By Rick Mauch
The Chris Lewis era began with a winning record last season as the Weatherford College men's basketball team finished with a 15-13 mark, five more wins than they had the previous season.
However, the Coyotes missed a trip to the Region V Tournament, finishing tied for fifth after several close losses.
Now, in his second season at the helm, Lewis plans to take the Coyotes to the next logical step, a return to the postseason.
"I think we have better depth than last year, and me having a full year, it's more defined what I'm looking for," Lewis said. "We've got a lot of talented individuals."
The roster features seven freshmen and eight sophomores. However, since six of the sophomores are transfers, that means the team has 13 new faces this season.
Lewis is looking to the two returners to lead the team as everything gels. They are 6-foot-9-inch sophomore center Keynan Russell (Frisco) and 6-4 shooting guard Yash Mattu (Lewisville).
Russell was second on the team in rebounds last season (5.6 per game) and second in field goal percentage (60.8). Mattu was third in three-point shooting, hitting 38.6 percent of his attempts.
"Both understand how I like to run things. They can show leadership as far as vocally and by example," Lewis said.
How close did the Coyotes come to reaching the postseason last season? They were 2-7 in games decided by five points or less. Overall, almost half of their games were decided by single digits, with WC going 5-8 in those games, including 2-1 in overtime contests.
Lewis believes the two returners and a slew of new sophomore transfers will make a difference in that category this season. The transfers are 6-3 combination guard Alex Daniels (Duluth, Georgia) from Jackson College, 6-0 combo guard Jaden Rogers (Louisville, Kentucky) from Central Missouri, 6-5 forward Rodney Johnson (Bryan) from Panola College, 6-4 shooting guard Jaden Kennedy (District Heights, Maryland) from Campbell University, 6-4 forward Collin Plummer (Missouri City) from Houston Baptist and 6-5 forward Joey Madimba (Mansfield) from Tarleton.
"The biggest thing is them having the level of competition they faced at the next level and being able to come here and show the young freshmen what it takes to succeed at the college level," Lewis said. "They've been where those freshmen want to go.
"And the transfers have one and done to prove they deserve to move on to a higher level. They realize a sense of urgency."
Incoming freshmen include 6-0 point guards Wayne Wiggins (Mansfield) and C.J. Evans (Killeen), 6-7 forward Antwon Emsweller (White Hall, Arkansas), 6-3 shooting guard Jaelyn Brooks (Austin), 6-5 forward Ali Bledsoe (Oakland, California), 6-5 forward Tyson Whybrew (Pflugerville) and 6-8 forward Ramondo Battle (McKinney).
Battle is coming to the Coyotes by way of the Air Force Preparatory Academy in Colorado Springs.
"His ability to stretch the floor and bring defenders out gives us a weapon we didn't have," Lewis said.
"I look for guys being able to play multiple positions so I can tinker with the lineup," he added.
Lewis said chemistry is already working nicely.
"With 13 new guys the biggest thing is hitting on the chemistry," Lewis said. "We'll be full-go at the beginning of the season and, of course, the most important thing is we're hitting on all cylinders in conference."
Lewis said a strength of his team will be the ability to deliver "impact minutes," not just being in the game but making a difference when they are.
"You need to have a reason to keep you out there, doing the little things will give you playing time," he said.
The conference is once again amazingly tough, as is the region, Lewis said. He noted that in preseason rankings, Odessa, which reached the Elite Eight at the national tournament last season, and Howard are in the top 10. Also, New Mexico and South Plains, which reached the second round at the national tournament, are in the top 25.
"I think the great thing about this conference is you are battle tested should you get to the regional tournament," he said. "And I definitely see us going to the regional tournament."