The men’s basketball team is gearing up for another season of hoops, its second under Head Coach Ryan Ridder. The team ended last season with an 14-19 overall record while going 6-12 in the Southern Conference. The Bears made it to the second round of the SoCon tournament, eventually losing to No.1 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“We are light years ahead compared to last year's team," said assistant coach Reed Ridder about the upcoming season. This year, the team has a mix of young and old faces on its roster, and will need to learn how to fill the shoes of star guard Ahmad Robinson, who graduated last year and who led the team in points and assists. Tyler Johnson, who was second to Robinson in both categories last year, and Alex Holt, the team's leading rebounder, also graduated.
During the offseason, the team brought in a slew of promising talent, especially in the front court, to compensate for these losses. Key big-man additions include international transfer 6'10" Pero Zubac '29 and 6'10" Central Michigan University transfer Armani Mighty '27. Zubac, a dual national of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, played for Croatia in the 2023 FIBA U-18 EuroBasket tournament.
“We have a top group of guys, but I think we are expecting big things from Mighty," Reed said. He also mentioned Brady Shoulders '28, a promising young talent who can fill in for the team's lost leadership, was second on the team in rebounds and steals in his freshman season.
Coaching-wise, the Bears added Mercer basketball alumnus Langston Hall, the team's all-time leader in assists and three-pointers made, as an assistant coach. “We do love our team and our connectivity," Ridder also said, discussing how new players are intertwining with old.
The first game of the season will be on the road on Monday, Nov. 3 at No. 18 University of Tennessee, who advanced to the Elite 8 in last year's March Madness. The team will then host their home opener on Wednesday, Nov. 5 against LaGrange College in Hawkins Arena. “We think our guys are ready for that challenge, we are playing one of the best teams in the country," Reed said when asked about the season opener against a top SEC school.
But, Reed said, the pressure will not be new to him as a coach. "I’ve been in tough environments before," he said, referring to his two years in a graduate assistant position at the University of Georgia.
Reed is the younger brother of Ryan, the program's head coach, which he said has helped him build their chemistry as coaches together better over the two years they have been together at Mercer. “We keep things work related and brother related," Reed said.
Ridder said he wants this season's atmosphere in Hawkins Arena and on road games to feel different from previous seasons. “We just want to see that energy and excitement for the team and the season," he said.
The team has specifically worked on team chemistry, putting in hours of off-season work, and should be ready to show the city and university what they have been working on. “Our group wants to be tough together and unselfish, and to be known as one of the hardest playing teams in the country," said Ridder.
The team is currently listed in the No. 8 spot in the coach's poll pre-season SoCon rankings.
Nevaeh Wilson '28 is majoring in Journalism and minoring in Film Studies. She has been writing for The Cluster since her freshman year, and has worked for Mercer's ESPN studio. She enjoys watching college and professional sporting events.
