Basketball season opens this weekend with the men tipping off Friday night in the Earl Lloyd Classic here in Institute.
Last week the Mountain East Conference held their media day for Men's Basketball where they released the preseason rankings for each team.
The top three teams in the conference as voted by the coaches are expected to be West Liberty, Fairmont State and Wheeling Jesuit. West Virginia State is picked to finish 10th the season ahead of Urbana and UVa-Wise.
West Virginia State Head Men's Basketball Coach Poore took time out of his busy day to speak with us about his team and to give a preview of the upcoming season

How is the team looking as you get ready for the start of the season?
"You know I like where we are, I mean we are not where we want to be yet but I like the progress we have made," Poore said. "I think we have pretty good chemistry."

"We have some young kids that are really stepping up and playing well right now for us. With not having very many returners though it's going to take a little time for them to gel within themselves and to also understand what we're asking them to do within our system. So we're going to be a work in progress to start the year but I definitely like our makeup right now."

The pre-season polls were released yesterday and had you ranked in the 10th spot. Do you feel that is a fair spot to have your team ranked?
"You know it's a preseason poll so it's a popularity contest. I personally don't have enough time to check everybody else's website and see what recruits they got and all that. So it's something for us to talk about to kick the season off. I think looking at what we've had the last couple of years, yeah it probably is. What our guys need to do is take that as motivation and try to climb up that poll as high as we can."

With the departure of several key players from last years squad, who do you see stepping into the role of Markee Mazyck?
"Markee was an outstanding offensive player there is no doubt about that and could get his shot anytime he wanted to and could make shots, he really brought that to the table. I think our young guys," Poore commented. " Our two freshmen Ernest Jenkins and Jayson Hankins are going to be able to do a little bit of that for us. They both have a good feel for the game and can make some shots. So I think they are going to do that."

"I think what we need is somebody to really step up to do the dirty work basically and Terrance Jenkins has really been doing that in our first two scrimmages, just running the floor really well, getting offensive rebounds, getting those 50-50 balls that are bouncing on the floor and just getting his hands on basketballs and creating extra possessions."  

"Those are the things I'm really looking for and Terrance has really been doing a great job so far this year."

How do you feel about this year's recruiting class? Who looks to be the top player in this class? What would be one word to describe this year's team?
"Those two freshmen (Jenkins and Hankins) have really stood out so far but also De'Quan Doyle a Junior College kid," Poore said. "He's a big kid we brought in that has kind of surprised me with his offensive skill."
"What I saw on film he was more of a defensive rebounder and screener and that kind of thing. When he got here he has a really nice offensive game, can shoot the 3-pointer a little bit, put it on the floor, and score in the post as well. So he's kind of brought some good things to the table."

"Mohammed Camara is a big kid that has played well in our two scrimmages and is getting some extra rebounds and playing strong around the block and in the post area."
"So I'm pretty pleased with those guys, our recruits that we brought in and now it's just getting them adjusted and used to Mountain East basketball."

What would be one word to describe this year's team?
"Young is probably what it would have to be and not only because we have a couple of Junior College guys but that it's their first year here", Poore said with a laugh. "So we're telling them how fast West Liberty plays and how well these guys can shoot it, and this team can do that. But they don't know that until they actually experience it and see it, then they'll really understand."

"So not only do we have some freshman which makes us young but we have so many new players that we are young all over."