Sun Belt primer

A team-by-team glance at the Sun Belt heading into the 2007-08 season.

EAST DIVISION

Florida Atlantic

Strengths: FAU possesses one of the Sun Belt's best frontcourts with 6-8, 245-pound junior Carlos Monroe, 6-8, 235-pound junior Jeff Parmer, 6-6 senior Derrick Simmons and 6-5, 230-pound Sammy Hernandez -- a junior transfer who played on George Mason's Final Four team in 2006.

Weaknesses: With the loss of last season's leading scorer, off guard DeAndre Rice, and the team's floor leader, hard-nosed point guard Brent Crews, the Owls are starting over in the backcourt.

Scouting the newcomers: Sammy Hernandez played on George Mason's Final Four team in 2006 and brings strength in the post as a defender and rebounder. One likely candidate to compete for the starting job at the point is 5-11 Juco transfer Carderro Nwoji, who brings the ability to push the ball up the court and defend. Redshirt freshmen Xavier Perkins and Sanchez Hughley are expected to jump right into the rotation this season. Coach Rex Walters believes the Owls have added more athleticism with two freshmen, 6-8, 225-pound Brett Royster and 6-6, 225-pound Jamal Owens, who will likely see some playing time this season.

Florida International

Strengths: FIU returns three starters and seven letter winners from a team that often had to depend on 6-6 Alex Galindo in the post last season. Now the Golden Panthers welcome two 7-footers, Pepperdine transfer Russell Hicks and Juco transfer Badara N'Diaye, who give the post much-needed size and should give Galindo more room to operate outside the post.

Weaknesses: While FIU returns six guards and wings and adds Texas A&M transfer Kenneth White, it lacks a proven perimeter scorer who can complement Galindo from the outside.

Scouting the newcomers: With the arrival of the two 7-footers, the Golden Panthers get a whole lot bigger. Whether they get a whole lot better remains to be seen. Some of that will depend on the immediate impact of Texas A&M transfer Kenneth "Red" White, who will be expected to share some of the primary scoring load. With so much depth in the backcourt it might be difficult for 6-1 freshman point guard Tremayne Russell to see significant playing time this season.

Middle Tennessee

Strengths: Middle Tennessee returns plenty of experience with four returning starters and eight returning letter winners. Kevin Kanaskie is one of the Sun Belt's best point guards and forward Desmond Yates is one of the conference's emerging stars.

Weaknesses: Kanaskie played too many minutes for his own good last season so someone needs to step up as a backup point guard and give him a rest. Inconsistent center Theryn Hudson has yet to live up to expectations. He'll be pushed by Juco transfer Uriah Hethington. Who it is doesn't matter -- one of the two needs to give the Blue Raiders some consistent production in the middle, even if it's just solid play as a defender and rebounder.

Scouting the newcomers: Middle Tennessee's five-man recruiting class was ranked in the top 50 by at least one recruiting analyst. If there's any one particular place Middle Tennessee needs immediate improvement it's in the low post. Hudson will have to compete for playing time with Hethington. The Blue Raiders were hoping for immediate depth from 6-5 Juco transfer Dexter Powell, but he might not play this season if he doesn't get his academics in order. With Middle Tennessee's need for a backup to Kanaskie at the point, 6-foot freshman Broderick Gilchrest could work his way into the playing rotation. With so much returning experience and depth, 6-5 freshman swingman Josh Sain and 6-2 freshman guard Antwaun Boyd might have to wait for playing time but the door is still open for them to make a move and work their way into the rotation. Boyd won't play be eligible to play in the fall semester because of academics.

South Alabama

Strengths: The Jaguars start with the return of six letter winners and a starting backcourt as good as any in the Sun Belt with seniors Daon Merritt and Demetric Bennett.

Weaknesses: The Jags must rebuild their depth and their frontcourt. For that to happen they'll need three transfers -- 6-7 junior DeAndre Coleman, 6-5 junior swingman Daniel Hayles, and 6-9 junior post Ronald Douglas -- to become immediate impact players. If they don't come through, the Jags could be short on answers up front.

Scouting the newcomers: Aside from the addition of four transfers who will be available this season: Coleman, Hayles, Ronald Douglas and 6-1 junior guard Dominic Tilford -- new coach Ronnie Arrow brought in two freshmen. With South Alabama starting seniors Merritt and Bennett in the backcourt, guards Deandre Ross and Kevin Hayden will likely get a head start on the future with some playing time this season.

Troy

Strengths: SG O'Darien Bassett and Justin Jonus can score, PG Jerome Odem can run the show and the Trojans will still shoot the 3-pointer at will this season, which gives them a chance to get hot every time out.

Weaknesses: The Trojans aren't exactly known for their rebounding and interior defense but now they also must replace Sammy Sharp, Cedric Jackson and Richard Chaney, three players who averaged 20.3 rebounds between them. In all, the Trojans must replace four double-figure scorers, 75 percent of their rebounding, 98 of 108 blocked shots and the Sun Belt Defensive player of the Year in Sharp, who led the Sun Belt with 62 blocked shots last season.

