GETTING INSIDE

The fountain of basketball youth must reside in Orlando. For the second straight season, UCF will again be one of the youngest squads in the nation. The roster includes 13 underclassmen and only three upperclassmen. Eight freshmen, including two redshirts, are listed on the roster. Last season, UCF was the fifth-youngest team in the country.

Youth doesn't necessarily mean inexperience. Three starters -- A.J. Rompza, Isaac Sosa and A.J. Tyler -- and seven lettermen are back. Knights coach Kirk Speraw has also landed one of the top recruiting classes in program history.

The Knights need the reinforcements going into their fifth season in Conference USA.

"The league will be the best it has been from top to bottom since we have joined C-USA," Speraw said going into his 17th season at UCF. "Teams like UTEP, Houston, Tulsa, Marshall and Rice will all be the best that they have been since we have come into the league. Memphis is going to be a great team as well.

"I expect each game to be a battle inside the conference."

The loss of C-USA player of the year Jermaine Taylor is huge, and replacing the All-American won't be an easy task. Taylor handled most of the scoring duties a year ago for UCF, ranking third nationally at 26.2 points per game.

Speraw and his staff don't expect one player to take over Taylor's scoring role. Look for sophomore guard A.J. Rompza to take the reigns of the team. The diminutive point guard is not afraid to be a vocal leader. A Conference USA all-freshman pick in 2008-09, Rompza ranked 32nd nationally in assists per game (5.1).

NOTES, QUOTES

--Sophomore G Isaac Sosa is one of the nation's top 3-point shooters. He connected on 57 treys as a freshman, shooting 45.2 percent. Sosa made eight starts at shooting guard and averaged 8.2 points. He spent the summer playing for Puerto Rico at the FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand. Sosa averaged 9.6 points in nine games.

--Junior F A.J. Tyler, one of the few upperclassmen, will be expected to provide more offense and rebounding. In his first year at UCF after transferring from Clemson, he averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 boards. Tyler made nine starts at power forward and shot 53.7 percent.

--Now in his 17th year at UCF, Kirk Speraw is one of the most experienced coaches in the nation. In fact, he is one of just 14 coaches in the country who have spent at least 16 years at their current school, joining coaches like Jim Boeheim, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Calhoun and Gary Williams.

LAST YEAR: 17-14 overall, 7-9 in C-USA

HEAD COACH: Kirk Speraw (career 346-237); 17th year at UCF (264-216).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It is my fourth year. I understand the offense. I am trying to help the younger guys. I really enjoy it. We have a lot of guys who have come in and need to learn and pick up stuff." -- Redshirt junior G Taylor Young on the influx of new talent.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: ESPN.com and Scouts, Inc., listed UCF's class as the seventh-best "non-BCS" group in the country. Led by freshman F Keith Clanton, who was rated as the 68th-best senior in the country by Rivals.com, the class also features G Nik Garcia, G Marcus Jordan and G R.J. Scott. Clanton was named the Florida Class 1A player of the year after averaging 18.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.8 blocks. Garcia was listed as the 34th-best shooting guard in the nation according to Rivals.com, while Scott was rated as one of the top 150 players in the nation by HoopScoop.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The slate opens with a home game against UMass (Nov. 13). The Knights will play three games in nearby Daytona Beach as part of the Glenn Wilkes Classic, beginning Nov. 20 versus Auburn. UCF travels to Notre Dame on Dec. 6 and Connecticut on Dec. 20.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G A.J. Rompza, G Isaac Sosa, F Dave Diakite, F Keith Clanton, F A.J. Tyler.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Redshirt freshman F Dave Diakite is back for 2009-10. The athletic Diakite appeared in just five contests last season before suffering a season-ending injury in late November. He averaged 2.2 points and 3.6 boards, and grabbed at least five boards in three of the five contests he played in.

--Freshman G Marcus Jordan is the son of basketball legend Michael Jordan.

--Senior G Drew Speraw is the son of the head coach. He's also the lone senior on the team. Drew is in his fifth year in the program after redshirting in 2006-07.

--Jermaine Taylor was one of four C-USA players selected in the most recent NBA draft. He was picked 32nd by Washington and traded to Houston. The others were Tyreke Evans and Robert Dozier of Memphis, and Robert Vaden of UAB.

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EAST CAROLINA

GETTING INSIDE

Pirates coach Mack McCarthy knows he has a young team going into this third season at the helm. Building chemistry within the locker room could go a long way to finding success on the court for a team that figures to be overmatched against many of the top programs in Conference USA.

"Chemistry is an elusive and volatile factor in every team," McCarthy said on his blog. "Basically, if the goal of team success is common to the group you will have good chemistry. Unselfishness and work ethic are the backbone of teams with good chemistry.

"This is exactly why we are constantly preaching, 'play hard and play together.' For such a young and inexperienced team like we have this year, these traits would facilitate our goal of improving over the course of the season."

The strength of the team figures to be the inside. Chad Wynn and Darrius Morrow started a combined 35 games last season. DaQuan Joyner is back after missing the last 25 games of last season. McCarthy said each of those frontcourt players has returned bigger, stronger and improved.

Jamar Abrams is the team's most consistent outside threat. He should get help from returnees Brock Young, Jontae Sherrod and Chris Turner, plus freshmen Erin Straughn and Wakefield Ellison.

"We still have to deal with a young team, but we have enough returnees to have increased expectations," McCarthy said on his blog. "That's new. We don't have the proven shooters of the past, so even with more offensive weapons this is a new challenge for us.

"I'm not sure we have an identity yet with this group. We are trying hard to be mentally and physically tougher and a better defensive team. We certainly have a more cerebral group and I think this will pay dividends as we continue to build this program."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Junior G/F Jamar Abrams was the only player in C-USA to rank among both the league leaders in scoring (11.8 ppg) and rebounding (5.9 rpg) during conference play last year, but not among the overall C-USA leaders.

--Junior G Brock Young will look to lead C-USA in assists for the second straight season. He averaged 7.6 assists per game a year ago and ranked second in the nation that category.

--Underclassmen dominated the roster. The Pirates currently have no scholarship seniors. On the flip side, nine on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores.

LAST YEAR: 13-17 overall, 5-11 in C-USA.

