For all of the record-breaking 22 wins the Lancaster Bible men's basketball team had last season, it was the two losses at the end of the season that stuck with them the longest during the offseason. The loss to Morrisville State in the North Eastern Athletic Conference Final and the loss at the NCCAA Division II National Tournament to Arlington Baptist were disappointing and heartbreaking at the time, but they became something more in the offseason as the Chargers used them for motivation in almost everything they did.

The two losses were by a combined 13 points and a couple of breaks here and there may have been the difference. Though you could say that about most games, the Lancaster Bible players trained and conditioned in the offseason with the intention they would create those breaks in 2014-15.

The starting five players from a year ago are back, as are many of the important pieces off the bench. The Chargers were 22-9 last season and 16-2 in NEAC play, so for the first time since joining the conference in 2011-12 and for perhaps the first time in program history, the Chargers are now the hunted, instead of the hunter, right? As Lee Corso would say, and what Lancaster Bible Head Coach Marshall Tague said, "Not so fast my friend."

"We will continue to be the hunter and we still have things to prove," Tague said. "Despite our record last season, we will view ourselves as the lesser team when we take the floor in terms of how we prepare for an opponent. That being said, no one will overlook us this season. I wouldn't say there is pressure on us, just the pressure we put on ourselves to work hard every day."

Though the Chargers will think of themselves as the lesser team, many nights they will appear on paper as the stronger team as all five starters return, along with plenty of depth off of the bench. Tague said that despite all of the returners, the team must mesh together this season as well as they did last year.

"We understand the expectations due to so many players returning, but we still have to come together and develop chemistry," Tague said.

Part of that coming together took place during offseason conditioning workouts where the team's leadership helped push everyone to get better on-and-off the court. Through morning running and weekly Bible studies, the team grew closer together even before the season started.

"The upperclassmen have set the tone by attending every workout and working hard," Tague said. "The standard has been set and they hold each other accountable. Upperclassmen are priceless and their importance can't be overstated. Our hunger is driven by the disappointment of how we finished last season. The seniors are truly going about this season as their last go-round and they are saving nothing in the tank. That type of attitude trickles down very quickly to the rest of the team."

Lancaster Bible, who is sponsored this season by Kistler-Tiffany Benefits and Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, will have its offseason workouts and preseason training put to the test early as the Chargers face some of the region's tougher teams in November and December. The Chargers open play on Saturday at Messiah and then face Lancaster County neighbor Elizabethtown on Tuesday. Lancaster Bible will visit Eastern on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and after two NEAC contests against Penn St. Berks and Bryn Athyn, the Chargers will face Cincinnati Christian and Mount Aloysius before Christmas Break. Tague said playing good teams will not only help the team down the road, but give everyone a good indication of where they stand.

"These games are to see where we are and find out what we are good at and what we struggle with," Tague said. "We need to evaluate the team's chemistry and these teams will provide us with an opportunity to do that because they are good teams."

Though they will use the first seven games to answer a few questions, Tague said the point is to win those games as well and start gaining confidence as quickly as possible.

Helping the Chargers to win those games will be the upperclassmen-starters, junior CJ Dunston, junior Dondre Perry, senior Naheer Mirza, senior Albert Suniga and some combination of junior Luke Roundy, junior Jon Bird and senior Corey Leonard. Suniga is the glue that holds the team together as the reigning NEAC Player of the Year does it all on-and-off the floor for the Chargers.

"I can't put into words what he brings to the team," Tague said. "He has his faults, but the good he brings to our school, our athletic department, our Worship and Performing Arts department and our team is invaluable to this institution. You try as a coach to recruit Albert's all of the time, but they are just a rare breed. His Godly leadership and willingness to hold others and himself accountable is what sets him apart."

Dunston, a junior who led the team in scoring last season, will look to make another giant leap like he did last season, while Tague also believes Perry will be a major piece of the puzzle this season.

"CJ continues to get better and though his numbers may not make another big jump just based on the style we play, he is certainly a better player already this year than he was last season," Tague said. "Dre is somebody who is just tough to handle. He is going to move up on other team's scouting reports because he is just so athletic and creates mismatches where ever you put him."

With so many returners and known commodities, it's hard to say if there will be any surprises for this season's squad, but Tague thinks he may know the answer.

"I think we will see significant production from the five spot this year," Tague said. "Bird, Luke and Corey are going to get the benefit from the other four guys getting a lot of attention and I believe they will be very important to our success this season."

Tague also mentioned freshman Herbie Brown as another player who could surprise teams this season.

"I'm not sure if it is this season or next that he will make the leap and surprise, but Herbie is a very good player," Tague said.

With talented upperclassmen coming back and a deep bench that features Jordan Mellinger, Nick Monroe, Dave Long, Javon Cole, Tayler Wilson, John Morant III, Marquis Boone and Brown, the Chargers fully expect to be back in the NEAC Final in 2015.

"The expectation is with everyone back from a team that finished first in the regular season and hosted the conference tournament, that it would happen again this season," Tague said. "Obviously things can happen throughout the season that can derail ideas like that, but the goal of our team is to win the NEAC and go from there."

The Chargers have never had expectations like the ones they have this season, but it is apparent they are prepared for those expectations and look forward to not only meeting them, but exceeding them.

Those two losses from a season ago didn't define last season's team, but they have certainly stuck in the minds of all of the players and perhaps done more for the team than any win could have. This year's edition of the Chargers plans on being a good team and is determined to win, but no team knows better than Lancaster Bible that in order to be successful, you have to prove it on the court.