By MIKE CAMUNAS | Special correspondent Published: March 10, 2012 Updated: March 10, 2012 - 12:00 AM

First-year Saint Leo men's basketball coach Lance Randall's one-year plan didn't go exactly according to plan.

"Our plan was to win right away with no short cuts, but whether or not the one-year plan translated into (going to the NCAA Tournament), we're not sure, but we're here and we couldn't be happier," Randall said in a phone interview from Huntsville, Ala.

The Lions (18-11) are happy as they prepare for the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament berth in the team's 40-plus-year history. One of only eight teams selected, No. 5 Saint Leo will face No. 4-seeded Florida Tech (22-6) tonight at approximately 9:30 in Spragins Hall at the University of Alabama-Huntsville and marks a remarkable turnaround season from 12-16 that had only two conference wins.

This season is the Lions best since 1997-98 when they finished 19-9.

"I think we've been more concerned with the process than the product," said Randall, who, as the program's 10th head coach, also helped guide Wisconsin-Stevens Point to the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship. "When we sat down with these recruits, we told them that we're an intense staff that will demand a lot on and off the court and to be expected to be pushed. Everyone bought in and learned what it would take to win.

"The chemistry off our players has been the key."

While junior guard Trent Thomas has been averaging 14.9 points per game, Randall points to Marcus Ruh (13.4 ppg), Shaun Adams (9.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Dominick Robinson (8.1 ppg) being vital to a team that returned just three players from last season.

"We needed some locker-room kids," said Randall, a Wisconsin native who has brought success to every level he's coach, including high-school state titles and taking a 2-23 Webster University team in 1997 and turning it into conference champions and NCAA contenders. "We wanted character kids, which we got, and why we got better in season."

As is, that one-year plan was in jeopardy, as the Lions started the season 2-3, then had a three-game losing streak in late January. Following that, Saint Leo got scorching hot, winning 10 of its last 11 games, including nine in a row before losing in the SSC championship game to Florida Southern, a No. 7 seed.

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Team chemistry keys Lions' turnaround