The Warrior men's basketball team began the season with high expectations and some looming questions. The high expectations were nothing new for a basketball program that has won four national championships and has competed in several national championship games. The looming questions are normal for any team at the beginning of each season. This years questions centered around how well all the new faces would blend together to make a cohesive unit. With 3 new faces in the starting line-up, and with 7 new faces all together, the main concern was about chemistry.

So far this season the chemistry appears to be coming together little by little. The Warriors have raced out to a 6-3 season record and have shown great improvement over the last two games. On 11/25/08 the warriors hosted NAIA Madonna University at Rochester High School. Madonna, who was ranked in the country last season, came in with an 0-6 record, but played close with several quality teams. The warriors knew that Madonna would come in hungry looking for their first win of the season, however, the warriors would answer the call with a decisive 78-49 victory. It was a win that Head Coach Garth Pleasant was looking for. "We really needed that win against Madonna, because it was a win against a real quality team, this will help us down the road when we face other tough teams this season". In that game the Warriors were led by a balanced scoring attack from Seniors John Djurovski (14 points), and Steve McCune (14 points, 8 rebounds). Juniors Adrian Schaffer (14 points), and Tony Watkins (15 points) contributed in the scoring column as well. As a team the warriors shot 48.2% from the field for the game including 56% shooting in the second half, while holding Madonna to just 37.8% shooting from the floor. The warriors also had a decisive advantage in rebounding, out rebounding Madonna 37-25.

Following the Madonna game the warriors would face their toughest opponent of the season thus far in NCAA Division II Northwood University. Despite a valiant effort from the Warriors, they would come away with a 67-62 defeat.

Senior Robert Fragoso and sophomore Stephan Henning would lead the charge with 13 and 17 points respectively. The warriors would have their chances late in the second half, but came up short by not converting shot opportunities. With 0:49 seconds left RC trailed by 2 points, when they were called for a foul away from the basket. Even though the free throws were missed the warriors were unable to convert on the other end on 2 3 point shot attempts. In the end the warriors gave themselves chances to win a hard fought road game, but came up short.

The next game for the warriors will be this Tuesday, December 2nd, when they travel to Grand Rapids to take on Kuyper College. The game will immediately follow the women's game which is scheduled for a 5:00 pm start.