# MERCER Basketball Preview: Can Ryan Ridder's New Look Roster Defy Expectations?

An episode of [SoCon Fast Break](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1849460193), 11 Nov 2025, 27 min.

Audio: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f424cebb-8351-4ae4-8a2a-3ef3f7c05d65.mp3

The Mercer Bears are undergoing a massive roster overhaul in Year 2 under Coach Ryan Ridder! We look at a team poised to defy expectations with new talent from the transfer portal. In This Episode: • The Overhaul: Mercer replaces 72 PPG, losing 7 of 8 top scorers. We analyze why last year's fast tempo combined with poor defense made a brutal finish. • X-Factors: Baraka Okojie (Memphis/George Mason transfer) is the high-potential guard who could be a major defensive disruptor and playmaker. • New Foundation: Sophomore Captain Brady Shoulders provides the core, supported by transfers like 6'10" big man Armani Mighty (Size/Rim Protection) and veteran Zaire Williams. • Prediction: We set the floor at 9th and the ceiling at 5th or 6th place in the Southern Conference, potentially making Mercer a major SoCon Tournament spoiler in Asheville! Can Ryan Ridder and the Bears defy expectations? Presented by Ingles Markets

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