GAME NOTES: Looking to build on an above-average 2013-14 season, the Valparaiso Crusaders will host the East Tennessee State Buccaneers to open the brand new 2014-15 campaign in a non-conference matchup at the Athletics- Recreation Center Friday.

East Tennessee State returns to the Southern Conference after a nine-year hiatus, during which the Bucs were members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. ETSU finished the 2013-14 campaign with a solid 19-16 overall mark that included a 10-8 league record. The Buccaneers will look to compete in their first year back in the SoCon.

Valparaiso lost its top scorer from a year ago, but the Crusaders played so many younger athletes in 2013-14 that the experience will likely pay off. The Crusaders finished with an 18-16 ledger last season and a 9-7 record in the Horizon League.

These two teams have met just once on the floor in their series history, with ETSU taking home the lone victory, which occurred last season. The Buccaneers defeated Valpo, 73-62, at home just after last Christmas.

The Bucs won seven SoCon titles in 25 years as members of the conference, so the program knows the landscape fairly well at this point. ETSU returns four of its top six starters from last season's above-average A-Sun campaign, including senior guard Rashawn Rembert (16.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 61 assists, 43 steals), who is already projected to be a potential First-Team All-Southern Conference player come year's end. The Buccaneers are fairly stacked at the guard positions, returning some key contributors from last season alongside Rembert. Jalen Riley (13.4 ppg, 64 assists), Lester Wilson (10.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and A.J. Merriweather (9.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg) are all returning.

The biggest question mark for ETSU this season will be centered around which players will take over underneath the basket. The Bucs are missing some critical forwards, like Hunter Harris, who started in all but one game for the team last year. Perhaps ETSU will be pleasantly surprised and get the most out of 6-foot-10 freshman Karl Overstreet and 7-foot junior Peter Jurkin. Alex Bates got the start at center for the Bucs in the team's exhibition game against Milligan, but only scored a point with one rebound. Wilson led all scorers with 25, and Riley added 23 in the team's 94-77 win.

Realistically, the Crusaders could challenge for the conference crown this year after a season in which three freshmen won starting jobs. One of them, Alec Peters, was tabbed as a preseason Horizon League First-Team finisher after the now-sophomore averaged 12.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg and shot 49 percent from the floor in 2013. Lexus Williams (6.5 ppg, 81 total assists) and Jubril Adekoya (5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg) have been tested, and will be ready to go for the upcoming year. Charlotte transfer E. Victor Nickerson (6-foot-7 swing man) is eligible to play this season after missing last year. He'll team up with big man Vashil Fernandez (5.1 rpg) as go-to scorers down low.

Peters scored a team-high 17 points in the Crusaders' 60-52 victory over Grand Valley State in an exhibition contest last week. Peters connected on 10-of-13 from the free-throw line, and brought down five rebounds. Darien Walker came off the bench to score 16 for Valpo, And David Skara had nine points with eight rebounds. Valpo shot only 35.4 percent from the floor in the win.

The Crusaders need to step up their game against ETSU if they want to win. The home advantage will help greatly in the season opener, but Peters can't be the lone player for Valpo that takes the game over. Rembert had a sub-par game against Milligan, though his minutes will likely increase once the season gets underway. It should be a tight contest, but Valpo's core of young athletes should be able to get the job done.