HEAD COACH: Mack McCarthy (career 333-218); Third year at East Carolina (24-36).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Opening the season with seven of eight games away from the friendly confines of Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum will be difficult, but will help prepare us for the rigors of conference play. Conference USA continues to improve every year." -- Coach Mack McCarthy on the start of the season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Four freshman -- Corvonn Gaines, Darius Morales, Wakefield Ellison and Erin Straughn -- are among the five newcomers in the program. The 6-foot-4 Gaines, the younger brother of former Louisville All-America selection and first-round NBA draft pick Reece Gaines, is billed by McCarthy as a "long multi-position athlete who can play anywhere on the perimeter." Morales (6- 9, 210) is "a long, athletic shot blocker who has a tremendous upside," according to McCarthy.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: ECU meets NCAA Tournament entry Tennessee in the first round of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Nov. 20. A second-round date against Northern Iowa or DePaul follows. Clemson visits ECU on Dec. 16 with George Washington also coming Dec. 22. Two games are slated for Greensboro Coliseum -- Wake Forest on Nov. 15 and UNC Greensboro on Nov. 28.    PROGRAM DIRECTION: Nine letter winners return, including three starters. McCarthy in his third season steering the Pirates' ship, and ECU has increased its win total and place in the C-USA standings each year under McCarthy.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Brock Young, SG Jamar Abrams, C Chad Wynn, SF DaQuan Joyner, PF Darrius Morrow.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Sophomore F DaQuan Joyner was granted a medical hardship after missing the final 25 games of last season with an injury. He averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in five games played in 2008-09.

--Freshman G Corvonn Gaines is the brother of former Louisville All-America Reece Gaines.

--Junior C Chad Wynn is recovering from a foot injury. He isn't expected to miss any practice time.

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HOUSTON

GETTING INSIDE

Expectations are running high in Houston for Tom Penders' club. The Cougars return four starters from a team that won 21 games and reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years. Leading the pack are All-Conference USA senior guards Aubrey Coleman and Kelvin Lewis.

"You want expectations," Penders said. "Players who have confidence in themselves are not afraid of challenges. Those are the kind of kids you want, and those are the kind of kids we have. This is the deepest and most talented team that we have had here."

The returning veterans are complimented by one of the best recruiting classes in recent history.

"This year, I feel more comfortable with what we have," Penders said. "I feel good about all of the returning players and the experience they received and their performances."

Not only does Penders expect the team to be quick and athletic, he's excited about the added size along the frontcourt.

"We're going to be a lot bigger," he said. "Physicality will be often mentioned with this team as we get to playing and fans watch them. We have not had an abundance of physicality on any of our teams in the past, and that was something we tried hard to recruit."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior G Aubrey Coleman, the 2009 C-USA newcomer of the year and all-conference first team, returns after averaging 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. He was the only player in the league to rank in the top four in both categories.

--Senior G Kelvin Lewis, third-team all-conference and a first-team defensive pick, finished second on the team in scoring (18.0) and led the Cougars with 93 3-pointers. He only needs 79 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

--The Cougars continue to excel at home. UH posted a 12-3 record (.800) at Hofheinz Pavilion last season, with the only losses coming to Iowa State, No. 1 Memphis and Conference USA-rival UTEP. It was the fifth straight season that the Cougars recorded double-digit home wins, a first since 1988-93. UH has not recorded six straight 10-win home seasons since 1972-78.

LAST YEAR: 21-12 overall, 10-6 in C-USA; lost in first round of CBI Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Tom Penders (629-422); Sixth season at Houston (102-61).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "If there is a more talented guard tandem than Aubrey and Kelvin, I haven't seen it, and there are some very good guards in this league. To have two wing players on the floor like that gives you stability and consistency." -- Coach Tom Penders on G Aubrey Coleman and G Kelvin Lewis.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The junior-college laden class includes G Adam Brown, F Kahmell Broughton and F Maurice McNeil. Brown averaged 18.6 points for a team that went 27-5. Broughton averaged 9.4 points and 7.5 rebounds, while McNeil averaged 19.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and was named to the All-Region XVI first team. Of the freshmen, G Nick Haywood and F Kendrick Washington were two of the top high school players in Louisiana.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Cougars welcome Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Dec. 6), Troy (Dec. 14), Mississippi State (Dec. 19), TCU (Dec. 22) and Louisiana Tech (Dec. 29) in non-conference home games. Road games included at Nevada (Nov. 21) and Oklahoma at the Great Alaska Shootout (Nov. 25).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Cougars, returning four starters from last year, are one of the top teams in the conference. Houston is coming off a solid season, having advanced to the C-USA tournament semifinals and reaching the postseason for the fourth time in five years.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Desmond Wade, G Kelvin Lewis, G Aubrey Coleman, F Maurice McNeil, C Nick Mosley.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior C Nick Mosley is the only three-year letterman on the team and showed one of the great improvements in school history at the line last season. After making just 1-of-8 attempts the previous season, Mosley connected on 29-of-33 (87.9 percent) last season.

--Sophomore G Desmond Wade led the team with 113 assists last season and was one of only four players to compete in all 33 games last season. He's only the sixth freshman in school history to dish out at least 100 assists and is the school's shortest player ever at 5-foot-8.

--Senior G Kelvin Lewis never needs to look into the stands to find his father during games; he only needs to check the Cougars bench. Kevin Lewis begins his third season at Houston as the senior assistant coach. The elder Lewis works closely with post players and assists in all recruiting.

--Junior G Cory Tellis joins the team after serving as a student manager last season.

--Senior F Sean Coleman was named to the 2009 Conference USA Men's Basketball All-Academic Team. Coleman holds a 3.33 grade-point average in sociology.

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MARSHALL

GETTING INSIDE

Marshall has been a middle-of-the-pack Conference USA program during each of Donnie Jones' two seasons as coach. The Thundering Herd is hoping to step up by returning a veteran team that includes four starters and eight lettermen.

Leading the way are Chris Lutz and Tyler Wilkerson, two of only three players to average at least 10 points per game last season. They're expected to get a big boost from junior-college transfer Antonio Haymon.

Building some early season momentum won't be east. Marshall has 10 games against teams that qualified for postseason play in 2009.

The Conference USA slate is challenging enough, with five teams that earned postseason sports (NCAA: Memphis; NIT: UAB, Tulsa; CBI: UTEP, Houston). Marshall will also play home-and home league games against East Carolina, UCF, Tulane, UAB, and Tulsa.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to compete in this year's C-USA schedule," Jones said. "I feel this year's conference schedule will be the most difficult from top to bottom since my arrival with lots of parity between all of the conference teams."

