MARSHALL, Texas – With one season under Brandon Curran, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team is ready to take the court this year with a bigger and more athletic team for the 2017-18 season. This week they will test the team as they face regional teams Centenary College and Sul Ross State.  

Last season, ETBU finished 15-11 overall and 6-10 in conference play. Three players were named All-ASC and ETBU advanced to the American Southwest Conference Tournament. After one full season at ETBU, Curran has assembled a team that is ready to make some noise in 2017-18. This team has already had a chance to play two exhibitions (one a hurricane relief exhibition) and a scrimmage. 

Having gone through the preseason, Curran likes what he sees from his new team. "It's been good," said Coach Curran. "It's been really exciting. I feel like the guy's attitude and effort have been outstanding. This team has been fun to coach. Monday's practice, even after having Sunday off, I was blown away by our energy and our enthusiasm. The guys are excited. They're ready to play and I think it's going to be a fun year."

ETBU is returning seven members from the previous season teams, including Landin Brown, Robby Dooley, Fletcher Forte, Jordan Gosey, Jordan Gray, Dion Mack, and Davis Robinson. Brown (Houston, TX) led the team in assists with 3.5 per game. He also finished fourth on the team with 7.7 ppg earning him All-ASC Freshman honors.  Dooley (Bossier City, LA) was second on the team in assists (2.5 apg) and steals (23) last season while averaging 6.1 ppg. Forte (Pensacola, FL) appeared in six games last season where he averaged 2.0 ppg. Gosey (Manor, TX) was second on the team in rebounds (6.5 rpg) and blocked shots with 15 while averaging 8.4 ppg. Gray (Lindale, TX) was fifth on the team with 6.4 ppg and was third with 36 three-point field goals. Mack (Hearne, TX) tallied 3.2 ppg and 1.0 rpg last season and Robinson (Lufkin, TX) totaled 3.6 ppg while grabbing an average of 2.2 rpg.

Joining ETBU for the upcoming season are nine newcomers including freshmen Nathan Fontenot (Katy, TX), Carson McKnight (Harper, TX), Brady Moore (Dublin, TX), Westin Riddick (Benton, AR), and Jarrell Taylor (Pickering, LA), sophomores Luke Jordan (Ft. Worth, TX) and Alan Wilkinson (Lewisville, TX), junior Richard Johnson (Cleveland, TX) and senior Darrice Whitley (Pineville, LA).

Predicted to finish third in the ASC East Division, Coach Curran is aware of the difficulties that the ASC East Division will bring to the table. "Well I know that every single night, it's going to be a battle and it's going to be challenging," said Curran. "I think LeTourneau is picked to win the East Division. Sul Ross State is coming here on Friday for a non-conference game and they have an All-American inside and a really good team. They always play really hard and tough. Texas Tyler is strong and athletic. I know Coach Mason at Louisiana College will have those guys ready to go. It's going to be a tough league. It's going to be a lot of fun and it's going to be a great challenge."

ETBU will start their season with an away game at Centenary College. Last season, ETBU opened their season with a 90-77 victory against the Gents. Gosey scored 16 points in his first game at ETBU. Despite the result last season, ETBU will be expecting a tough challenge in their first game. "Centenary has a new coach. I've been really impressed watching them on film on just how hard they play. They're trying to pressure and get up in you defensively, putting a lot of full court pressure on and doing some different things offensively with some ball screens and Princeton action and things like that. That will be a challenge. They have some really good players back and hve good speed and good athleticism. So we'll have to come ready to play."

Later on Friday, ETBU will be hosting a non-conference game against Sul Ross State. Last season, ETBU fell to the Lobos 62-45. That game saw Gosey collect a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

"Sul Ross on Friday with the All-American inside, they have toughness, shooting, and good players around him," said Curran. "They run a lot of motion stuff. They always play really hard. They had a good game against us last year. That'll be a great challenge for us and we're looking to get after it."

ETBU will play Centenary on Wednesday at 7:30 PM in Shreveport, La., while Friday's game vs. Sul Ross State will take place at 2:00 PM at Ornelas Gymnasium.