The Washington University men’s basketball team opened its 2011-12 season with a 91-64 win against MacMurray College on Tuesday. “You never know what to expect when you open the season,” head coach Mark Edwards said. “We’ve been working hard, but we haven’t had any type of opportunity to compete against someone from outside.

The Washington University men’s basketball team is now entering its first season since 2008 in which it is not the defending national champion. Four of last year’s starters, including All-Americans Sean Wallis and Aaron Thompson, are gone, and only one starter, senior Spencer Gay, is returning.

Senior tailback Jim O’Brien took the handoff from the 10-yard line on 3rd and 1, stepped to his right and cut easily through the big hole, picking up the first down. Not yet finished, O’Brien bounced outside, stiff-armed a Knox College defender and dove for the pylon, earning Washington University’s first touchdown of the year of Saturday night’s 34-3 victory.