Ask any coach: it's not how you start, it's how you finish. And in the case of the men's basketball team at the University of Rochester, the Yellowjackets would like to pick up where they left off.

Rochester won six of its last seven games last year – all of them in the University Athletic Association. The Yellowjackets were 17-8, 8-6 in the UAA. There is experience (10 letterwinners) and size (nine men at 6-5 or taller) in the lineup as the 2012-13 season dawns.

Three starters return to the lineup. Five of the seven men who played in every game last season are back. That experience is beneficial.

Senior guard John DiBartolomeo has a resume filled with accolades. He was named a Second Team All-American last year by the United States Basketball Writers. He was an NABC All-American as a sophomore when he was the UAA Player of the Year. Entering the 2012-13 campaign,  he is a pre-season All-American by Basketball Times and by D3hoops.com.

DiBartolomeo averaged 19.1 ppg. last year, shooting 47% from the floor, 37% outside the arc (44-119), and 89% from the foul line. He had 126 rebounds (5.0 rpg.), 145 assists (vs. 70 turnovers), and 56 steals. He is 13^th in career scoring with 1,169 points and sixth in career assists with 389.

His backcourt partner could come from one of two sophomores who played in every game a year ago. Kevin Sheehy played 13 mpg., averaged 3.7 ppg. and had 19 assists. He hit 13 three-pointers at a 45% rate. Tyler Seidman played 19.4 mpg., shooting 44% from the field, 40% outside the arc (36-89) and averaged 6.4 ppg.

Senior Dan Shapiro will get time at off guard. Sophomore Mahesh Umasankar is looking for more playing time in a shooting guard role as well.

Three-point shooting was essential to Rochester's success a year ago. The Yellowjackets led Division III in three-point percentage, hitting 41.7% from beyond the arc (198 of 475). Three UAA teams were among the top four in three-point efficiency (Rochester, NYU, Brandeis).

Another three-point shooter is junior Nate Vernon. He hit 49.5% beyond the arc as a sophomore (46-93) and 51% overall. Vernon earned All-UAA honorable mention accolades for the second straight year. He averaged 10.0 ppg., 2.7 rpg., with 30 assists and 12 steals.

If Vernon sets up on a wing, the opposite wing could be 6-5 sophomore Kent Coyne who was very impressive in a summer trip to Europe. Rochester played three exhibition games on the trip and Coyne launched his campaign to be an everyday player.

Other candidates for the wing roles are 6-3 sophomore Connor Caldwell, 6-5 freshman Kyle Reardon, 6-7 freshman Jared Seltzer, and 6-5 sophomore Alex Hoey, a transfer from Washington & Lee. Hoey's skills as a team player and his basketball savvy could win him floor time. Reardon earned All-State and All-New England accolades in Massachusetts. Seltzer was a multi-all-league and all-Main Line selection in Pennsylvania.

Rob Reid, a 6-8 senior, returns in the post. He has started 51 of the last 52 games (not on Senior Day) over the past two seasons. Reid is the facilitator in head coach Luke Flockerzi's offense. His field goal percentage has risen each year – 48.9% as a freshman, 56% as a sophomore, 61.4% last year. He was the top marksman in the UAA in 2011-12. Reid averaged 7.5 ppg. and 6.0 rpg. in less than 23 minutes a night. He had 42 assists and 23 steals.

Six-eight sophomore Tyler Sankes will get time in the post as well. His time was limited last year with two veterans ahead of him.  Sankes will provide size and intensity.
      
Two freshmen – 6-8 Dylan Peretz and 6-9 Jacob Mikalov -  provide depth in the post. Mikalov was an all-conference and all-county honoree in Ohio. Peretz was recognized on league, conference, and county levels in New York State.

Rochester's schedule is tournament-heavy at the start. The Yellowjackets host Merchant Marine, Mount St. Mary's, and St. Lawrence in their Chuck Resler Tournament in mid-November. Ohio Wesleyan, Otterbein, and SUNY Cobleskill come to the Palestra for the UR/Holiday Inn Airport Thanksgiving Tournament on November 24-25. The following week, it's the Wendy's Classic with the last two rounds at the Palestra (Nov. 30-Dec. 1).