re hoping for a ninth-straight title.”

Tauer said losing five senior players from last season’s MIAC-championship winning squad changes the team dynamic.

“You miss their presence, but the juniors last year, who may have played complementary roles, they’re now senior leaders,” Tauer said. “The freshmen and sophomores from last year, have to fill in those gaps … and there is a new group of freshmen. It’s kind of like a chemistry experiment.”

Guard Erik Tengwall, one of the team’s captains alongside forwards Zach Reidman and Conner Nord, said he hopes to serve as a role model for new players.

“It is hard as a freshmen to get in the norm of playing on a new team,” Tengwall said. “The best thing I can do as a leader is to show them on the court and off the court how to act and how we expect them to act. Doing little things like shooting to keeping control of the ball.”

Next weekend, the team will face Pomona College and Occidental College—it’s first opponents of the 2013 season—in California. Tauer said the trip will benefit the team on and off the court.

“Most of our games are pretty local, so to go out to California and really bond as a team— 15 players, five coaches— and to spend every minute together, it really sets the foundation for us as a team,” Tauer said.

Guard Marcus Alipate hopes to play in the team’s first game after recently spraining his ankle.

“It’s one of those things you can’t control,” Alipate said. “I’m probably going to be back in the next week or so.”

Despite his injury, Alipate has confidence in his teammates serving as guards.

“Erik Tengwall is a very quick defender. Cortez (Tillman) is very quick too. I think we can implement our quickness and our strengths into getting where we need to be,” Alipate said.

Tengwall said although they may face a tough team abroad, he and his teammates will continue to work hard.

“We don’t see any opponent as being better than anyone else,” Tengwall said. “We’re going to prepare the same way and work as hard as we can, and at the end of the day, that’s what we strive for.”

Eden Checkol can be reached at chec7168@stthomas.edu.