The basketball season started on Friday, Nov. 14 and Seattle Pacific University is itching to show their skill on the court. With seven new players filling up their roster, head coach Keffery Fazio has plans to take his team all the way this year.
For the last three months, the men’s basketball team has prepared for the season in every way they can. Fazio is working hard to build up the players’ teamwork and competitive nature.
“We really like the group of guys we have right now. Every October, November, college basketball players just spend time figuring out who you’re going to be, what it’s going to look like and building a foundation filled with culture, that is where we are right now,” Fazio said.
Cultural identity for the team is important to Fazio’s coaching style, as well as its connection. Before practice, Fazio implements a breathing exercise where the players sit and meditate to help put them in the headspace for their games.
For Fazio, being a high GPA team is also an important part of his team. Last season, SPU basketball was second for the highest GPA in the conference.
“We really pride ourselves on being a high GPA team, last year we finished with a 3.55. Usually basketball is bringing up the rear [in GPA], but it’s something that is really important to have high-achievement kids, and we want them to do well in their academics and on the court,” Fazio said.
With roughly half the team being new to SPU, the largest obstacle was expected to be the cohesion of the players. However, according to freshman Sebastian Arius, the team clicked on the first day of practice.
“Since the first day, it was random but I feel like we all connected. We all felt like it was natural. Obviously playing with a new group of guys, you’re gonna still have to learn and that’s what we’re doing now, but I don’t think it will affect anything because we love each other,” Arius said.
Senior captain Trace Evans expressed that he is excited for the 2025-26 season.
“I honestly don’t think that it’s going to be easy because of the strength of the conference but I feel like where we’re going right now, that trajectory is going to lead us there, and were gonna learn lessons along the way, it might be pretty but I honestly believe we’re gonna go all the way again,” Evans said.