McNeese State will open its college basketball season with a Texas two-step.

With 12 new players, the Cowboys start the season Tuesday night at SMU before moving over to play TCU two days later.

“It won’t be an easy beginning,” said John Aiken, who takes over as head coach from now Athletic Director Heath Schroyer.

“We have a lot of new faces but a lot of good players,” Aiken said. “Every game is an opportunity to grow.”

The Cowboys have played a pair of strong scrimmage games recently but are ready to get after different people.

“You want to hit on somebody else,” said transfer center Brandon Medley-Bacon. “We are tired of practicing against each other. We are ready to get going.”

At 7-1, Medley-Bacon is the most obvious change on the floor for McNeese. He is just one of 12 new players on the roster, as Aiken hit the transfer portal hard in the offseason.

“That is something you have to do,” said Aiken. “The key is getting the right people in here who are going to come together.

“I think our team has done that. They really like each other.”

Aiken expects his team to be 9-10 deep and able to play many different ways.

Those numbers include guard TJ Moss, forward Kellon Taylor and forward Myles Lewis. True freshman guard Johnathan Massie has been impressive in the preseason as well as returners Zach Scott, Harwin Francois and Collin Warren.

With so many older players transferring in, the Cowboys will have experience playing in big games even it they are new to each other.

“We’re seeing a lot of growth,” said Aiken. “We were able to play a lot of guys, changed our lineups a little bit and see how the different guys played together.”

The Cowboys believe they can make some noise despite the tough non-conference schedule.

“We are going to be able to sneak up of people,” said Medley-Bacon. “They won’t be able to sleep on us.”