Jones is counting on big things from Haymon, who earned All-American honors last season at Cecil Community College. Haymon (6-6, 220) can play both forward positions. He averaged 20 points and nine rebounds per game last season for a squad that was ranked No. 1 in the national junior college rankings for several weeks.

"Antonio will bring explosiveness, athleticism and toughness to our program," Jones said. "He is a very talented combo forward that can play multiple positions and has the ability to make an immediate impact."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior G Chris Lutz led Marshall with 65 3-pointers last season. Lutz has the ability to fill it up in a hurry, highlighted by the 34 points he scored after halftime to lead MU to a 89-86 overtime win over Tulane. Lutz's 37 points were a career high and the most by a Marshall player since Ronald Blackshear scored 40 at East Michigan in 2003.

Lutz is the top returning scorer (10.7 ppg) and scored in double figures in 15 of 32 games. He also earned a spot on the Philippines National Team. The Philippines will attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics during the 2011 Asia Championships.

--Sophomore G Damier Pitts made 32-of-34 free throws in the final two minutes of games during his freshman campaign. He was an All-Conference USA Freshman Team selection.

--Marshall drew more than 5,000 to the Cam Henderson Center eight times last season, the most since the 2000-01 campaign (12). The Thundering Herd was 13-3 at home last season and is 296-94 in the Henderson Center since the facility opened in 1981.

LAST YEAR: 15-17 overall, 7-9 in C-USA.

HEAD COACH: Donnie Jones (career 31-31); Third season overall and at Marshall.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our non-conference schedule is set up to prepare our team, which is younger than it was last year for Conference USA play. We are playing two teams in North Carolina and West Virginia that are potential preseason top-10 teams. We are also playing several other teams such as Ohio that have the potential to make the NCAA Tournament." -- Coach Donnie Jones.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Transfer F Antonio Haymon upgrades the frontline. Haymon helped lead Cecil Community College to an impressive two-year record of 65-3 by scoring 1,100 points and grabbing 550 rebounds. Freshman G DeAndre Kane averaged 15-6 points at Patterson School in Lenoir, N.C., this past season. The physical wing can score and defend.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: A trip to Chapel Hill to face defending national champion North Carolina on Dec. 22 is looming large. Marshall also travels to Old Dominion on Nov. 21. Lamar visits Huntington on Nov. 25.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Four starters are returning from a squad that flirted with a .500 record. The seven returning letter winners accounted for more than 55 points and nearly 22 rebounds per game last season. The Thundering Herd hasn't been in either of the two major postseason tournaments (NCAA or NIT) in more than two decades.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Damier Pitts, SG Chris Lutz, F Tirrell Baines, F Antonio Haymon, F Tyler Wilkerson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior G Darryl Merthie has earned another year of eligibility due to academic progress. Merthie is one of three seniors on the Marshall squad. The 6-foot guard led MU in assists six times last season.

--Senior F Tyler Wilkerson returns after missing the final 10 games last season due to a broken jaw. Wilkerson led Marshall in rebounding (6.2) and blocks (1.6).

--Adam Williams was chosen as one of five members of the C-USA All-Academic team. Williams was one of 12 recipients of the Winter Conference USA Spirit of Service Award. Williams has elected to forego his final year of playing eligibility to join the MU staff as a graduate assistant manager.

--Sophomore F Eladio Espinosa will sit out the season after transferring from South Florida.

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MEMPHIS

GETTING INSIDE

The signature program in Conference USA underwent a major makeover after dealing with a tumultuous off-season. Josh Pastner takes over as coach after John Calipari bolted for Kentucky.

Calipari is credited for building Memphis back into a national powerhouse, but his tenure wasn't without issues. The Tigers dealt with an NCAA ruling this off-season that the 38 wins and trip to the 2008 national championship game had to be vacated after using an ineligible player, who was identified as former NBA top pick Derrick Rose.

Pastner came to Memphis as an assistant coach before the 2008-09 campaign after a six-year stint as an assistant at his alma mater on Hall of Famer Lute Olson's staff at the University of Arizona (2003-08). During Pastner's time in Tucson, the Wildcats averaged 23 wins per season (137-60 record), captured two Pac-10 regular-season titles, advanced to two NCAA Tournament regional finals and made six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

In his one year in Memphis, Pastner helped lead the Tigers to a 33-4 overall record, a sweep of the C-USA regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. The 31-year-old Pastner will be the second-youngest head coach in NCAA Division I when the 2009-10 season starts.

Pastner doesn't expect his league counterparts to take it easy on him or the Tigers.

"Conference USA is a league that is getting better every year, and 2009-10 is no different," he said. "I believe this is the year that Conference USA will be a multiple-bid NCAA Tournament league, and there's going to be a lot of exciting games in the conference this season.

"We realize that, because of our recent success in the conference, we have a bull's-eye on our back."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior G Doneal Mack is the only player returning with more than 10 starts under his belt. Mack opened the game 32 times last season and his 8.7 scoring average was good for fifth on the team.

--The Tigers have had at least a 25-game win streak for three straight years (25 in 2006-07; 26 in 2007-08; 27 in 2008-09) and are the only program in NCAA Division I history to accomplish that feat. The 61-game conference winning streak (regular-season and tournament games) is the second-longest in NCAA history.

--Senior G Willie Kemp is third on the school's all-time list for 3-pointers made with 176. Kemp hit 21 last season despite starting just two games.

LAST YEAR: 33-4 overall, 16-0 in C-USA; Lost in third round of NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Josh Pastner (0-0 overall); First season at Memphis.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know the fans were looking forward to seeing Angel on the court this year, and we were as well. But we'll rally around Angel, and our players and coaching staff will be there for him throughout his rehab." -- Coach Josh Pastner on injured sophomore forward Angel Garcia, who also missed all of last season with an injury and while awaiting clearance from the NCAA.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Four freshmen swingmen -- Drew Barham, Tyler Foster, D.J, Stephens and Malik Thomas -- are being counted on to replenish the depth lost by four departing starters. The program also received a boost when Duke transfer G Elliot Williams was given immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The non-conference schedule is highlighted by visits from in-state rival Tennessee (Dec. 31) and Gonzaga (Feb. 6). The only true non-conference road game is a Jan. 6 meeting at Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Memphis has reached at least the NCAA Sweet 16 for the last four seasons.

