The Hobart basketball team will tip off its centennial season on Mon., Nov. 16, when the Statesmen welcome Ithaca to Bristol Gym. Fourth-year Head Coach Izzi Metz '98 would like nothing more than to add this year's squads to the list of Hobart's all-time best on the hardwood.

The conversation begins with the 1955-56 cagers that hold the program record for highest winning percentage, posting Ws 75 percent of the time (15-5). The 2000-01 Statesmen, with Metz on the bench as an assistant coach, produced the program's first 20-win season (20-8), winning the Liberty League Championship and earning an NCAA Tournament bid. Hobart also made ECAC Tournament appearances in 1978-79, 1987-88, 1994-95, and 2004-05.

To get a team that finished the 2008-09 campaign with an 8-17 record to make such an ambitious leap might seem like a stretch, but a closer look at the 99th season reveals the Statesmen are closer than their record might suggest. Hobart lost 10 games by eight points or less last season, including six by just a single possession.

Seniors Tim Ivory and Sean McHugh and junior Mark Bruce will serve the team as captains. All three have distinguished themselves as leaders in the locker room and will see time in the backcourt.

Hobart welcomes back 13 members of last season's squad, including four starters. The departure of Rob Estep (15.7 ppg) was seen by the returning players as a challenge to elevate their game. The development of junior Tim Llewellyn and Bruce, in particular, has impressed the coaching staff.

Llewellyn (10.2 ppg, 3.4 apg) will spend some time at the point, but will also see time at the two guard. He's coming off a strong sophomore year that saw him break the school records for steals in a game (11 vs. Clarkson) and in a season (77). Bruce (8.5 ppg, 1.5 spg), who Metz praises as Hobart's most improved player from the end of last season to the start of preseason practice, will play at the two or three, depending on the line up on the floor.

Rounding out Hobart's three guard starting lineup will be first-year Stefan Thompson. He led Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse to a 21-5 record last season and has performed well in preseason practice and scrimmages.

The Statesmen have six guards in reserve, which will be an asset as the coaching staff plans to play a high-pressure defense for a full 40 minutes. McHugh (5.1 career ppg) and first-year Rezin Davis are expected to be the first off the bench. Sophomore Greg Stern, juniors Brad Tramontozzi and Brian Burbank, and Ivory will also figure into the mix.

In the frontcourt, sophomore Matt Pebole is Hobart's top returning scorer. He was named the Liberty League's Rookie of the Week three times last season, producing 10.9 ppg and 4.9 rpg. Pebole also shot a team-high 49.8 percent from the floor.

Junior Adam Salzmann returns to his starting role alongside Pebole. Arguably the toughest player on Hobart's roster, he played through a painful wrist injury last season and still produced 8.6 ppg and a team-high 7.4 rpg.

Junior Michael Barlow (3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and sophomore Marc Bertucci (2.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) are expected to play an expanded role this season, while junior Ryan Young, sophomore Josh Kalenderian, and first-year Sean Peer will also compete for playing time.

While expectations are high for this year's team, the path will not be easy. The non-conference slate includes the Dickinson and Merchant Marine Tournaments as well as contests against Geneseo, Rochester, St. John Fisher, and Potsdam. The Liberty League schedule is daunting as usual and includes home and away dates with 2009 NCAA Tournament participants Rensselaer and St. Lawrence.

If the Statesmen can put together a consistent effort at home and on the road, they should be able to close the gap on their competition in close games, and maybe even make the program's 100th season its most memorable.