GETTING INSIDE

As in any program involving a coaching change, the question of how the new guy differs from the old one is a pertinent one.

So what style of play can be expected at Alabama this season with Anthony Grant taking over for Mark Gottfried?

"In a word, up-tempo," Grant said as he began preseason preparations. "We want from an offensive standpoint to be a team that tries to get out in transition as much as we can and plays an aggressive, attacking style.

"Defensively, we want to be a team that plays 94 feet in one form or another, whether it's pressing or man-to-man or applying some type of pressure using the entire floor. I'd say the up-tempo style is probably the best way to describe it."

The plus factor here is that the Crimson Tide seems to have the personnel to adapt to that approach.

Returning starters JaMychal Green, Senario Hillman, Justin Knox and Mikhail Torrance should fit right in with that style.

Hillman, a 6-1 guard, is the leading returning scorer at 12.9 points per game, and Green was the leading rebounder as a freshman last year at 7.6. He also averaged better than 10 points a game.

Torrance took over at point guard after Ronnie Steele, who scored at 10.0 clip, left the team, and Knox was a steadying force inside.

Settling on the fifth starter will be an early issue. Anthony Brock, a 5-9 senior, could take over at the point, with Torrance moving to shooting guard. Sophomore Freshman Ben Eblen is another candidate at the point.

"I think with those guys, there will be times that those guys play together and there will be other times they will be the primary ball handler in the game," Grant said.

"I think, hopefully, again it's all relative right now, because we haven't played anybody and we haven't really practiced, but going into the preparation for the season we will have at least some options for the point guard position."

NOTES, QUOTES

--After beginning February with a four-game losing streak, Alabama won five of its last seven games, including a victory at Tennessee that cost the Volunteers sole possession of the Eastern Division title.

--F JaMychal Green was a unanimous selection for the SEC's All-Freshman Team last season. He was sixth among freshmen in scoring at 11.6 and led in rebounding at 7.9.

--G Anthony Brock shot 44.9 percent from 3-point range, but with only 49 tries did not have enough attempts to qualify for the rankings.

LAST YEAR: 18-14 overall, 7-9 in the SEC.

HEAD COACH: Anthony Grant (career 76-25); first year at Alabama.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We expect our guys every single day to bring a level of energy to the practice floor and to the games. We expect from an offensive standpoint to be able to play unselfishly, to be able to play team basketball and defensively play to our identity, which will hopefully be an aggressive, disruptive-type team." -- Coach Anthony Grant, on the expectations for the Tide in his first season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: F Tony Mitchell, a four-star prospect (Rivals.com), signed a year ago but had academic issues to clear up and thus was delayed a year. With Alonzo Gee's departure and the injury to Demetrius Jemison, Mitchell will be counted on to contribute right away. G Charvez Davis and F Chris Hines, junior college transfers, also could provide immediate help for what is not a very deep team. G Ben Eblen signed with new coach Anthony Grant. Without Shawn Kemp, a 6-9 forward who is spending a year in prep school, the class overall doesn't get high rankings but could provide some much-needed depth. Mitchell easily could wind up as a starter.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The non-conference schedule overall is heavily weighted with home games, with nine in Tuscaloosa through the first two months. The Tide catches Providence on Nov. 20 in Tuscaloosa and then plays its first outing away from home in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., against Baylor on Nov. 26. A game against either Florida State or Iona will follow. Creighton, Marquette, Michigan and Xavier fill the other bracket of the eight-team affair. Purdue visits on Dec. 12, and the Tide plays Kansas State in Mobile on Dec. 19. The only non-conference game on an opponent's court before conference play is Jan. 4 at Toledo.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Crimson Tide could get a bounce from the coaching change if it can adapt to Anthony Grant's emphasis on defense. But expect to wait a season or two before seeing any lasting upgrades.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Anthony Brock, G Senario Hillman, G Mikhail Torrance, F Justin Knox, F JaMychal Green.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Demetrius Jemison will miss the season after undergoing surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles' tendon. A senior, Jemison played in 28 games last season, with two starts, averaging 3.1 points and 3.1 rebounds a game.

--F JaMychal Green rates high in coach Anthony Grant's book. "I think he's got a chance to be special," Grant said.

--F Yamene Coleman, who picked up a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in May, elected not to pursue his senior season. He played in all 32 games last season, averaging 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds a game.

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ARKANSAS

GETTING INSIDE

With five starters returning -- including one of the league's top big men (6-9 Michael Washington) and one of its best shooters (Rotnei Clarke) -- there is reason to see Arkansas bouncing back from last season's disastrous 2-14 SEC record.

In addition to Washington, who averaged team-bests of 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds, and Clarke, a 39.3 percent 3-point shooter, the Razorbacks welcome back top young point guard Courtney Fortson.

Fortson made 128 turnovers as a freshman, but also handed out 172 assists, second only to Nick Calathes of Florida in the conference. He also averaged nearly 15 points a game.

Senior Stefan Welsh also returns to the backcourt, but there are depth issues on the wing with the dismissal of Jason Henry for disciplinary reasons.

Junior Jemal Farmer, a junior college transfer, and freshman Julysses Nobles are going to have to step up rather quickly.

Returning starter Michael Sanchez is not a big scorer but is a dependable rebounder and defender inside. He averaged a tick under five rebounds a game as a freshman last year while starting 28 games.

