Mid-Continent (team photo on left) returns five starters plus its top seven reserves from a team that set school records with 15 wins (15-15) and 10 TranSouth victories (10-6), good for a fourth-place conference finish, MCU's highest ever.

     Demonstrating an ability to keep games close, MCU won eight of 13 decided by five points or fewer and six of eight decided by three or fewer points, and posted a 12-8 record in contests decided by 10 or fewer points.

    Former University of Kentucky star Winston Bennett (pictured to the right) begins his third season as MCU's coach, preaching defensive aggressiveness, rebounding, quickness, athleticism, and character as keys for winning. MCU ranked seventh in the NAIA Division I in steals per game, 11th in offensive rebounding and 12th in total rebounding. MCU also led the TSAC in fouls and free throws allowed and ranked third with 86 blocked shots.

    "My hope is to set a consistent precedent of placing in the top half of the TSAC, which is likely to be harder since most of our opponents expect us to continue what we accomplished last season," acknowledged Bennett.

     Nine Cougars, now seniors, averaged between 13 and 23 minutes last season and seven started at least 12 games. Senior All-TSAC first team center Kenny Thomas (6-8, 270) (pictured to the left) averaged 12.2 points and 7.6 rebounds, and guard Joshua Woodley (6-2, 172), a legitimate downtown threat, averaged 10.1 points and drilled 67 three-pointers. Guard Aaron Pearson (6-0, 190) led the TSAC with 74 steals (11th in the NAIA) and led MCU with 72 assists. Forward Keiran Nunley (6-5, 210) contributed 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds, and guard Donovan Willis (6-2, 175) (pictured below) averaged 9.0 and 3.2 rebounds with two game-winning shots, 58 assists and 44 steals.

    Experienced guards David Gratton (6-2, 180) and TiRon Peoples (6-3, 175), forward Sinisa Korkut (6-6, 240), and center Ansil Williams (6-6, 295) lead the charge off a deep MCU bench. Peoples, Korkut, and Williams begin their fourth season of MCU basketball. Gratton averaged 4.7 points and 2.2 rebounds with 13 three-pointers, and Peoples averaged 7.8 points with 29 three-pointers. Korkut gave MCU 5.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, and Williams' bulk and strength gives Thomas a breather in the post.

    Two other reserves return from last season's team further deepen MCU's roster. Guard Marvin Bolden (5-11, 180) averaged 5.7 points and 1.4 rebounds with 12 three-pointers and 21 steals, and forward Jerry Follot (6-7, 210) averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds with 12 three-point field goals and 16 blocked shots.

    Bennett also adds three community college transfers who he calls "hard-working and talented" into the mix, including sophomore forward Chris Ferguson (6-8. 180) from Feather River Community College (Calif.), junior forward Anthony Lipscomb (6-6, 215) from Cape Fear Community College (N.C.), and junior forward Brian Reid (6-7, 215) from Shelton State Community College (Ala.).