ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Adams State Grizzlies Men's Basketball team prepares to open up its season this weekend down in the Lone Star State, in what will be two non-conference games against West Texas A&M Friday, and UT-Permian Basin on Saturday. The West Texas Contest begins at 4 p.m. Friday, with UTPB happening at 3 p.m. Saturday.
 
The 2019-2020 Grizzlies will feature a brand new cast of characters with the exception of four players from last year's team, but if Head Coach Russ Caton proved anything last year, it was that he could instantly install players and win games. Last season, senior Szymon Walczak was the lone returner from a talented 2017-2018 squad, and proved to be a key piece last year particularly on the defensive end. Walczak returns this year with even greater expectations in what will be his fourth year on the team.
 
An offensive leader and integral part of the Grizzlies last year, senior Rickey Norris has high hopes for this year's squad. Norris started in 22 of 26 games last year, averaging 12.6 points per, and was a key contributor on the glass, averaging nearly seven boards per game. He hopes that his consistency and leadership will propel the grizzlies to great things in 2020.
 
The Grizzlies made the playoffs as the eight-seed in a highly competitive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2019. They had to battle to the end and win a crucial final game against Fort Lewis to punch their ticket into the postseason, where they eventually lost to Colorado Mines in the first round, Nonetheless, they were competitive in nearly every game they played and are a well-coached squad looking to do big things in what looks to be a wide open RMAC this season.
 
New faces of this season include players such as Juwan Green, Kaelin Crane, Rylan O'Brien, Logan Longo, Nana Appiah, Braden Hancock, and Dera Vixon, all who enter their first season members of the Grizzlies. They hope to provide athleticism and all-around talent on both ends of the floor, and contribute to an astounding winning culture that Coach Russ Caton has instilled. The Grizzlies have not missed the postseason in ten years, and they hope to keep that streak alive in 2019-2020.
 
The Adams State Grizzlies Men's Basketball team opens up their season with road split in Texas this Friday and Saturday, November 8^th and 9^th as they face West Texas at 4 p.m. Friday and UT-Permian Basin at 3 p.m. Saturday. Hopefully, the weekend is a jumpstart to what hopes to be a great season for the Grizzlies.