Mad Ants 3.0 hits the shelves on Black Friday.

Will it be a new-and-improved operating system or another up-and-down unit with a propensity for crashing at the worst times?

Optimism reigns, as it always does when teams sport a clean slate. But there are reasons to believe the Mad Ants' third season could deliver faster, smarter, more user-friendly basketball.

Let's look at the shiniest features, as the season opens against Erie at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Coliseum:

♦Veteran coach Joey Meyer. Meyer is still best known by many for his years as DePaul University basketball coach – the son and successor to the legendary Ray Meyer. But he brings more than his great college background.

Meyer won back-to-back NBA D-League titles with the Asheville Altitude in 2004 and 2005, and his ability to develop talent continued with the Tulsa 66ers from 2005 to 2008. He is credited for the development of Milwaukee Bucks guard Ramon Sessions.

On-court results and grooming of talent make for a coach that wins and is trusted by NBA teams.

“I believe Joey gives us as well-prepared a Mad Ants team as you've ever seen here,” Ants President Jeff Potter said.

♦A returning player who knows how to score in guard Ron Howard.

Howard debated whether to try to continue his career overseas or return for his third season with the Mad Ants.

His progress with the Ants shines through on the stat sheet. After making the team as a tryout player out of Valparaiso University, Howard increased his scoring average from 11.1 points per game as a rookie to 18.7 points per game last season. His rebounding and assist totals also increased significantly. He spent the fall in training camp with the New York Knicks.

“Coming back to Fort Wayne was not a hard decision,” Howard said. “I love being here. I got my first opportunity here, and this franchise has helped my career out tremendously. I'd love to be in the next level, but when things didn't work out, I thought why not give it another shot here?”

Howard's play has impressed Meyer in the early going.

“He has a good work ethic, he can get to the basket, he's a quick slasher,” Meyer said. “I like his game. He's very actively defensively, too. Some guys are built like a greyhound. He just runs. The way he plays in two-a-days, he's busting it. I'd be very surprised if he has a letup.”

♦An experienced NBA player in Rob Kurz.

Kurz, a Notre Dame grad, spent last season with the Golden State Warriors, playing in 40 games, primarily as a spot sub. He averaged 3.9 points per game while playing about 11 minutes a night. He had a high of 21 points against Utah.

With the loss of last year's leading scorer, Chris Hunter, to an NBA call-up with the Warriors, Kurz will be needed to provide strong inside play with his 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame. But he's more of a power forward than a center, and he's also adept at hitting the three-point shot.

“Our (exhibition) game, he had the most deflections, the most rebounds, the most steals,” Meyer said. “He did a lot of little things I didn't even realize he could do. He does a lot of nice things.”

♦The Notre Dame connection. Kurz is joined on the Ants roster by point guard Kyle McAlarney and small forward Ryan Ayers. They played together with the Fighting Irish, with McAlarney and Ayers completing their college careers last season.

McAlarney will have the chance to take over as the Mad Ants point guard in place of Walker Russell Jr., who is playing in Bulgaria. Ayers is capable of playing inside or outside and has a strong shooting touch.

♦A heightened emphasis on defense and rebounding.

Meyer spent much of his first few practices working almost exclusively on these areas. He believes the offense will come and that he has an abundance of shooters.

“It's a tough grind,” Meyer said. “You have to love the game to get through it. We shoot the ball well, but we have to prove we can defend and rebound.

“My teams usually develop slower than most, unfortunately,” he said. “But I try to give everybody an opportunity to get the best lineup we can.”

The Ants' reputation last season was one of “fast starters, slow finishers.”

If Meyer can turn that around, Mad Ants 3.0 will indeed turn out to be an upgrade.