Scouting the newcomers: Coach Don Maestri has developed a regular habit of plugging holes with Division I and Juco transfers in recent seasons. This time he's brought in a true big man in 7-0, 230-pound Tom Jervis, a native of Perth, Australia. Troy needs some help with post defense and rebounding but it remains to be seen how he will fit into the Trojans' style of play. Michael Vogler is expected to push returning starter Odem for the starting job at the point. Maestri is also hoping for immediate help from three wing players, 6-6 Mario Telfair, 6-7 Trayce Macon and 6-5 Kenny Ware. Of the three, Telfair appears to be the best bet for early playing time.

Western Kentucky

Strengths: Senior Courtney Lee is one of the best all-around players in the Sun Belt and the backcourt returns depth, experience and talent. The Hilltoppers made 40.4 percent of their 3-pointers last season, and return the players who made 235 of the team's 263 3-pointers.

Weaknesses: Championship teams do more than shoot 3-pointers and have to be able to find ways to win when the 3-pointers don't drop. The Hilltoppers need to get better at rebounding, defense and scoring in the low post. They need to learn how to grind out a win on an off night.

Scouting the newcomers: The Hilltoppers lost highly regarded center A'Darius Pegues to a season-ending knee injury in October, but he isn't the only newcomer with a chance to make a real impact this season. The best of the bunch is Steffphon Pettigrew, a 6-5 freshman out of Elizabethtown (Ky.) High School. Pettigrew was Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and was selected the Kentucky Player of the Year by the Associated Press and Louisville Courier-Journal last season after averaging a state-best 33.6 points per game. He's expected to make an immediate impact on the playing rotation with his versatile combination of inside-outside scoring, rebounding, defense and free-throw shooting. The Hilltoppers are also counting on 6-9 junior Japeth Aguilar, the first Filipino-born basketball player ever to sign with an NCAA D-I program, and 6-9, 260-pound freshman D.J. Magley, who averaged 24 points, 14 rebounds and six assists last season for Bradenton (Fla.) Christian School.

WEST DIVISION

Arkansas-Little Rock

Strengths: After being strong up front the past two seasons, the Trojans will now be more perimeter-oriented, with depth and athleticism among the guards and wings. The Trojans also add experience from three Juco transfers and two Ole Miss transfers.

Weaknesses: The Trojans lost their two best rebounders and inside defenders and have only one player taller than 6-7 (6-9 freshman Derrick Bails). They also have a lot of work to do to mix the returning players with the newcomers.

Scouting the newcomers: The Trojans are looking for an immediate impact from their transfers. Juco transfer Shane Edwards, a 6-7 wing, brings length and athleticism and the ability to get to the line and defend. Of the Ole Miss transfers, 6-6 junior Brandon Patterson is a capable 3-point shooter, while 6-7, 277-pound sophomore Mike Smith brings some strength and width to the post. The other Juco transfers, 6-4 guard John Fowler and 6-6 forward LaMarvon Jackson, are seen as role players. Freshman Derrick Bails brings size but he's still a freshman.

Arkansas State

Strengths: Senior guard Adrian Banks is one of the Sun Belt's best scorers, point guard Ryan Wedel is a capable playmaker and forward Shawn Morgan brings a lot of energy. Five Juco transfers bring possible experience and depth.

Weaknesses: The Indians lost All-Conference forward Isaac Wells after his junior season when he decided to go pro and they'll have a difficult time replacing his scoring and rebounding.

Scouting the newcomers: The Indians are expecting immediate impact from five Juco transfers: 6-6 wing Yima Chia-Kur, a versatile player who also considered offers from Nebraska, Providence and Colorado; 6-8, 262-pound Larry Handy, who brings the potential for some much-needed post scoring; 6-4 P.J. Keaton; 6-1 Ifeanyi Koggu; and 6-3 sophomore Mike Lance. Keaton can play either guard spot, Lance is versatile and Koggu is a pure point guard. Freshman Jeremy Thomas, a 6-5 wing, averaged 17 points and seven rebounds for nearby Jonesboro High and was chosen state tournament MVP.

Denver

Strengths: There's something to be said about a new start after two down seasons and coach Joe Scott knows the area after coaching at Air Force from 2000-04. His Princeton offense will be unlike anything else in the Sun Belt.

Weaknesses: Denver lost four regulars from a team that won only four games and will be especially young in the transition from one staff to the other.

Scouting the newcomers: New coach Joe Scott inherited three players signed in the fall by former coach Terry Carroll. Andrew Hooper is 6-9 but athletic enough to finish in the state of Colorado in the triple jump. Kyle Lewis is a 5-10 point guard on a team in need of a point guard who can run the Princeton offense and score from the perimeter. Scott signed Rob Lewis, a 6-7 forward who led the state of Colorado in rebounding last season, and Kelvin Mitchell, a 6-5 freshman guard who bring length and athleticism to the wing.

Louisiana-Lafayette

Strengths: The backcourt is loaded with five returning lettermen, led by senior David Dees and sophomore Elijah Millsap. The Ragin' Cajuns will also welcome back senior Maurice Barksdale, who missed last season with a broken wrist after starting 15 games at point guard in 2005-06.

