SLIPPERY ROCK — Make no mistake. Slippery Rock University men’s basketball coach Kevin Reynolds knows how to play the transfer game.

Ten of the 14 players on SRU’s 2012-13 roster are transfers from other schools. Reynolds has guided The Rock to the PSAC Tournament three times in his first four years on the job, primarily through the transfer route.

Reynolds is 74-41 in his four years at The Rock. The program’s record over the four years before his arrival was 21-87.

This year, the PSAC preseason coaches poll picks The Rock to finish second in the PSAC West. Indiana (Pa.) and SRU both received three first-place votes.

“It’s nice that we’re getting respect, but we can’t hang our hat on that,” Reynolds said. “We have to go out and play.”

And he’s got plenty of talent to play with.

SRU returns four starters, including preseason All-PSAC selection Devin Taylor, a 6-foot-6 senior forward. He led The Rock last season with 13.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Tabari Perry, a 6-8 junior forward, averaged 9.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

“Devin added a good 15 pounds of solid weight during the offseason,” Reynolds said. ”He should have an even stronger presence inside and we expect more consistent play from him.

“Tabari is an unselfish player who can really pound the offensive boards.”

Also returning are 5-10 senior point guard Aubin Reeves (9.6 ppg) and 6-10 senior center Luiz Santos, who Reynolds said “improved more during the season than any of our players” last year.

John Bayardelle, a 6-2 senior guard who averaged 7.5 points per game also returns for The Rock.

Add to those names another influx of talent from elsewhere and SRU appears primed to make a title run.

Senior forward Gerald Brooks, a three-time All-PSAC performer at Indiana (Pa.), enrolled at SRU in the fall. He hasn’t played college ball since 2009, but scored more than 1,000 points in three years at IUP.

Brooks will be eligible to join The Rock in late December.

“He’s able to practice with us and he’s worked hard to get back into playing shape,” Reynolds said. “When we saw Gerald was enrolled here, we had to put him on the team. He really wants to play.”

Other key transfers include Darious Clark and Jermaine Edwards from Cecil College and former ASA College star Sa’Quan Davis. Clark, a 6-3 guard, formerly played at Division I Illinois State.

“We’ve got a number of guys who can play the point for us and I see our rotation running eight or nine players deep,” Reynolds said. “We can put some talent on the floor.”

With cross-over games against PSAC East teams counting in the league standings, The Rock will play 22 league games this season.

“They’re all going to count and those games are going to get here early,” Reynolds said.

SRU begins its schedule with a noon exhibition game Sunday at Navy. The team travels to the University of Michigan for an exhibition game Friday.

“We’ve won 74 games in four years, but IUP has won 104 in four years,” Reynolds said. “This isn’t the Olympics. There are no silver or bronze medals. Only one team wins it. We still have some work to do.”

SRU Men’s Basketball 2012-13 Schedule

Nov. 4-at Navy, (exhibition) noon; Nov. 9-at Michigan (exhibition), 7 p.m.; Nov. 13-at Ohio Valley, 7 p.m.; Nov. 19-LA ROCHE, 3 p.m.; Nov. 24-at Lake Erie, 3 p.m.

Dec. 1-at Bloomsburg, 3 p,.m.; Dec. 2-at Mansfield, 3 p.m.; Dec. 8-at Clarion, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 18-WEST CHESTER, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 19-CHEYNEY, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 30-OHIO UNIVERSIT-EASTERN, 3 p.m.

Jan. 4-at Millersville, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 5-at Shippensburg, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 11-EAST STROUDSBURG, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 12-KUTZTOWN, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 16-at Lock Haven, 8 p.m.; Jan. 19-MERCYHURST, 3 p.m.; Jan. 23-CALIFORNIA (Pa.), 8 p.m.; Jan. 26-at Edinboro, 3 p.m.; Jan. 30-GANNON, 8 p.m.

Feb. 2-at Indiana (Pa.), 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 6-CLARION, 8 p.m.; Feb. 9-at Mercyhurst, 3 p.m.; Feb. 13-LOCK HAVEN, 8 p.m.; Feb. 16-EDINBORO, 3 p.m.; Feb. 20-at California (Pa.), 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 23-INDIANA (Pa.), 3 p.m.; Feb. 27-at Gannon, 7:30 p.m.