The 24th-ranked Middlebury men’s basketball team tips off its season on Saturday, November 11. The Panthers return a solid nucleus from last season and add two new faces to the rotation, looking to build off a 20-win campaign last year that included an NCAA Tournament Second-Round appearance.

Middlebury returns a strong backcourt this winter including Noah Osher, Jaden Bobbett and Evan Flaks. Osher and Bobbett appeared in every contest last season and started all but one game. Osher led the Panthers for the second-straight year in minutes played at 32.3 per game, paced the team with 55 three-point field goals and averaged 12.8 points per game (ppg). Bobbett registered the second-highest assist total (50) on the squad and swiped 15 steals in 23 minutes per contest. Flaks made appearances off the Middlebury bench in each contest, averaging 6.3 ppg and dishing out 41 assists.

Forwards David Brennan and Sam Stevens along with center Jackson McKersie return to the Panther lineup and provide veteran presences. Brennan was a balanced contributor at both ends of the floor a season ago, highlighted by 9.0 rebounds per game (rpg) to rank second among league peers. He posted double-digit rebound totals in 12 contests, pulling down nearly four offensive boards per game to rank 14th in Division III. Stevens is a two-year starter who poured in 11.3 ppg in 25 starts last winter, finishing second in the league in free-throws made (89) and third in free-throw percentage (83.2 percent). McKersie appeared in 24 contests during his first season and will battle for an increased role this winter.

The Panthers are led by head coach Jeff Brown who enters his 27th year at the helm of the program. During his time, Brown has put together a 434-222 record at Middlebury, including four NESCAC Championships and three NCAA Quarterfinal appearances. Assistant coaches Sam Rubinstein and Rob Alberts also return to the bench this winter alongside Brown.