A newcomer who could make a big contribution up front is Marshawn Powell, a 6-7 freshman. However, he is coming off a hand injury that might delay his progress.

In Arkansas' favor is the upheaval in the SEC Western Division, where defending league champion LSU is facing some major rebuilding, Auburn has key losses and Alabama has a new coach.

Their major competition looks to be right next door with Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Arkansas has gone through quite an overhaul in personnel since last season. The dismissal of G Jason Henry followed the decisions by F Andre Clark and F Brandon Moore to transfer. G Stephen Cox decided to give up basketball to concentrate on golf. Another newcomer a year ago, junior college transfer Montrell McDonald, left the team last December.

--F Michael Washington started all 30 games for the Hogs last season, giving him 40 starts for his career. He was six rebounds short of averaging a double-double for the season at 15.5 points and 9.8 rebounds.

--G Courtney Fortson led all freshmen and was second in the SEC in assists with 172, a 5.93 per-game average.

LAST YEAR: 14-16 overall, 2-14 in the SEC.

HEAD COACH: John Pelphrey (career 117-95); third year at Arkansas (37-28).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I really didn't think the perception of the Southeastern Conference going into the year last year was what it ended up being. For some reason or another, there was a perception that became a reality. By the end of November, December the media started talking about the league being down and we never really got that off of us. And we weren't able to shake it off with our play either." -- Coach John Pelphrey, on the perception of the league now compared to a year ago.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Many new faces -- more than would have been expected after the arrival of six freshmen a year ago -- not only fill the roster but are going to have to play key roles early on, especially up front. Marshawn Powell, a 6-7 forward, has the ingredients to press the starters in addition to backing up Michael Washington. Other freshmen are Glenn Bryant, a 6-7 forward, and Julysses Nobles, a 6-1 guard. Three junior college transfers -- 6-5 wing Jemal Farmer, 6-9 F Delvon Johnson and 6-0 G Jeff Peterson -- should be big additions. Johnson is known as a strong rebounder. Anthony Borden, a 6-10 center who signed with the Hogs, is headed for a junior college.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Razorbacks have a very big game early when they play Louisville in St. Louis on Nov. 17 and a big road test on Dec. 2 at Oklahoma. The early home schedule features a game against Morgan State, which shocked Maryland on the Terrapins' floor last season. The Hogs finish out the second month with a game against Baylor on Dec. 30 at North Little Rock and then have home games against Alabama-Birmingham and Texas the first week of January.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Hogs took a big drop from an NCAA entrant in 2008 to last place in the SEC Western Division last season. They should step up from that, but some player dismissals and other offseason problems may delay the program's progress. At best, they look like an NIT team.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Courtney Fortson, G Stefan Welsh, G Rotnei Clarke, F Michael Washington, F Michael Sanchez.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Several unidentified players who avoided being charged with rape after an incident in a fraternity house in August will face suspensions and other penalties, coach John Pelphrey said in a statement. "I can assure you that there will be meaningful consequences for those individuals who have violated team rules and have not met the expectations of conduct required of our student-athletes," Pelphrey said.

The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas later reported that two- or three-game suspensions were given to junior G Marcus Britt, freshman F Glenn Bryant, and walk-on Nick Mason. The newspaper also reported that sophomore G Courtney Fortson was suspended for posting an "insensitive" message on Twitter during the investigation.

--F Marshawn Powell missed several individual workouts because of a broken hand but was deemed ready for the start of practice. Powell sustained the injury to his non-shooting hand in a pickup game.

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AUBURN

GETTING INSIDE

Auburn made a big jump last season with a 10-6 SEC record and second-place finish in the Western Division. But with the loss of three key starters, the Tigers are going to be pushed hard to duplicate their 24-win total.

Still, the experience of earning a postseason bid and winning a couple of games in the NIT should pay some dividends.

"We have a taste of what it was like, a taste of success, a taste of postseason and also a taste of not making it to the NCAA Tournament," coach Jeff Lebo.

"They're hungry. We had a good offseason, and the kids have worked hard, so it's going to be very helpful for the guys who played for us last year."

Experience in the backcourt will be a big plus.

In senior DeWayne Reed, the Tigers have a solid point guard who led them in scoring at 13.2 points per game while handing out 134 assists. Tay Waller, a junior college transfer who averaged about a point less than Reed, also is back.

Senior Frankie Sullivan and Tony Neysmith, a transfer from Oklahoma, add depth.

But there are matters to be settled up front.

Veteran Lucas Hargrove, a 6-6 senior who started 14 games and has the ability to play inside or on the perimeter, looks to nail down one of the three remaining starting spots, leaving the others up for grabs.

Senior Johnnie Lett started eight games last season, but has been hobbled by ankle problems. Brendon Knox, a 6-11 senior center, has a history of foul problems.

That leaves Lebo looking at sophomore Kenny Gabriel, who comes from junior college, and freshmen Rob Chubb and Ty Armstrong.

"They're both physical," Lebo said of Chubb and Armstrong. "Chubb can run. At 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, he ran the mile in 5:20. He can really move. They're a little farther away, but I think they'll get better as the year goes on.

"Both are 6-foot-9 and 220 so when we walk through the airport this year, we'll look like an SEC team. I hope we play like one."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Auburn will go into SEC play riding a two-game road winning streak in league play. The Tigers won at Mississippi State and at Alabama in their last two road games of the season.

