With Timothy Christian and Illiana Christian on board this season (and Glenbard South set to join next year), the Metro Suburban Conference expansion provides a fresh, exciting league outlook. While the Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball team welcomes its new colleagues, the Bulldogs also hope the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Riverside-Brookfield has won eight straight conference titles and return as the prohibitive favorite to claim another league banner. Fresh off a 24-3 campaign, the Bulldogs welcome back a trio of all-conference players in Sean McGonagill, Billy VandeMerkt and Ryan Jackson. Throw in several talented newcomers, who led the RB sophomore squad to a 21-3 record last year, and it's easy to see why coach Tom McCloskey can't wait to tip off the season.

"This is definitely my kind of team," McCloskey said. "We can run, we can shoot, and we have excellent passing. I hope people come see us play once. If they come once, they are going to want to come back again because we are going to be a fun team to watch."

McGonagill, who has committed to Brown University, is a do-it-all 6-foot-1 senior guard who scored 16.4 points per game last season en route to Metro Suburban MVP recognition. VandeMerkt, another all-conference performer, averaged 10 points per game and provides leadership and defense. The 6-2 Jackson, a Division I college basketball prospect, posted 14.1 points per game last year and finished second in rebounds for RB. He worked tirelessly over the summer to upgrade his game.

In addition to their high scoring, perimeter/penetration-oriented style of play, the Bulldogs offer a new wrinkle with added size in the paint. Six-foot-5 senior Terrence Reed is an excellent shot blocker with solid post moves, while 6-7 junior Alex Dziagwa is "the most improved player in our entire program," according to McCloskey. Swingman Watoris Slater (6-2) is an athletic player expected to contribute as well.

The only apparent setback for the well-stocked Bulldogs has been an injury to 6-2 junior Nate Hanley. An excellent shooter, Henley is out with broken bones in his leg.

While claiming another conference crown remains a primary goal for RB, the Bulldogs are thinking big picture: the playoffs.

"I expect us to be really good this year and be able to go pretty far in the state playoffs," Jackson said. "We have some good scorers, and I think we should probably focus on defense and rebounding. We have some big guys that should really help us inside."

In the Metro Suburban, newcomer Timothy Christian and perennial rival Ridgewood likely will give RB its toughest competition. Illiana Christian, Fenton and Elmwood Park are also in the mix. McGonagill, VandeMerkt and Jackson, along with Timothy Christian's Reggie Greenwood and Ridgewood's Tom Antosz are the league's top players.

"I think the new teams coming in definitely will help the competition," VandeMerkt said. "We have some good talent. We have good depth and size, something we didn't have a lot of last year. I think that will help us a lot."