Red Raiders enter rebuild year after losing core starters

PULASKI – After closing last season with an 11-11-1 overall record and a 5-7-1 mark in the Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC), the Pulaski boys basketball team is entering the 2025 campaign in rebuild mode following the graduation of nearly its entire core group.

Head coach John Polkowski said this season represents both a challenge and an opportunity as a new wave of players steps into unfamiliar roles.

“It’s a brand new group. We graduated around 10 seniors last year, so it’s kind of a fresh start in many ways with guys taking on new roles and a lot of inexperience on the floor,” Polkowski said. “That’s kind of a strength, too, because we’re going to mold them into what we want them to be as a team and as players.”

With limited size and a young roster, Polkowski said the Red Raiders will lean heavily on defense as their foundation. “We’re putting a big emphasis on defense this year,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of size, so we need to be creative when we’re approaching teams.”

Pulaski will be tasked with replacing its entire starting lineup, including key scorer Colin Schultz, who anchored last year’s offense.

“We lost our entire starting lineup and all the bulk of our scoring,” Polkowski said. “Colin Schultz kind of led that group as far as just impact, and we’re hoping other guys step up and take on new roles this season.”

Polkowski emphasized that patience and development will be key as his team learns how to grow together.

“We’re going to find out what works for us over the coming weeks,” he said. “It’s about figuring out roles, trusting each other and creating that chemistry as the season goes on.”

Despite the inexperience, Polkowski believes his group has the mindset and work ethic needed to compete in a challenging conference. “It’s a process, but I’m excited to see how these guys respond,” he said. “They’ve been buying into what we’re asking, and I think that willingness to learn is going to go a long way.”

Pulaski will look to establish its defensive identity early and grow into its offensive rhythm as the season progresses, aiming to stay competitive while building toward long term success. With new leaders emerging and a system being shaped from the ground up, the Red Raiders will focus on steady improvement throughout the winter.

After hosting the Luxemburg-Casco Spartans on Tuesday, Dec. 2, the Red Raiders will hit the road to take on the Shawano Hawks on Friday, Dec. 2.