DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The third season of the Ryan Ridder era of Bethune-Cookman basketball begins Wednesday night at 7 p.m. when the Wildcats host Johnson University in Moore Gym.

The Wildcats are coming off a 2018-19 campaign that saw some promising non-conference victories over Florida Atlantic and Boston before injuries set in as the team finished 14-17 overall. BCU did post a 9-5 mark in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play, giving the Wildcats consecutive winning marks in league action.

Wednesday is the first of a 30-game slate that includes road trips to face defending NCAA runner-up Texas Tech and perennial Atlantic Coast Conference power Georgia Tech.

THEY'RE BACK, BUT THEY NEVER REALLY LEFT: Both Malik Maitland and Isaiah Bailey were granted an extra season of eligibility, giving the Wildcats a core of three returning starters.

POPE POWER:  Senior Cletrell Pope returns for his senior season as both the MEAC's reigning Defensive Player Of The Year AND Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 13.8 points and 12.1 rebounds in a season that saw him post 22 double-doubles. His 377 rebounds set a BCU Division I record last season.

ALSO BACK: Leon Redd, who missed most of the second half of the season due to injury, Houston Smith, Danny Harris, Jr. and Wali Parks round out the senior class.

RIDDER'S QUOTE: "I do think this team has a chance to be very, very special."

MEET THE NEW GUYS: Orlando is well represented with the presence of Jordan Preaster and Zen Goodridge from Central Florida Christian Academy and Joe French from Master's Academy. Justyn King hails from Plant City.

WEDNESDAY'S COVERAGE: Live stats will be on BCUathletics.com with in-game updates on our twitter feed @BCUhoops.