Coach Gary McDaniel calls his team “probably the best-kept secret in town.” The basis for that? How about three Sweet 16 appearances in the past four years, including a spot in the Elite Eight last season? How about the No.17 ranking in the preseason National Junior College Athletic Association Division I poll despite returning only two players?

        Over the past four seasons, Cincinnati State is 107-23. It was 29-6 last season. The Surge have won 32 straight at home. McDaniel, entering his ninth season, is just 23 victories shy of 200.

        The only returnees are guards Alicia Binion and Stacy Moore, both part-time starters last season.

        McDaniel expects Christina Estrict, a transfer from Gulf Coast College in Panama City, Fla., will be the most heavily recruited athlete he's had, and that's saying something. Last season's team sent four players to Division I (Cincinnati, Indiana, Rutgers, American).

        Racquel Ellis, the point guard on Mason's 2000 high school state championship team, has transfered from East Tennessee State. Pam Brannen, whose brother, Bobby, was a UC Bearcat, also from Gulf Coast College, which was 27-3 last season.

        “I feel this is one of the more talented groups I've ever had,” McDaniel said. “We're going to be a lot more versatile than we were a year ago, and we're going to have much better guard play. Our strength last year was our post play; this year, we're going to have a lot more balance.

        “I really think when we put it together, we can at least get to the (Sweet) 16 with a chance to win the thing. Once you get to the 16, it's anybody's game... I think we've got a shot.”

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