Morningside men have to replace three starters - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

The Morningside men's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the GPAC preseason poll but the Mustangs did get votes in the NAIA national poll.

Head coach Jim Sykes is in his tenth year and has two starters back. North grad Danny Rudeen returns after averaging 15 points per game as a sophomore.

The Mustangs lost three starters who combined to average about 35 points per game.

Former Morningside quarterback Kyle Nikkel is now focusing on hoops, the 6'6" center was a second team all-stater in high school.

The mix of old and new might take time to mesh.

"We've got some big holes to fill from last year with some guys leaving but we've got some incoming guys coming up," said Rudeen. "We're making some pretty good strides right now."

"We feel that our perimeter's our strength," said Sykes. "We want to be able to get out and go and play a fast-paced game both offensively and defensively, due in part because that's the way these guys want to play and I think we can be successful doing it."

"It's been taking a lot of time getting used to it," said Nikkel. "I was out for a year so shooting and fundamentals, everything had to come back to me. But it's going great."

Morningside opens the season on Friday night when they host William Penn.