--G DeWayne Reed has shown steady improvement in his three seasons. He averaged 13.2 points a game as a junior, up from 8.9 as a sophomore and 5.4 as a freshman.

--G Tay Waller started 35 of 36 games last season after arriving from Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) Community College. He averaged 12.1 points a game in shooting 37 percent from 3-point range.

LAST YEAR: 24-12 overall, 10-6 in the SEC; lost in third round of the NIT.

HEAD COACH: Jeff Lebo (career 196-139); sixth year at Auburn (81-76).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have a taste of what it was like to win. ... We had so many meaningful games coming down the stretch. Every game seemed to grow with importance, and we handled that very well coming down the stretch. So for our guys coming back and being able to play in those kind of games, I think that is going to be very valuable for our group." -- Coach Jeff Lebo, on the impact of last season's finish.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Kenny Gabriel, a 6-8 forward who signed with Auburn out of high school but spent last season at Paris (Texas) Junior College, has the best opportunity to make an early impression. He is a shooter with good range. Tony Neysmith, a transfer from Oklahoma who sat out last season, is trying to earn a starting position. The Tigers also have freshman shooting guards Andre Malone and Earnest Ross, and have added size with 6-8 Ty Armstrong and 6-9 Rob Chubb. They will add depth, and Malone and Ross could be big additions with their defense.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Auburn's opener against Niagara on Nov. 13 may be tougher than expected. The Purple Eagles lose only one player from last season's team that won 26 games. Auburn faces North Carolina State on Nov. 22 in the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach and get back-to-back ACC foes in December. The Tigers are host to Virginia on Dec. 7 and then, after a 10-day break, go to Florida State on Dec. 17.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Auburn made a big jump last season with its first postseason berth since the 2003 NCAA Tournament. The result was a loss to Baylor in the NIT quarterfinals, but that did little to dampen enthusiasm. Maintaining that momentum, however, is going to be difficult, though fortunately for the Tigers most of the power in the SEC seems to be in the Eastern Division.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G DeWayne Reed, G Tay Waller, G Tony Nesmith, F Kenny Gabriel, F Lucas Hargrove.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Lucas Hargrove has the strength to play inside at power forward and the shooting ability to move outside to the perimeter. "He'll be moving around a lot," coach Jeff Lebo said of the 6-8 senior. Hargrove is up to 225 pounds after reporting at 167 as a freshman.

--F Johnnie Lett has an ankle injury that will have him "day-to-day" in practice in the early going.

--G Tony Neysmith, eligible after sitting out last season following his transfer from Oklahoma, is versatile enough to defend three positions -- point, off-guard, and small forward.

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FLORIDA

GETTING INSIDE

If anything has been constant for Florida since the Gators won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, it has been change.

It seems like just when coach Billy Donovan is ready to set his roster, somebody up and leaves.

It was Marreese Speights heading for the NBA after the 2008 season, leaving a gap in the middle, and Nick Calathes signing a pro contract in Greece after last season, taking away their most experienced point guard.

In all, the Gators have lost six underclassmen in the past three years, which includes the loss of Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Taurean Green from the 2007 champions.

But don't cry for the Gators.

If they can find the answer at point guard, they have a good mix up front with the likes of 6-8 Alex Tyus, 6-9 Chandler Parsons, 6-10 Kenny Kadji and 6-10 Vernon Macklin, a transfer from Georgetown who sat out last season under NCAA rules.

The addition of Macklin should improve the Gators on the boards and will allow senior Dan Werner to operate on the wing, where he likes to pop a 3-pointer on occasion.

Which leaves Calathes' spot.

The likely candidate to run the show is 5-9 Erving Walker, who had a solid freshman year, scoring 10.1 points a game and handing out 86 assists while shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point range.

The issue isn't Walker but the depth behind him. It appears that role is going to fall to incoming freshman Kenny Boynton, who fits in more ideally as a shooting guard.

Nimrod Tishman, a late arrival from Israel, also is a potential backup at the point.

If the point guards come through, the Gators should be back in the NCAA field.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Florida has had 11 consecutive seasons with 20 wins or more under coach Billy Donovan, who was 13-17 and 14-15 his first two years with the Gators.

--F-C Alex Tyus becomes Florida's leading returning scorer at 12.5 points a game, with the premature departure of Nick Calathes, who scored at a 17.2-point clip. Tyus also led the Gators in rebounds last season at 6.2 per game.

--G Erving Walker shot nearly as well from 3-point range (41.9 percent) as he did overall (43.4) as a freshman.

LAST YEAR: 25-11 overall, 9-7 in the SEC; lost in the third round of the NIT.

