--Coach Kevin Jones found a way to neutralize the Cougars' weakness, with was an overall lack of height. His players played disciplined basketball, working the shot clock down on most possessions while trying to get shots for lightning-quick guards Royce Parran and David Holston. The style frustrated opponents, and the Cougars managed an 8-8 finish in the conference after starting the season 1-11 in non-league games.

--The Cougars shot 41.5 percent for the season, and made 36.7 percent of their 3-point attempts. Despite playing a brutal early-season schedule, they ended up averaging just 13 turnovers for the year. Stellar guard play was the key.

THE RECORDS
11-19, 8-8 (tied for fourth in Mid-Continent Conference), lost in championship of Mid-Con Tourney to Oral Roberts, 85-72.

HOW THE SEASON ENDED
In mid-December with the Cougars in the midst of a 1-11 start to the non-conference season, no one would have predicted what would happen in early March. Chicago State advanced to the Mid-Continent Conference championship game for the first time in school history. The No. 6-seeded Cougars upset No. 3 UMKC and No. 2 IUPUI to advance to the title game against No. 1 Oral Roberts. The Cougars played a strong first half, but faltered after the break before losing by 13. Prior to that, CSU had won five of its last six regular-season conference games.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I am extremely proud of my guys for playing hard and getting a chance to play in the Big Dance." -- Coach Kevin Jones after the Cougars upset IUPUI to reach the Mid-Continent Conference championship game against Oral Roberts.

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