dugan@observer-reporter.com

WAYNESBURG - Head coach Frank Ferraro didn't spend much time deciding on or changing starting lineups for the Waynesburg University men's basketball team the last four seasons. That's because the Yellow Jackets' lineup sported Beau Wilson, Jeff Nero and Marc Lodovico, each a four-year starter and 1,000-point scorer.

The high-scoring trio, along with guard Jeff Linden and forward Shawn Coleman, are now gone. The five seniors from last season combined to make 357 career starts.

For the first time in four years, Ferraro does not know who will be in the starting lineup from game to game for the Yellow Jackets, who struggled to a disappointing 12-13 record last season that included a 4-8 mark in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. This coming after being picked in the preseason poll to win the conference title. Waynesburg was picked sixth in the seven-team league this year.

Waynesburg, which opens the season today (2 p.m.) against Cabrini at Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse, is sure to have a different look this season. The Yellow Jackets return only two starters, 6-5 senior forward Josh Parisi, a two-year starter, and pesky senior point guard Jered Gamble, who worked his way into the lineup last season and started 17 games.

Senior guard Tim Drakeley (8.6 ppg), an excellent long-range shooter, is the top returning scorer.

Beyond the three seniors, however, there is precious little experience. Only junior guard Dan Happe and sophomore guard Ryan Courneen have much experience at the collegiate level.

"We have guys who get an opportunity to step in, play more minutes and make their own legacy," Ferraro said. "We have a lot of guys who played in the shadows of 1,000-point scorers for several years. Because of that, it's a real exciting time for all of us."

The preseason scrimmages did little to give Ferraro an idea of who to put in the starting lineup and what to expect when the regular season begins.

"We don't have a lot of consistency right now," Ferraro said. "But how much could we expect to have? We've got to be patient. If there is one thing we do know, it's that we have to play harder than every team we play or it's not going to be a good night for us."

That might be because Waynesburg is a small team. Parisi is the player taller than 6-2 who has played meaningful minutes at the college level. And the Yellow Jackets got a little smaller Wednesday when 6-5 junior Colby Grubich (Ringgold) suffered a broken finger in practice. It's not known how long Grubich will be sidelined.

"Colby has come a long way since last season, when he was coming off a broken ankle," Ferraro said. "He was having a good preseason."

Teams in the PAC will less time for patience this season as league games begin in early December. The Yellow Jackets' conference opener is their fourth game of the season, Dec. 1 at Thiel.

"Change is sometimes good," Ferraro said. "We'll see if it is for us."

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