Weaknesses: The frontcourt wasn't all that productive last season and now returns only three lettermen -- senior Abray Milson and sophomores Tyren Johnson and Courtney Wallace. The Cajuns have candidates for the four spot but don't have any true post players. Last season, the ULL frontcourt produced just 379 of the team's 2,013 points (18.8 percent) and half of that is lost with the departure of Valentino Hart and Adam James.

Scouting the newcomers: Louisiana-Lafayette welcomes eight newcomers, five of which are sophomores. The addition of five newcomers makes ULL's backcourt even deeper. Of the five newcomers, four are sophomores: Corey Bloom, Randell Daigle, Brandon Dison, Damon Forest. Sutton Yanosky is the only freshman in the group. However, Daigle, Dison and Forest would have been true freshmen last season if they had not sat out the 2006-07 season attempting to earn their academic eligibility. Of the five, Bloom is the only one with any Division I experience, having played 20 games as a reserve for Houston in 2005-06. Along the front, the lack of proven returnees could open up opportunities for sophomore La'Ryan Gary and true freshmen Travis Bureau and Chris Gradnigo. Of the three, Gary is the one most likely to have an immediate impact because of his ability to play both forward positions.

Louisiana-Monroe

Strengths: With the return of guards Brandon Roberts, Jonas Brown, Tony Hooper, Lance Brasher and Jordan Payne, Louisiana-Monroe possesses five capable scorers and plenty of backcourt depth and versatility. The incoming freshmen appear to be an upgrade in talent for a program that looks to be on the rise.

Weaknesses: Afam Nweke shouldered a big load in the post last season, often as the lone post player in a four-guard offense. If senior Gerard Jackson doesn't have a big season after missing most of last season due to academics, the Warhawks will need to turn to their freshmen for help inside.

Scouting the newcomers: Even with the return of five starters and nine letter winners it might be difficult to keep some of ULM's four freshmen off the court. Mitchell Hampton, at 6-7, 220 pounds, and Raphael "Rudy" Turner, at 6-8 and 260 pounds, bring some much-needed size and strength. If they're willing to play defense and rebound, they'll find a place in the rotation. Even though the backcourt is deep with experience and talent, coach Orlando Early likes Sei Paye's combination of size (6-3), shooting and ball handling. Point guard Raschard Boatner doesn't have to play right away, and he'll probably need the extra time to add weight to his 6-foot, 155-pound frame.

New Orleans

Strengths: The senior trio of Bo McCalebb, James Parlow and Ben Elias has proven to be resilient and dedicated through a difficult two seasons marked by Hurricane Katrina and the loss of two coaches. Any team with McCalebb on it is better off for his scoring, rebounding, passing and toughness.

Weaknesses: UNO enters the season with only nine scholarship players. None of those nine have proven to be consistently productive post players. A third head coach in three seasons means another season of transition.

Scouting the newcomers: Former coach Buzz Williams signed 5-10 junior guard Kechan Myers and 6-4 junior wing Tracey Worley, both from Philadelphia. Meyers is a Juco transfer while Worley redshirted last season after transferring from Delaware State where he was second on the team in scoring as a sophomore. New coach Joe Pasternack also brought in 6-10 Jaroslav Tyrna, a 21-year-old freshman out of the Czech Republic who is expected to make an impact immediately; and 6-3 Juco transfer Kyndall Dykes, a lefty who could help UNO inside and out at the three and four spots. If Tyrna and Dykes can make a successful transition they could be a big boost to a team with plenty of uncertainty inside.

North Texas

Strengths: With Ben Bell returning at point guard and Keith Wooden and Quincy Williams inside, the Mean Green should be solid in some fundamental areas. South Florida transfer Collin Dennis looks like a good bet to take on some of the scoring load.

Weaknesses: Other than Dennis, there are no proven or obvious candidates to replace all the lost perimeter scoring that Kendrick Davis, Calvin Watson and Michael Sturns supplied. Losing Sturns to a transfer may be a good thing in the long term because of his instability, but in the short term it subtracts one more proven scorer from the equation. The Mean Green also lose some backcourt depth with the decision to redshirt Collin Mangrum for medical reasons.

Scouting the newcomers: Recruiting analysts are calling this Johnny Jones' best recruiting class. Two of the newcomers, freshman small forward Tristan Thompson and Juco swingman Adam McCoy, are expected to compete for starting jobs this fall, although McCoy might be better off as a sixth man because of his versatility. Guard Josh White could play at either backcourt spot. Freshman Kedrick Hogans, a 6-7, 195-pound forward, may need some time to grow. The player who could be the best of the bunch is 6-8, 240-pound George Odufuwa, but he'll sit out this season after transferring from Arizona State. The most experienced addition is senior Dez Willingham, an SMU transfer who could play either guard spot. With the loss of Juco transfer Ryan McCoy to NCAA eligibility issues in August, either Willingham or White will have to step up as the backup to starting point guard Ben Bell.