SWAC primer

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

Alabama A&M

Strengths: With so many young players getting playing time a year ago, the Bulldogs have developed a lot of depth, with coach Vann Pettaway able to go deep on his bench. Interior defense is obviously a big strength for the Wildcats with the nation's leading shot blocker, Mickell Gladness, patrolling the paint.

Weaknesses: If A&M is going to make a move up to the top of the SWAC standings, it must learn to win on the road. The Bulldogs were 0-13 on the road and 1-2 on neutral courts in 2006-07, although some of that can be attributed to the youth of the squad.

Newcomers: Coach Vann Pettaway put point guard as his top priority in recruiting to give Trant Simpson some needed rest throughout the season. To that end, the Bulldogs brought in freshmen Jabari Deshields, Reggie Porter and Curtis Lawrence, who will battle each other for playing time behind Simpson.

Alabama State

Strengths: Depth and athleticism are now the keywords for the Hornets, with a bunch of new players joining the holdovers to give ASU a lot of players who can make plays. Using that many players will make it easy for the Hornets to wear down opposing teams with their up-tempo style.

Weaknesses: With so many new faces, the Hornets will need some time to mesh. Consistency is a question mark for a number of players, although that may be remedied by shorter stints on the floor with such a deep team.

Newcomers: With 10 signees in the latest recruiting class, there are a number of players who will be a part of the playing rotation. Size comes in the form of 7-1 Grienntys Kickingstallionsims Jr., who should give the Hornets a post presence. A pair of point guards -- 5-10 Wendell Mardiss and 6-2 Brandon Brooks -- will help push the tempo.

Alcorn State

Strengths: The Braves were one of the highest scoring teams in the SWAC last year, putting up 67.1 points a contest. ASU was also one of the best shooting teams in the league, ranking second in both field goal and free throw percentage.

Weaknesses: Although the Braves scored a lot of points, they also gave up a lot of points, ranking as the second-largest scoring margin per game in the SWAC. Part of that had to do with ASU committing more than three turnovers per game more than its opponents a year ago. Cutting down on turnovers will help in a number of different areas.

Newcomers: ASU added some depth in the backcourt with its latest recruiting class, adding freshman guards Zach Lewis, Jamal Thompson and Chris Simms. The Braves will be looking for contributions from at least one or two of those players as the season goes along.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Strengths: The Golden Lions' defense was what kept them in games a year ago, and that should continue. Having a couple of do-it-all players like William Byrd and Terrance Calvin doesn't hurt either, as coach Van Holt knows he can put the ball in his stars' hands and know they'll make the right play.

Weaknesses: Even with Byrd and Calvin a year ago, the Golden Lions struggled to put points on the board, managing just 60.1 points a contest. That has to change in a league with so many run-and-gun squads that have no trouble scoring.

Newcomers: Swingman Ricky Batsell-Parks garnered looks from larger colleges before deciding on Arkansas-Pine Bluff. There are many who believe the 6-5 freshman will make an immediate impact.

Grambling

Strengths: Returning seven players from last year's rotation can only help build the continuity for the Tigers. That kind of experience can really help late in games, especially when roles are clearly defined as to who gets the ball and the final shot.

Weaknesses: Grambling needs to get more aggressive on defense to force more turnovers. The Tigers were ninth out of 10 teams in the SWAC in steals in 2006-07, which shows how little they get out into the passing lanes to try to create turnovers.

Newcomers: With so many returning players, it may be hard for newcomers to make an impact, but some say Duran Diaz, a 6-3 guard, could find himself getting some minutes as the season goes on.

Jackson State

Strengths: There's a lot of balance to the Tigers, without the single player who scores a majority of the points. The experience that returns will help the team as well as it deals with squads gunning for it.

Weaknesses: How well will the rest of the Tigers deal with the absence of super scorer Trey Johnson? After watching Johnson do a majority of the scoring, will the rest of the team be able to step forward and be aggressive looking for their own shots?

Newcomers: The Tigers will certainly give their newcomers a chance to contribute, especially 7-footer Brendan Baker, who should help JSU on the interior. Jenirro Bush is also a 6-7 body that can pound down low.

Mississippi Valley State

Strengths: The Devils have a couple of anchors in their lineup in Stanford Speech at guard and Larry Cox at center. Being able to rely on an experienced inside-outside game like that will be nice for coach James Green, especially in close games.

Weaknesses: MVSU doesn't have a lot of experience returning, which means the Delta Devils are going to be a team in flux, especially early in the season. Coach James Green is going to need to meld a few different players into his rotation in a hurry.

Newcomers: The Delta Devils could use some reinforcements, so look for players like 5-10 Tyrone Dunlap, 6-5 Toriano Adams and 6-8 Joseph Reed to be put into the rotation early in their first college seasons.

Prairie View A&M

Strengths: The Panthers aren't likely to play themselves out of too many games because of their solid defense. Prairie View doesn't make it easy for any opponent to score, which keeps it in some contests that it likely doesn't deserve to be in.

Weaknesses: There isn't a lot of experience on the roster, and the experience that is there isn't accustomed to winning. The Panthers need to find some shooters to take the pressure off the only two returning starters -- Derek Johnson and Brian Ezeh.

Newcomers: Eight newcomers dot the roster of the Panthers, with some potential size joining the lineup in 7-footer Blake Thompson, 6-8 Terrance Moore and 6-10 Albert Abrahams. If any of that trio can come through in the paint, Prairie View will have a new dimension to its game.

Southern

Strengths: Start with the returning talent -- four starters -- and the fact the Jaguars are still a dangerous team, especially in the backcourt. Southern held conference opponents to just 61.7 points a game, which will keep most teams close to the end.

Weaknesses: There isn't a lot of size on the Jaguars roster. After 6-9 Joseph Jack, there is little interior strength, so Jack has to take on a lot himself. The offense had trouble putting points on the board, ranking last in the league in scoring just 59.3 points a contest.

Newcomers: The Jaguars could use some new blood to join the rotation and contribute, and many believe 6-8 Barry Honore and 6-9 Andre Davis will help on the interior; 6-6 forward Julius Ingram is also counted on to find some minutes by the midpoint of the season.

Texas Southern

Strengths: There are solid bookends in guard Dominique White at the point and forward Jacques Jones, who is solid in the post. Having those two seniors will be a big plus as coach Robert Moreland puts this team together on the fly.

Weaknesses: The way the hiring of Moreland came together -- he was hired in early October -- leaves the team in a total state of flux. And the fact that Moreland is an interim head coach may undermine his authority with some of the players.

Newcomers: New players will be big for the Tigers, so players like guards David Burrell and Herschel Slaughter, and forwards Rodrigo DaSilva and Chris Berry will need to be ready to go early in the season.