One team stood between the 2009-10 Tarleton State men's basketball team and a shot to play for the South Central Region championship.
That team loses seven of its top eight players, while the Texans lose just two seniors and return three starters and more than 10 lettermen next year.
"We are close, we're very close," Tarleton head coach Lonn Reisman said. "To go 24-8 and reach the finals of the Lone Star Conference tournament and the second round of the NCAA tournament with such a young team is great. We only lose two players, and the rest come back with the experience of having gone through that. That will only make us better for next year."
When Tarleton walked off the court after its loss to No. 3 Midwestern State in the semifinal round of the South Central Regional Tournament in Wichita Falls, there was the feeling that it may be Midwestern's year, but it is the Texans who are built for more future success.
Henry spent much of the season with an injured knee, but still averaged 11.8 points per game. He lifted that to an impressive 18.8 in five post season games and also averaged 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals for the season.
"Corin was our catalyst all season, and with the injury he was playing with, it is impressive what he was able to do," Lonn Reisman said.
Tarleton associate coach Chris Reisman says Henry was at the same level as Midwestern All-American candidate Jason Ebie when healthy.
"Corin frustrated him in the regional tournament," Chris Reisman said, referring to Henry scoring 15 points while Ebie was limited just seven. "When Corin was healthy early in the year he was dominant."
Henry averaged 15.8 points, 5.4 assists and 2.2 steals in the first five games. He played through his knee injury for the rest of the season and, though he was still impressive, his numbers took a slight dip. He was still at his best in the playoffs, and Tarleton coaches can't wait to see what he can do when he's completely healthy with the experience of this season to learn from.
"We're going to get him healthy," Lonn Reisman said. "When he's healthy next year he should be one of the best guards I've ever coached."
Hills, who was the highest rated junior college player to transfer to a Division II school last off-season, averaged 13 points per night including 15.5 in conference play. He shot 45.9 percent for the season, 50.8 percent in Lone Star Conference games.
"Devon is only going to get better," Chris Reisman said. "There were times this season when he would just take games over. He should be able to do that more consistently next year."
Power forward Donta Smith returns after starting early in the year then coming off the bench to score 7.6 points and grab 6.5 boards per contest. Smith shot an off-the-charts 71.2 percent from the floor in the LSC, lifting his season percentage to 52.5.
"Donta was a starter at the beginning of the year, but he was still getting comfortable and learning our system and our level of expectations here," Chris Reisman said. "As he adjusted he kept getting better and better. You have to think about how much Jeremiah Wilson improved from his junior to his senior season (he went from 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds to 10.8 points and 8.1 boards). Donta could improve that much, too. I believe he can be a double-double guy for us."
Off the bench comes proven help in Warren Webb, who missed all of the 2008-09 season with a knee injury that was still getting progressively stronger as this season went along.
Webb first made a name for himself at Tarleton in the 2008 South Central Region championship game. The Texans were hosting the event and the Wisdom Gym crowd fell in love with Webb - then a true freshman - when he scored 10 points and grabbed six boards in just 21 minutes against Central Oklahoma.
"People forget about Warren, but he played like a starter in the (2008) regional championship game," Chris Reisman said. "Having him at 100 percent next year is going to be big-time because he's an energy guy. When he's on the floor he makes other players around him step up to meet his energy level."
Other players also gained experience under pressure this season, including backup point guard Darrion Washington, who was only a sophomore, and sophomore Chris Harrell.
The Texans also have 6-8 Wes Dipprey on campus. He redshirted after transferring as a juniorand will have 2 years left to play.
Dipprey was a high school standout at Shallowater before beginning his college career at Division I Cal Poly.
"Wes has a really nice skill set," Chris Reisman said. "He's one of the best passing big men we've had here in a long time."
"I'm trying to think of a post player I've coached who passes the ball better," he says before pausing to think. "I don't think I've ever coached one better."
The Texans are also expecting Irving High School products James Thomas, a forward/guard, and Chris Marshall, a post, to contribute after redshirting this year.
"Chris Marshall has probably improved more than anyone else in our program this year because he was only 17 when he got here," Chris Reisman said.
With all the weapons returning, Tarleton is prioritizing quality over quantity when it comes to recruiting.
"We're not looking for a lot," Lonn Reisman said. "We have a couple spots where we're looking for the best player possible."
Chris Reisman says it comes down to what you need most, and Tarleton's list is short.
"We're looking to add one big-time guard and one big-time post player," he said.
The Texans really are that close, going 24-4 against all teams not named Midwestern, a team that faces a rebuilding effort because four starters and a host of role players off the bench were seniors.
Tarleton, meanwhile, is in prime position to retake its spot at the top of the LSC and the South Central Region.
And with the core of this team returning, few holes to fill and the Reismans' reputation as recruiters, further success on the national scene is easily within reach.