HEAD COACH: Billy Donovan (career 345-146); 14th year at Florida (231-126).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're really setting our jets for Erving Walker, who's really naturally a point and played that quite often in high school." -- Assistant coach Larry Shyatt, asked if freshman Kenny Boynton could step in for the departed Nick Calathes at point guard.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Gators added only three newcomers to their roster, but at least two should have an immediate impact. Kenny Boynton, a 6-2 shooting guard, and Erik Murphy, a 6-10 power forward, both figure in the early plans. Nimrod Tishman, a 6-5 guard from Israel, could also be a factor by the end of the season.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Coach Billy Donovan has come under criticism for his soft non-conference schedules since the 2007 national championship season, but the pace picks up this season. Florida State visits on Nov. 24, and the Gators then go to Atlantic City, N.J., for the Legends Classic to play Michigan State. Either Massachusetts or Rutgers awaits a day later. The Gators have their first true road game on Dec. 4 against Jacksonville, then go to Tampa on Dec. 10 to take on Syracuse in the SEC-Big East Challenge.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: After a couple of so-so years following the back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, the Gators appear to be ready to get back to the NCAA Tournament field. But they are playing in the tougher of the two divisions in the conference and will be hard-pressed to greatly improve upon last year's 25 victories.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Erving Walker, G Kenny Boynton, F Dan Werner, F Chandler Parsons, F-C Alex Tyus.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Eloy Vargas, who reportedly was on shaky ground academically, has left the Gators and will play at Miami Dade Community College. He reportedly has an interest in playing at Kentucky.

--F Vernon Macklin, a 6-10 junior, should help the Gators on the boards. He averaged 2.4 rebounds in playing slightly more than 12 minutes game as a sophomore at Georgetown.

--F Adam Allen, a 6-8 sophomore, had a second surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left leg and his status for the season is somewhat in doubt. He missed last season.

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GEORGIA

GETTING INSIDE

Georgia has finished in last place in the SEC's Eastern Division in five of the past six seasons, and that dreary trend figures to extend this season.

But that doesn't mean first-year coach Mark Fox will go into the year completely unarmed.

The Bulldogs have one of the top young inside players in the league, Trey Thompkins, who now has the benefit of international experience after playing in the FIBA Under-19 World Championships, and Albert Jackson is a capable veteran looking to end his career on a high note.

They also have a good, young point guard in Dustin Ware.

Thompkins averaged 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as a freshman, and Ware was seventh in the SEC in assists with 3.38 a game.

The problem is there is little to go along with them, especially in the backcourt.

Zac Swansey and Troy Brewer might have helped on the perimeter, but both left the team during the offseason. That's going to leave it up to Ebuka Anyaorah, coming off a redshirt year as a freshman, and newcomers DeMario Mayfield and Vincent Williams to step in.

Ricky McPhee, a transfer from Gardner-Webb who played last season, is a streak shooter who can provide scoring from the perimeter when he is on his game.

In the frontcourt, juniors Chris Barnes and Jeremy Price will have step up their games if the Bulldogs are to improve on last season's 12 victories.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Georgia finished with only 12 victories last season, but one-fourth of them came in a period of about two weeks near the end of the season. The Bulldogs beat Florida on Feb. 14, Vanderbilt on Feb. 25, and Kentucky in Lexington on March 4.

--G Dustin Ware had 17 starts for the Bulldogs, including the final 13 games, on his way to becoming the first Georgia freshman to register at least 100 assists since Rashad Wright in 2001. Ware finished with 108 assists against 75 turnovers.

--F Trey Thompkins led Georgia in rebounding as a freshman last season with his 7.4 average.

LAST YEAR: 12-20 overall, 3-13 in the SEC.

HEAD COACH: Mark Fox (career 123-43); first year at Georgia.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not very often you get to wear the USA across your chest. It's an experience he should cherish." -- Coach Mark Fox, on Trey Thompkins, who played for the USA's gold medal team in the U19 World Championships.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Freshmen Vincent Williams and DeMario Mayfield can play the point, and one likely will end up spelling last season's capable first-year find, Dustin Ware. Williams signed in the spring, and Mayfield was the only one of the two November signees who stuck around following the coaching change. Daniel Miller, a 6-11 center, asked for and was granted his release. Ebuka Anyaorah arrived a year ago but sat out the season after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot. He hopes to step in alongside Ware in the backcourt.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Bulldogs have four tough games early, and none is on their court. They are at Alabama-Birmingham, which is rebuilding, on Nov. 21 and go to Virginia Tech on Dec. 6. After meeting St. John's in New York in the SEC-Big East Invitational on Dec. 19, the Bulldogs play Illinois in Duluth, Ga., after a 10-day break. The new year starts off with two more challenges -- at Missouri on Jan. 2 and Georgia Tech at home on Jan. 5.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The program can't go down -- you can't finish any lower than sixth in a six-team division, but wins look like they are going to be hard to come by in Mark Fox's first season. The Bulldogs never capitalized on their surprising success in 2008, when they made it into the NCAA field by winning the SEC Tournament, and it is going to take a season or two to see if Fox can make them competitive in the SEC.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Dustin Ware, G Ebuka Anyaorah, F Trey Thompkins, F Jeremy Price, F/C Albert Jackson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Gerald Robinson, a 6-1 junior transfer from Tennessee State, will have to sit out this season.

--F Trey Thompkins should benefit from his experience playing for the USA team in the FIBA U19 World Championships, where he started five of nine games and averaged 10.6 points, with a high of 22.

--C Albert Jackson suffered a dislocated finger during the offseason, but is not expected to miss any time.

--G Travis Leslie is back in good standing after missing five games at the end of last season because of academic issues.

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KENTUCKY

GETTING INSIDE

More often than not, a coaching change reinvigorates a program.

Even considering that, few teams have undergone the transition Kentucky has made in the switch from Billy Gillispie to John Calipari.

The coaching change led to the reaping of one of the country's top recruiting classes, headed by consensus No. 1 prospect John Wall, and the change probably brought back Patrick Patterson for at least one more season.

