#1 Story from 2015-2016

William Penn University Athletics

Another deep run, this time into a higher-level national tournament, tops the 2015-2016 list as the men’s basketball team did not disappoint on the hardwood.

An embarrassing loss in the season opener awoke the beast from within as the Statesmen then reeled off 13 straight. The team was in cruise control at that point, but came back to earth for a few weeks before catching fire at the right time.

WPU righted the ship with an eight-game winning streak that included two road wins in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament and two more to start the NAIA Division I National Championships. Eventual national runner-up Georgetown (Ky.) ended the dream season, but not before William Penn had cemented itself as a true contender on the D-1 scene.

Headed by All-Americans Steven Roundtree and Brady Burford, the Statesmen produced five all-Heart recipients.