With every player returning, and a potentially key addition in place, Appalachian State has perhaps its deepest and most experienced team in Houston Fancher's seven seasons as coach. So, is this the year? It appears that the Mountaineers have a better-than-average chance at their most successful season since the 1999-2000 team won the Southern Conference title. "I think this is as good of an opportunity as we've had since I've been here, just based on the experience we have," Fancher said. "We have tremendous experience and a lot of depth. I believe we have an opportunity here, and I think our kids are embracing that. I think they know they have a chance to do something special this season, and that's really turned up the intensity level." D.J. Thompson, a lightening-quick guard who is on pace to shatter ASU's career records for steals and 3-pointers, certainly could evoke memories of former point guard Tyson Patterson leading the Mountaineers to the NCAA Tournament in 2000. Thompson, a 5-8 senior, averaged 19.1 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 steals last season. He's a career 39-percent shooter from 3-point range, he made a team-best 98 3s last season, and he's a pesky defender. Thompson has shown an ability to take control of games, and he did so frequently last season, taking twice as many shots as anyone else on the team. Fancher said that Thompson won't have to do it all this season, and he would prefer that Thompson doesn't. "I think he felt he had to do so much last year in terms of scoring and making things happen for us that he might have forced some action at times," Fancher said. "I think he learned from that. He's continued to work on his game. He's gotten stronger, he's a year wiser, and I think he'll trust these guys around him to make plays, too. He's shown he can score. I think this year he'll show he can make everybody around him better." The Mountaineers appear to have strengthened their frontcourt by adding Donte Minter, a 6-8, 250-pound transfer who played in 49 games in two seasons at Virginia. Minter, who averaged 5.6 points as a freshman for the Cavaliers, will be eligible Dec. 14. "Donte has fit in great, and I've been very pleased with how hard he has worked," Fancher said. "He's a very skilled player. He's a guy you can go to inside every time. He makes great decisions, is unselfish, but can go one-on-one and score on anybody." Jeremy Clayton, a 6-7, 220-pound junior, will return inside after establishing himself last season. He averaged 9.6 points, a team-leading 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots. Also back is Doug McLaughlin-Williams, a 6-8, 220-pound junior who could play a wing position if Fancher goes with a bigger lineup. McLaughlin-Williams, whose nice shooting touch produced 39-percent accuracy from 3-point range, averaged 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds last season while playing closer to the basket. The Mountaineers have experienced options on the perimeter as well. Demetrius Scott, a 6-2 senior who averaged 8.3 points last season, is a slashing guard and solid defender who might see some time at point guard. Nathan Cranford, a 6-2 senior who averaged 9.5 points, is a long-range bomber who is lethal when hot. Role players abound. Eduardo Bermudez, a tough 6-3 guard, averaged 5.2 points last season as a freshman. Jarvis Jackson, a 6-5 sophomore, can play forward or guard. And physical Tyler Webb, a 6-9, 225-pound sophomore, can provide muscle inside. Also returning are backup point guards Jeremy Harper and Ryann Abraham, a redshirt freshman who sat out last season after breaking a bone in his foot in the opening game. They'll be joined by athletic P.L. Henderson, a 6-7 senior, and Davis Bowne, a 6-7 junior who sat out last season after transferring from Hampden-Sydney. Freshman guards Jeremi Booth (6-5) and Kellen Brand (6-2) could also fill roles. Fancher said that competition has been intense in practice. Given the depth and experience, playing time could be an issue. "I've told our team to just work to earn roles, and we'll define their roles for them," Fancher said. "They know coming in we've got a lot of people who can play. We'll sift through that and find the right group that can make us the most successful. With this team, I have no reason to think it will be a problem because everybody really wants to win." The Mountaineers won in spurts last season, finishing 14-16 overall and 6-8 in the SoCon, but peaked at the right time and won five of six games down the stretch before falling to Chattanooga 78-75 in the SoCon Tournament semifinals. Depth will certainly give Fancher options this season, including a big or a quick lineup, and he said that it would allow for a more aggressive attack than last season, when depth was a problem. "I think this year we will be able to create a little more chaos, but we also, with the options we have, can go to more of a halfcourt style in some situations," Fancher said. Fancher hopes to see an increase in field-goal accuracy (from 43 percent last season) and perhaps a decrease in 3-point reliance (ASU took 249 3s last season). "We've really pinpointed offensive efficiency as something we want to improve," Fancher said. "And I think we'll be a better rebounding team. In fact, this team has a chance to improve in a lot of areas. We're pretty excited about the possibilities."