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Winter sports are starting up and men’s basketball has already started practices. The 2016-17 season brings new players, a new head coach and an assistant coach.
"I am tremendously excited for the opportunity Athletic Director Ryan Shockey has given me to coach at my alma mater. It is also great to be home in Eaton County," said Coach Stephen Ernst. "We have an opportunity to create an exciting basketball environment that is unlike any other in the MIAA, but we will need everyone’s help. Football has shown us all it can be done at Olivet. We will play very fast offensively and we will utilize an intense trapping full court defense. My hope is the mix of tough veteran returns and talented newcomers will make Cutler the place to be for local hoop junkies as well as the loyal OC Nation."
Not only is the coaching staff excited for the new changes brought this season, so are the players.
"For this upcoming season I am expecting big things. We have a good mix of returners and new comers that will play great in our new system of some exciting basketball," senior guard Zach Walker said.
Ernst wants the team to be more than just teammates with one another; he wants to create a brotherhood on an off the court.
"Some days are more difficult than others but we pick each other up and that’s why we are a brotherhood at the end of the day like coach tells us to be," said by senior guard Aaron Washington
"The guys have put in a lot of hard work in the pre-season and I really think its going to show during season. We really want to change the way people view Olivet basketball," said sophomore Sean Kelley.
The team’s home opener is Saturday, Nov. 26 vs. Heidelberg at 5:30 p.m.