Ben Madgen's seven-month wait ended Thursday night.
Ever since Augusta State fell in the NCAA Division II Final Four, Madgen and his returning teammates prepared themselves for the start of the upcoming basketball season.
"We've been waiting since two minutes after we lost that last game in Massachusetts," said Madgen, a preseason All-American senior guard. "It feels like we've been waiting forever."
The defending Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament champion Jaguars are back with high expectations after consecutive trips to the Final Four in Springfield, Mass. Augusta State lost All-American center Garret Siler (the NCAA record holder for field-goal percentage), starting point guard Steve Smith and backup center Jason Killeen. But the Jaguars still are loaded with weapons like Madgen, who's on track to become the school's all-time leading scorer, all-conference guard senior Fred Brathwaite and senior standouts in guard Daniel Dixon and forward Greg Hire.
"We're excited about the group we have," said Metress, whose team opens the season Nov. 15 at home against West Georgia. "Hopefully, we'll continue doing what we've been doing."
All Augusta State has done the past three seasons is establish itself as a national power. The Jaguars, 81-19 the past three years, have played host to the regional tournament every year since 2007.
Augusta State fell two wins short of a national title last season, losing 74-70 in the national semifinals to Cal Poly Pomona. Still, Metress said, he was proud of his Jaguar squad that finished at 30-5 -- a school record for wins last season.
"Two hundred and eighty teams were at home when we were playing. There were only four teams left," Metress said. "You've got to play smartest of all the teams that week, and we didn't play well. Hopefully, we'll get an opportunity to be in that position again."
Augusta State is already obtaining recognition this preseason, checking in at No. 8 in the Division II Bulletin poll. The Jaguars return three starters and added a pair of transfers in senior forward Alex Smith (William & Mary) and junior forward Frank Ndongo (Virginia Commonwealth). Metress brought in just one freshman in guard Dominic Morra.
Madgen will be closing in on Augusta State's all-time scoring record in the first half of this season.
He owns 1,670 career points and needs 226 more points to pass Derek Stewart.
The Jaguars have 13 players on this season's roster. Metress said 11 will make up the regular rotation.
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com
CHOICE SEATS
Augusta State basketball fans who purchase season-ticket packages will have the opportunity to pick out their seat tonight.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., during tonight's men's basketball practice, fans can reserve their seat at Christenberry Fieldhouse. The cost to select a seat is $25. That is in addition to the cost for the season-ticket package.
icon.