Memphis was eliminated by No. 3 seed Missouri, 102-91, in the 2009 Sweet 16. The Tigers are also working on a nine-year streak of postseason appearances and at least 20 victories. The 267 wins over the last decade rank only behind Duke (291) and Kansas (282).

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Doneal Mack, G Elliot Williams, G Roburt Sallie, F Wesley Witherspoon, F Pierre Niles-Henderson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Martin Ngaloro won't be with the program after suffering a knee injury. The native of France had signed with the Tigers but has decided to stay home and rehabilitate.

--Transfer G Elliot Williams (6-4, 180) has been granted his transfer waiver request by the NCAA and is eligible to play the 2009-10 season for the Tigers. The combo guard played his freshman season at Duke in 2008-09.

--Sophomore F Angel Garcia suffered an ACL tear in his right knee and is expected to miss the entire season. Garcia's injury occurred during a non-contact drill in individual workouts at the Larry O. Finch Center.

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RICE

GETTING INSIDE

There's a sense at Rice that good things are happening. The 10 wins last season under first-year coach Ben Braun were a substantial improvement over the previous campaign. The Owls return four starters and have an incoming freshman class which has been rated among the best for schools outside the six BCS conferences.

Rice graduated its leading scorer, Rodney Foster, but the Owls return five players who each averaged more than eight points per game and started at some point during the season. The Owls' two top returning scorers will both be sophomores this season. As freshmen, Lucas Kuipers and Connor Frizzelle averaged 8.8 and 8.7 points, respectively. Returning junior Trey Stanton averaged 8.3 points and a team-leading 5.0 rebounds in his first season at Rice.

Rice returns nine lettermen and welcomes one of the program's top recruiting classes. ESPN.com ranked the Owls' class No. 3 among NCAA Division I mid-major programs, while Rivals.com ranked the program's early signing class among its top 10 for mid-majors.

The challenging non-conference schedule features games against Texas, Arizona, LSU and TCU.

"Once again we will play one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the league," Braun said. "Our goal is to always improve and playing against good competition will help us achieve that goal."

There's also some momentum at the turnstiles. The Owls moved into the renovated Tudor Fieldhouse last year and saw significant improvement in attendance. Rice's attendance gains, up 45 percent, ranked among the top 20 among for NCAA Division I schools.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Last season, Rice established new game and season records for 3-point field goals made. Rice made 16 treys en route to a win over Southern Miss and 218 during the year, with a 38.2 percentage that's third in school history.

--Senior G Lawrence Ghoram has started the Owls' last 32 C-USA regular-season games. As a junior, he averaged 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds.

--Junior C Trey Stanton saw his first action for the Owls last season after transferring from the Naval Academy following his freshman season. He started 27 games as a sophomore, averaging 8.3 points and a team-leading 5.0 rebounds.

LAST YEAR: 10-22 overall, 4-12 in C-USA

HEAD COACH: Ben Braun (career 562-411); Second season at Rice (10-22).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I feel our first recruiting class has excellent balance and diversity, which should help us considerably next year. In addition to being solid basketball players, this is also a class of outstanding young men. They will fit in very well at Rice." -- Coach Ben Braun on the highly rated recruiting class.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Basketball Times rated the Rice University recruiting class as No. 30 in the nation, while also earning recognition from ESPN.com and Rivals.com. Coach Ben Braun and the Owls welcome six newcomers this season -- five freshmen and transfer Stuart Pirri. A pair of power forwards -- Arsalan Kazemi (6-8, 190) and Egheosa Edomwonyi (6-7, 225) -- are among the top prospects nationally at their position. SG Tamir Jackson (6-2, 180) was named New Jersey's Player of the Year by NJ.com/Newark Star-Ledger.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Four opponents advanced past the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009. The Owls play host to Texas on Nov. 29 in the first meeting between the schools on the Rice campus since 1996. The nonconference road schedule includes games at perennial Pac-10 power Arizona (Nov. 19) and at defending SEC champion LSU (Dec. 16).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: While it seems like a modest improvement, Rice more than tripled its win total from the previous season by posting a 10-22 record in Ben Braun's first year. The Owls also snapped a lengthy road losing streak with a 69-66 C-USA victory at UCF. Rice defeated a higher-seeded team at the C-USA Tournament for the second time in three years as the Owls advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over Marshall.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Connor Frizzelle, G Cory Pflieger, G Lawrence Ghoram, F Lucas Kuipers, C Trey Stanton.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior Cory Pflieger will begin his fifth season with the Owls. He suffered a season-ending injury just five games into his junior year (2007-08) and received a medical redshirt and was granted an extra year of eligibility before the 2008-09 season. As a fourth-year junior, Pflieger averaged 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. Pflieger, who has now played in 81 career games, will be one of only two seniors on this year's team.

--Freshman F Arsalan Kazemi served as captain for Iran's FIBA Under 19 World Championship team. Kazemi averaged 16.6 points and 12.2 rebounds during five games at the championships in Auckland, New Zealand.

--Freshman F Chris Eversley is the first male student at Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago to sign a national letter-of-intent with a Division I basketball program. The school was founded in 2000.

--Junior C Trey Stanton saw his first action for the Owls during the 2008-09 season after transferring from the Naval Academy following his freshman season. He started 27 games as a sophomore, averaging 8.3 points and a team-leading 5.0 rebounds.

--Rice is one of only two C-USA teams to have a player named to the league's all-academic team each of the past three seasons. Rice also had six members of the men's team named to the 2008-09 C-USA commissioner's honor roll, more than any other basketball program in the league.

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SOUTHERN METHODIST

GETTING INSIDE

It's time for Matt Doherty to get the ball rolling at SMU, and he should have the horses to do it. The Mustangs welcome four starters and 11 lettermen back into the stables for Doherty's fourth season as head coach.

The lineup is made up of two seniors, five juniors, six sophomores and two freshmen, and every one of them was recruited by Doherty. The only starter not back is Bamba Fall, a Conference USA All-Defensive Team selection.

Last year was a difficult one for SMU. The Mustangs won only nine games overall and three in Conference USA, and had won fewer games in passing season under Doherty. Last year's team was built around newcomers and their struggles were obvious. But there were definite signs of potential.

