Case Western University senior guard Sam Trunley said he and his teammates welcome the challenge of meeting heightened expectations born of the program’s recent successes. The Spartans enter the 2024-25 season seeking a third straight University Athletic Association title and fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament. “That is something we all really enjoy,” Trunley said recently before a practice at Horsburgh Gymnasium. “We point to those UAA and NCAA banners and say we want to get back there again.” CWRU finished 23-5 last season, setting a program record for victories. With eighth-year head coach Todd McGuinness at the helm, CWRU is 65-16 over the last three seasons. “We’re everybody’s biggest game now. It’s a great place to be in,” Trunley said. Trunley averaged 13.0 points and 3.4 rebounds last season as the first player off the bench. The 6-foot-3 native of New Jersey came into his own in the latter stages of the season, including a 29-point outburst in a 97-79 victory over Hope in the second round of the NCAA tournament on CWRU’s home floor. “By the time we got to the (NCAA) tournament,  I was comfortable with the ball in my hand and calling my own number,” Truney said. McGuinness is counting on Trunley and 6-6 senior forward Umar Rashid to set the tone for this team on and off the court. Rashid averaged 15.0 points and a team-high 7.5 rebounds last season. “You couldn’t ask for two better young men to be leaders,’ McGuiness said. For the third straight season, McGuiness is relying on graduate transfers to bolster his starting lineup and rotation. Arriving via the transfers portal are 6-7 junior forward and Benedictine product Andrew Barba (Duquesne), 6-4 guard Nicholas Schiavello (Wheaton), 6-2 point guard Wade Jackson (Loyola Maryland) and 6-3 guard Christian McDaniel (Hamilton). Returnees expected to contribute as reserves include sophomore guard Charlie Fox (Riverside), junior guard Anand Dharmaraian and junior guard Caleb Chapman. “It’s a work in progress now as we try to put together all the pieces,” McGuinness said. “We’ll need to use the early nonconference games to figure it out.” CWRU men’s basketball schedule Home games in CAPS November 6- PENN ST. ALTOONA, 7 p.m. 7- TBD 13-LaROCHE, 7 p.m. 16- Houghton,,4 p.m. 21- Bethany, 7 p.m. December 4-Kalamazoo, 4 p.m. 7- WOOSTER, 7 p.m. 11- HIRAM, 7 p.m. 14- DENISON, 2 p.m. 29- Babson, 7 p.m. 30- Pitt-Bradford, 4 p.m. January 11- CARNEGIE MELLON, 1 p.m. 17- Wash. U.-St.Louis, 6:30 p.m. 19- Chicago, 3 p.m. 24- BRANDEIS, 5:30 p.m. 26- NEW YORK U., 2 p.m. 31- Rochester, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2- Emory, 2 p.m. 7- ROCHESTER, 5:30 p.m. 9- EMORY, 2 p.m. 14- WASH. U.-ST. LOUIS, 5:30 p.m. 16- CHICAGO, 2 p.m. 21- Brandeis, 5:30 p.m. 23- New York U., 2 p.m. March 1 Carnegie Mellon, 1 p.m.