BUIES CREEK, N.C. – On the brink of his first season as head coach at Campbell University, John Andrzejek is pleased with what he sees in the 2025-26 Fighting Camel team.
 
"I like where we're at," said Andrzejek, who became Campbell's sixth head coach in 49 years as an NCAA Division I member.  "We're having good practices and are relatively healthy for this time of the year.  We've got to get better on defense.  How well we defend will have a real impact on how far we can go this year."
 
The nation's third-youngest head coach, Andrzejek who turns 33 on Nov. 8, is just seven months removed from cutting down the nets at the Final Four an assistant at Florida. 
 
Even in such a short time frame, Andrzejek and his staff have assembled a talented roster that includes nine newcomers – six from the NCAA transfer portal and three freshmen – and four players back from the '24-25 squad that finished 15-17 overall, 10-8 in the Coastal Athletic Association.
 
"The vibes are really good, and our players love the style of play, love being around each other, but it's time to play the games," said Andrzejek.
 
That group will face the most difficult schedule since Campbell moved to the Division I level in 1977-78.  In addition to an 18-game CAA slate, Campbell's non-conference ledger includes six power conference programs, home contests with two MAC teams and a Horizon League member, plus a trip to Weber State for a multi-team event.
 
The season opens with a trip to No. 24 Wisconsin on Nov. 3.  Campbell plays three days later at Big 12 member West Virginia before hosting Western Michigan on Nov. 9.
 
Journeys to two more Big Ten foes – Penn State (Dec. 2) and Minnesota (Dec. 21) await, plus a trip up US HWY 421 to ACC member Wake Forest (Nov. 25).  Also on the docket is a cross-country junket to face national power Gonzaga (Dec. 17).
 
"I think (the non-conference schedule will) help prepare the team for the league," said Andrzejek.  "Those Power 5 games on the road – we've got six of them – will show us where we're really at – what we're good at and what we need to get better at.  Through that process of playing in hostile environments, we'll learn what our communication is like, how we handle adversity and come together as a team.  It will help us prepare for a really good mid-major league."
 
The home schedule also includes first-time visits to Buies Creek by Ball State (Dec. 14) and Green Bay (Dec. 23).
 
Guards Cam Gregory and Tasos Cook, who helped lead the Camels to a fifth-place CAA finish last season, are the most experienced returning players on the roster.  Gregory started 31 of 32 games a year ago and averaged 7.8 points.  A fifth-year graduate student, Cook has appeared in 56 games over the last two years at CU and averaged 10.8 points over the final nine contests last season.
 
"Cam and Tasos are two super-reliable, bought-in guys. They play hard, they defend, make open shots, and get in the paint," said Andrzejek.
 
Among the newcomers are three players who have NCAA Tournament experience along with another who started all 32 games last season at West Coast Conference member Pepperdine.
 
Six-foot graduate guard DJ Smith led Robert Morris to the Horizon League title and a near upset of Alabama in the NCAA first round last season.  He averaged 9.1 points and 3.2 assists and made 56 triples while shooting 39 percent beyond the arc.
 
Sophomore Jeremiah Johnson – a former 4-star recruit – joined the program after one season at Green Bay.  Last year, the 6-foot-4 wing guard averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Phoenix and started 27 games.
 
Six-foot-nine sophomore Dovydas Butka was a preseason All-CAA choice after transferring from Pepperdine.  A former Lithuanian youth national team member, Butka averaged 9.6 points, 6.1 boards and 2.2 assists for the Waves.  His average jumped to 12 points in league play.
 
Forward Chris Fields Jr., faced Andrzejek and the Florida Gators in the 2025 NCAA tourney last while playing for Norfolk State, where he contributed 8.4 points and 4.3 rebounds.  Graduate wing Enoch Kalambay (8.2 pgg in '24-25) spent two seasons at Western Kentucky, where he helped the Hilltoppers reach the 2024 NCAA tournament.
 
Muneer Newton, a 6-foot-5 forward, is a graduate transfer from Delaware State, where he chipped in 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds a year ago.
 
Freshman guard Dominykas Butka, Dovydas' twin brother, forward Daniel Marcellinus and guard Klairus Amir are set for their first collegiate seasons.
 
Seniors Israel Yaw and Broc Bidwell return from last year's squad after having their '24-25 seasons limited by injuries.
 
No matter who is on the floor, spectators can expect to see a Campbell team that features an up-tempo offense, as well as one that defends and hits the glass with intensity.
 
"We play fast; we put up a lot of points," said Andrzejek.  "Off makes and off misses, we're going to outlet that thing, and run the floor hard. I also take a lot of pride in the way we rebound. We spend a lot of time on it in practice, and it's definitely a part of our identity going back to other programs I've been a part of."
 
Defending regular season (Towson) and tournament (UNCW) champs were picked 1-2 in the CAA preseason poll, followed closely by 2024 champion Charleston.  As important as the league schedule is, Andrzejek is much more focused on the task at hand, rather than looking ahead to the CAA opener Dec. 29 at Hofstra.
 
"My biggest goal (early in the season) is process over result," said Andrzejek.  "Play the right way on offense; do we compete hard, talk, do what we do on defense and see where the chips fall."
 
Northeastern visits Gore Arena for Campbell's CAA home opener on Jan. 3.  The CAA Championship will be held Mar. 6-10 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C., to determine the league's automatic qualifier for March Madness.