University of St. Francis men's basketball coach Pat Sullivan enters the upcoming season with what may be one of his most inexperienced teams. Despite the youth and the challenging schedule, Sullivan continues to be optimistic as he heads into his 34th year as head coach of the Fighting Saints.

Only two seniors are on the roster and the top two scorers and rebounders are gone from last year's 11-19 squad.

Those two missing pieces - forward/center Rob Rabenau and forward Sam Robinson - were one-two in scoring last year at 13.2 and 12.8 points per game, respectively. The order was changed in rebounding, with Robinson leading the way at 8.5 and Rabenau right behind at 5.4. Clearly, their departures leave big holes to fill in the Saints' frontcourt.

The next three leading scorers, though, are all back. Senior guard/forward Tristan Therkield, sophomore guard Billy Hubly and senior guard Ryan Gunderson accounted for more than 25 points per game last year. Therkield narrowly missed scoring in double figures, finishing at 9.9 points per game, and also was third on the team in rebounding at 5.0 per contest. He was an Honorable Mention All-Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference choice following the season. Hubly averaged 8.0 points per game as a freshman and made 54 3-point shots on the year. Gunderson made one more 3-pointer than Hubly with 55 and shot 46.6 percent (55-118) from 3-point range on the season. He averaged 7.7 points per game. Hubly also was named an Honorable Mention All-CCAC pick.

Sophomore guard Derek Ciezczak had a very promising freshman season cut short due to a leg injury after 17 games. He missed all of the CCAC season, a loss that severely hampered the Saints in league play. He is back at full strength and should vie for playing time at both the point guard and shooting guard positions. Robbie Butcher, another sophomore, will also battle for playing time in the backcourt.

Sophomores David Altman and Lukas Zebrauskas each garnered valuable experience as freshmen backing up Rabenau and Robinson. Both should see even more playing time and will fight for starting spots in 2009-10.

The remaining seven players on the squad are all newcomers to St. Francis. The group includes five junior college transfers and a pair of freshmen.

Two of the transfers come from Schoolcraft College near Detroit, Mich. Junior forward Greg Leavell and sophomore center Bruce Watson will give USF some scoring punch inside to help pick up the points vacated by the graduations of Rabenau and Robinson. Leavell is 6-5 and more of a perimeter player while Watson is 6-7 and has a 250-pound frame to give the Saints a more traditional post player.

Junior forward Justin Richmond comes to USF from north suburban Highland Community College. A Waukegan High School product, Richmond is also a player looked upon to pick up some of the offensive production missing from last year's team.

The two other transfers come to Joliet via Olive-Harvey College on Chicago's south side. Guards Contino Hunter and Andrew Fair will battle for playing time at the point. Fair will miss the first semester due to eligibility concerns but should be ready for game action come late December.

The only two freshmen on the team are forwards Michael Cole and Dan Dispenza. Cole prepped at Manley High School on Chicago's west side and at 6-5 and 210 pounds will give the Saints a talented prospect at the power forward slot. Dispenza is a local product, having graduated last spring from Joliet Catholic Academy. Standing 6-6 and weighing in at 200 pounds as a young frosh, Dispenza can play either the power forward or post position for the Saints.

Sullivan enters the season needing four wins to reach the coveted 500-victory mark in his collegiate career.