Lakeland, Fl. - The Augusta University men's basketball team is ready to start the season and will be tested right out of the gate. The Jaguars open the season Saturday against No. 2 ranked Washburn University at 1:15 p.m., part of the 2025 Small Basketball College Hall of Fame Classic. AU will then take on another Top 25 team on Sunday at 11 a.m when they square off with No. 25 Lubbock Christian to wrap up the two day event. 

Coach Dip Metress has a young and inexperienced team but knows this is a great opportunity to play in such a prestigious event. 

"It's a privilege to play in this event, it really is," said Metress. "We have a lot of question marks, but we'll see how those questions marks respond. We've had two exhibition games but it's a whole different deal when you play the No. 2 team in the country and we'll see how we stick our nose out there." 

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The Jaguars return five players who saw meaningful playing time a year ago, but two of them won't play this weekend due to injury. The freshmen and transfers who joined the program in the off season will play big minutes on a big stage right out of the gate. But Metress likes how these guys get after it in practice.

"Our guys enjoy practicing and they listen. It's just a question of how we can translate it," added Metress. "The popcorn is going to be popping tomorrow and the room for error in these games is slim. But I've been on the other side of those sticks as well." 

Returners ElÍas Pálsson, Kyndon Wilburg, Luis Nonfon and Oliver Lucas will play big roles this weekend. So too will the newcomers. Daniel Daramola, Camryn Pacheco, Rodney Scott, Tobias Prall and Charlie McBeath will be just some of the new faces who will need to step up their game as the season goes along. 

"I'm surprised how well some of our freshmen are acclimating themselves, and new players in general. I thought it was going to be a little more of a learning curve," said Metress. 

Another positive Metress has seen is how the team communicates. He likes how they talk on the court and it shows up in practice on a daily basis. 

Following the Hall of Fame Classic,  Augusta will have two weeks off before they travel to Wilson, N.C. for the 45 Second Classic. The first home game is Wednesday, Nov. 19 when they take on Emmanuel University. 

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