OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 10, 2016) – In one sense, Oklahoma Christian's basketball team will have a familiar look this season, with All-America center John Moon in the middle as the focal point of the Eagles' offense and defense.

But in a greater sense, it will be a completely different squad, with a new lineup, a new philosophy and a new playing style, all brought in by new coach Cory Cole, who has accepted the challenge of succeeding his former coach, the legendary Dan Hays, who strode the OC sidelines for the past 33 years.

For Cole, whose team will open the season Friday at Texas A&M-Commerce in the Heartland-Lone Star Challenge, it's been more about the process than anything else since he took the job in March.

"We're really establishing just how to compete minute-by-minute," Cole said. "We haven't been result-oriented. It's just the process of competing. The guys have done a really good job in practice and film of just pushing themselves to do their job, stay focused and trust the process. It's a total new team, it's a total new philosophy with some veterans and some newbies, but they all have to jell. We're just really working on that trust.

"The motto I tell the kids is 'Win the day,' whether it's going to class, giving that presentation, being a good boyfriend or friend. When you're doing that, by the time you get to practice, those habits are more cemented in and you're going to be able to do what we ask you to do there. The guys are buying in."

While some things remain the same – Cole says Hays heavily influenced his day-to-day management of the program – much also is different. Cole is extremely direct in his personal dealings with others, and his offensive and defensively philosophies have been developed through interactions with numerous coaches through the years, not just Hays. Cole prefers a faster, up-tempo playing style.

As a result, look for as many as 10 or 11 players to see action in any particular game, and different players to start against different opponents, depending on matchups and situations. Through it all, the Moon will be the team's centerpiece, and with good reason, as he's already attracting attention from NBA scouts.

The 7-foot center proved last season he's the Heartland Conference's best player, leading the league in scoring (23.9 points per game), rebounding (9.1 per game) and blocked shots (2.5 per game). He already is the top shot-blocker in Heartland history and has an outside shot of becoming its leading scorer as well. Not surprisingly, he was the only unanimous selection to preseason All-Heartland team.

More importantly for Cole, Moon is one of his team's hardest workers and has a willingness to be coached. That makes Cole's job easier as he works to develop team culture, as he said Moon's teammates "have felt his buy-in" and eagerness to succeed.

The rest of the Eagles' front line consists of one returning player, junior forward Tripp Fuller, and three newcomers in junior-college transfer Abel Rodriguez and freshmen Ivor Baric and Dorian Lopez. Cole said each of those four has different strengths that will be utilized at different times, depending on a particular game situation.

There also will be times when junior Zach Norris – who's usually a guard – could see playing time inside.

Just as with OC's inside players, Cole plans to use a deep rotation of guards. Most familiar to OC fans will be a pair of returning starters in junior Elijah Strickland and sophomore Jordan Box. The steady Strickland served as the Eagles' point guard and primary 3-point shooting threat last season, while the explosive Box is looking to rebound after suffering a season-ending knee injury in last season's opening game.

Norris, dubbed as the Eagles' "utility guy" by Cole, also has started at both guard positions at times during his career. Cole compares Norris' versatility to that of Andre Roberson of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Three transfers also will see considerable time in the backcourt. Starting the season as the primary point guard will be junior Marcus Mathieu, who began his career at NCAA Division I McNeese State before transferring to Seward Country (Kan.) Community College and then OC. Mathieu is a natural point guard with an aggressive streak, something Cole believes the Eagles need.

Junior Jaquan Dupree sat out last season after two years at a California juco, while senior Keilan Horton hasn't played collegiately in two seasons, sitting out at Division I California State-Fullerton after a successful juco career in California. Horton is a scorer, while the 6-foot-3 Dupree is a lockdown defender who could see time on the wing. Both players, Cole said, are hungry to resurrect their careers.

Returning junior Stephen Amalong will have a role as OC's "zone buster," thanks to his ability to hit 3-point shots off the bench, while senior Luis Lopez is the team's most vocal and encouraging leader, holding himself and his teammates accountable both on and off the court. Newcomer Conner Johnson provides the Eagles with another solid contributor in practice, often running the scout team.

Outside of OC, not much seems to be expected of the Eagles this season, as they were picked next-to-last in the preseason Heartland Conference poll. But Cole isn't afraid to dream big dreams.

"No one has picked us to win it, but I expect us to play for it," Cole said. "Why not us? We can be picked low and still finish high. No one is outworking us. We'll tell you that. Player-to-player, staff-to-staff, our expectation is the same as Arkansas-Fort Smith or whoever's picked first. It's not where you're picked. It's where you finish.

"Our expectation is not a rebuild. It's not a reload. It's a 'we're ready.' Then we'll see what happens."