Happy Election Day, folks.

With the World Series on an off day (fewer pages, less work here in the news room), I figured it'd be a good time to look ahead to Rider's exhibition game Saturday against West Chester.

The Broncs are practicing today for the final time at the Trenton Mercer Airport. They have the day off tomorrow and will hold their first practice on the new floor tomorrow at the Zoo.

No one, publicly or privately, expressed any doubts to me that it would get done on time. But whether it's a whole new arena or just a floor, you never know with these things.

Rider, which scrimmaged Columbia last Saturday, will take the floor publicly for the first time Saturday. Fans will get their first look at Jhamar Youngblood in a Broncs' uniform. They'll also be able to watch Jonathan Thompson, Carl Johnson and Dera Nd-Ezuma for the first time.

Youngblood, who will start in the backcourt along with Ryan Thompson and Justin Robinson, led the Broncs in scoring at Columbia. None of the freshmen will be featured close to as prominently as Novar Gadson was last year and Robinson and Mike Ringgold were in 2007-08, but Thompson will likely be part of Tommy Dempsey's rotation.

A 6-4 wing with athleticism and a nice stroke from the perimeter, Thompson can defend three positions and score if needed.

Johnson could be Rider's starting point guard down the road, but it's hard to envision him playing any meaningful minutes this year barring an injury to someone ahead of him on the depth chart.

Nd-Ezuma, entering just his third year or organized basketball, is the project of all projects. He's 6-10 with a wing span that tops seven feet, and he runs the floor well for a guy his size. Eventually, he could be a shot-blocking machine who grabs seven rebounds per game and has a nice touch around the hoop. Now, his basketball skills are far, far behind his physical tools, but it'll be interesting how he looks on the court Saturday.