Another season on the hardwood is tipping off and Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team is ready for competition in the South-West Conference and at the State Division II level. Just how far the Nighthawks can go in each postseason tournament when the time comes will depend on the emergence of starting lineup newcomers and, of course, what the competition brings to the court.

“Any time you can be back in the gym and start building the foundation — and hopefully raising the building — it’s a good thing,” Coach Tim Tallcouch said during a preseason practice in early December.

“Their attitude is phenomenal; they work hard every day. I just hope we can make something special of this season,” Newtown’s coach added.

Another component that will factor into how the team does is the brand of basketball this version of the Nighthawks will play — something they will sort out as things unfold due to a much different look this campaign. Newtown graduated most of its starting lineup, including 48 of its average of 64 points per game. That is a lot of offense to rediscover.

“Part of the challenge for me is trying to fit what these guys will do best. It’s a bit more of an experiment, so to speak, early on,” said Tallcouch, also a chemistry teacher at the high school, who hopes to come up with a winning formula which, this go-around, may take some time.

“You don’t win championships in December. You get better to win championships in February and in March. The goal is, each and every day, to get better,” the coach said.

The usual SWC suspects — two-time defending champion Notre Dame-Fairfield and two-time runner-up Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport — along with an improved Bunnell of Stratford squad and sharp-shooting Brookfield offense all give Newtown plenty with which to contend.

Captains are guards Saahil Ray and Connor Dullinger and forward/center Eli Williams — all seniors — along with junior guard Makai Coleman.

Coleman is a returning starter as is Williams, who was put into that role after his brother, Isaiah, went down with an injury last winter.

Junior center Declan Regan, senior guard Connor Hintze, junior forwards Ben Barber and Aidan Licata, junior guard Andrew Grenier, and sophomore guard Asher Williams are all players whom Tallcouch anticipates factoring into the mix as the season gets underway.

The season will begin Friday, December 16, with a 7 pm visit to Wilton out of the FCIAC; this marks another return for Tallcouch to his old coaching digs. Newtown begins the season with four straight tilts against nonconference foes. The Hawks venture to Darien Monday, December 19 for another 7 o’clock clash with an FCIAC team.

Newtown’s home opener is set for Tuesday, December 27, when Northwestern visits for a special 2 pm vacation week game, the second tilt of an NHS double header that begins with a girls’ game versus East Lyme at noon. The boys host the FCIAC’s Staples Wreckers Tuesday, January 3, at 7 pm. Greenwich, Torrington, and Platt of Meriden are the other non-SWC opponents on the schedule.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.