Jodie Meeks, last season's top scorer, left for the pros ... but that should be no concern, given what the Wildcats have on their roster.

Calipari's arrival also has put new life into returnees such as DeAndre Liggins, who languished under Gillispie, not knowing if he was going to play or sit all night.

"He is inspired to be playing right now," Calipari told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Calipari has enough talent in his incoming recruiting class that he probably could start five freshmen and compete in the SEC, but he won't. Certainly not with Patterson back.

Patterson averaged a tick under 18 points and more than nine rebounds a game last season and is a strong candidate for SEC Player of the Year.

Senior Perry Stevenson probably will hang on to his starting position because of his experience, and Liggins should earn a spot on the wing.

But two freshmen likely will find their way into the starting lineup soon. One is Wall, as long as his eligibility checks out. The other is DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-11 banger up front. But that doesn't rule out others.

Newcomers may even have an advantage over some veterans.

A booster group asked Calipari if the returnees were fitting into his system.

"Some of them are," he said, "but some of them are struggling,"

NOTES, QUOTES

--John Wall was the No. 1 recruit in the nation. In many ways, his game is anything but amateur. Coach John Calipari had said his play was more advanced at this stage than Derrick Rose or Tyreke Evans had been a few months into their freshman seasons.

On Oct. 22, a report called into question Wall's eligibility and the SEC confirmed it has been looking into his status, as has the University of Kentucky. Wall's AAU coach, Brian Clifton, is a certified agent. Scholarship athletes are prohibited from contact with player agents under NCAA guidelines.

With his amateur status in question, Wall is still allowed to practice with Kentucky. NCAA bylaws suggest a player who received monetary gifts or benefits considered "significant" -- unofficial recruiting visits would fall under that umbrella -- they will not be reinstated. If any player receives a benefit greater than $101, they could be suspended and asked to repay the gift in full.

Kentucky had no immediate comment on the report and said it wouldn't comment on the eligibility of any player unless there was a change in status.

--Kentucky virtually played itself out of an at-large bid to the NCAA field last season when it lost five of its last six regular-season games, including the finale at home to Georgia, and then split two games in the SEC Tournament.

--F Patrick Patterson goes into his junior year with 1,002 points despite missing time in each of his first two seasons to injuries. He was the only SEC player to finish in the top five in scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.4).

--F Perry Stevenson is known more for his shot-blocking and defense, but he scored in double figures in three of Kentucky's last five games last season.

LAST YEAR: 22-14 overall, 8-8 in the SEC; lost to Notre Dame in the third round of the NIT.

HEAD COACH: John Calipari (career 445-140); first year at Kentucky.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We haven't played a game yet. The mountain we are supposed to climb is going to be very high. We have six new players and six returning players, who think, and rightfully so, it's their turn to play." -- Coach John Calipari, at a boosters' meeting, asked about the high rankings for his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Where does one begin? Coach John Calipari could very easily start five of his six newcomers and compete very well in the SEC Eastern Division. John Wall, a 6-4 guard, was a consensus pick as the No. 1 prospect in the country and scorned hometown N.C. State to join Kentucky after Calipari's hiring. Other top backcourt prospects are 6-1 Eric Bledsoe, 6-7 Darnell Dodson (a sophomore junior college transfer) and 6-6 Jon Hood. Joining veteran Patrick Patterson up front will be 6-11 DeMarcus Cousins and 6-10 Daniel Orton. They won't beat out Patterson, but could push Perry Stevenson.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Under Billy Gillispie, the Wildcats sustained some rather embarrassing home losses early in the last couple of seasons (Gardner-Webb, VMI). That isn't likely to happen again, but they do have several tough assignments. They play Cleveland State, which upset Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament last year, on Nov. 24 in the Cancun Challenge, with either Stanford or Virginia to follow. The Wildcats host North Carolina on Dec. 5, then play Connecticut in New York on Dec. 9 in the SEC-Big East Challenge. A trip to Indiana follows three days later. The annual tussle with instate rival Louisville is Jan. 2 in Lexington.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: How high is up? The Wildcats go into the season as the likely SEC favorite and will challenge for a Final Four spot. Their inexperience might keep them from a championship, but probably not for long if they stay together.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G John Wall, G DeAndre Liggins, F Perry Stevenson, F DeMarcus Cousins, F Patrick Patterson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Mark Krebs, a walk-on in the past two seasons, received Kentucky's 13th scholarship. The senior played in 13 games last season.

-- G Darius Miller could be overlooked, but both he and DeAndre Liggins, his sophomore classmate, should prosper under coach John Calipari.

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LSU

GETTING INSIDE

After inheriting a veteran team and guiding it to the overall SEC championship last season, coach Trent Johnson begins rebuilding in earnest at LSU for 2009-10.

Only two starters return from a 27-8 club, and one may be slowed at the start of the season. Guard Bo Spencer had wrist surgery on his shooting arm in the offseason and wasn't able to get in the kind of shooting work he desired.

The other returning veteran, however, is looking to close out his career in a big way.

After missing most of the 2007-08 season because of a stress fracture in his left shinbone, forward Tasmin Mitchell played power forward last season and was the team's second-leading scorer at better than 16 points a game.

He led in rebounding with better than seven a game.

Asked what he role he expects of Mitchell, Johnson said simply, "Score, defend, rebound, make defensive stops. Pretty much everything."

