FROSTBURG, Md. - Momentum can be a powerful thing in athletic competition and the 2008-09 Frostburg State men’s basketball team will look to carry just that into this season after finishing last year 6-3 over the final nine games. The Bobcats, who were 8-2 at home in Bobcat Arena, return three starters from last year’s team including a host of players with experience that will help the program rebound from a disappointing 9-16 mark in 2007-08.

Tenth-year head coach Webb Hatch will rely on his three main seniors this year for leadership and guidance.

Senior Carter Simmons (Annapolis, Md./Southern) returns for his fourth year with the Bobcat program and is the team’s most experienced post player. Simmons enters the season with more confidence in his game after a good preseason that included improving his shooting. He averaged 2.2 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per contest last season.

Senior Juan Wansley (Odenton, Md./Arundel) has stepped up for his final season with FSU, developing into a good leader and tough defender. An undersized forward who can also shoot the three-pointer, Wansley started 16 games, including the final 11, while averaging 7.2 ppg and 3.9 rpg a year ago.

Senior Keith Hazel (Weirton, W.Va./Weir) returns as a fifth year senior with the Bobcats basketball team. He is an excellent shooter, that possesses the ability to play inside, and might be the strongest player on the roster. As a junior in 06-07, Hazel led the team in 3-point field goals (28) and finished third on the squad in scoring (10.1 ppg).

Senior Antonio Carter (Augusta, Ga./Leilehua High) is in his first year with the Bobcats after the spending his first three seasons with two different schools. He is a post player who should see time as a reserve player this year.

Four juniors occupy this year’s men’s basketball roster; Brandon Gilliam (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers), Jonathan Forster (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key), Chevon Pinnock (Capitol Heights, Md./Central) and Nick Sefcik (Shady Grove, Md./Damascus).

Gilliam has good size (6-3) for a forward and possesses the ability to shoot the ball from just about everywhere on the floor. He has good fundamentals and should contribute to the lineup this season. He appeared in 11 games and averaged 2.5 ppg in 2007-08.

Forster and Pinnock return after a year away from the basketball team last season. Both are reserve guards this year and they should see playing time at both the one and two-guard positions. Forster played in 22 games as a sophomore while Pinnock appeared in nine in the 2005-06 season.

Sefcik, a transfer from Montgomery College-Germantown, is an excellent three-point shooter and should compete for playing time at the two-guard position. A good all-around player, Sefcik was both an all-state and all-county player in high school at Damascus.

The sophomore class makes up the largest part of the 2008-09 men’s basketball team. Brian Anderson (Perry Hall, Md./Eastern Tech) and Korawn Harris (Baltimore, Md./Edmondson Westside) enter the season as the team’s top-two point guards. Both players can dribble, shoot, defend and will provide great depth to their positions. Anderson was second on the Bobcats last season in three-pointers (34) and third in scoring (9.9 ppg). Harris appeared in 17 games with 11 starts and averaged 3.6 ppg.

The tandem of Blake Walker (Frostburg, Md./Northern Garrett) and Steven Ogg (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) provide the Bobcats their most solid defensive pair. The duo are hard working players who pride themselves on shutting down opposing players. Walker started 13 games last season (appeared in 18) and averaged 3.6 ppg while Ogg played in 17 contests.

Busha Koffa (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) and James Wright (Upper Marlboro, Md./Bowie) will help solidify the post position for FSU this season. Koffa is a very active player who likes to rebound (2.5 rpg) and defend, while Wright is a reserve player that will provide great depth with his size (6-6).

Rounding out the sophomore class is Aaron Devane (Upper Marlboro, Md./Riverdale Baptist). A transfer from Lycoming, Devane is a hard nosed guard that will provide depth to that position.

Four newcomers make up the freshmen list for the Bobcats this winter. Troy Dockett (Alexandria, Va./Freedom) and Mac Minturn (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) not only provide depth at guard but should push the starters for playing time. Dockett is the quickest player on the team and a good shooter while Minturn is a solid all-around guard who has a great future with the Bobcats as he can play either of the guard spots.

Bradley Nunn (Ft. Washington, Md./Riverdale Baptist) and Alek Trivanovic (LaVale, Md./Bishop Walsh) are good sized post players at 6-3 and 6-6, respectively. Nunn is a very smart and athletic forward while Trivanovic is who is originally from Serbia will add a large presence under the basket. Both players have potential to earn playing time as they adjust to the speed of the game at the college level.

In 2008-09, the schedule sets up nicely for the Bobcats. The Bobcats are picked to finish fifth in the AMCC Preseason Coaches poll but will use their 13 returning players to battle for the top spot in the AMCC. Coach Hatch plans to use his quickness and depth to out run his opponents and he is confident that his squad will compete with anybody in the AMCC.

The non-conference schedule features a tough start as the Bobcats open the season with Shenandoah (16-10) and face John Hopkins (16-10) in the opening round of the Provident Bank Pride of Maryland Tournament at the end of November.

After four games fill the schedule before Christmas, FSU travels to the Randolph-Macon Tournament on Dec. 29-30.