When most basketball teams lose their leading scorer, coaches and owners start to unravel. Ask Cleveland Cavaliers fans. But longtime Magruder High boys basketball Coach Dan Harwood is not most coaches.

Harwood, who has coached the Colonels to a state championship and two regional titles since 2001, couldn't be more excited about the 2010-11 season.

"We have high expectations," Harwood said last week. "We lost one starting senior and a few role players. We have four returning starters this year who are ready to play."

The starter who graduated is Harwood's son and last year's leading scorer Tim, who is now playing at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa. Tim averaged 18 points per game, as the team finished 12-11 last season.

Harwood's team will rely on its depth this year. 

"We'll miss Tim's 18 [points] a game but we're much more balanced this year," Harwood said. "We have [a few guys] who I expect to all regularly score double digits. I have as talented a 6th to 10th man as I've ever coached. [Other teams] can't just choose one player to shut down this season."

Two of the players the Colonels will lean on this year are sophomore point guard J.J. Epps and junior center Luke Rolan. 

Rolan stands 6 feet 8 inches, while Epps is a self-proclaimed "5-foot 3-and-a-half inches." But the odd duo brings size and speed to this year's starting five. 

"We have more speed and size," Epps said. "I think we're going to perform this year. We're going to win some games."

But this year won't be easy, Harwood cautions. 

"We only have one senior starter this year," he said. "Since we're still young, all our games are going to be tough. But expectations are high. All these kids grew up in this community. They remember when the Colonels were winning state titles and making the playoffs. They want to fill the stands."

The rest of the county will be standing in the Colonels' way this year, including the Springbrook Blue Devils, who have won three consecutive state championships. Harwood has circled that game as a real test for his team.

The Colonels' first game of the season isn't until Friday at Clarksburg High School, but expectations are soaring, at least for Rolan.

"We're looking at Springbrook," he said.