THE GOOD NEWS
The Blue Raiders get everyone back from a team that reached the finals of the Sun Belt tournament.

THE BAD NEWS
It's not that bad but the Blue Raiders will also enter the 2008-09 season as one of the top contenders for the conference championship, which is something none of the current players have ever faced before. It's a good problem to have, but something they're going to have to learn how to handle.

KEY RETURNEES
Gs Kevin Kanaskie, Demetrius Green, Nigel Johnson and Calvin O'Neil, F Desmond Yates, C Theryn Hudson.

ROSTER REPORT

--Sophomore F Desmond Yates emerged as the inside scorer the Blue Raiders had hoped he would be, scoring 16.0 points per game on his way to earning first-team all-conference honors. His next personal goal has to be improving on his 4.5 rebounds per game.

--G Kevin Kanaskie will enter his senior season ranked fourth in career assists at Middle Tennessee with 365 and fifth in career 3-pointers with 145.

--Middle Tennessee was counting on tough defense from senior G Calvin O'Neil but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the season opener.

--Freshman G Antwaun Boyd did not become academically eligible until the NCAA Clearinghouse cleared him in January so coach Kermit Davis decided to redshirt Boyd this season.

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