If 6-11 Garrett Green and 6-7 Storm Warren can handle the workload in the low post, Mitchell can move back to his more natural small forward spot. He may have to anyway for defensive purposes.

In addition to leading scorer Marcus Thornton and shot-blocker Chris Johnson, the other player the Tigers are going to miss is Garrett Temple. Temple proved a steady hand running the offense and was a good defender on the perimeter.

If he is completely healthy, Spencer can handle the point, but senior Alex Farrer and sophomore Chris Bass are going to have to step up their games if the Tigers are going to avoid a deep tumble in the division race.

Overall, this is a club that lacks depth -- only nine of the 13 players on the roster are on scholarship -- and is going to have to scratch and claw for wins.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Last season's SEC championship was the second for LSU in a four-year span. In between the 2006 and 2009 titles, however, the Tigers finished last in the Western Division in 2007 and fourth in 2008.

--F Tasmin Mitchell is LSU's top returning scorer and rebounder. His 16.3 scoring average was second on the team last season, and he led in rebounds at 7.2 per game.

--G Bo Spencer missed two games last season because of an ankle injury but started 32 times in his 33 appearances.

LAST YEAR: 27-8 overall, 13-3 in the SEC; lost to North Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Trent Johnson (career 186-79); second year at LSU (27-8).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We will have nine scholarship players and with the numerous injuries we have had this spring and summer, they will be instrumental in scout work and preparation for opponents. But they also need to be able to put themselves in a position to be ready to go in whether it is for a second, a minute or more." -- Coach Trent Johnson, on the importance of the four walk-ons added to the roster.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: F Dennis Harris, who sat out last year as a redshirt, and true freshman F Eddie Ludwig add depth up front. Harris is 6-10, Ludwig 6-9. G Aaron Dotson is coming off knee surgery, which could slow his early progress. With only nine scholarship players available, the Tigers also added four walk-ons to their roster. They were junior Chris Beattie, a guard; sophomores Zack Kinsley, a guard-forward, and Taylor Jacobsen, a forward; and freshman guard Daron Populist.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Tigers will take part in the NIT Season-Tip-Off tourney with Indiana State as their opening opponent in Baton Rouge on Nov. 16. Western Kentucky could await in the second game. Duke is one of the four teams in the opposite bracket. December doesn't offer much of a challenge until later in the month when the Tigers play Washington State in Seattle on Dec. 22 and then go to Cincinnati to meet Xavier on Dec. 29. The new year opens with a home game against Utah on Jan. 2.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The program made a big jump last season when the Tigers won the SEC title in coach Trent Johnson's first season. With the loss of starters Marcus Thornton, Chris Johnson and Garrett Temple, they figure to take a step back in 2009-10. But if Johnson can add some solid recruits next year, the Tigers should be back on their way up.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Bo Spencer, SG Alex Farrer, F Tasmin Mitchell, F Storm Warren, F Garrett Green.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Bo Spencer had offseason wrist surgery and didn't have the opportunity to work on his mid-range jumper perhaps as much as he would have liked.

--G Aaron Dotson, a freshman, had knee surgery during his high school senior year.

--F Garrett Green is coming back from back surgery that sidelined him all of last season.

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MISSISSIPPI

GETTING INSIDE

Few teams in the country, maybe ever, have gone through the injuries like the ones that hit Ole Miss last season.

One by one, starting before the season even began, the Rebels lost three key backcourt players to knee injuries, including starters Chris Warren and Eniel Polynice.

Valued backup Trevor Gaskins was out before the season even began.

The Rebels paid a price for that when their 16 victories weren't enough to get them into the postseason, but they are rewarded this season with one of the deepest backcourts around.

Sophomore Terrico White eventually took over Warren's job of running the team and providing scoring punch from the outside, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors in the process.

He and junior Zach Graham, who also moved into a starting role, are back along with the three returning injured players.

It wouldn't be inconceivable to see the Rebels use four of them at one time considering that 6-7 sophomore Murphy Holloway is the only returning starter up front.

Ideally, though, coach Andy Kennedy has to hope that 6-9 sophomore Terrance Henry or newcomers Reginald Buckner, a 6-8 freshman, and DeAngelo Riley, a 6-9 junior college transfer, can fill the vacancy created by the offseason departure of Malcolm White.

White had 27 starts as a freshman, but transferred to LSU to be closer to his home in Baton Rouge.

One thing that should help up front. Aside from putting back missed shots, none of the low-post players likely will be counted on to contribute much in the way of scoring. That job looks like it will be in the very capable hands of that loaded backcourt.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Ole Miss is looking for its first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2002. The Rebels played in the NIT in 2007 and 2008, reaching the semifinals last year.

--G Terrico White, who came into last season as a backup to Chris Warren, earned Freshman of the Year honors in the SEC after stepping in when Warren went down with a knee injury. He averaged 13.7 points and 2.3 assists a game.

--F Murphy Holloway will be counted on to carry a heavy load inside for the Rebels with the departure of Malcolm White, who transferred to LSU to be closer to home. Holloway averaged 8.4 points and 6.6 rebounds as a freshman last season.

LAST YEAR: 16-15 overall, 7-9 in the SEC.

