ST. GEORGE - Depth is an element Dixie State's men's basketball team lacked during last season's 11-14 campaign.

It is one of the strengths this year as the Rebels enter their second year of NCAA Division II play.

"We're pretty deep at every position," noted forward Ben Hartman, one of three juniors on the team. "That keeps us all pushing each other."

"We want guys to be able to play two positions," Judkins said. "So we're all trying to learn each of those spots.

"If everybody will learn two spots," Judkins said, "that gives you other guys to go to. It gives you a lot of freedom."

Judkins' team has six returning players, three redshirts and five men fresh from high school.

The returnees include point guard Dan Stock, who averaged 10.4 points and 5.8 assists a game; shooting guards Ryan Sanchez (11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Johnny Little (12.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg); small forward Hartman (10.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg); and centers Troy Randall (13.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Nick Rex, who didn't score and had one rebound in six appearances.

Kasey Winters is a fifth-year senior who redshirted last season after transferring from Idaho State. Mike Holt, Bowie Jeffs and Taylor Christensen are all redshirt freshmen.

The newcomers include shooting guard Landon Clegg, small forward Tallon Robertson, power forward Kevin Lindquist and center Derek Owen.

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of the team:

POINT GUARD - Stock will get the majority of time at this position. A senior, his experience, leadership and understanding of the game are key elements in the Rebels' search for success.

Christensen, who was the state scoring leader his senior year at Bountiful, is one of the candidates to back up Stock, as are Holt and Jeffs.

"We've got to get Christensen more involved in getting the ball up," Judkins said. He added that Holt and Jeffs will probably play more at shooting guard.

SHOOTING GUARD - "Right now Ryan has the edge," Judkins said, "but every week Johnny gets better and better."

Little was the leading scorer through the first half of last season, but then he suffered a season-ending knee injury. He's still not at full strength.

"Most of the minutes will go to Ryan and Johnny," Judkins said. He added that Clegg will get some time at the position as well. "It's a good problem to have, not knowing who you're going to go to," Judkins said.

SMALL FORWARD - Hartman has the experience and thus the edge, but Judkins said that Clegg has made a strong bid for playing time. "I really like Landon's leadership. As a freshman, he's vocal, telling the other guys where they need to be." Robertson will also fight for minutes here.

POWER FORWARD - Randall, the team's leading scorer a year ago, and Winters will probably get most of the time because they're seniors.

"Experience and maturity makes a big difference," Judkins said. "Last year we lost eight games where the game was tied at the three-minute mark."

That, he said, was the result of the team's inability to step up and make the big play.

"The guys are all about the same size and speed," Judkins said of his power forward candidates. "All of them can shoot on the perimeter and get to the basket. Troy is more successful in the middle while Kasey can take it outside a little bit."

Owen, Robertson and Lindquist will fight for what minutes Randall and Winters don't play.

CENTER - Winters and Randall will bounce back and forth from the four (small) and five (power) positions with the 6-foot-10 Rex. Owen and Lindquist will be given time to develop.

"The depth of this team is a lot better than we had last year," Judkins said.

"I don't care who plays," he continued. "The guy who has the better week or practice or game will play. Early in the year the hardest thing is trying to find combinations; who's going to play together and who's going to gel. You're going to see a lot of different lineups."

Having the opportunity to compete for the Pacific West Conference championship is a decided plus, Judkins said. "It's hard to tell your guys to go out and do their best, like we had to last year," Judkins said. "Our goal is to win the conference title. As it says on our practice T-shirts, "we're in it to win it."

Judkins added, "being in a league is better for the community and the fans, too."

He said that's because the Rebels will be able to develop rivalries which will add spice to the games.

"I think we've got a lot of ability," Judkins said.

The Rebels open the regular season in Denver at Metro State University on Friday at 7 p.m. They play Colorado Christian at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

DSC's first home game will be Nov. 30 against Westminster College. They will open league play at Hawaii-Hilo on Jan. 2.