Putting the USD Toreros 13-18 record aside from last year, head coach Bill Grier was encouraged by the way his team finished. Thats why he goes into the 2012-13 season, his sixth at Alcala Park, excited about this teams prospects.

I feel good about this team because we finally have a group of guys who do the things we ask them to do as players, and they do things the right way not only on the floor but off the floor, Grier said. Im proud of the way they handle themselves. Were focusing on basketball, and they have a very genuine chemistry with each other. Its not something Ive tried to create. Its something that has come very natural.

Grier said this is the most talented group hes had since his first team, the 2007-08 team that upset Connecticut in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

I think its the best group since that first group, Grier said. Last year, we were a pretty young group. Were still pretty young. But this year, instead of just one senior, we have three. We still only have five upperclassmen, so were still a predominately young team.

Grier said his team spent most of the first half last season learning the nuances of his offense and picking up the defensive schemes.

They picked it all up about mid-way through the season, and thats when we started playing better basketball, especially from mid-January on, Grier said of a team that won four of its final six games, including a first-round victory over Pepperdine in the West Coast Conference Tournament.

Grier welcomes back three seniors forwards Ken Rancifer and Chris Manresa and guard Cameron Miles. Griers only loss from last years roster is senior guard Darian Norris, who started 15 of 31 games.

Everybody wants to talk about Chris Anderson and Johnny Dee, Grier said of the Toreros two talented sophomore guards. Theyre arguably two of our best players. But for us to have the type of success I think were capable of, our seniors, particularly Rancifer and Manresa, have to be consistent this year. Theyre both going to have to be, night in and night out, consistent for us.

Grier gets back all five starters, four key reserves, three players who redshirted and three new players who are expected to contribute.

Weve added three pieces that should help us a lot this year, Grier said.

Continued here:
Good chemistry and three seniors to drive USD basketball