The Highlanders finished last season tied for fifth in the league standings, posting a conference mark of just 7-11. Although the record was not impressive, Riverside did post some solid wins down the stretch and coach John Masi had to believe his team was ready to take the next leap. However, the offseason did not bring good news for Masi and the Highlanders, as standout guard and the team's thought-to-be leading returning scorer, Nate Carter (15.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), transferred to Oklahoma. Vili Morton now takes over the reins as the team's most gifted scoring option (12.2 ppg) as well as its best rebounder (6.2 rpg). However, Morton will receive little help from the rest of his teammates in both categories, as the team's next highest returning scorer is Rickey Porter (7.8 ppg). Porter was solid from three-point range last year (.372), but he was far from reliable from the field (.389). Brett Ost will likely join Porter in the backcourt, but did not impress in limited duty last season, scoring just 1.5 ppg on 22.8 percent shooting from the floor.