A first-year player led the Mustangs in scoring in 27 of 30 games last season, which was the highest percentage (90.0) in the nation. Paul McCoy led 12 times as a freshman, Derek Williams led in scoring 10 times as a junior, Mouhammad Faye three times as a junior, and Robert Nyakundi led twice as a redshirt freshman.

"Paul McCoy has star qualities," Doherty said. "He's not afraid."

SMU is searching for more offensive balance. The Mustangs have been a perimeter-based attack under Doherty, drilling 589 3-pointers the last three seasons. That's the most in any three-year period in SMU history.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior F Mouhammad Faye averaged 17.3 points for Senegal in the FIBA Africa Championships this past summer. Senegal finished 5-4, which was good for seventh place after a ninth-place finish last year. Faye also averaged 3.8 rebounds per game and shot 46.7 percent from the field.

--Sophomore G Paul McCoy led the team in scoring 12 times last season, tying the SMU record for a freshman. He averaged 13.4 points per game en route to becoming the first freshman to ever lead SMU in scoring. McCoy also earned two C-USA rookie of the week honors.

--The Mustangs improved in 13 of 19 statistical categories ranked by Conference USA last season, including scoring, scoring defense, overall and 3-point field-goal percentage, overall and 3-point field-goal percentage defense, and rebounding margin.

LAST YEAR: 9-21 overall, 3-13 in C-USA.

HEAD COACH: Matt Doherty (career 123-129); Fourth year at SMU (33-58).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This schedule reflects the evolution of SMU basketball. We now have a more experienced lineup combined with a schedule that will maximize our homecourt advantage at Moody Coliseum." -- Coach Matt Doherty on upgraded schedule that includes games with Texas A&M, UNLV, South Florida and TCU.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: A pair of junior-college signees -- C Myles Luttman and G Rodney Clinkscales -- should work their way into the rotation. Matt Doherty signaled both out for their toughness. Luttman helped San Diego City College to a 28-5 record and a Pacific Coast Conference title. Clinkscales, a sharpshooter from Dodge City Community College, was named all-conference second team as a freshman.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The season starts with six consecutive home games, beginning with South Florida (Nov. 13) and Texas A&M (Nov. 16). The Mustangs take part in the inaugural Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, facing UNLV on Dec. 22

PROGRAM DIRECTION: This is Doherty's program completely. He's recruited all the players on the roster, including a Conference USA All-Freshman team honoree each of the last two seasons; Paul McCoy (2008-09) and Papa Dia (2007-08). McCoy anchored a class rated as high as No. 33 nationally and Dia headlined a class rated as high as No. 24. Now Doherty has to start winning.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Paul McCoy, G Derek Williams, F Frank Otis, F Mouhammad Faye, F Papa Dia.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior G Derek Williams averaged a team-high 3.5 assists last season, good for 11th in C-USA. He ranked 12th in conference play at 3.44.

--Junior F Papa Dia is in the running for a starting spot. He played in all 30 games last season, with 11 starts, and averaged 4.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. He led the team in rebounding six times.

--Assistant coaches Reggie Brown and Reggie Geary joined the staff. Brown spent seven years as an assistant coach at Texas-Arlington. Geary, a former NBA player, joins the Mustangs with five years of coaching experience, including a 2009 NCAA Sweet 16 season at Arizona, his alma mater.

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SOUTHERN MISS

GETTING INSIDE

The Golden Eagles have plenty of holes to fill, but coach Larry Eustachy feels the job of plugging those holes is on track. Eight newcomers fill out the roster, while only six letter winners are back from last year's team.

"We're going to have the best team that Southern Miss has had in a long time," Eustachy said.

With the graduation of starters Courtney Beasley and Craig Craft, and Jeremy Wise foregoing his senior season, Southern Miss will have to replace 65 percent of its scoring from last year. Wise and Beasley were the team's two leading scorers last season.

It was a trying time for Eustachy and the Golden Eagles a season ago. Two guards who were being counted on to provide depth in the backcourt -- Jerome Clyburn and Sai'Quon Stone -- missed most of the season with foot injuries. Stone was averaging 28.3 minutes before getting hurt.

Eustachy points to those two being healthy, a solid recruiting class and a pair of starters returning as reasons for optimism. Junior guard R.L. Horton averaged 12.7 points last season (third on the team) and started all 32 games.

"We're going to have the best talent we've had," Eustachy said, "but it'll take us a while to get the team right because of all the new guys."

The Golden Eagles lost 11 of their last 13 games, including a 74-73 heartbreaker to UAB in the second round of the Conference USA tournament. The ragged finish, plus the injuries, didn't dampen Eustachy's resolve.

"You learn through adversity," he said.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Junior G R.L. Horton needs just 199 points to become the 34th Golden Eagle to record 1,000 points in his career.

--Senior F Andre Stephens needs only 62 rebounds to become the 24th player to pull down 500 rebounds in his career.

--Despite run-of-the-mill results, Larry Eustachy enters his sixth season as the leader of the Southern Miss basketball program. He has a 75-80 record over the previous five years and needs just 15 victories to record his 350th career win.

LAST YEAR: 15-17 overall, 4-12 in C-USA

HEAD COACH: Larry Eustachy (career 335-225); Sixth year at Southern Miss (75-80).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've had a lot of setbacks." -- Coach Larry Eustachy on last season, with included a number of injuries and 1-10 stretch to close out the regular season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: F Torye Pelham (6-6, 225) brings more bulk to the frontline after spending the last two years at Chipola Junior College. The Nashville native, a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, helped the Indians to a 32-2 record by averaging 9.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 blocks last season. Pelham joins JC transfer F Josimar Ayarza (Panama) and freshman F Pedro Macias (Brazil), who both signed in the fall.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Golden Eagles travel to Ole Miss to face the Rebels on Dec. 5, marking the first time Southern Miss will travel to Oxford since the 1995-96 season. They open up 2010 on the road at Vanderbilt for an afternoon tilt Jan. 2. It's just the second meeting all time.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Larry Eustachy promises this will be the most talented team in his six years on the job. The Golden Eagles began last season 13-6 before falling apart down the stretch.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG R.L. Horton, SG Sai'Quon Stone, SF Torye Pelham, PF Andre Stephens, C Gustavo Lino.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Redshirt freshman G Jerome Clyburn and redshirt junior G Sai'Quon Stone will return to the team after missing most of last year with injuries. Clyburn missed all but three games after breaking a bone in both feet, while Stone sat out the final 23 games after breaking his foot.

