Siena big man Ryan Rossiter had some help getting up to 258 pounds, what he said he weighed the last time he stepped on a scale.

During last week's Sneak Preview, Rossiter said he spent some of the offseason working with his brother, Stephen, who had just finished up his college basketball career at Davidson.

Stephen wants to start down the physical training path and the two joked that Ryan was his "first client".

Ryan said the two would wake up at 9 a.m., eat something, go running, eat something and then go to the gym to lift and work on his game.

"It was great having someone who wanted to give me 1-on-1 attention," Ryan said.

Ryan started last season weighing 240, but said he typically loses 10 pounds during the season, so he ended the year under 230.

He wanted to put on more weight, knowing that he's going to take more punishment this season as he is focused on by opposing defenses.

He also gave credit to his mother, Patty, who he said had delicious meals waiting for him on the table in between workouts.

Rossiter did say he didn't want to put on too much weight, something that could hinder his ability to run the floor.

The extra weight is already showing to be a positive.

"He's a very physical player now," said coach Mitch Buonaguro. Watching him the last month, he looks way more physical in the post."

Rossiter will be the biggest and best player on a different kind of Siena team this season. The Saints will have plenty of height and with the addition of Seton Hall transfer Brandon Walters, and the continued progress of O.D. Anosike and Davis Martens, the team will have four players taller than 6-foot-8. Another big body is Steven Priestley, who is 6-5.

"We're definitely going to be a better defensive team than we've been in the past," Rossiter said.

Rossiter also was excited for Walters to step on the floor. There were times last year, Rossiter said, that he had a harder time scoring in practice than in actual games.

"He's very hard to move, going against him in practice," said Rossiter of Walters.

Rossiter averaged 13.8 points and 11.1 rebounds per game last season and will likely be the MAAC preseason Player of the Year choice coming into his final year in Loudonville.

"That's not something I worry about," he said. "If I'm fortunate enough to get that at the end of the season, that means, in my opinion, that we've won a MAAC championship and that's what we're looking for."