DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – They may be wrong. They may be confused. Hopefully, not for long.
But if Bethune-Cookman is going to be one thing in the early stages of the Ryan Ridder era, it's going to be together.
A new program with a new culture and a lot of new faces always happens when a coaching change is made. Ridder has seven new players and an entirely coaching staff, and it's only been seven months since he was named Head Coach.
It's been hectic for the 32-year old coach, but it's part of the process. Something is happening though, and it's very exciting for Ridder.
"You're seeing a meshing of a lot of new talents and personalities," Ridder said during the team's preseason media availability. "Winning and losing is a process. What we want to do is be 1-0 every day and maximize who we are. You have 13 guys excited to represent Bethune-Cookman."
Usually, the team bonding begins in November with the long road trips and tournaments.
"When that happens, it's about us," Ridder said. "You're in the hotel, some desolate stretch of highway, somewhere in the middle of Texas or playing a Power 5 school, it's about us and no one else."
Summer workouts accelerated the process.
"You're going to see a team that's going to share the ball," Ridder added. "One that's going to compete for one another."
One player who has bought in? Preseason All-Conference selection
Brandon Tabb.
"I don't say this lightly – he has blown away all expectations," Ridder said. "As good as he is a player, his growth off the court has been as amazing."
