EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's basketball team will kick off the 2010-11 season Monday at home with game against St. Scholastica (Minn.) at 7 p.m.

The Blugolds will have a new look this season with just seven of last year's 19 letterwinners back on the team, who of which were starters. Eight newcomers are on this year's squad but four of them have collegiate experience as they come in as transfers.

Eau Claire returns just 41 percent of its scoring from a season ago, led by Amadou Fofana (Sr.-Appleton, Wis./West), who started all 25 games and averaged 13.2 points per game (second best on last year's team). He was also second in rebounding with 4.3 per game.

Also back with significant game experience are Marcus Ruh (So.-Green Bay , Wis./Bay Port), who played in all 25 games and was second on the team with 32 steals and third with 61 assists, along with Nick Bartlett (Jr.-Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View), who started all 25 games last season.

Among the newcomers, Ivan Franklin III (Sr.-Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater/UM-Duluth), a transfer from Minnesota-Duluth, played very well in the Blugolds' exhibition game against Winona State University (Minn.) on Nov. 3. He led the game with 23 of the Blugolds' 60 points and also had a game-high eight rebounds.

View a complete list of this year's recruits

After the Blugolds opener, they will be on the road for four straight games and will return to Zorn Arena Dec. 1 to open conference play against UW-Oshkosh. They will play 10 more games at home after that, and will host their annual Holiday Classic Dec. 29 and 30.

Head Coach Terry Gibbons is in his 16th year leading the Blugolds. The team will also have an experienced group of assistants with Keith Muchow entering his ninth year with the team, Bill Macozek entering his 13th and Rich Roginski entering his third.