Men’s basketball opens 2019-20 schedule at McArthur Classic

ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University men's basketball team opens the 2019-20 season at the McArthur Classic at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. The Panthers were picked to finish fifth in the SCIAC in a poll of the conference coaches before the start of the season.

The Chapman roster will see some big changes this year with 15 new players that weren't on the 2018-19 roster: five freshmen and 10 transfers. Aside from these new additions, the Panthers will now have a 20-man squad with five players returning from last season. 

Returning as the lone senior is Colin Ferrier, who will enter his second and final season in a Panthers jersey. In his first year, Ferrier started 22 of the 24 games he appeared in and was a dominant component for the Panthers' offense, averaging 5.5 points per game while grabbing 108 total rebounds on the season. 

Aside from Ferrier, the Panthers have several key players returning, including juniors Chandler White and Brandon Chan and sophomores Anthony Giomi and Daniel Foldes.

Giomi and Foldes both appeared in over 15 games during their rookie campaigns. Both of the small forwards were crucial in the Panthers defense last season and look to continue their work this year.

White and Chan were both key players for the Panthers' offense last season. In the paint, the Panthers will look to newcomers as well as White who will take most of the minutes. White finished last season with a 53.5 shooting percentage, averaging 13.4 points in 30.8 minutes per game. The power forward also led the squad with 6.1 rebounds per game. As for Chan, the forward earned himself the title of Most Improved Player after proving to be a key member off the bench last season. He looks to continue that momentum into the 2019-20 season.

Despite some new faces and losing six key seniors last season, the Panthers were picked to finish fifth in the conference. The Panthers will look to the youth of the program to help carry them into the coming season.

After playing their first two games on the road in Washington, the Panthers will return home on Friday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m. for their home-opener against The University of Maine at Presque Isle.

 by Niki Ardebili
Sports Information Intern

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