Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs open the 2018-19 season this weekend, hosting the Tip-Off Challenge Friday and Saturday in Cuddy Arena. Wingate hosts Belmont Abbey Friday at 7:30 p.m., then takes on Limestone Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs are coming off a 15-15 season, going 11-9 in league play to finish fourth in the SAC standings.

Wingate was picked to finish fourth in the preseason SAC coaches poll, with senior Marco Haskins earning preseason first team all-conference accolades. The Bulldogs return six players that saw time on the court last season, bringing in six newcomers along with three players who red-shirted last year.

"As always, it's exciting to get started with a new group," head coach Brian Good says. "Their energy and enthusiasm have been awesome. It will be a big key in determining how good this team can become. Right now our goal for the season is simple: get better every day."

POINT GUARD

The Bulldogs turn to Citadel transfer Frankie Johnson to run the point this season. The Darlington High School product was the only player to start every game for the The Citadel last season, averaging 6.3 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a league-best 1.8 steals per game. "Frankie gives us an experienced guy having played two successful seasons at The Citadel," Good says.

Wingate has a pair of redshirt freshmen backing up Johnson at point guard in Jarren Cottingham and Francis Sio. "Cottingham and Sio both got redshirt seasons that allowed them to prepare for college basketball," Good says.

WINGS

Wingate has plenty of depth at the wing position, led by the seniors Haskins and Emarius Logan, along with junior Charlie Hovasse and JUCO transfer Jakob Dawkins.

Haskins is the leading returning scorer on the Bulldogs, averaging 14.1 points per game during his first season at Wingate while knocking down 73 threes on 38.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Logan started 14 games last season, contributing 6.5 points per contest to go along with 52 assists, 48 rebounds and 20 steals. Hovasse knocked down 16 triples on 41 percent shooting last year. Dawkins comes to Wingate from Santa Fe Junior College where he averaged 5.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.

"We have our most veteran group at this position as well as lots of flexibility," Good says. "Haskins had a good first year and we will look for him to play a more prominent role this year. Logan, Hovasse and Dawkins all have a wealth of experience and will allow us to play lineups that match well with our opponents."

Wingate also has freshmen Joshua Strozier, Andreas Wilson and Blake Bailey that will contribute. Strozier was the seventh-ranked high school player in the state of Alabama last year, averaging 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Wilson averaged 27.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game at Kerr-Vance Academy last season, while Bailey is in his second season at Wingate after red-shirting last year.

"We have a group of freshmen in Strozier, Wilson and Bailey that will provide us quality depth on the perimeter," Good says.

FORWARDS

Wingate turns to another JUCO transfer in Rashaard Pringle, who played two years at Daytona State College, averaging 7.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game during his last season with the Falcons. Redshirt sophomore Quantra Taylor averaged 4.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs last season, blocking 15 shots while shooting 60 percent from the field. Sophomore Tristan Huebner appeared in 13 games last season, collecting eight points and nine rebounds. Freshman Dylan Robertson was the 24th-ranked player in Alabama last year, averaging 10.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game at Paul Bryant High School as a junior.

"Pringle comes in as our most veteran player," Good says. "Taylor had a solid freshman season and will be counted on to build off of that. Huebner got valuable minutes towards the end of last year. Robertson brings us some much needed length at the forward position."

Wingate will once again play a challenging schedule which includes eight non-conference games and 20 SAC contests. The Bulldogs will play 14 home games and 14 road games in the 2018-19 season. "The SAC continues to be one of the best leagues in the country," Good says. "Our goal is to schedule opponents that will help us prepare for the conference."

After opening the season at home in the Tip-Off Challenge, the Bulldogs are on the road for four of their next five games, which includes the SAC opener at Coker Nov. 28. Wingate's first home SAC contest is Dec. 1, welcoming Carson-Newman to Cuddy Arena at 4 p.m.