ALFRED, NY – Following a historical 2022-23 season, the Alfred University men's basketball team is looking forward to a new season that includes both familiar and new faces. The program will welcome multiple returning student-athletes, along with 5 first-year talents.
 
The Saxons are led by Head Coach Erich Kaempffe, who enters his third season with the program.
 
"I'm happy with the people we have in our program," Kaempffe said. "Our players and staff are the right kind of people and they make every day enjoyable."
 
Last season, Alfred University finished with a 22-7 overall record, making it just the fourth time in program history the team has eclipsed 20 or more wins in a single season. The Saxons compiled an impressive 14-4 record in Empire 8 competition, marking just the second instance in which AU has achieved 14 or more wins in conference play, with the other instance being in the 2018-19 season. The Saxons competed in the Empire 8 Tournament before winning the 2023 ECAC Championship.
 
"It's going to be difficult to carry the momentum we had from last season considering a lot of our guys have graduated," Kaempffe said. "However, a lot of the players here now have seen our success and they know what it takes to win. The adjustment for our first-year athletes has been easier, given the NCAA rule changes to allow us to practice more together. We're excited to see who steps up when given the opportunity."
 
Casey Curran (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) is among the returners for AU this season. During the 2022-23 campaign, Curran finished with career-high marks in points (218), rebounds (135) and assists (37). In a win against Medaille University during the Empire 8 Tournament, Curran put together a double-double performance that included 15 points and 12 rebounds for AU.
 
"Casey has done an unbelievable job at taking on a leadership role with us," Kaempffe said. "He has turned into a vocal centerpiece and has far exceeded the already-high expectations we had for him."
 
Kenneth Allison Jr (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) is preparing for his return to the Saxons roster. Allison was instrumental in AU's win over SUNY Brockport last season, hitting the go-ahead jump shot with 46 seconds remaining.
 
"Losing KJ last year to injury was a big deal for us," Kaempffe said. "He does a lot on the floor that not many can do. He has done a good job taking care of himself and physically getting back to full form. We are looking forward to his leadership on and off the floor."
 
Alfred University will open the regular season with their annual Special Tee's Tip-Off Classic on against Clarks Summit University on November 10 at 7:00 PM. The Saxons will begin Empire 8 competition when they host Elmira College on December 2 at 4:00 PM. The Empire 8 Tournament will run from February 20-24.
 
"There is a lot of focus on our growth given our standing with our younger roster," Kaempffe said. "I love the roster we have, and our top aspiration is how quickly we can come together and put ourselves in a position to compete in the postseason."