GAME NOTES: The Citadel Bulldogs and VMI Keydets will clash in a matchup between two Military academies in the first round of the All-Military Classic at Christl Arena in West Point on Friday.

The Citadel suffered through a painful 2013-14 season, limping to a 7-26 overall record with a dismal 2-14 mark in Southern Conference play. The Bulldogs play two games in the All-Military Classic this weekend - one Friday and one Saturday - both in West Point.

VMI will try to replicate its offensive success after leading the nation in scoring in 2013-14. The Keydets ended their season with a 22-13 record, including an 11-5 ledger in the Big South Conference. The program moved over to the Southern Conference in the offseason, meaning The Citadel and VMI are new league rivals.

The history between VMI and the Citadel runs deep, with the Bulldogs owning a 54-46 all-time series lead over the Keydets. The two sides met last year in the AMC as well, with VMI coming out on top, 82-71.

Although he has a 31-94 overall record in four seasons at the helm, coach Chuck Driesell was invited back for his fifth and final year of his contract. Leading scorer and swing man Matt Van Scyoc (14.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 23 blocked shots) transferring out hurts the Bulldogs considerably, but the return of now-senior guard Ashton Moore (14.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.6 apg) means the Citadel has a go-to scorer when it needs a few points. Brian White (11.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) returns after a stellar freshman season for the Bulldogs, along with a whole host of other role players from a year ago.

Marshall Harris III started in 29 games a year ago, and averaged 7.0 ppg with a solid 4.1 apg mark. He and Tom Koopman (2.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg) will have to be two of those role players Driesell counts on this upcoming season. Quinton Marshall (6.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 20 steals) should be a solid contributor in his junior season. Six players on Driesell's squad last season received double- digit starts, while an additional three more made more than one appearance in the starting lineup. Driesell should be crossing his fingers that playing a handful of young players a season ago in order to get them minutes will pay off.

VMI led the nation in scoring a year ago, averaging 88.3 ppg as a member of the Big South Conference. But at the same time, they were one of the worst defensively (82.6 ppg allowed), so it all evens out. Still, this is another new program that will be partaking in its first season as a Southern Conference member with hopes of actually being competitive, and that should be the case. The problem for coach Duggar Baucom's team is having to replace two very, very talented scorers in big man D.J. Covington (20.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 106 blocked shots) and adept scorer Rodney Glasgow (18.9 ppg, 205 assists).

Led by an outstanding sophomore, QJ Peterson, and a young talented pool of players, VMI should still be able to compete in a Southern Conference schedule that promises to be tougher than that of the Big South. Peterson finished second on the team with 19.0 ppg as a freshman, so without Covington and Glasgow, the scorer's role will be his entirely. Guards Brian Brown (6.8 ppg) and Tim Marshall (4.3 ppg) and forward Jordan Weethee (6.7 ppg) will all see their roles increase in the new season.

Moving to a new conference can always be tough, especially when making the move from what is considered a lower-level conference to a much bigger one. But the Keydets should do just fine, even without Covington and Glasgow. The Citadel may struggle early to get back on its feet.