SWAC preview

A team-by-team glance at the SWAC heading into the 2009-10 season.

(In CBSSports.com predicted order of finish)

1. Jackson State

The Tigers enter the season without two All-SWAC first-team selections from a year ago, yet no one around the Jackson State program is feeling self-pity.

That's because JSU is still stocked, with three starters and 10 lettermen returning for the 2009-10 campaign.

Darrion Griffin and Jeremy Caldwell will certainly be missed, but the Tigers will go on, at a faster pace than in previous seasons, according to coach Tevester Anderson.

He needs players that can run and get up and down the floor quickly, and he'll likely use a number of bench players to keep everyone fresh. But Grant Maxey will find the floor more than most of his teammates.

Maxey led the Tigers in scoring a year ago with a 16.4-ppg average. He'll team with Garrison Johnson (10.7 ppg) to give JSU a solid one-two scoring duo.

Also returning is sophomore Rod Melvin, who was the league's top freshman in 2008-09.

Anderson's plan to push the tempo coincides with the fact his team has plenty of depth and experience. Now they're just going to try to use that to earn a crown.

2. Prairie View A&M

Prairie View A&M surprised more than a few people with its 12-6 record in SWAC play a year ago.

Coach Byron Rimm II and his squad return five of the top six scorers from that team hoping to do a little more damage this season.

Rimm's squad wasn't flashy, but it held teams down defensively and were able to pull out some victories late in the year. The Panthers were the top scoring team in the SWAC, averaging 70.2 points per game, and were one of only two teams (Alabama State the other) to have a positive average scoring margin (plus-2.5) on the year.

Last year's conference Newcomer of the Year, Darnell Hugee, is back for his senior campaign after leading the Panthers in scoring (12.0 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg) despite playing just over 24 minutes per game.

Rimm will rely on Hugee and fellow senior Christopher Jones to assume bigger leadership roles and help the newcomers to the team blend in well.

Jones established himself as one of the top point guards in the league last year, ranking second with 4.6 assists per game. He is the player the Panthers want with the ball in a close game since he's the only regular who shoots above 70 percent from the free-throw line. Jones connected on 74.5 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe, easily the best percentage of A&M's crunch time players.

A pair of sophomores, point guard Michael Griffin and shooting guard Tim Meadows, return to anchor the backcourt.

Things look good now and teams are starting to give A&M a little more respect.

3. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

A year makes a big difference.

That's what UAPB and coach George Ivory are finding out as they venture into the 2009-10 campaign. Last year, Ivory was in his first year at the helm with 10 newcomers on the roster, just trying to piece things together.

This year, Ivory returns 11 players, including seven who averaged at least 19 minutes a game for a team that was fourth in the SWAC standings at the end of the year.

Now, the expectations are higher for Ivory, who is happy with his veterans but also excited about the newcomers.

"I know we've got a lot of guys coming back, but we've got some real talented young kids," Ivory told the Pine Bluff Commercial. "They're exciting and they bring a lot of energy to the game. We're going to get them in there."

The amount of experience on the team has the Golden Lions planning on making the final step toward a championship this year.

A starting lineup with four seniors should help as the Lions enter the season. Last year's group was just learning each other's games when they hit the court.

The Golden Lions ranked last in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio in 2008-09, a stat the team is hoping will change with so many returnees having the experience of playing with one another for a season.

"When you have a feel of where everyone is going to be on the floor at certain times, then execution is just easier," guard Terrance Calvin said.

UAPB ranked first among SWAC teams in rebounding, thanks in no small part to the duo of F Lebaron Weathers and Calvin, who ranked eighth and ninth in the league.

4. Alabama A&M

Following a season in which it lost a top performer to a knee injury and finished with an 8-19 record, Alabama A&M had to think its luck was going to turn around at some point.

It seems like it has with the return of top performer Evan Hilton, who was awarded an extra year of eligibility during the offseason. Now coach Vann Pettaway has a team he feels can contend for the SWAC title.

Hilton will team with fellow returnees Cornelius Hester (12.0 ppg) and Casey Cantey (8.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg) to give Pettaway plenty of experience.

And Pettaway has brought in a junior college transfer in Alfred Frayer, who should help the team up front after the departure of center John Smith.

The 2008-09 season was a struggle, especially at the end, when the Bulldogs dropped eight of nine games down the stretch. But it could all pay off this season for Pettaway and crew.

The experience returning and the incoming talent are a combination that could propel A&M near the top of the SWAC standings.

