Winter '19-20: Mustangs boys inexperienced

For consecutive seasons, head coach Bob Caton has been able to lead Mullen boys basketball back into the mix of Class 5A.

In 2017-18, the Mustangs climbed to 11-14, their most victories in eight seasons, and qualified for the state playoffs.

And a year ago, they rose to 16-10 and made the 5A Sweet 16.

As for 2019-20, they are looking at a rebuild. Graduation and a couple of transfers out of state have robbed Mullen of its top eight players from the past season.

Hence, opportunities abound for this season’s players and Caton realizes fun awaits.

“We’re not sure what we have, but we’re going to find out,” said Caton, who has 40 years of being in command of Colorado programs.

The only Mustangs who saw even limited time in 2018-19 are senior Diallo Thompson, a 6-foot guard and the only returning letterman, and Josh Lopez, a 6-0 sophomore point guard.

:”I think I have a lot to prove,” Thompson said. “A lot of peo[le haven’t seen me play, only on the AAu circuit ... but I want to play with these tough guards in this state.”

Thompson and Lopez will be joined by the likes of senior swing player 6-3 Jackson Bond and 6-7 junior Brayden Carter. Others competing for playing time include Trey Dominguez, Sean Berg and Patrick Pohs.

Interesting sophomore Micah Leslie, a transfer from Valor Christian, applied for a hardship in order to be eligible for varsity, but was turned down by the Colorado High School Activities Association.

“I think you know I kind of relate to this team, it’s like some of my other teams,” Caton said. “If I can get this team together, it has the potential to do a couple of things. We need to take care of the ball, play defense and have good shot selection. One thing to instill is a little more aggressiveness, a little fire for lack of a better word.”

Indeed, Caton said, the Mustangs could easily get run over in what is going to be another very demanding Centennial League, but it won’t be for a lack of effort.

In preseason, it appears to be a chance to enjoy coaching players who need it.

“We’ll be fine and this is what it is,” Caton said. “You enjoy the part of forming a team, coaching them up and trying to get the best out of them.”

Mullen had its Foundation Game the past Saturday, in essence an extra scrimmage in full uniform for a state fee, and will open its regular season on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Columbine in Littleton in nonleaue. It also will be the first winter-sports event for the Mustangs.

There will be a Mullen Season Kickoff Tournament beginning on Friday, Dec. 6, a couple of nonleague games against Denver Prep League teams and a Mullen Classic Tournament before Christmas that will include always powerful Denver East.

League play will begin after the holiday break.

The regular season will run through Feb. 22. The playoff bracket will be announced on Feb. 23 and first-round games will be Feb. 25. The semifinals and title game will be March 13-14, respectively, at the Denver Coliseum.