INDIANAPOLIS - To borrow a phrase from Reese Bobby from the classic Talladega Nights, "If you ain't first, you're last...", it applies to the Jaguars start to hoops season. In tipping off its 2023-24 season with an 11:00 a.m. start, the IUPUI basketball team will be the first team in the country to open up its campaign on Monday (Nov. 6) when the Jaguars host Spalding University for the annual NCAA Readers Become Leaders Day at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. More than 4,000 elementary and middle school aged students from across Central Indiana are expected to fill the Coliseum as part of the annual partnership between IUPUI, the NCAA, WISH-TV, Scholastic Books and the Indianapolis Public Library. 

Students in attendance will be provided programming about the importance of reading throughout the game, entertained by a halftime performance by Boomer, the official mascot of the Indiana Pacers, and have the opportunity to enjoy a Division I college basketball game as part of their field trip experience. A limited amount of tickets are still on sale by clicking here. 

On the court, head coach Matt Crenshaw's team returns a strong nucleus, keyed by preseason All-Horizon Leaguer Jlynn Counter and sophomore guards Vincent Brady II and DJ Jackson, each who earned a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team a season ago. Counter, a versatile guard, averaged a team-high 14.5 points per game last season, while also contributing 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. 

Brady averaged 10.9 points per game and hit a team-high 58 treys as a freshman and Jackson, who missed 10 games due to injury, finished the year at 9.6 points per game. The group stands to benefit from the return of Bryce Monroe, who was limited to just four games last season. In limited action, Monroe averaged 12.0 points and 3.8 assists per contest, including a 29-point outburst at New Orleans in late November. Other key returners include Daylan Hamilton (6.4 ppg), John Egbuta (6.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Armon Jarrard (5.3 ppg) and Amhad Jarrard (4.5 ppg). 

Crenshaw scoured the transfer portal for reinforcements for this season, landing Kidtrell Blocker (Buffalo), Yves Nkomba (Kennesaw State), Abdou Samb (Rhode Island) and Qwanzi Samuels (George Washington). Nkomba (6-foot-11), Samuels (6-9) and Samb (6-8) provide much needed size to the Jaguars' frontcourt while Blocker is an explosive scorer at 6-foot-5. 

QUICK HITTERS
-In the era of the transfer portal, IUPUI returns 10 letterwinners and a redshirt from last year's squad, keyed by All-Horizon League performer Jlynn Counter and two members of the Horizon League's All-Freshman Team in Vincent Brady II and DJ Jackson. Nine of the 10 returners started at least one game a season ago and eight had at least one game of double-digit scoring last year. 
-IUPUI wasn't bashful in the transfer portal, inking four newcomers to this year's squad via Division I transfer in Kidtrell Blocker (Buffalo), Yves Nkomba (Kennesaw State), Abdou Samb (Rhode Island) and Qwanzi Samuels (George Washington). Nkomba is the team's tallest player at 6-foot-11 while Samb (6-foot-8) and Samuels (6-foot-8) represent the second and third tallest members of the squad. 
-IUPUI doesn't have a single true freshman on the squad this season as redshirt freshman walk-on Braden Allen is the only member of the squad to have no Division I experience entering the season. 
-Today's game is the first tip-off in all of Division I college basketball this season, officially opening the college basketball season. 

ON THE NEWCOMERS
"Qwanzi is a guy who brings it every day. At 6'8, he has great versatility on both ends of the court. Off the court he brings leadership and experience, having been around two other D1 programs. Most importantly, Q is a great student and has been an awesome addition to our locker room. We look forward to seeing his growth as a leader and are optimistic that he will impact winning at a high level." Assistant Coach Keith Oddo

"Kid adds length, athleticism, and versatility to our backcourt. His ability to make plays for himself and others will help us play a fun and unselfish brand of offense. Where he can make an elite impact is on the defensive end where that length and athleticism will allow him to guard multiple positions and help us end possessions with rebounds." Assistant Coach Tommy Strine

"Abdou has been a great addition to our program. Abdou has brought a competitive spirit and plays with tenacity that will help us when it comes to rebounding and having a presence in the paint. He has been a great student and is a high character young man that we are lucky to have in our program." Assistant Coach & Director of Operations Drew Greene

"Yves has been a great addition to the Jaguar family. Yves is long and extremely athletic with tremendous upside. He's a strong rim protector and can really run in transition. Yves brings a great deal of humbleness and appreciation for the opportunity in front of him. He's such a joy to be around." Assistant Coach Antwain Banks