Men’s basketball focuses on growth for 2025-26 season

By Emily Tuttle

Last season, the Cedarville men’s basketball team experienced a whirlwind playoff journey. After upsetting the No. 1 team in the conference toward the end of the regular season, the Jackets carried that momentum into the playoffs, defeating Findlay once again.

But in the next round of the GMAC tournament, against Thomas More, a series of unfortunate events sent the game to overtime, then a strange call led to a one-point loss. 

“That’s an experience that can be impactful in many ways, and a learning experience for us and our coaching staff, certainly something to be able to learn from,” said second-year head coach Rob Jones. 

Cedarville was picked to finish fourth in the GMAC, but Jones doesn’t use that as a motivator for his team. Jones calls the ranking “nice,” but knows they have yet to play a game, so it is only a number. 

With six returners and nine newcomers, including freshmen and transfers, this year’s team will look different. Jones sees that as an opportunity to build unity, though many haven’t logged significant college minutes. 

Jones hopes his players will enjoy being around each other and strives to improve regardless of their record. He compares a growth mindset to a Christian’s sanctification process: it’s continually moving forward despite obstacles. 

“The reasonable expectation is that you can show up with a hunger to grow every single day,” Jones said. “You can show up with a hunger to get a little bit better each day.”

Each practice, Jones emphasizes growth, whether in knowledge of the game, strengthening a skill set or working on communication. 

The men practice on-court communication by echoing the calls of a few leaders during their dynamic stretches to start practice. The exercise stretches the players’ bodies and voices, focusing on communicating before play begins. 

“We’ve got a chance to be good, if we can continue to grow and develop and truly be connected on both ends of the court,” Jones said.

Jones carries these same principles into his recruiting approach.

He looks for players who have a love for the Lord, a love for basketball and a love for growth.  From an X’s-and-O’s standpoint, Jones looks for players with a natural feel for the game. They move the ball well, have a strong IQ and vision on both sides of the floor. 

He knows that with such a young group, the team may look different in their season opener on November 14 and in March, when the playoffs roll around. The coaching staff also keeps expectations realistic, with the long season in perspective. 

Ultimately, every team will have spurts of growth–getting hot and racking up a win streak–and dry spells, when they can’t buy a win. Either way, Jones will encourage development and sustainability. 

“Can we take the wins and the losses?” Jones added. “Can we take those and be able to properly put them in the right perspective, so that we can continue to get better, continue to move forward, continue to learn, continue to grow?”

Heading into the season, the team has struggled with injuries and hopes to stay healthy and maintain depth to carry them through. Coach Jones and the Jackets open their season on Friday with a road trip to the Midwest Region Crossover in Illinois, where they will face Quincy and Truman. 

As the new season tips off, Jones’ focus remains clear: build a sustainable program unified in pursuing growth. 

“I’m super thankful for the group that God has brought to us, the young men that are in that locker room,” Jones said. “I say that from both a person standpoint, but I also say that from a basketball standpoint too.”

Emily Tuttle is a junior Journalism major and the sports editor of Cedars. She is particularly passionate about Philly sports, exercise, and all things silly.