--Assistant coach Greg Heiar joined Larry Eustachy's staff after spending the last six years at Chipola Junior College, the last five as the head coach. While at Chipola, Heiar led the Indians to a 164-15 record. He has coached 40 all-conference players and sent 39 players to Division I schools. He was named the Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year the last five years, and has earned NJCAA Region VIII Coach of the Year four of the last five years.

--Jeremy Wise decided to forgo his senior season after declaring for the NBA draft and signing with an agent. The point guard led the Golden Eagles last season, averaging 16.7 points and 4.69 assists, en route to placing fourth on the junior scoring list with 533 points. The third-team All-Conference USA selection was also the first Golden Eagle to record 500 points in three straight seasons since Clarence Weatherspoon recorded that feat from 1989 to 1992. Wise started all 96 games in his three-year career, finishing with 1,691 points, good for sixth place on the all-time Southern Miss scoring list and 11th place in Conference USA history.

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TEXAS-EL PASO

GETTING INSIDE

The Miners have improved from 14 wins to 19 to 23 in Tony Barbee's first three years as coach. Last season's squad finished fourth in Conference USA and reached the postseason College Basketball Invitational for the second straight time, losing in the finals.

So what's next for a proud program?

"You never know what the next step is," Barbee said. "What I have been happy with is the progress that we've made on a year-to-year basis. In today's society everybody wants something instantaneously, but it doesn't work that way in athletics.

"There's a process that you have to go through. Every year we have taken another step in a positive direction, and I see no reason why that shouldn't continue this year. I know the goals that I've established for this team, but you never know how things are going to work out until the games are played."

The Miners will take those steps with a roster dominated by one class. Of the 13 players, 11 are juniors. The exceptions are freshman Marcus Ruppel and sophomore Arnett Moultrie.

The 11 juniors represent the largest composition by class in UTEP history. Before this year, the largest class was eight on four occasions. This year's team is the first with no seniors since 1953-54.

One senior last season stood out above the rest. Stefon Jackson left UTEP as C-USA's all-time leading scorer. Replacing that void figures to be a group effort. Julyan Stone, Randy Culpepper and Arnett Moultrie are returning starters. Derrick Caracter and Christian Polk are two high-profile transfers.

"This team, with our ability to score from guys one through five, should be as balanced as any I've been around," Barbee said. "If we don't have minimum of five, maybe six guys in double figure scoring for the season, I'll be shocked."

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Foster Stevens Basketball Complex, in the works for nearly three years, officially opened its doors April 22. UTEP announced plans to build the $14.3 million, 43,000-square-foot complex three years ago. The facility features two practice courts, a strength-and-conditioning center, sports medicine center, academic/film rooms, coaches' offices, locker rooms, equipment room and lounges for the UTEP basketball programs.

--Junior G Randy Culpepper joined UTEP's 1,000-point club of last season. He became the first player in school history to notch 1,000 points as a sophomore. Only Jim Barnes, Antoine Gillespie and Omar Thomas -- all transfers -- achieved the milestone in their first two seasons. Culpepper also made his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor, accumulating 67 steals. Only former Miners great Tim Hardaway had more in a season.

--Junior G Julyan Stone dished out an impressive 236 assists, 6.38 per game, leading the Miners to a 23-14 finish last season. He not only set the school record for most assists in a season but also broke the conference mark previously set by Charlotte's Sean Colson in 1997-98.

LAST YEAR: 23-14 overall, 10-6 in C-USA; Lost in finals of CBI.

HEAD COACH: Tony Barbee (career 56-45); Fourth year at UTEP and overall.    QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is the biggest, most athletic, and the longest team that I have had since I've been here. It's a very skilled team. We have multiple guys who can do a variety of different things. This should be the best perimeter shooting team since I've been here. I'm excited to get started. We have a lot of pieces in place, and now we need to put it together." -- Coach Tony Barbee on the makeup of his squad.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Junior F Derrick Caracter, junior G Christian Polk, freshman G/F Marcus Ruppel, junior G Myron Strong and junior F Jeremy Williams are the five new faces. Caracter is a Louisville transfer who was regarded as one of the nation's top prep players coming out of Notre Dame Prep School. He averaged over eight points per game in two seasons for the Cardinals (2006-08). Polk averaged 12 points per game as a freshman at Arizona State in 2006-07. Ruppel averaged over 21 points per game his final two high school seasons. Strong and Williams were teammates both in high school and at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Non-conference games are lined up against rival New Mexico State, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. UTEP will play at New Mexico State (Dec. 1) and Texas Tech (Jan. 3). The Miners are also on the road in what they're billing as neutral-site games against Ole Miss (Dec. 16 in Southhaven, Miss.) and OU (Dec. 21 in Oklahoma City).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: UTEP earned its second straight berth to the College Basketball Invitational and picked up four wins to advance to the final game of the best-of-three championship series. With their fifth postseason berth in the last six years, the Miners set a number of school records: games played (37), points scored (2,788), field goals made (931), field goals attempted (2,200), free throws made (731) and free throws attempted (1,021).

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Julyan Stone, SG Randy Culpepper, SF Christian Polk, PF Arnett Moultrie, C Wayne Portalatin.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Sophomore F Arnett Moultrie earned a spot on the FIBA U19 Team USA squad that won the gold medal at this year's World Championships, held in New Zealand. Moultrie had his best performance of the tournament in the 88-80 win over Greece in the gold medal game. He played 21 minutes, his most extensive of the championships, and just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

--Three returning UTEP players achieved significant milestones last season. G Randy Culpepper established school records for 3-pointers made in a season (89) and a career (170). F Arnett Moultrie became only the third Miner to secure 300 rebounds in a season, and the first since the 1960s. G Julyan Stone dished out 236 assists to eclipse Filiberto Rivera's season standard of 229 dimes in 2004-05.

--Junior C Claude Britton returns after missing the last eight games of last season with an illness. He averaged 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks. His 31 blocks were second on the squad.

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TULANE

GETTING INSIDE

Tulane is looking to build on the momentum it picked up to finish last season. Dave Dickerson's club won four of its final six games, with both losses coming to nationally ranked Memphis in the regular season finale and in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinal round.

