SouthernCollegeSports.com
SEARCH SCS.com
SCS.com HOME
CONTACT SCS.com
SCS.com FORUM
 THE COLLEGE CORNER
CONFERENCE PAGES
 ACC
 Big East
 Big Ten
 Big XII
 CUSA
 MAC
 Mountain West
 PAC 10
 SEC
 Sun Belt
 WAC

SCS.com
LOW-MAJORS, PART I
October 17, 2005

SCS.com Hoops Preview '05 Home

Within this preview:
Atlantic Sun | Big South | Big Sky | Ivy | MAAC | Mid-Continent

ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

SCS.com The Atlantic Sun Conference featured a great race for the conference title a season ago, as Gardner-Webb and Central Florida tied for the championship, and seven other teams were within three games of the aforementioned two. Central Florida won the conference tournament title, and defeated #1 seed Gardner-Webb in the championship game. The Golden Knights gave Connecticut a valiant effort in the NCAA Tournament, but fell short by six in the first round. This season's race should be equally as exciting and tight as last year's. Gardner-Webb, co-regular season champions from a year ago, return all five starters. Player of the year candidate Tim Jennings and all-conference forward Brian Bender form the best inside-outside combo in the league. Simon Conn is one of the top low post players in the conference. Any one of the Jennings, Bender, and Conn trio could conceivably win the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year. Chris Gash and T.J. McCullough are very good players in the backcourt. East Tennessee State, formerly of the Southern Conference, return possibly the league's best player in Tim Smith. He and Ben Rhoda are a great backcourt tandem. The Bucs are also home to the conference's best rebounder in Dillon Sneed, who is a threat to get a double double every night. Brad Nuckles is back from injury to help him on the inside. Belmont returns four starters, the league's top sixth man, and possible the league's best newcomer in 6-10 Tennessee transfer Boomer Herndon. Brian Collins, Josh Goodwin, and Justin Hare form a solid perimeter trio, with all three averaging at least ten points per game. Dan Oliver and Will Peeples are solid forwards.

Lipscomb returns all five starters from a balanced team. The backcourt of Brian Fisk and James Poindexter may be the best in the conference. Shawn Durant and Cameron Robinson are the low-post guys, while Eddie Ard could develop into an excellent third scorer. Mercer is carried by an outstanding trio. Will Emerson is one of the top post players in the conference, while Damitrius Coleman was the nation's leading assist man a year ago. Swingman Jacob Skogen is a very dangerous scorer, going for almost 15 points per game. Stetson needs all their talent to come together. If it does, look out. E.J. Gordon and Anthony Register comprise an outstanding backcourt that combined for almost 31 points and 11 rebounds last season. Karl Hollingsworth is a decent forward, while Will Holloman is another solid backcourt player. Jacksonville could have been a contender for the crown had Haminn Quaintance not left the team recently. He is a huge loss. They have a deep stable of guards, including starters Antonio Cool and Jesse Kimbrough. If they can find an inside presence, the Dolphins can make some noise. Florida Atlantic has a solid duo in guard Quinton Young and forward Rodney Webb. Kahleaf Watson is a good point guard and distributor. Campbell didn't win a conference game a season ago, but they should this season. All five starters return, including Ruell Pringle and Maurice Latham, as well as Comerlee Poole, a very good rebounder. North Florida and Kennesaw State are making the jump from Division II. Neither team will make any sort of impact on the conference, although North Florida has some decent players in NAIA Player of the Year Alain LaRoche and guards Derrick Scott and Chris Timberlake.

PROJECTED STANDINGS

(1) Gardner-Webb
(2) East Tennessee State
(3) Belmont
(4) Lipscomb
(5) Mercer
(6) Stetson
(7) Jacksonville
(8) Florida Atlantic
(9) Campbell
(10) North Florida
(11) Kennesaw State

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G - Tim Smith - Senior, East Tennessee State
G - E.J. Gordon - Senior, Stetson
G - Tim Jennings - Senior, Gardner-Webb
F - Will Emerson - Senior, Mercer
C - Simon Conn - Senior, Gardner-Webb
Player of the Year: Tim Smith, East Tennessee State

POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS

NCAA: Gardner-Webb
NIT: None

BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE PREVIEW

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

SCS.com Expect the same type of season in the Big South as a year ago, when Winthrop ran away with the league. They might also be able to grab an upset win in this year's NCAA Tournament; they are that good. As opposed to most mid-major leagues, which have several teams capable of winning the crown, the Big South should be dominated by the Eagles this season. They return their top nine scorers and all five starters.The Eagles' balance is very good, but leading the way for them is Torrell Martin, the top scorer and rebounder for the team. He, at 6-5, and 6-6 James Shuler give them extraordinary size on the perimeter for a Big South team. Shuler is second on the squad in both scoring and rebounding. Chris Gaynor is a very good all-around point guard. 6-10 Craig Bradshaw and 6-8 Phillip Williams are usually too big for Big South opponents on the interior. They are also the deepest team in the league, with Otis Daniels being an excellent sixth man. In addition, Winthrop only allowed 59.1 points per game a year ago, good enough for tenth in the country. Coastal Carolina should be the main contender for Winthrop's spot. Buzz Peterson was hired after Tennessee fired him, and he is inheriting a decent team. Pele Paelay is the defending Big South Player of the Year, and is a favorite to win it again. He combines with fellow guard Jack Leasure to form possibly the best backcourt duo in the league. Inside, Adrian Gross and Moses Sonko hold down the fort. UNC-Asheville returns all five starters from a team that finished third in the Big South but went 11-17 overall. Their perimeter is decent, with K.J. Garland leading the way. However, it is their size and post depth that make them dangerous. 6-8 Chad Mohn and 6-10 started last season, but 6-9 Joe Barber may have been the most impressive of the big men. 7-1 shotblocker C.J. Walker also returns, and the Bulldogs add 7-6, 325 lb. Kenny George, the biggest player ever in the conference. The rest of the league is wide-open, but Radford seems to have the edge. They return an excellent 1-2 punch in guard Whit Holcomb-Faye, who was suspended for the final eight games of the season, and forward Chris Oliver, one of the best players in the conference. Reggie McIntyre and Andre Bynum are solid role players.

Birmingham Southern is the best of the muddled pack that is below the aforementioned group of teams. They lost three starters, but return a decent inside-outside duo in guard James Collins, and all-conference candidate Thomas Viglianco. Sredrick Powe sat out last season, but he is back this season, as are perimeter players Bucky McMillan and Arnold Gore. Virginia Military Institute has won seven games in two seasons since moving in from the Southern Conference. They should come close to matching that total this season. Reggie Williams was the league's best freshman a year ago, and Matt Coward led the conference in assists at nearly five a game. Levar Joseph joins them on the perimeter in what is one of the best trios in the Big South. Preston Beverly needs to improve his production inside. Liberty has one of the league's top players in Larry Blair, who averaged 17 points and 5 boards a year ago. He will miss his partner-in-crime David Dees, who transferred over the summer. He is going to need some help if Liberty is going to stay out of the cellar. Newcomer Damien Hubbard is expected to make a big impact. Charleston Southern returns a very talented and deep cast of perimeter players. The three returning starters are guards Terrell Brown, Thomas Harrison, and Mario Williams, while Donnell Covington and Chris Moore came off the bench but saw extensive minutes. However, they also possibly the best newcomer in the league in 6-3 Dwayne Jackson. With all the backcourt players, the Buccaneers need to find some post players to make noise within the conference. Ferdinand Cain and Trent Drafts are the best options down low. High Point returns a lot of young players that need to develop. Arizona Reid and Issa Konare are the frontcourt mainstays, as Reid was an all-freshman pick. Scott Akeem is a good scorer and defender in the backcourt, while Landon Quick runs the point. Mike Jefferson, a JC transfer, is expected to contribute immediately.

PROJECTED STANDINGS

(1) Winthrop
(2) Coastal Carolina
(3) UNC-Asheville
(4) Radford
(5) Birmingham Southern
(6) Virginia Military Institute
(7) Liberty
(8) Charleston Southern
(9) High Point

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G - Torrell Martin - Junior, Winthrop
G - Pete Paelay - Senior, Coastal Carolina
G - Larry Blair - Junior, Liberty
F - James Shuler - Senior, Winthrop
F - Chris Oliver - Junior, Radford
Player of the Year: Pete Paelay, Coastal Carolina

POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS

NCAA: Winthrop
NIT: None

BIG SKY CONFERENCE PREVIEW

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

SCS.com As always, the Big Sky Conference was fairly wide-open last season, and should be again this year. Portland State won the regular season championship by two games over Montana and Montana State, but neither of the top two seeds made it to the finals of the conference tournament. 5th seed Weber State and 3rd seed Montana met in the championship, with Montana getting the automatic bid. They proceeded to lose to Washington by a respectable 11 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Once again, there is a slew of teams capable of winning the automatic bid this season, but one team has the edge going into the season. Montana State returns all five starters from a team that finished second in the Big Sky, but only went .500 overall. Included in the returnees is the league's best inside-outside combo in guard Ja'Ron Jefferson and forward Marvin Moss. Branden Miller is a very good third option, averaging over twelve points and three assists per game. Nick Dissly and Al Beye are solid frontcourt players, while Casey Durham provides scoring off the bench. Montana has four starters back from their Tournament team, but lose their best player in Kamarr Davis. However, one of the best players in the conference, Kevin Criswell, returns. He and point guard Matt Martin form one of the best backcourts in the league. Up front, Matt Dlouhy and Andrew Strait are the main options. John Seyfert needs to step up his production from the center position. Sacramento State has the best player in the league in Jason Harris, as well as two other all-conference candidates in Alex Bausley and DeShawn Freeman. Harris, because of his quickness, is extremely difficult to defend on the offensive end. Freeman is the best point guard in the conference, and can do it all on the court. He averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals per game. Bausley is the go-to-guy in the frontcourt, and can compete down low with anyone in the league. Aaron Perry and Chris Lange are two more very solid forwards.

Northern Arizona may have the most talented offensive team in the league, but it didn't translate to wins last season, as they finished 11-17 overall and 4-10 in the conference. That should change this season. Ruben Boykin is one of the premier forwards in the conference, and provides a go-to-option down low. The perimieter trio of Steven Sir, sixth man extraordinaire DeJuan Stevens, and Kelly Golob can compete with any backcourt in the league. All three are capable of putting up big scoring numbers. Kyle Landry is another above-average player in the frontcourt. Weber State loses the best player in the league in Lance Allred, but return three starters and several other players that can keep them in the hunt. A deep perimeter that includes All-conference candidate Coric Riggs; role players Brett Cox and Jamaal Jenkins; and super sub Terell Stovall, leads the way. Stovall could move into the starting lineup this season, while Cox is a solid three point shooter. In the frontcourt, versatile David Patten will need to step up his production, while JC transfer Dan Henry should have a big impact. Eastern Washington lost three starters from a 8-20 team, but they should be improved anyway. Henry Bekkering and Jake Beitinger form a good forward tandem, while Deuce Smith could develop into an all-conference-type player in the backcourt. 6-10 Paul Butorac is expected to improve as well, and newcomer Rodney Stuckey could have a decent impact on the perimeter. Portland State lost their three best players from a year ago, including the Big Sky player of the year in Seamus Boxley, and the nation's leading assist man in Will Funn. Jake Schroeder is a decent scorer in the backcourt and Scott Morrison should develop into a solid option down low. Two transfers, Anthony Washington (Washington) and Ryan Sommer (JC), are expected to pick up some of the scoring slack. Idaho State finished last in the conference a season ago, and lose three starters. However, they do return an all-conference player in Antoine Killien and last season's Freshman of the Year Logan Kinghorn. Those two will carry the Bengals. David Schroeder is a big-time scorer who hasn't been able to contribue to his full potential in three years because of injury. A myriad of transfers, including Tim Henry (Wyoming); Kyle Hopkins (Arizona); and Jamal Holden and Akbar Abdul-Ahad (JC) are expected to shore up what is going to be a very deep perimieter corps.

PROJECTED STANDINGS

(1) Montana State
(2) Sacramento State
(3) Montana
(4) Northern Arizona
(5) Weber State
(6) Eastern Washington
(7) Portland State
(8) Idaho State

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G - Jason Harris- Senior, Sacramento State
G - Ja'Ron Jefferson - Senior, Montana State
G - Kevin Criswell - Senior, Montana
F - Marvin Moss - Senior, Montana State
F - Ruben Boykin - Junior, Northern Arizona
Player of the Year: Jason Harris, Sacramento State

POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS

NCAA: Montana State
NIT: None

IVY LEAGUE PREVIEW

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

SCS.com The only conference without a tournament, the Ivy League did not have a very exciting finish to the season. Penn clinched the league title with three games left, essentially rendering the final part of the season meaningless. They ran away with the conference from the get-go and never looked back. The Quakers lost in the first round to Boston College, in a game in which they seemed overmatched. This season should be more competitive down the stretch. Penn loses the conference Player of the Year in Tim Begley, but returns four other starters. Ibrahim Jaaber might be the best guard in the league. He can do a variety of things on the court. Mark Zoller and Steve Danley are one of the better forward tandems in the conference; both will contend for All-Conference honors. Eric Osmundson is a good three-point shooter and, along with David Whitehurst, provides scoring on the perimeter. Harvard has possibly the two best players in the league in low-post players Matt Stehle and Brian Cusworth. Both can take over a game and carry the Crimson. So, why aren't they the favorites? The other three starters are gone, including the entire backcourt. Michael Beal and Jim Goffredo are going to have to step up and produce on the perimieter. In addition, a point guard needs to come forward and claim the starting spot. Princeton is always in the thick of things, and it shouldn't be any different this season. Their top two scorers are gone, but several very capable role players are ready to step up. Luke Owings is versatile, and is an excellent three point shooter. He should become an all-conference players this season. Noah Savage and Scott Greenman are two more very good deep shooters thate are going to improve their production this year. Like Harvard, they are in need of a steady point guard to run the show.

Cornell has one of the best players in the league in swingman Lenny Collins He fills up the stat sheet and can also shoot the three. Point guard Graham Dow is an excellent defender and makes this team go. Khaliq Gant provides accurate three-point shooting on the wing. Inside players Ryan Rourke, who could develop into a solid low-post option, Andrew Naeve, Jason Hartford, and Ugo Ihekweazu should give the Big Red balance on offense. Brown loses star guard Jason Forte, but returns the other four starters. Luke Ruscoe is going to become the new go-to-guy for the Bruins. The backcourt is in decent shape with returnees Damon Huffman and Marcus Becker anchoring it. Expect improved production from both of them. There are also several guys that played supporting roles last season that are going to get more minutes this year, including guards Mark McAndrew and Keenan Jeppeson; and forwards Mark MacDonald and Sam Manhanga. Dartmouth had a decent season within the conference a season ago, going 7-7 and finishing in third. They return the best sixth man in the league from a year ago in Mike Lang, who should develop into an all-conference guard. Two returning starters anchor the frontcourt. Calvin Arnold and Chuck Flynn are solid scorers and rebounders. Johnathan Ball is another solid player on the wing. Two incoming freshmen, Marlon Sanders and Alex Barnett are expected to contribute immediately. Yale return one of the best big men in the league in Dominick Martin, who is a very good scorer and rebounder. Casey Hughes produces in a variety of aspects, and could become an all-conference players this eason. Forwards Sam Kaplan and Caleb Holmes are solid bookends, while guard Eric Flato is ready to step up in the backcourt after a very good freshman season. Columbia was the worst team in the Ivy last season and they lose their two best players from that team. However, a decent inside-outside combo does return in guard Brett Loscalzo and Dragutin Kravic. Ben Nwachukwu and John Baumann are solid contributers in the frontcourt. Mark Montomery is a returning starter on the wing.

PROJECTED STANDINGS

(1) Pennsylvania
(2) Harvard
(3) Princeton
(4) Cornell
(5) Brown
(6) Dartmouth
(7) Yale
(8) Columbia

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G - Lenny Collins - Senior, Cornell
G - Ibrahim Jaaber - Junior, Penn
F - Matt Stehle - Senior, Harvard
C - Brian Cusworth - Junior, Harvard
C - Dominick Martin - Senior, Yale
Player of the Year: Matt Stehle, Harvard

POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS

NCAA: Pennsylvania
NIT: None

MAAC CONFERENCE PREVIEW

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

SCS.com The MAAC regular season title race went down to the final day, when Rider defeated Niagara to gain a share of the championship. Only two other teams finished with ten or more wins in conference play, and the two aforementioned clubs were the only ones that were more than two games above .500 overall. Niagara went on to win the conference tournament, and gave Oklahoma a game early in the first round before getting blown out in the second half. This season should be another competitive one that has several teams in the mix for the title. Iona return four starters from a team that should improve last year's .500 record. The best backcourt in the league returns in All-Conference players Steve Burtt and Ricky Soliver, along with playmaker Marvin McCullough. Inside, they lose Greg Jenkins, but have several players capable of picking up the slack. Kiril Wachsmann returns at one forward spot, while Anthony Bruin is expected to have a breakout season. Manhattan has one of the best-kept secrets in the mid-major world in wing CJ Anderson. He can carry the Jaspers throughout the season if needed. The backcourt of Jason Wingate and Jeff Xavier is very solid, while Kenny Minor provides depth on the perimeter. Arturo Dubois can be a dominant player down low, and incoming freshman Devon Austin is expected to be a stud. Frontcourt depth is also there in Mike Konovelchick. Canisius has one of the best all-around guards in the league in Kevin Downey, who is an excellent scorer, as well as a solid rebounder and assist man. He has a great supporting cast on the perimeter. Chuck Harris and Jon Popofski both averaged about double-figures in points a season ago, while Baylor transfer Corey Herring should add depth on the wing. Up front, Darnell Willson was a solid producer in point and rebounds. Lamar transfer Ola Matti is expected to contribute in the frontcourt. Marist has possibly the best perimeter duo in the league in point Jared Jordan, who averaged 12 points, and over 4 boards and 6 assists last season, and Will Whittington, possibly the best three point shooter in the country. They carry the team. The froncourt tandem of Ben Farmer and Ryan Stilphen need to take some of the pressure off the perimeter.

Loyola can really sneak up on some teams this season. They return four starters, but it is the addition of two transfers from Maryland that give them the potential to make noise. Guard Andre Collins might develop into one of the best players in the league, while Hassan Fofana provides the Greyhounds with a legit post player. Charlie Bell and Shane James are two solid scorers that return on the perimeter, while Brad Farrell, Freddie Stanback, and Sean Corrigan form a good trio in the frontcourt. This team could be dangerous late in the season. Rider loses its best player from a year ago in Jerry Johnson as well as several other important players. However, they return a solid quartet that will keep the Broncs in the hunt. Forwards Jason Thompson and Edwin Muniz could comprise the best forward duo in the conference by the end of the year, while Paul Thompson also will be a major player in the frontcourt. On the perimeter, Terrance Mouton should increase his production and become a go-to-guy player in the backcourt. The newcomers are also expected to make an impact. St. Peter's has the best player in the conference and the best scorer in the country in 5-9 Keydren Clark. However, he is basically all that the Peacocks have. When he's off, St. Peter's stands no chance of winning. Clark is trying to become the nation's leading scorer for the third straight season. Fairfield has a very good perimeter trio in All-Conference performer Terrence Todd, DeWitt Maxwell (his eligibility is uncertain, however) and Michael Bell. If someone in the frontcourt like Alvin Carter steps up and starts producing major numbers in the paint, the Stags will beat some teams. Niagara loses the best player in the league in Juan Mendez, and won't be able to replace him easily. Guards Lorenzo Miles and James Mathis will have to pick up some of the slack left by the departing seniors, while forward J.R. Duffey also returns as a starter. Kent State transfer Clif Brown is expected to make an impact. Siena has one of the top players in the league in 6-6 forward Michael Haddix. A stable of guards contribute on the perimeter. Al Fisher returns as a starter, but Antoine Jordan, Kojo Mensah, Tay Fisher, and David Ryan all are decent producers in the backcourt.

PROJECTED STANDINGS

(1) Iona
(2) Manhattan
(3) Canisius
(4) Marist
(5) Loyola
(6) Rider
(7) St. Peter's
(8) Fairfield
(9) Niagara
(10) Siena

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G - Keydren Clark - Senior, St. Peter's
G - Steve Burtt - Senior, Iona
G - Kevin Downey - Senior, Canisius
G - Will Whittington - Junior, Marist
F - CJ Anderson - Sophomore, Manhattan
Player of the Year: Keydren Clark, St. Peter's

POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS

NCAA: Iona
NIT: Manhattan

MID-CONTINENT CONFERENCE PREVIEW

LEAGUE OVERVIEW

SCS.com The Mid-Continent was a two-team race last season between Oral Roberts and Missouri-Kansas City. Oral Roberts edged out UMKC by one game as a result of the Kangaroos losing two of their final three, and ORU winning 12 of their last 14. However, in the conference tournament, Oakland came out of nowhere to win the automatic bid with a last-second win over ORU in the title game. They won the play-in game against Alabama A&M, but, as expected, got blown out by North Carolina. Oral Roberts should run away with the league. However, they should have done the same last season, but didn't. They have the most talented team in the conference, and have the two best players in guard Ken Tutt and forward Caleb Green. Tutt and Green form one of the best inside-outside duos in the country. Tutt is a scorer while Green is a double-double lock every night out. Larry Owens is one of the best forwards in the league, while point guard Jonathan Bluitt led the conference in assists. 6-10 Mickey Michalec also returns as a starter, and should be a viable option down low. If that wasn't enough, incoming freshman Marchello Veally is supposed to make an immediate impact off the bench. Simply put, the Golden Eagles are loaded. Valparaiso returns all five starters from a team that finished third in the conference standings. Dan Oppland is a candidate for conference player of the year. He can dominate a game, and carry the Crusaders. Taking some of the pressure off Oppland and giving Valpo good balance is wing Ron Howard. He is one of the most versatile players in the league. Guards Seth Colclasure, Jarryd Loyd, and Jimmie Miles are all key players on the perimeter. Moussa Mbaye and Ali Berdiel both return in the frountcourt to help out Oppland. IUPUI has one of the best players in the conference in Brandon Cole, who can control a game from the frontcourt. Guards David Barlow and George Hill form a very good backcourt, while Maushae Byles and Michael Vavrek return up front. However, it is the addition of two newcomers that have fans excited about the Jaguars. Xavier transfer Angelo Smith is an excellent rebounder; Penn State transfer Brandon Thompson might start at the point by the end of the season; and James Thompkins is expected to make a huge impact on the wing and possibly contend for the Newcomer of the Year honor.

Western Illinois does not have any go-to-star, but they have an abundance of players that will make the Leathernecks tough within the conference. Guard David Jackson is a very talented guard, while fellow perimeter players Troy Okeson and Nathan Koster are also solid. Fred Oguns, NaVonta Kentle, and Eliz Cepeda comprise a decent forward trio. Freshman Marlon Mahorn, son of Rick Mahorn, is expected to have a big year for WIU. Eze Samuel and Chris Gonzales are two more newcomers that will see a lot of playing time. UMKC lost the majority of the team that nearly won the regular season title. However, they do return guard Quinton Day, who should be an all-conference pick. Tim Blackwell is his sidekick in the backcourt, and they make up one of the best backcourts in the conference. The Kangaroos don't have a proven frontcourt player, though. JC transfer Kyle Spears needs to have a big season inside. Oakland made an improable run in the conference tournament a season ago, but don't expect the same this season. The inside-outside duo of Rawle Marshall and Cortney Scott are gone, leaving the Golden Grizzlies with lots of holes. Guard Brandon Cassise and forwards David Carson and Patrick McCloskey are all solid returnees, but it is the addition of several newcomers that will make or break the season. Freshman Keith MacKenzie and Rutgers transfer Calvin Wooten might start next to each other in the backcourt, while Ohio State Ricardo Billings and Wright State transfer Vova Severovas are also expected to make impacts. Southern Utah doesn't return anyone that would jump out at you, but they do have a decent cast of players. Guards Rand Janes and Steve Barnes form a good backcourt, while Nate Janes and Lubor Olsocsky anchor the frontcourt. The addition of 7-foot freshman Fernando Bonfim could be huge. He will immediately step in at center. Chicago State has a decent backcourt in Royce Parran and Kevin Jones, and a couple of average frontcourt players in Marin Mulin and Nate Carter. A couple of newcomers need to pick up some of the slack left by early-entry Deji Akindele. Centenary has an all-conference player in guard Tyrone Hamilton, who could develop into a star by the end of the season. He has absolutely no supporting cast, though. JC transfer Larry Logan will get the chance to become a go-to-guy in the frontcourt.

PROJECTED STANDINGS

(1) Oral Roberts
(2) Valparaiso
(3) IUPUI
(4) Western Illinois
(5) Missouri Kansas City
(6) Southern Utah
(7) Oakland
(8) Chicago State
(9) Centenary

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

G - Ken Tutt - Junior, Oral Roberts
G - Quinton Day - Junior, UMKC
F - Brandon Cole - Senior, IUPUI
F - Caleb Green - Junior, Oral Roberts
F - Dan Oppland - Senior, Valparaiso
Player of the Year: Caleb Green, Oral Roberts

POSTSEASON PROJECTIONS

NCAA: Oral Roberts
NIT: None

Photos Courtesy: etsubucs.com, libertyflames.com, montanagrizzlies.com, collegesports.com, gojaspers.com, mid-con.com

U.S.A.
CONFERENCE SITES
COLLEGE WEBSITES
SOUTHERNCOLLEGESPORTS.COM
Copyright © 2005 SouthernCollegeSports.com. All rights reserved. This website is an unofficial and independently operated source of news and information not affiliated with any school, team, or league.