5. Southern

Once you reach the bottom, there's nowhere to go but up, or at least that's what Southern and coach Rob Spivery are hoping.

Spivery's squad suffered its third consecutive losing season in 2008-09, going 8-23 for the worst record in school history.

But the Jaguars are hopeful that the worst is behind them, that the team is ready for an upswing.

"If we can stay healthy, and the new guys learn the system throughout the first part of the season, I believe we have a good chance to be a very good ball team," Spivery said.

"Defensively, our philosophy will change a bit, in that we will be picking up full-court man-to-man primarily, and offensively we will pretty much stay the same, other than we will push the ball up the court more. I think we have the guard play this season that will get us back to where we need to be."

The Jaguars return seven lettermen, though only one of those was a starter, forward Douglas Scott. Scott ranked fifth in the SWAC in offensive rebounds per game in 2008-09, snagging 2.3 per game. He was also tops in the league in defensive rebounds per game with 4.9 per contest.

Jazz Williams played only 15 minutes a game last season but he still put up the second-most 3-pointers on the Jaguars (88) and had the second-most made 3s (29), as well.

Spivery will have some experience to work with, but he also has to put players in new roles, especially with Scott being the leading returning scorer at just 6.9 points per game.

But pushing the tempo could help the Jaguars take the step forward they're looking for.

"I am really looking forward to seeing how this group of guys progresses," Spivery said. "We as a staff feel this is one of the better groups of guys we have had, and think we can become a real good basketball team."

Junior college transfers Nick Walls, Norm Nixon Jr. and Johnnie Young will get time in the backcourt this season. Three other guards come in as true freshmen and might need to wait a little longer for consistent time. Up front, four transfers -- Quinton Doggett, Horace Dixon, Blake Sanford and Bobby Lee -- will provide some athleticism and depth, while true freshman Madut Bol will be given some time to develop.

Bol and Nixon are the sons of former NBA players Manute Bol and Norm Nixon.

6. Mississippi Valley State

In his first year as head coach of Mississippi Valley State, Sean Woods found the going a little tough, to the tune of a seven-win season.

But Woods also found some players that can hopefully help him turn things around in the coming years. Three starters and six letter winners return to the Delta Devils, as Woods looks to speed things up even more with a new crop of recruits.

Woods prefers a fast pace offensively, and he feels he's brought in the right players to implement his system.

Highly touted junior college transfer D'Angelo Jackson is expected to push veteran Kevin Burwell at the point guard spot, where Coastal Carolina transfer Joshua Mack could also figure into the mix.

Also back for the Devils are juniors Julius Cheeks and Shannon Behling and sophomore Tashan Newsome, giving Woods plenty of options in his rotation.

Cheeks improved as the season progressed last year, upping his scoring average in league play as well as shooting better from the field, the 3-point line and the free-throw line against conference opponents. Behling was the Devils' most prolific 3-point shooter, taking the most attempts (166) on the team from beyond the arc and burying 57 of them (34.3 percent).

Of course, if Woods has his way, everyone will get some minutes as he rotates players in and out to keep everyone fresh.

If Woods can get his system implemented and has the numbers to run it, the Delta Devils could be a tough team to beat, which would make the journey it took to get to this point more than worth it.

7. Alabama State

The 2008-09 season couldn't have gotten much better for Alabama State, with a second consecutive regular-season title, a SWAC tournament title and a trip to the NCAA tournament.

But that was last year. This year, all five starters from that team are gone, including top scorers Brandon Brooks (13.7 ppg) and Andrew Hayles (13.7 ppg), SWAC Defensive Player of the Year Chief Kickingstallionsims Jr. and forwards Rashad Provitt and Wesley Jones.

Now, coach Lewis Jackson has his work cut out for him, with seven players returning, the best scorer of them -- Tramaine Butler -- scoring just 4.6 points per game a year ago.

Jackson will need to meld those returnees with eight newcomers to form a cohesive unit that will be competitive. He shouldn't have any problem pressuring the ball, with three new point guards -- A.J. Spencer, Jaderren Mumpfield and Kevin Watts -- eager to show their stuff. There will be some depth up front as well, with Robert Sanders, Adrian Spellman, Chris Duncan and Jordan Jefferson all trying to get into the act.

Sound easy? Not quite. But this is just the kind of challenge Jackson loves to deal with, although he may change his mind if ASU doesn't get off to a good start.