The Green Wave returns nine letter winners for the 2009-10 campaign, including three starters, and will feature one player who sat out last season and three newcomers. TU's veteran-laden roster includes three seniors, five juniors, two sophomores, one redshirt freshman and two true freshmen.

Tulane returns one of the program's most productive players from the past three seasons in senior point guard Kevin Sims. He teams up with guard Kris Richard, a junior and one of league's best defenders, to give Tulane one of the league's best and most experienced backcourts.

But Tulane does need help up down low. Senior forward Asim McQueen is returning starter and the only other player back besides Sims and Richard that averaged more than six points last season. Dickerson added a pair of freshmen recruits late -- Terrance Beasley and Kelth Cameron -- to shore up the frontline.

"We've lost a lot of good inside players over the last three years and we're trying to replenish that now and by adding Terrance and Kelth," Dickerson said.

One constant for Tulane during Dickerson's tenure has been its success in opening-round games of the Conference USA tournament. Last season, the Green Wave moved to 4-0 under Dickerson when it downed East Carolina 69-59 in the first round of the 2009 Conference USA Men's Basketball tournament.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior G Kevin Sims was one of 34 players from around the nation, and the lone representative from Conference USA, named to the 2009 Bob Cousy Award Watch List. Last season, Sims led the team in scoring (13.0), assists (4.0), three-point field goals (51), free throws (110) and minutes played (35.0) and was the only player to start all 31 games.

--Junior G Kris Richard is one of the top thieves in the conference. Last season, Richard ranked second among the league's top steals leaders during C-USA contests with 2.1 per game and was fourth overall with 2 per outing. Richard had seven games with three or more steals, including a pair of contests with five thefts.

--Tulane has a record of 37-18 (.672) at Fogelman Arena and a mark of 22-8 (.733) against non-conference teams in New Orleans under Dave Dickerson.

LAST YEAR: 14-17 overall, 7-9 in C-USA.

HEAD COACH: Dave Dickerson (career 60-62); Fifth season overall and at Tulane.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is a very challenging schedule, the toughest we will play since I have been the head coach, but this schedule will prepare us for conference play and will help us compete for a conference championship." -- Coach Dave Dickerson on the schedule that includes 11 games against postseason teams from last season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Tulane bolstered each position on the floor with the additions of freshman PG Jordan Callahan, junior-college transfer G/F Aaron Holmes, freshman F Terrance Beasley and freshman F/C Kelth Cameron. Holmes (6-5, 195) was rated as a top 50 national prospect as a senior in high school before spending last season Santa Fe Community College. Beasley ranked as the No. 48 small forward by ESPN.com.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The season opens at home Nov. 13 with the program's first meeting against Georgetown. Tulane is also part of the Charleston Classic (Nov. 19-22). The eight-team field includes Davidson, LaSalle, Miami, Penn State, South Carolina, South Florida and UNC Wilmington. The Wave opens the Classic against Miami and will face either Penn State or UNC Wilmington in the second round.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: After back-to-back winning seasons, the Green Wave took a step last year. But the program is still in better shape than what coach Dave Dickerson inherited. Tulane had just one winning season in the five years before he took over. The Green Wave should be in the running for a winning record overall and in C-USA with an experienced club that sports one of the top backcourts in the league.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Ben Uzoh, SG Justin Hurtt, SF Bishop Wheatley, PF Steven Idlet, C Jerome Jordan.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Redshirt freshman G/F Kendall Timmons is back after he was lost for the majority of the 2008-09 season with a back injury. Before being sidelined, Timmons averaged 5.4 points per contest but was coming on strong after posting a career-best 18 points on the road at George Mason. He played injured in the next game against Binghamton and did not return.

--Senior F Asim McQueen registered the best season of his collegiate career during 2008-09 with 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 28.4 minutes per game. He scored a career-best 20 points vs. UC Davis and posted two double-doubles.

--Junior G Kris Richard's 59 steals last season were good enough for 10th place on the school's single-season list.

--Senior G Eric Vianney, junior G/F Johnny Mayhane and junior G Kris Richard combined for 67 3-pointers last season.

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TULSA

GETTING INSIDE

Paced by the return of leading scorers Ben Uzoh and Jerome Jordan, the Golden Hurricane is poised to pick up this season where it left off. Tulsa went 25-11 last year and reached the second round of the NIT.

That continues a string of three straight 20-win seasons under coach Doug Wojcik, who recently received a six-year contract extension. Wojcik has won 81 games in his first four years on the job, and he already ranks sixth on the school's all-time coaching wins list.

His last two teams won 25 games -- a first in school history -- and made consecutive appearances in the Conference USA championship game. The 2008 team went 25-14 and won the inaugural postseason College Basketball Invitational title.

Four starters and seven lettermen return from a Hurricane team that finished in second place in the C-USA regular season with a 12-4 record. Uzoh, a senior guard, led the team in scoring (14.0) and assists (3.6). Jordan, a senior center, averaged 13.8 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.

"We have our most experienced team returning, we have some depth and potentially we have a favorable schedule that gives us some national exposure," Wojcik said.

Tulsa returns 81 percent of its scoring and 82 percent of its rebounding from last season, and Uzoh and Jordan both earned all-conference honors last season.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior C Jerome Jordan enters the 2009-10 season with 251 career blocked shots and needs just 15 more to set the school's all-time record and 63 to establish the C-USA career record. Jordan also ranks 11th on Tulsa's all-time rebounding chart (667). He ranked among the nation's leaders in 2008-09 for three categories -- including 19th for blocked shots per game (2.5), 22nd for field-goal percentage (58.6) and 50th for rebounds per game (8.6).

--Senior G Ben Uzoh became just the fourth player in school history and the second-fastest to reach the career plateaus for 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals. He has 1,417 career points, 542 rebounds, 262 assists and 128 steals.

--The Golden Hurricane ranked second nationally in 2008-09 for 3-point defense, allowing its opponents to shoot just 27.7 percent.

LAST YEAR: 25-11 overall, 12-4 in C-USA; Lost in second round of NIT.

