There's familiarity for the Kernel boys basketball team.
Second-year head coach Erik Skoglund said the offseason training has allowed him to be more comfortable heading into this year's season.
"We're so much better now than we were at the end of last year," he said Monday at the boys basketball team's practice at the Corn Palace. "They're hungry. They didn't get the taste of victory as much as they wanted to last season, and they've been working hard to get that this season."
Senior and returning starter Jaron Weich agreed with Skoglund, saying the team has good chemistry.
"I think we're all pretty comfortable with the system he runs and with each other," Weich said.
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The Kernels began practice for the 2014-15 season on Monday, along with all other South Dakota high school boys basketball teams. Mitchell has two weeks of practice before hosting Pierre in the season opener at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Corn Palace.
Skoglund said his players have done a lot of individual work during the offseason, but need to put it all together before meeting the Governors.
Last season, Mitchell won its home opener against Eastern South Dakota Conference and Class AA newcomer Harrisburg in December, but went winless through the remainder of the season. The Kernels finished 1-21 and didn't make the state tournament for the second consecutive year.
Joining Weich as a returning starter this season are senior Beau Brown and junior Kanin Nelson. Brown, a 6-foot-1 point guard, led the Kernels and averaged 15 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and two steals per game in Skoglund's first year with the program.
"Beau has improved from last year," Skoglund said, adding he did not know any starters for this season. "He's a smarter player and more confident with the work he's put in."
Mitchell has seven seniors on the team, including Brown, Weich, Carter Brewster, Keegan Soukup, Tyler Houwman, Ben Miller and Alex Hartman.
"We've got a good group of guys and a lot of talent," Weich said. "There are some younger guys who are going to step up I think. It should be a good year."
Others who could see time this season are juniors Gray Determan, Kyle Jamison and Wyatt Smith and sophomores Connor Morgan, Jed Schmidt, Elijah Pommer and Reed Overweg.
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"We're having 12 to 13 guys pushing for minutes," Skoglund said. "Our open gyms have been very competitive and that's what's making every kid better."
Mitchell has its sights on being competitive in the conference and advancing in the postseason.
"Our goal is to make the state tournament, and with the group we have, I think there's a good chance of that happening," Weich said. "We just have to work hard and see what happens."