HEAD COACH: Andy Kennedy (career 82-52); third year at Ole Miss (61-39)

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Last year there was much made about the fact that there were only three teams from our league in the NCAA Tournament, but in eight of the 10 prior years there were six teams selected, which is half the league. The SEC as a whole was terribly young and inexperienced last season, but most of the marquee players are back, which I think is going to fortify us top to bottom." -- Coach Andy Kennedy, looking at the conference race.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Reginald Buckner, a 6-8 forward, was listed as the 29th-best prospect in the country by Rivals.com, which lauded him for his defensive strength. He holds the Tennessee high school record for blocked shots. That and his rebounding could get him early playing time. The Rebels went the junior college route for further frontcourt help, signing DeAngelo Riley, a 6-9 forward who played at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Nick Williams, a 6-4 guard, transferred from Indiana and will sit out this season.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Rebels play Indiana on Nov. 19 in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off. They will get Boston U. or Kansas State in the second round. Villanova and Georgia Tech are among the four in the other bracket. The Rebels play UTEP, which features Louisville transfer Derrick Caracter, in nearby Southaven, Miss., on Dec. 16. A week later, the Rebels go to Big East opponent West Virginia.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Rebels had an unfortunate string of injuries last season, losing Chris Warren, Eniel Polynice and Trevor Gaskins, all guards, to knee injuries. Ole Miss missed the postseason. Unless the Rebels have similar misfortunes in 2009-10, they have the potential to get back to the NIT and could challenge for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Terrico White, G Chris Warren, G Eniel Polynice, F Murphy Holloway, F Terrence Henry.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Chris Warren, whose season ended after 11 games because of a knee injury, was cleared to play in the summer and says he is feeling no ill-effects from his injury.

--G Eniel Polynice, who played in only one game before going down with a season-ending knee injury, has been cleared.

--G Trevor Gaskins is returning from a 2008 preseason knee injury.

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MISSISSIPPI STATE

GETTING INSIDE

An air of mystery shrouds Mississippi State.

Oh, there's no question the Bulldogs are going to be favored to win the SEC's Western Division. They have all five starters returning from a team that played its way into the NCAA Tournament by winning the conference tournament.

The returning players include the nation's top shot-blocker, Jarvis Varnado, who also led State in scoring at barely under 13 points a game and rebounding at nearly nine. Shooters Barry Stewart, Ravern Johnson and Phil Turner are back.

Leading the offense will be one of the league's freshman surprises at point guard, Dee Bost. Bost was fourth in the league in assists at 4.33 per game and was one of the leaders in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.53.

So what's the mystery?

The status of freshman Renardo Sidney remained unresolved as of mid-October.

A 6-10 power forward, Sidney was listed the No. 16 prospect overall (Rivals.com) and has the potential to bump one of the veterans out of the starting lineup if he is cleared to play.

The hang-up isn't academics, but his amateur status. The NCAA is seeking more documents to determine how his family paid rent for a house in the Southern California area where he lived after moving from Mississippi.

Sidney's lawyer was asking the U.S. Congress to investigate, according to the Los Angeles Times.

If Sidney plays and lives up to expectations, the Bulldogs go from a favorite to win their division to a team that will contend for the league championship and has the potential to be playing in late March.

Even without Sidney, the Bulldogs have a couple of newcomers who could make things interesting and add to the team's overall depth.

Freshman John Riek is considered a project, but at 7-2 he could join with Varnado and give Mississippi State two big shot-blockers. Freshman Wendell Lewis also shows promise in the low post.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Mississippi State has played in the NCAA Tournament in six of the last eight seasons and has made it to the second round four times during that span.

--F Jarvis Varnado had a nation's-best 157 blocked shots last season, more than nearly 300 Division I schools.

--G Barry Stewart enters the season with 228 3-pointers, 30 short of the school record held by Darryl Wilson.

LAST YEAR: 23-13 overall, 9-7 in the SEC; lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Rick Stansbury (career 230-128); 12th year at Mississippi State (230-128).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Those are good problems to have. Expectations are something outside those lines we can't control. If you want to ask a coach what he'd like to have, he'd rather want to be good than want to be bad. So we don't do anything different. It's all the same every year." -- Coach Rick Stansbury, on handling the high expectations this season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: A true assessment of the impact this recruiting class can have on the program can't be made until the situation regarding Renardo Sidney is resolved. The NCAA hadn't cleared the 6-10 forward as of mid-October while investigating his amateur status. In the meantime, the Bulldogs will have 7-1 John Riek available to back up Jarvis Varnado and give them another shot-blocker. Wendell Lewis, a 6-8 center, also is a physical presence down low. Shaunessy Smith gives the Bulldogs a athletic player on the wing. The class is pretty solid in any respect, but Sidney would make it an excellent one.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Bulldogs should breeze through four games in early November until taking on Richmond on Nov. 27 in the South Padre Island Invitational. Old Dominion or Missouri awaits in the second game the next night. The Bulldogs face DePaul in Tampa on Dec. 10 in the SEC-Big East Challenge and then hit the road to take on UCLA in Anaheim, Calif., on Dec 12. As if that isn't challenging enough, the Bulldogs still have games at Houston on Dec. 19, at San Diego on Dec. 31, and at Western Kentucky on Jan. 4 before conference play begins.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Bulldogs have been a consistent challenger in the SEC Western Division in recent years and are the defending conference tournament champions. With five starters returning and a talented freshman class coming in, the Bulldogs are definitely on the rise and appear to be a team that could make it at least to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Dee Bost, G Barry Stewart, G Phil Turner, G/F Ravern Johnson, F Jarvis Varnado.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Elgin Bailey (ankle), who played in 27 games off the bench last season, may miss the season.

