The 2009-10 edition of the Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team looks to return to its winning formula of the past with a squad that returns three starters and eight letterwinners.

After posting five consecutive seasons with a winning record - its longest stretch since moving to Division I in 1980-81- Southeastern finished with an uncharacteristic 13-17 record in 2008-09. But the Lions showed promise for the future as they finished strong down the stretch winning four straight games to close out the regular season and securing their sixth consecutive berth in the Southland Conference tournament.

With a lineup that returns four of its top six scorers from a year ago, fifth-year coach Jim Yarbrough looks to guide the Lions to the top of the Southland standings.

"We've continued to make the conference tournament year in and year out, have had winning records in three of our last four years and had some of the top players in the league," Yarbrough said, "but we have not gotten back to the postseason run that we have come to expect. This year, I believe we have the right stuff - a combination of leadership and athleticism - to compete for the Southland Conference title."

Expected to lead the way for the Lions in 2009-10 will be Sullivan, a 6-foot-9-inch senior who has already etched his name in the Southeastern record books for blocked shots and can add his name among the top scorers and rebounders in school history.

As a true freshman, Brandon Fortenberry directed the Lions' offense, finishing fourth in the Southland Conference in assists and fifth on the team in scoring. With a year of Division I experience under his belt, the southpaw looks to establish himself as one of the top point guards in the conference. Another sophomore - Deshawn Patterson - emerged as Southeastern's top defensive stopper and will look to improve his game after a year on the court.

Returning players Damon Forest, Robert Tibbs and David Ndoumba each provided Southeastern with solid options off the bench and will look for increased playing time in 2009-10.

Forest, who helped Southeastern overcome the loss of all-conference performer Kevyn Green at midseason, provided the Lions with a tremendous spark off the bench and finished as the Lions' second-leading scorer in league play. Tibbs, a junior college transfer, showed flashes of greatness in his first year while Ndoumba, entering his third season in the program, brought tremendous energy on the defensive side of the floor.

Aiding the returning players will be a solid core of newcomers, highlighted by Ole Miss transfer Rodney Jones and Trent Hutchin, an honorable mention junior college All-American. Junior college transfers Jason Marks and Gary Dixon will each figure into the Lions' rotation while the team's lone freshman - forward Roosevelt Johnson - enters his first collegiate season with great promise.

After posting wins against programs from the SEC, Pac-10 and Big 10, Southeastern has placed itself on the mid-major map and the 2009-10 campaign is no exception. Games against SEC foes Mississippi State and LSU, along with Big 12 opponent Nebraska highlight the schedule while the Lions' will play an attractive non-conference home schedule that features Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville State and in-state rival Southern.