MOBILE, Ala. – Thursday marked the beginning of the 2019-20 University of South Alabama men's basketball season with the first practice held at the Striplin Practice Facility.

Head coach Richie Riley welcomes back three starters and five letterwinners from last year's 17-17 team, but has 10 newcomers, including three transfers – Don Coleman, Josh Ayeni and Andre Fox – that last out last season, and another – Chad Lott – that arrived this summer as a graduate transfer.

"We're excited about the new season," Riley said. "Last year I think everybody knew we were coming in a little shorthanded; we sat three transfers out and had some injuries early, but I'm proud of our group from last season. The way that we fought and scrapped to win more games than had been won here in a while. But that's not the standard; the standard is to be in the conversation to be Sun Belt champions. We've done a good job in recruiting and return some key guys from last year, and now we're in that conversation.

"Like I told our team, you have to go earn that. Just because you're picked in some publications to win a league, it's not even October yet – we haven't earned anything. We have to go out and do that, and that starts today.

"For our team, we have a culture of work and that's what our program is about. If we're picked first or last, we're going to work the same way with a chip on our shoulder, and chasing greatness every single day. The only way to do that is to come out and work at a level that nobody else is willing to work at."

In addition to the return of all-Sun Belt performers Josh Ajayi and Trhae Mitchell, who averaged 16.4 and 13.6 points per game, respectively, the Jaguars have three that will be seeing their first game action at South Alabama after averaging better than 14 points per contest at their previous institution.

Coleman led California in scoring at 14.2 ppg, Fox scored more than 1,000 points in three seasons at High Point, and Lott put up 14.3 ppg at Howard last year. Fox and Lott were both all-conference selections.

"We have a lot more scoring options," Riley noted. "I thought there were games last year, where if Mitchell and Ajayi didn't have huge nights, it was very hard for us to win. Those guys are huge guys on our team this year in terms of production, we also add some guys who are capable of scoring 20 (points) if they need to. We have a lot of depth scoring the ball and we've added a lot of ball-handlers.

"Another area that I think will be drastically improved is our defensive energy; our energy to create turnovers and speed the game up. Our tempo should be much better with the added depth and the added talent."

USA opens the regular season Nov. 6 at home against Pikeville.

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

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