Men’s basketball slam dunks

By Abbie Stevens, StevensA6@Findlay.edu

The UF men’s basketball team is experiencing an unprecedentedly successful 2024-2025 season, with a 14-1 start as of Jan. 15. The team is ranked ninth in the country among the NCAA DII teams, according to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ January 14th poll and is one of only two G-MAC teams in the poll. 

An update on the Findlay Oilers website mentions that this is the best start UF men’s basketball team under Head Coach Charles Ernst’s leadership and in the past 14 years.  

In an interview at the beginning of December, Ernst mentioned that the team was using an entirely new training system this season.  

“So far, the system has worked well, but most opponents are much better prepared than they were earlier in the year,” Ernst said. “Our team has collectively embraced the system.”  

This year’s team includes a large number of younger players with four freshman and three sophomores, which makes their early victories more meaningful.  

“The most memorable part [of the season] for me thus far is seeing our team overcome injuries and illnesses on many occasions with different players stepping into bigger roles,” Ernst said.  “Our team has played very well together, and our depth has worn out many of our opponents.”  

Despite UF’s victorious season so far, Ernst is tempering his expectations for the rest of the season.  

“We have many challenges ahead,” Ernst said. “We have a big target on our back again, which means teams will be very well prepared when we come to town. It will take great effort, resiliency, unselfishness, and grit to overcome these challenges.”