ESF Mighty Oaks Basketball 2015-16 Preview

The Mighty Oaks men's basketball team will begin its first season of competition in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Oct. 30 and 31.

The Mighty Oaks have high expectations as they welcome back several returning players for the 2015-16 season. Inclusion in the HVIAC enables the Mighty Oaks to continue building rivalries with programs such as Davis College, Albany College of Pharmacy and reigning USCAA National Champions Berkeley College of N.Y. Conference play also provides an opportunity to participate in the conference tournament, open to the top four teams at the end of the season.  The winner of the conference championship receives an automatic bid to the USCAA National Championship Tournament.

Despite losing a group of talented seniors from last year's squad, the Mighty Oaks begin the season with promise. They welcome back junior forward Ryan Caldwell, who averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds per game last season. Also returning are senior forward Sage Beemer (9.5ppg, 5.4rpg) and versatile junior point guard Dan Treadwell (8.2ppg, 2.4spg)  The team expects positive contributions from 6'6" sophomore center Tyler Kuhn, Alfred State transfer Jared Bard and freshman guard Justin VanDuLuitgaarden.

The team will open the  season in Buffalo in the Villa Maria College Hart Hotels Tip-Off Classic Oct. 30 and 31. 

The team will then play several non-conference games highlighted by local foes such as SUNY Broome (Nov. 10), Onondaga Community College (Nov. 18) and Cazenovia College (Jan. 9). ESF will begin HVIAC play Jan. 17 on the road versus Culinary Institute of America. The season will culminate at the HVIAC tournament Feb. 20 and 21, hosted by the College of New Rochelle.

"We have a hard-working group this year committed to getting better every day. With this being our first year in a conference, it provides us a great opportunity that we haven't had as a program before.  Our players have committed well this off-season and competing for a conference tournament appearance is definitely something we hope to accomplish this season," said Head Coach Scott Blair.