8. Alcorn State

Perhaps Alcorn State coach Larry Smith went back and watched some tapes of his old playing days over the summer.

Smith, considered one of the toughest guys in the NBA when he was playing, needs to find something to get the defensive desire switch turned on in his players.

Last year, the Braves allowed opponents to score 83.5 points per game, worst in the SWAC. The defense was so bad that it didn't matter that ASU ranked third in the league in scoring. Despite that lofty offensive rank, the Braves' scoring margin of minus-13.9 points per game was easily worst in the SWAC.

Part of the Braves' problem a year ago was getting dominated on the boards. Alcorn State ranked ninth in the league in rebounding (32.0 rpg) while ranking last in the league in rebounding defense, allowing opponents to grab 42.6 per game. The Braves' rebounding margin of minus-10.6 was easily the worst in the league.

So now Smith needs to figure out a way to keep the offense while tightening up the defense. It won't be easy, with the team's top three scorers -- Troy Jackson (20.0 ppg), Anthony Ford (10.6 ppg) and Jarvis Williams (9.7) -- all having departed.

Senior Jonathan Boyd will be counted on to be more of a lead scorer, while junior JaMarkus Holt needs to be more of a presence on the interior on both ends of the floor.

Smith could certainly show Holt a thing or two about being tough in the paint, but can he show all of his players how to get a defensive mentality?

ASU's chances at making the SWAC tournament could depend on it.

9. Texas Southern

TSU coach Tony Harvey is certainly hopeful that he won't repeat his second year with the Tigers, when the team lost 20 of its first 21 games.

Chemistry was a problem, one that wasn't solved until Harvey decided to part ways with Sollie Norwood, a former top scorer who was relegated to a bench role under Harvey.

Once Harvey made that move, things seemed to turn around, with TSU winning six of its last 11 games, including four of its final five.

That late-season run may provide a little momentum for this year's team, which returns just three of its top seven scorers from 2008-09.

Fortunately for Harvey, his top scorer, Deandre Hall, is one of those returnees after the 6-6 guard averaged 13.8 points and 4.0 rebounds a game as a junior. He could have scored even more had he been more accurate at the free-throw line. Hall missed 64 times from the line, connecting at a 58.4 percent clip.

Senior Ricky Boyles (7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) brings scoring to the front line, while David Burrell (3.2, 2.2) is back to join Hall in the backcourt.

The Tigers are hoping to get some bang from their newcomers this year, particularly guard Whitworth Treasure, who joins the Tigers from Southern Shreveport J.C. Treasure appears to be ready to contribute right away and should get plenty of playing time from the get-go. The front line will be fortified with the additions of transfers TeAllen Price and Travele Jones.

Harvey seems to be ready to make the hard decisions that it takes to turn a program around, although it's not going to be an easy process. Harvey does need to win soon, though. The administration he was hired by isn't at the school anymore, meaning there may be a sentiment for change if the Tigers don't get turned around in a hurry.

10. Grambling

It's been a tragic and trying offseason for the Grambling State basketball team.

First, Henry White, a 6-6 guard, died after being hospitalized following participation in conditioning on Grambling's campus on Aug. 14.

White had signed with the Tigers shortly before the incident, coming to the school from Hill College.

Then, coach Rick Duckett was fired/relieved of his duties at the end of September and replaced by interim coach Bobby Washington. There is speculation that the death of White may have had something to do with Duckett's dismissal, but Duckett said he didn't know why he was let go.

The rest of the team has to try to go on without him and deal with the White tragedy.

Grambling State won only six times last season, and the Tigers are hoping for better results than that this year.

With so much turnover from last year, Bobby Washington is going to have to plug in some newcomers to the Grambling State rotation. Allan Saint-gelais is a 6-6 forward who will play on the wing and get into the paint off the dribble.

Terdarin Bryson, a 6-4 guard, is solid from the perimeter and should see some minutes early in the season. The same goes for 6-5 guard Rydell Harris, who is fearless going to the hoop.

Among the returnees, guard Ariece Perkins may be more valuable to the Tigers as a playmaker after he ranked fifth in the SWAC in assists a year ago with 3.9. Perkins may be able to make his teammates into scorers if he gets them the ball in the right places on the court.

Guard Donald Qualls is going to be counted on for more scoring this year, which means his 165 3-point attempts of a year ago could be an even bigger number this season.

Washington is obviously in a very difficult situation, but he has to bring his team together and try to do something to help the GSU community: win.