READY TO PLAY: Members of the Princeton University men’s basketball team enjoy a light moment during the program’s annual media day last Thursday. The Tigers tip off their 2015-16 campaign when they play at Rider on November 13. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Having one season of college hoops under his belt, Amir Bell feels battle-tested as he looks ahead to his sophomore season for the Princeton University men’s basketball team.

“You learn a lot, it is a long season and it is a tough season,” said Bell, who started all 30 games last year for Princeton, averaging 8.8 points a game and totaling 265 points, the most for a Tiger freshman since former Hun School standout Douglas Davis ’12 scored 333 points in the 2008-09 season.

“You learn it is all about trusting the process and being together as a team. Every day we want to get better so by the time March comes we will be the best version of ourselves.”

Over the offseason, Bell worked hard to become a better version of himself.

“This summer I have really been working on my jump shot, mid-range and the corner,” said Bell

“In general I have really been trying to become a leader, to really be vocal this year with the team. That is a really big step I am trying to take this year.”

In the view of Princeton head coach Mitch Henderson, Bell’s progress and approach exemplifies what he is seeing from the rest of his veterans as the Tigers look forward to their season opener at Rider on November 13.

“We have got all of our returners back who started for us and they are focused on the most important thing for me, which is making each other better,” said Henderson, who guided the Tigers to a 16-14 overall record and a 9-5 Ivy League mark last winter.

“The day to day approach for us has been really solid. We can shoot, we have got all of the little pieces that we need. I have been pleased so far, it is a fun group to coach.”

It is fun for Henderson to see Bell’s maturity. “I have high expectations, Amir is at his best when he is confident,” said Henderson.

“You want him to play risky and loose but also pay attention to details and take care of the ball. I felt like he fouled out of every game the first 15 games of the season but in the last part of the league, I think it started to click. Hopefully we don’t have to worry about that again and that is ancient history. That is what a veteran guard does for you and his shot is now a much improved and more consistent shot and that makes us a very dangerous team.”

Junior guard Spencer Weisz (11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds in 2014-15) gives the Tigers a veteran presence on the court.

“Spencer takes the ball out like we were doing with T.J. Bray,” said Henderson,

“He makes the decisions, he is coach on the floor in many ways. While Amir is your point guard both he and Spencer share a brain with what we are trying to do. I have really been impressed by Spencer’s leadership vocally and his ability to put a stamp on what we are doing.”

The one-two punch of senior Hans Brase (11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds) and junior Pete Miller (5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds) gives the Tigers strength in the paint.

“I like the punch and you have to include (sophomore) Alec Brennan there too and (freshman) Noah Bramlage,” said Henderson.

“We have a lot of different ways we can play with Pete, in particular; he is an improved player around the basket. Defensively he gives us great length and the same thing with Alec, both of them are 6’10 and mobile. I think we just ask all of the guys to commit to what we are doing, and how are they going to make us better.”

In order to move up from last year’s third place finish in the league, the Tigers have to be committed on the defensive end.

“We were a very good offensive team but in the middle of the pack in the league defensively and it let us down in some crucial moments,” said Henderson.

“We got better towards the end of the season and that has been a big point of emphasis for our staff. You got to be able to defend man to man and if you are going to play some zone you have got to be able to do some different things.

Henderson is hoping that a defensive stopper emerges. “Who is going to make sure that we are getting stops defensively, who is going to wipe out another team’s best player because that has been a question mark for us,” said Henderson.

“I would say (junior) Steve Cook (10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds) could be that guy. Spencer, while not the fastest guy, has a real knack for keeping his body in front of people. I would love to see it be Amir.”

Henderson believes that some of the team’s freshmen, Devin Cannady, former Pennington standout Miles Stephens, and Bramlage, could prove to be key guys for the Tigers this winter.

“I like all of them,” said Henderson. “Devin Cannady is a prolific scorer, and his personality comes out when he plays. He is very eager to get better and do well. Miles is sort of a 6’4 Kareem Maddox. He is long, he moves his feet for a freshman as well as anybody I have ever seen defensively. Noah Bramlage can really make shots and he is big. He is in a long line of centers we have had who are big posts that are capable of doing a lot of things. I like the freshman group a lot, they fit in and they have listened to what has been asked of them by the older guys and they are doing those things. I am going to put them in there, all of them. We are going to make some mistakes but I just ask them to go hard.”

Princeton faces a hard challenge in Rider this Friday. “I think they are very good,” said Henderson.

“They were a second place team in the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) with 21 wins and only losing one significant guy. They presented a lot of problems for us a year ago. I think it is a great opener. I think they are going to be very good; it is a tough place to play.”

Bell, for his part, is excited for the opener. “It is going to be a good challenge to see where we are,” said Bell. “We are really looking forward to it and it should be a fun one.”

As the season unfolds, Bell is hoping to experience the fun of an Ivy title campaign.

“We are trying to return to that, trying to get back to that stage,” said Bell. “Our coaches are Ivy League champions multiple times so we are trying to get there. It helps having them because they have been there and we are trying to follow in their footsteps.”