"Rome wasn't built in a day."

Yes, I know - one of the most overused sayings around.

But when it comes to first year head coach Brandon Edwards and the task at hand as he inherited a Laurentian Voyageurs men's basketball team that had posted a record of 3-19 in 2022-2023, it just seems all too appropriate.

"We talked a lot about changing the culture and managing a new roster and starting to build from the ground up," said Edwards earlier this month, reflecting upon a campaign in which a 4-18 mark represented a very small step forward, in and of itself.

"The roster composition was very different. It was young, but I like the direction we're going in."

Sure, it would take back to back victories to close out the schedule to accomplish the feat - 95-73 over the Algoma Thunderbirds; 104-82 over the Guelph Gryphons - but Edwards knew that wins and losses were not the ultimate measuring stick in his first year at the helm.

"We got back to being a defensive-minded hard-nosed team to play against," said Edwards, making the move to L.U. following a highly successful stint as an assistant coach with the Brock Badgers.

"I feel good about where we are going, moving forward."

Some building blocks are clearly in place.

A 6'6" forward from Mali, Ismael Konate was named to the OUA All-Rookie team, this despite missing eight of the 22 games this year.

"He has the makings of someone who can be good," said Edwards. "He has a long way to go to be good - but he's got a 6'6" frame and he's a good athlete."

The likes of Pierre Mukandila (2nd year), Daniel Muila (1st year) and Kamil Dia Hantchi (3rd year) also earned mentions, with Edwards noting that his toughest ask may well have laid with those whose habits were the most engrained.

"I think our returning players were extremely resilient and tried to do everything I asked them to do," said the native of the Ottawa - Hull region. "It was an adjustment for them."

Yet for as much as Edwards learned of his team, there was also that helpful self-reflection that is inevitable when one tackles the head coaching role at this level for the very first time.

"I learned a lot about my level of patience, my level of fortitude in sticking with a vision," said Edwards. "At every turn, you could change things just to get another win here and there. I was tested this year, in more ways than one."

"There's plenty of room to grow, there's no question," Edwards continued. "I know that and I will. I think I was able to keep my eyes fixated on the vision that I have and that makes me feel good as a young coach."

Of the 16 players listed on the 2023-2024 Laurentian roster, only six were also members of the 2022-2023 team. The upheaval is unlikely to be quite that large come next September, but it will most definitely extend beyond 5th year graduating athlete Gaetan Chamand.

"There's going to be turnover," said Edwards, refusing to bite at the bait of just how much change should be expected. "It was a year where I was going to provide a lot of opportunities for players to see what they can do."

"With evaluations come tough decisions - roster composition will be different."

Edwards did go on to stress that it would be naive to look solely at on-court production to determine the alterations that will mark next year's roster.

"There's a lot more that goes into that than just simply how many points you score, how many rebounds you have," he stated. "It goes into how you approach your work on a daily basis."

Still, the final goal, as always, is to win basketball games, with Edwards focused largely on shooting and skill in the very hectic recruitment campaign that he has undertaken since the last L.U. game was played on February 17th.

It might not look like the Roman Empire next winter, but there will be progress, however that might be measured.