Depth now an ally for 25th-ranked Panthers - Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

Kentucky Wesleyan College Athletics

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The ranks have been thin off the bench for the Kentucky Wesleyan men's basketball team for the vast majority of coach Todd Lee's five-season tenure.

Not anymore.

The No. 25 Panthers suddenly are chock-full of talent and experience in reserve, and Lee knows his team must use depth to its advantage for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.

"It's a luxury we really haven't had here before," said Lee, whose KWC team (9-1) has won nine consecutive games entering tonight's Midwest Region game against visiting Lake Erie. "For the first time, we don't fall off much, and sometimes not at all, when we go to our bench.

"This is something that's really going to come into play when we get into that Thursday-Saturday (Great Lakes Valley Conference) routine. It helps if you can come back well-rested for that Saturday game -- it's a big advantage for you, particularly against quality teams."

Wesleyan showed off its depth in Thursday's 90-47 victory over Asbury. Each of the Panthers' six reserves scored four or more points, led by Shawn Rouse's nine. KWC's bench outscored Asbury's reserves by a 36-8 margin.

"We tend to get a lot of energy from our guys who come in off the bench, and every team needs that," Lee said. "We've got guys who are beginning to understand their roles on this team, and they're playing their roles well.

"Every player we have on our roster is important to our success, and I think our guys have bought into that. They're seeing it happen for us on the court, and that's helping us become a more cohesive unit."

Lee said Lake Erie (4-6) will test the Panthers.

"They're a quality basketball team," Lee said. "Lake Erie beat Indianapolis, from our conference, and they also have a victory over Gannon, which made it to the (NCAA Division II) Elite Eight last season.

"We need to come out ready to play right from the start in this one."

The Storm's size worries Lee, whose frontline includes 6-foot-8 center Garrick Sims (6.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg), 6-6 forward Darnell Campbell (9 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and 6-5, 225-pound power forward Joe Roberts (12.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg).

"They're big and they'll contest us inside," Lee said.

Rounding out the starting lineup for Lake Erie are guards Ethan Bradshaw (12.9 ppg) and Alex Davis (5 ppg).

The Panthers are led by senior guard Desmond Stephens (17 ppg), who had team-highs of 16 points and six assists against Asbury. Also starting for KWC will be guards Maros Zuffa and Marico Stinson, forward Chris Williams, and center Jay Ivey.

Against Asbury, Stinson swished four 3-pointers, including three that fueled a 20-0 Wesleyan run to start the second half.

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