Boys Basketball optimistic about 2024 after historic season

Bison Boys Basketball hopes to rekindle the flame after last year’s magical season where they went to the State Tournament for the first time since 2013. This year, Buffalo is bringing back four starters from the 2022-2023 season.

The team has worked relentlessly this off-season after a tough first round exit in March of 2023. Being in the Lake conference provides many tough matchups with strong programs like Hopkins and Wayzata, but the battle-tested Bison are used to the pressure.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that is gonna be too tough of a matchup for us,” Grady Guida ‘24 said. “I think we can beat anybody on our schedule and I think we have a good chance of doing exactly that.”

With a schedule filled with many tough Lake Conference opponents, it could be easy to drown in the pressure, but Head Coach Josh Ortmann said that the team has put in the work to rise to the challenge.

“Pressure is a privilege,” said Ortmann. “You earn those opportunities based on the work you put in as coaches and the work you put in as players.”

With strong words from the head coach, we asked some of the players how they felt about the upcoming season and how the team might have to change if they wanted to fulfill their high expectations.

“I feel like the team chemistry has definitely improved from last year,” said Austin Hegle ‘25, “with all of us not only being close friends but continuing to put in work with each building on our connections as teammates.”

Expectations and goals are great, but they need to have a plan if they want to be successful. Ben Mueller ‘25 touched on his ideas of what the team will have to do this year if they want to achieve their goals.

“Hustling, being the first person to dive on the floor for the loose ball and being aggressive,” Mueller said.

The Bison have a long road ahead of them, but with the combination of hard work, team chemistry, pressure, and determination, they believe that they have what it takes to go all the way.