SLIPPERY ROCK — Optimism abounds for the Slippery Rock University men's and women's basketball programs, despite early adversity facing both teams.

The Rock men, who opened their 2018-19 season Friday night wiith a 77-75 loss to Notre Dame College in Fairmont, W.Va., are coming off a 21-9 season. It was the sixth 20-win season of coach Kevin Reynolds' career at SRU.

But Reynolds is not with the team at the moment. He was placed on administrative leave by the university recently for undisclosed reasons. Ian Grady, a 10-year assistant coach for The Rock, is running the team in his absence.

“Everything is running well,” Grady said. “The guys have been responding at practice and we're getting ready to compete.”

SRU is picked second in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll, trailing only Indiana (Pa.).

“That's a reflection of what we've accomplished in recent years. Now we have to go out and prove we're that good,” Grady said.

The Rock women were 12-16 overall, 10-12 in the PSAC, under Mars resident Bobby McGraw a year ago. They open the season Saturday afternoon against Johnson C. Smith in Erie.

McGraw has won 45 games in his first four seasons at SRU after inheriting a program that recorded 19 wins in the previous four years.

SRU is picked fourth in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll.

“I know those preseason polls usually don't mean a whole lot, but this is the highest Rock women's basketball has been picked in 18 years and that's significant,” McGraw said. “It shows the level of respect our program has reached.”

SRU's women return all five starters from last season. One of those — Karns City graduate and Rock junior forward LeeAnn Gibson — is sidelined until December with an ankle injury.

“LeeAnn has proven she can play in this league,” McGraw said. “Her rebounding and defense have been consistent. Our next step is to get to her score a little more consistently once she gets back.”

The Rock's other returning starters are senior forward Morgan Henderson, senior guard Ciara Patterson, junior guards Brooke Hinderliter and Madison Johnson. Hinderliter averaged 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in gaining All-PSAC honors last year.

Patterson played in only 11 games a year ago, but averaged 15.8 points per game. She canned 29 treys. Henderson averaged 9.3 ppg.

“The bulk of our offense should come from Hinderliter, Patterson andHenderson,” McGraw said. “We've got two key transfers in Karington Ketterer from Pitt-Johnstown, who will help us in the post, and Daeja Quick from the District of Columbia.

“Quick averaged 16 points per game last season and was a third-team conference all-star.

“This is the year I feel like we can break through. Our goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament either by winning the PSAC or getting an at-large bid. I feel like we can get there,” McGraw added.

Emily Fraser, a freshman guard from Knoch, is a walk-on who made SRU's roster.

While the women return plenty of familiar faces, The Rock men return one — but a big one in 6-foot-7 junior forward Micah Till. He averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per game while earning All-PSAC honors. Till is a Street & Smith's Preseason All-American.

Till had a strong debut Friday night, scoring 31 points, grabbing seven rebounds and two steals against Notre Dame College.

Besides Till and senior forward Vinny Lasley — who played at SRU in 2017-17, but missed last season — the roster consists of first-year transfers or true freshmen.

“We have four freshmen on this team and I believe all of them will get quality minutes this year,” Grady said.

John Warren II is a senior transfer from Augustana (S.D.) who started 62 games there. He averaged 14.1 points ppg. two years ago, but did not play last year.

“It's going to take a few games for us to set our lineup and mesh everybody together,” Grady admitted. “But our philosophy remains the same. We start with building a strong defensive and rebounding team and go from there.”