Shawnee State University’s Waller Gymnasium will come alive Wednesday, Nov. 6, as the Bears men’s basketball team takes the court at 6 p.m. for their first home game of the season. This new but talented group is still searching for a team identity. Coming in as the second-ranked team in the River States Conference preseason coaches’ poll, the Bears are up for a big season. Being ranked that high reflects the expectations from around the league and adds a different level of intensity surrounding the Bears’ home opener.
Under the leadership of head coach Michael Hunter, Shawnee State has spent the preseason working hard to live up to the 2021 national championship and past conference championships and even surpass those expectations. Known for his character, disciplined coaching style and aggressive defense-orientated teams, Hunter has focused on creating an elite program and environment people want to be around.
The roster this season features five returning players in Tre Beard, A.J. Belton, Elkin Ramirez, Damon Charles and Feisal Crumby. The Bears have brought in seven transfers: Marcos Vazquez, Markell Hood, Donovan Lovelace, Chris Tackett, Theo Blackett, Jesse Dixon and Ezra McKee. The Bears have four freshmen: Jaleel Edwards, Amaury Hawes, Preston Saia and Donnovan Breech. The Bears will emphasize defense, try to control rebounding and play a fast-paced style that will keep teams on their heels.
Shawnee State athletes should benefit from their home crowd support. The community members and student body attending the game could be seen as a “sixth man” for the Bears. Fans play a vital role in all of college basketball, and it’s no different here at Shawnee State.
The fans make it tough to play here,” said Beard, a senior guard for the Bears. “It gets loud, and it’s really just fun to play in. With us being a big energy-based team, we want to feed off of their energy and make our home court a place teams hate playing.”