HEAD COACH: Doug Wojcik (career 81-53); Fifth season overall and at Tulsa.    QUOTE TO NOTE: "Naturally, we're excited. We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity, as a coach, to be as involved as we are at The University of Tulsa and within the city of Tulsa. Tulsa is a great job and a wonderful place to raise a family." -- Coach Doug Wojcik on receiving a six-year contract extension.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: A pair of highly touted freshmen add immediate depth to the backcourt. PG Donte Medder out of Mesa, Ariz., was considered one of the nation's top point guards by ESPN.com, ranking No. 14 on the list. F/G Bryson Pope (6-6, 205) entered his senior season as one of the state of Oklahoma's top players and claimed the Tulsa World Oklahoma player of the year award.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Regional rival and Big 12 power Oklahoma State travels to Tulsa for a matchup at the Reynolds Center on Dec. 2. Florida International, under first-year coach and NBA legend Isiah Thomas, visits the Hurricane on Nov. 15. A trip to the Las Vegas Classic opens with another Big 12 team, Nebraska, on Dec. 22.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Tulsa is coming off its third straight 20-win season, including back-to-back seasons with 25 wins and postseason berths. With four starters and seven letter winners returning, coach Doug Wojcik and his team have earned some recognition. Two early preseason polls, ESPN.com and The Sporting News, have Tulsa in the top 25.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Junior G Justin Hurtt gave Tulsa another scoring threat in 2008-09, as he scored in double digits in 17 of the final 26 games as a sophomore.

--Sophomore F Steven Idlet is coming off a solid showing at the Conference USA tournament. As a freshman, Idlet played 17.0 minutes in the three games and averaged 6.0 points and 3.7 rebounds, while shooting 54 percent from the field.

--G Scottie Haralson transferred to Tulsa from Connecticut. Haralson will sit out the 2009-10 season and have three years of eligibility remaining when he becomes eligible.

--F D.J. Magley transferred to TU from Western Kentucky. Magley will sit out the 2009-10 season and have two years of eligibility remaining when he becomes eligible.

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UAB

GETTING INSIDE

Mike Davis isn't starting from scratch, but the Blazers will definitely have a new feel when they hit the court this season. The Blazers lost seven letter winners, six of whom were seniors, off last year's 22-12 NIT squad. Chief among those losses were the all-conference trio of Lawrence Kinnard, Paul Delaney III and Robert Vaden.

They departed UAB as three of the best players to ever don the Green & Gold. They also achieved a feat that had never been done in UAB history, becoming the first threesome of UAB teammates to reach the 1,000-career-point plateau in the same season.

With their departures, plus the others, UAB lost approximately 90 percent of its scoring and rebounding from last season. UAB returns only one player (Aaron Johnson) who started at least half of the games last season and three letter winners.

But playing with low numbers is something the Blazers are accustomed to. Over the final 24 games of 2008-09, the Blazers played with only nine men on the squad, including two walk-ons. The team had just five scholarship players over the final three months.

With such a large departing class, UAB will look like a new team this season. Mike Davis has brought in eight newcomers this season, including five freshmen, two junior-college players and a transfer. Minutes and opportunity will be there for those who take advantage.

Repeating last season's 11-5 march, good for third place, through Conference USA won't be easy.

"Conference USA is going to be an improved league from top to bottom so we are going to have our work cut out for us," Davis said. "We're looking forward to getting things started."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Senior F Howard Crawford averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds last season, which makes him the team's top returning scorer and rebounder. He averaged just 2.8 points and 1.2 rebounds his first two seasons. Crawford shot 52 percent from the floor last season, achieving career highs in nearly every offensive category.

--Junior G Aaron Johnson collected 123 assists with just 63 turnovers last season. His 261 career assists rank just outside the school's top 10. The Blazers are 26-7 when he has at least four assists in a game.

--A few milestones are on tap this season. Fourth-year coach Mike Davis' first game will mark his 100th career game at the helm of the UAB program. Additionally, Davis is only seven games away from coaching his 300th game overall. The Blazers are 16 games from playing the 1,000th game in program history.

LAST YEAR: 22-12 overall, 11-5 in C-USA; Lost in first round of NIT.

HEAD COACH: Mike Davis (career 175-118); Fourth year at UAB (60-39).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is great news. You are talking about two fifth-year seniors with over 170 college games played between them. They will give us leadership, depth and maturity. We are very excited to have them cleared to play with us this season." -- Coach Mike Davis on the NCAA ruling allowing transfers George Drake and Kenneth Cooper to play this season. Both graduated from their previous schools.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: F Elijah Millsap, a transfer from Louisiana-Lafayette, made 40 starts during his first two collegiate seasons. The former Sun Belt freshman of the year (2007) is expected to make an immediate contribution in the frontcourt. JC transfer G Jamarr Sanders played one season at Northwest Florida State College and earned all-conference honors by leading his team in points (18.5), assists (4.5) and field-goal percentage (53.0). Freshman G Dexter Fields was one of top shooting guards in Florida.    KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: After taking part in the Hispanic College Fund Tournament at Kent State (Nov. 13-15), the Blazers open up their home schedule with Georgia on Nov. 21. Other high-profile matchups include Cincinnati (Dec. 16), Butler (Dec. 22), at Virginia (Dec. 30) and at Arkansas (Jan. 2).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: UAB made its 10th NIT last season, its sixth postseason over the last seven seasons. Combined with 13 NCAA Tournament appearances in school history, the Blazers have recorded 23 overall postseason appearances in the 31 years of the men's basketball program.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Aaron Johnson, G Jamarr Sanders, F Elijah Millsap, F Howard Crawford, F Cameron Moore.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Junior F Elijah Millsap is a transfer from Louisiana-Lafayette who sat out the 2008-09 season. He's eligible to play this season. Millsap averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in his last year at Lafayette.

--Sophomore F Cameron Moore has plenty to build on after a solid first year. Despite being the only true freshman on the team, Moore saw action in 26 of 34 games and led the team in field-goal percentage (57.4 percent), connecting on 35-of-61 shots from the floor.

--Senior G George Drake has been granted eligibility after graduating and transferring from Vanderbilt. He's enrolled in grad school at UAB. He played 96 career games at Vanderbilt, averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds.

--Senior C Kenneth Cooper has been granted eligibility this season after graduating and transferring from Louisiana Tech. At 6-10 and 260 pounds, Cooper gives UAB a true center for the first time in recent memory. He played in 67 games at Louisiana Tech, making 28 starts.