MOBILE, Ala. – Year two of the Matthew Graves era at the University of South Alabama got underway Monday morning when the men's basketball team participated in its first formal team workouts of the 2014-15 campaign.

The Jaguars had two practice sessions Monday in the Mitchell Center and started working toward its home exhibition contest Nov. 6 against Mobile.

"I saw a lot of excited young men out there that worked really hard today," Graves said. "It was a very spirited, physical practice, but not unlike a lot of first, or early season, practices. It was sloppy at times, we turned the ball over and forgot to run some plays correctly, but I was pleased with the intensity and effort, and most importantly, the physicality that we played with."

Graves welcomes back six players from last year's squad, including leading returning scorer Ken Williams (Houston, Texas) and will have nine newcomers.

Those six players have a season under their belt, unlike in 2013-14 where Graves was trying to implement his system for the first time. Not needing to immerse an entire team in new plays, drills and routines at once will help streamline the learning process and means Graves isn't starting from zero on the first day.

"We are further along (than we were last year)," Graves said. "We still have a long ways to go, but this first practice, we were able to get through probably 50 percent more than we were a year ago, and that's in part to how hard our guys worked this summer, and even though half of our roster is new, we were still able to accomplish some things because the new guys were here all summer and that made a huge difference.

"It helps that (the returning players have) been through it and when we call out a drill or running a play, they know what we're doing. They're getting more comfortable with helping the new guys, and one thing I noticed from this morning is we have a lot more competition from the second group. Last year it was pretty one-sided but this year our second group, with a guy like Nick Stover, that's sitting out with a redshirt, is really going to be vital for that second group to push the first group. Having that competition in practice on a daily basis is really going to help us get better throughout the year."

With just one scholarship senior on the roster in Dionte Ferguson (Prattville, Ala.), today's first practice marks the first day in a two-year span this team has together. The squad is made up of two seniors, five juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen.

"We have an extremely young team and a team that will be a lot of fun to watch grow up, mature and have success as we move forward," Graves said.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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