The Clinton Maroons are back on the hardwood tonight as they open the 2023-24 campaign at the Mt. Pulaski Thanksgiving Tournament taking on Buffalo Tri-City at 5 pm. 

The Maroons are coming off its best season in recent memory and with a large group of its core back from last year, Clinton should be a force in the Central Illinois Conference this year.

The Maroons return starters Mason Walker, Dawson Graves, Brooks Cluver, and Colton Walker from last year's team. 

In his second year, Hall of Famer Vic Binkley leads a Maroons team that will be looking for more depth this year but will continue to rely on his staple 1-2-2 zone press. 

After the Bill Rucks Memorial Thanksgiving Tournament in Mt. Pulaski this week, the Maroons open the home slate against Olympia next Tuesday night at Clinton High School.

When Clinton hosts Maroa-Forsyth on Friday, Dec. 1, it will be significant home game for a couple of reasons.

The Maroons will dedicate the new Clinton High School gym floor, named 'Gene Vance Court'. Additionally, it was the Trojans that upset the Maroons in a Regional semifinal matchup last year at Clinton High School, ending Clinton's magical season much earlier than anticipated.

Clinton has beefed up its schedule this season as well. On Dec. 2, Clinton travels to the Edinburg Ben Theilen Shootout and will take on Pleasant Plains. 

They host Eureka on Friday, Dec. 8. They'll meet Lexington at the Eureka College Shootout on Dec. 16. The Maroons return to the Monticello Holiday Hoopla tournament Dec. 26-28. 

They will host the New Year's Showdown at Clinton High School again on Saturday, Jan. 6. 

WHOW and its digital platforms will continue to cover select Clinton Maroons games throughout the season. Check out the schedule at dewittdailynews.com. The first Maroons broadcast of the season is tomorrow night (Wednesday) when Clinton takes on Litchfield at the Mt. Pulaski Thanksgiving Tournament.