WBOY.com: Clarksburg, Morgantown: News, Sports, WeatherMorgantown Boys Basketball has Eyes on the Prize

The Morgantown boys basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the preseason AP Poll, even with only one returning starter. While there's no doubt that this team wants to win now, there will be some bumps along the way, but getting back to the state tournament is something this team expects to do once again.

After last year's semifinal loss to George Washington, the Morgantown Mohigans said goodbye to a decorated senior class. When Tom Yester began the year, he knew that it would be more of a development season but still carried high expectations. There is still a lot to be excited about with this program though, they have a young but talented team that is relishing the opportunity to grow throughout the season with future goals in mind.

"We want to stand up and show that we can still do what we do as juniors and of course, next year which will even be better, stronger and more wise," junior Nick Colasante said.

"We like it because we all come out and get experience this year and then next year we can make a run for everything, even this year we can because we have our seniors," junior Nathan Adrian added.

Starting five juniors does make for a tougher climb, but when one of them is already committed to playing for the West Virginia Mountaineers in two years, you have something to build around. Nathan Adrian is a 6'9" forward who can do it all. He has the fundamentals down but his challenge now comes from a mental standpoint. One great player can do wonders for the rest of the team.

"He's still young, people forget he hasn't played, he hasn't been the man yet. Now he's the man. He's the man that people are looking for. It's taking a little time, he's getting used to it, but I think he's stepped up and made quite a few plays and he's someone who draws the attention of the other team and if we can get our other guys hot a little bit it's really going to help out," Morgantown head coach Tom Yester added.

My take on this squad? This season will not define the Mohigans but will go a long way into the dreams of championship runs during future seasons. However none of the players are concerned about one journalists opinion, they all want to win today. And as for the collection of writers who pegged them as the 5th best team in the state? Well, they aren't putting much stock into that either.

"Not yet, not at all," Colasante said.

"Not a bit, let's just see how thing go, ask me that about March 1st, then we'll be okay," Yester stated.