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The 2012-13 edition of Truman men’s basketball tips off on Friday night, debuting at home against William Penn (Iowa) in 7:00 pm start from Pershing Arena.
 
The Bulldogs are looking to win their fourth straight home opener, dating back to the 2008-09 season but will be in search of their first season-opening win since the 2009-10 campaign after opening the Matt Woodley era last season in Abilene, Texas, with a pair of close losses.
 
Probable Starters (from exhibition game; all stats 2011-12):

G – #1 – EJ Hicks – 6’3” – 180 – SR – 9.0 ppg | 3.9 rpg | 3.0 apg
G – #2 – Seth Jackson – 6’3” – 200 – SO – 11.9 ppg | 4.2 rpg | 1.6 apg
F – #5 – Mike Carlson – 6’9” – 200 – JR – 10.4 ppg | 4.8 rpg | 1.5 apg
G – #10 – Cole Myers – 6’3” – 190 – FR
C – #21 – Marek Bush – 6’6” – 245 – JR – 4.0 ppg | 4.6 rpg | 0.5 apg
 
 
Series Notes vs. William Penn:

Series Record: Truman leads 8-1
Last Meeting: WPU 68, Truman 58 (12/8/03 || Kirksville)
Series Streak: William Penn W-1
Record in Kirksville: Truman leads 4-1
Series Streak in Kirksville: William Penn W-1
Woodley vs. William Penn: 0-0
 
Bulldogs Picked 12th in MIAA Preseason Poll:
Truman was picked to finish 12th by the regional media and 13th by league coaches in the 2012-13 unveiling of the MIAA basketball preseason polls.

The Bulldogs earned 54 points in the coaches’ poll, trailing Missouri Western for 12th, but traded places with the Griffons in the media poll, earning 89 total points.
 
Washburn picked up the top spot in both polls, with Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri ranking second and third in each as well.
 
New Year, Familiar Faces:

The Bulldogs are coming off a 2011-12 season that saw them graduate just one senior, meaning all five starters and eight total letterwinners return this year.

Truman brings back 92.6% of its scoring, 87.3% of its rebounding and 98.5% of its total assists in 2012-13.
 
Included in that is the returning MIAA Freshman of the Year, Seth Jackson, who also earned all-conference accolades alongside then-junior teammate Tom Norton.

While Jackson is a projected starter this season, Norton will be taking a redshirt this season to recover from an off-season injury, returning for his senior season in 2013-14.

Courtesy Truman State University