Ants open sixth season tonight

Mad Antics

The D-League will hold its annual national tryouts June 15 in New York. The one-day event will see 200 hopefuls in full-court games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts.Thursday

Howard, Smith work at Development League camp

Mad Ants guard Ron Howard and center Tommy Smith accepted invitations to the NBA Development League Elite Mini Camp, which started Monday and runs through Tuesday in Chicago.Monday

Record year for D-League

It wasn't only the Mad Ants that made 2012-13 their best season; the rest of the NBA Development League had a record-setting year, as well.May 1, 2013

It's season-opener No. 6 for the Mad Ants, but a first for the franchise.

The Indiana Pacers, one of the Ants' NBA affiliates, have at last realized there is a D-League team two hours away.

For the first time, the Ants will have not one, but two players from the Pacers in 6-10 forward Miles Plumlee and 6-5 guard Orlando Johnson. They'll join JaJuan Johnson, Ron Howard and Walker Russell Jr. in the starting lineup, which could be the best team the Ants have put on the floor when they face Erie in the 7:30 p.m. opener Friday at the Coliseum.

Erie will start a familiar face in 6-11 Keith Benson, who, as a member of Oakland in the Summit League, played on the Coliseum floor.

Tonight also marks the head coaching debut of new Ants coach Duane Ticknor.