TOWSON, Md. – Anyone would have easily took the wrong impression in late August if they saw Pat Skerry. The Towson University men's basketball coach sat with his feet propped up on his desk and hands interlocked behind his head.
 
Even though Towson has won 42 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) contests since 2012, the most victories along with another conference school during that span, you would think Skerry was relaxed about the upcoming 2016-17 season.
 
Think again.
 
"I've spent a lot of time thinking and analyzing my team," the perspicacious Skerry said. "I know where we can get to. I just know it's like climbing a ladder. You just can't skip any of those steps if you're climbing. If you do that, you'll fall. It doesn't change and we understand the ultimate goal and you get there by grinding it out everyday."
 
Fortunately for Skerry, he has a veteran nucleus anchored by three All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) returnees in seniors John Davis (third team, 2015) and Arnuad William Adala Moto (second team, 2016) and junior guard Mike Morsell (third team, 2016). They're enough to assuage any anxiety Skerry may have about this year.
 
"I am very excited," Skerry said. "We had a good summer and I really like the group and it's one that likes each other. This is the deepest group we've had and we have some guys who are proven commodities. They have to be consistent and that sets the tone."
 
Towson returns six players from last season's 20-win team that finished third in the CAA and competed in the inaugural Vegas 16 postseason tournament. The Tigers were one of five CAA teams that won 20 games and one of three that competed in the postseason last season. It was Towson's second 20-win season in three years.
 
In addition to Adala-Moto, Davis and Morsell, Towson welcomes back junior guard Eddie Keith, sophomore Jordan McNeil and sophomore Alex Thomas.
 
The experienced triumvirate of Adala-Moto, Davis and Morsell may be one of the best in the conference. Each player enters the season with over 600 career points and were double-digit scorers last season.
 
Adala-Moto was 10th in the CAA in scoring (13.9), third in rebounding (8.3), ninth in field-goal percentage (44.1), fifth in offensive rebounds per game (2.3) and fourth in offensive rebounds per game (5.9). Averaging 10.3 points per contest, Davis ranked 17th in the CAA in rebounds per game (5.5) and 11th in offensive rebounds per game (1.9). Morsell was 14th in the CAA in scoring (13.0) and assists per game (2.5) and tied for 13th in steals per game (1.0).
 
"They've got to be consistent," Skerry said of the trio. "If they are consistent that will help our other guys mold into roles they need to be as opposed to doing things they don't need to be. Moto is a tough matchup at the four. He can shoot it, drive it, carry it in transition, get to the foul line and he's a factor on the glass. Morsell is explosive and can make difficult shots. JD is the leader, best worker, a pleasure to coach and a warrior. He's as tough as a guy as I've ever been around."
 
Keith will step into a bigger role this year as the point guard. Last season, Keith played in 32 games and averaged 22.4 minutes. He was second on the team in steals with 31. Keith averaged 5.1 points and 2.7 rebounds while scoring in double figures four times with a season-best 14 points against Drexel on Jan. 16.
 
"He's with John as our most vocal guy," Skerry said. "He's our best and most willing passer. He likes to pass, loves to rebound, defend and loves challenges. The new offense we spent an inordinate amount of time on and we have a much better feel for it and he's going to be a big beneficiary of it because we're not just depending on one guy handling the ball. We have multiple guys that can handle it or post it."
 
Keith is also a standout defender which Skerry loves because the bedrock of success for Towson has always started with defense and rebounding. With a ferocity of will that glows like candlelight, the Tigers are maniacal defenders who rebound like rolling thunder. Towson led the CAA and was 22nd in Division I in rebounding margin (+7.2 rpg.). TU outrebounded its final 19 opponents. Towson was also fifth nationally in offensive rebounding and 45th in blocked shots.
 
Thomas had 13 blocked shots and shot 55.2 percent from the field. McNeil made 16 3-pointers and came on strong late in the season.
 
Complementing the veterans are a strong group of newcomers and transfers poised to make an immediate impact.
 
Junior guards DeShaun Morman, Brian Starr and Van Rolle are eligible this season. Dennis Tunstall redshirted last season and is ready to contribute. The freshmen include J.J. Matthews, Justin Gorham and Zane Martin.
 
Morman appeared in 24 games off the bench at Cincinnati where he averaged 3.6 points and 0.9 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per game.
 
"DeShaun has a chance to make a major impact," Skerry said. "He'll have to stay humble and coachable. His talent has to fit in to what we need. With that said, he's very talented and the best athlete we've had and he's extremely competitive which I love. He's going to give us the ability to pressure the ball and if he can lock into the way we guard, he should give us something we haven't had with his ability to pressure the ball."
 
A 6 foot, 3 inch point guard from Colby (Kansas) Community College, Starr averaged 14.3 points per game, 7.1 assists per game, 5.6 rebounds per game and had a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. This past season for Colby, the Kansas City (Mo.) native shot 40.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point distance.
 
Rolle played two years at Coppin State where he averaged 2.3 points in 11 games as a sophomore. Ironically, his career best is 14 points against Towson. Tunstall averaged 16.9 points in high school and was named the LCA's offensive player of the year.
 
Martin is used to success as he helped Neumann-Goretti win three consecutive PIAA Class AAA titles. He scored 33 points in the state final against Mars. SECU Arena is the site of one of Gorham's greatest basketball moments as he scored the game-winning basket to help Calvert Hall win the Baltimore Catholic League championship. Matthews averaged 13.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game at The Millwood School.
 
"This is the most talented group of new guys we've had," Skerry said. "How that translates? Only time will tell. Like any freshman, the difference becomes forming habits especially the defensive side of the ball and consistently having to do that."
 
Towson will be challenged by an arduous schedule that features games against 10 teams that won at least 20 games, six squads that competed in the NCAA tournament and two postseason tournament champions. The Tigers begin the season with a four-game road trip before opening up at home against Stony Brook on Friday, Nov. 25.
 
"(The CAA) will be very good again," Skerry said. "We want to do well during our non-conference schedule. It challenges us, which is what we need in order to get ready for conference play. Our goal is to stay healthy, minimize distractions and keep getting better. It'll be a fun and tough year. It's a grind."