OTTUMWA — When tradition-rich basketball programs like the Indian Hills Warriors graduate all of their roster from the year before, they don’t rebuild — they reload.

To be sure, Warrior fans will need a program to know the players as the 2009-10 season opens at home tonight — but the offensive execution and the defensive pressure will be familiar.

The Warriors will host Carl Sandburg (Galesburg, Ill.) tonight at the Hellyer Student Life Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The new faces in the program come from many places. Six are transfers to the Warrior program from other programs. E.J. Hicks (Citadel), Aaron Austin (Radford), Dwan McMillan (Miami-Dade), Larry Stone (IUPUI), Chano Rashiduddin (UTEP), and Alexander Vouyoukas (Marist) make up the group of transfers. Warrior fans just need to think back to last year to appreciate the play contributed by Marcus Relphorde, James Washington, and Delvon Johnson — all transfers.

The new roster will also include a talented group of true freshmen. Dijon Farr (South Carolina), Derrick Hill (Chicago), Chad Dillard (New York), Leron Bennett (Eugene, Ore.), Alexander English (Kansas City), Brandon Garrett (Phoenix, Ariz.), Brian Wilson (New York), and Bruno Ferreira (Brazil) make up the group of first-time college players.

Even though the new group is talented, it’s not a question of just throwing out the ball and letting them play. Things that fans take for granted need to be stressed.

“We have spent a lot of time working on team chemistry, developing trust and responsibility, and working on the ability to work hard together,” said Warrior coach Jeff Kidder.

The preseason does much to set the tone for the season. Much more is involved than implementing an offensive and defensive game plan for the season.

“We have focused on getting the players used to the energy required to work harder. Only then will they be ready to handle the speed of the game,” added Kidder.

Spirited practice, filled with wide-open competition for playing time has given Kidder and his staff a great chance to evaluate the talent assembled. The work done in the fall will definitely be tested as the Warriors face another rugged schedule. For the second straight year, the Warriors will face a team at the top of the JUCO ranks. The 20th of November will find the Warriors on the road playing Three Rivers, currently ranked No. 1 in the Sporting News poll. Four other current top 20 teams will be part of the 2009-10 Indian Hills schedule.

The conference schedule will be just as tough. Southeastern, Iowa Western, and Marshalltown all return most of their key players.

This will not change the Warrior goals.

“We will be probably looked at as an underdog in some games, but with Indian Hills on our chests, that’s never really going to be the case,” said Kidder. “We will still look for a conference championship, regional title, and a berth in the national tournament.”

When the Warriors are at their best, fans will see a team than executes on offense to play to its strength — and a pressure defense. Kidder believes that this group has the pieces to be that team.

”I’m happy with our current depth,” added Kidder.