If having his first two seasons at Kansas City Kansas Community College wrecked by the COVID-19 pandemic wasn't enough, Coach Brandon Burgette now faces playing his fifth season everywhere but the friendly confines of the KCKCC Field House.

Because of damage to the field house basketball court, the college has relocated practices and games to alternate locations out of an abundance of caution for player safety. Home games for the 2023-24 season will be played on the road at three locations – Hy-Vee Arena, Rockhurst University and Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley.

"Call us the Road Devils," said Burgette on the difficult task of playing the Blue Devils' home schedule on the road. "No use complaining. There's nothing we can do except go out and do our part and win as many games as possible."

The Blue Devils open the season with five home games – at all three sites. They will host St. Mary JV Nov. 2 at Hy-Vee Arena (7:30 p.m.) and entertain Southeast (Neb.) Nov. 4 at Rockhurst University (6 p.m.). The annual Hall of Fame Classic Nov. 10-11 will be played at Hy-Vee followed by Ottawa JV at MCC-Penn Valley Nov. 14 (8 p.m.).

As for the schedule, it was already tough enough before the change in venue. Just two weeks into the season, the Blue Devils will take on three NJCAA Division I powers – Moberly, State Fair and Indian Hills and all on the road. KCKCC also goes to nationally ranked Ellsworth and North Arkansas and then must travel to Arkansas State Mid-South and National Park in National Park's Christmas Classic in Hot Springs, Ark.

"It's very tough, but I always want to make it tough," Burgette said. "If you're not challenged, you're not trying to get better. Teams need to be out of their comfort zone to be successful."

Only one player returns from last year's 19-13 team, 6-9 forward Jaylon Moses who averaged 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 32 games (11 starts). However, the return of a couple of standouts from a Blue Devil team that finished 21-10 two years ago, has earned KCKCC the No. 2 spot behind Johnson County in the annual Jayhawk preseason poll.

Caleb Jones, a 6-3 guard from St. Louis, was out last season with a torn ACL. He averaged 9.2 points and 4.6 rebounds during his first season. Cortez Howlett, a 6-0 guard from Raytown, regained his eligibility after averaging 8.5 points and 2.9 rebounds. Jones was second team All-Jayhawk, and Howlett, third team all-conference.

Newcomers will take it from there with a wealth of talent int the back court including 6-0 point guard Camron Williford, of Chicago, and shooting guards 6-3 Pierce Ross of Shawnee Mission West, 6-1 Mikequese Taylor, of Peoria and 6-2 Reggie Morris, a transfer from the University of Central Missouri.

Rebounding and inside scoring will have to come from 6-7 sophomore DeWayne Robinson, of Indianapolis, Ind.; 6-5 O'Shawn Jones-Winslow, of Danville, Ill.; 6-6 B.J. Stewart, of Lee's Summit North and 6-4 K.J. Kennon, of Shreveport, La. Others who could contribute include 6-4 Ryan Snow, of Virginia, Ill.; 6-3 Andrew Tiemeyer, of Oklahoma City; 6-6 Michael Everett, of Manhattan, Kan. and 6-0 Mason Jones of Tuscaloosa, Ala., who won't be eligible until the second semesters.

Burgette's teams have a history of fast-paced, fast-breaking basketball, and this year will not be an exception, especially with a group he considers quicker than last season.

"We have more guards than we have size, so we'll do a lot of running," he said. "Size, especially in our league, is overrated because of all the switches. Today's basketball is interchangeable. We don't have a lot of experience, but I like this team's toughness and ability to guard."

Burgette is being assisted by Franklin Williams, who played collegiately for Coach Burgette at Indian Hills. A Raytown graduate, he played his last two years at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and then played professionally overseas.