--G Riley Benock (foot) will be slowed early in practice but should be ready for the opener.

--F Kodi Augustus could be an X-factor for the Bulldogs. He spent a month on the bench last season but finished by averaging 10 points a game in Mississippi State's last seven games, including 19 in an SEC tournament victory over Georgia. He can shoot the 3-pointer as well as post up smaller defenders.

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SOUTH CAROLINA

GETTING INSIDE

South Carolina made a nice step up in the SEC last season, gaining a share of the Eastern Division title with Tennessee.

But when it came to the NCAA Tournament selections, the Gamecocks were ignored, and they were one-and-done in the NIT, leaving a feeling of unfinished business going into 2009-10.

With four starters returning, there's good reason to see the Gamecocks back in the middle of the race again, but even with that experience, there is no guarantee of repeat success. Of their 10 conference victories, three were by two or one point ... and a fourth came in overtime.

That's a fine line. Turn those around and the Gamecocks don't even break even in league play.

On the other hand, the six losses included a three-point setback at Tennessee and a four-point loss at Florida. Put those in the win column and the Gamecocks are probably in the NCAA Tournament field.

Again, that's a fine line.

The Gamecocks have one of the most electric players in the conference -- senior guard Devan Downey, who led the team in scoring at nearly 20 points a game and led the SEC in steals with nearly three a game.

He toyed with the idea of entering the NBA draft, but made a welcome return.

Dominique Archie, a 6-7 senior, is one of the steadiest inside players in the league. Junior Sam Muldrow, who moved into the starting lineup after some academic issues were cleared up, and junior Mike Holmes fill out an impressive veteran front line.

The one open spot is at shooting guard, where the departed Zam Fredrick contributed about 16 points a game. Veterans Brandis Raley-Ross and Evaldas Baniulis can play on the wing, and three newcomers -- Ramon Galloway, Stephen Spinella, and Lakeem Jackson -- also will contend for time on the perimeter.

NOTES, QUOTES

--South Carolina was 16-3 at home last season, 5-6 on the road and lost in its only game played on a neutral floor when Mississippi State upset the Gamecocks in the SEC Tournament in St. Petersburg, Fla.

--PG Devan Downey led the conference in steals with 2.9 per game and was third in scoring at 19.8 and third in assists at 4.5.

--F Dominique Archie has started every game of his career, a total of 93 consecutive starts.

LAST YEAR: 21-10 overall, 10-6 in the SEC; lost in the first round of the NIT.

HEAD COACH: Darrin Horn (career 132-58); second year at South Carolina (21-10).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're excited to have the number of guys back that we do. That being said, we did not finish well last year." -- Coach Darrin Horn, noting the return of four starters from a team that shared the Eastern Division title with Tennessee.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: G Ramon Galloway, G Stephen Spinella and 6-5 SF Lakeem Jackson aren't going to be the scoring threat that departed Zam Fredrick was, but they will add immediate help in the Gamecocks' perimeter defense. Junior college transfer Johndre Jefferson is a 6-9 power forward who cold provide some help inside with his rebounding and defense.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Gamecocks play La Salle in their opening game in the Charleston Classic on Nov. 19. Davidson or South Florida await in the second round the next night. NIT champion Penn State and Miami are among those in the opposite bracket. The Gamecocks get back home to finish out the first month against Jacksonville on Nov. 27, and Western Kentucky visits on Dec. 2. The Gamecocks go to in-state rival Clemson on Dec. 6. After a break for exams, they are host to Richmond on Dec. 19 and go to Boston College on Dec. 30. It's a good schedule that should help the Gamecocks get ready for the SEC.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: After winning consecutive NIT titles in 2005 and 2006, the Gamecocks faded under coach Dave Odom. But first-year coach Darrin Horn took advantage of an experienced club to get the Gamecocks a share of last season's SEC Eastern Division title. That earned them another NIT berth, but with four starters returning, the Gamecocks could be looking to get back to the NCAA for the first time since 2004 despite playing in the tougher division of the conference.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Devan Downey, SG Brandis Raley-Ross, F Dominique Archie, F Sam Muldrow, F/C Mike Holmes.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Malik Cooke, a 6-5 junior, has been added to the roster as a walk-on after transferring from Nevada. A starter as a sophomore at Nevada, he will not be eligible until the 2010-11 season.

--F Johndre Jefferson, a 6-9 junior college transfer, was brought in mostly for defense and rebounding, but he may surprise some folks with his shooting ability, coach Darrin Horn said.

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TENNESSEE

GETTING INSIDE

Tennessee finished with 21 victories last season, but more was expected from the Volunteers, who lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Looking back, those expectations may have been a bit overblown since the Volunteers were looking to replace Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith, their top two scorers from the 2007-08 campaign.

The inexperience showed at times.

That shouldn't be the case this time, as the Vols bring back almost everyone of note.

The returnees include Tyler Smith, one of the conference's top scorers at better than 17 points a game. His decision not to enter the NBA draft makes all the difference for the Vols.

"If you look at Tennessee's team without Tyler Smith, I think there would be those having us picked somewhere in the middle of the East, the middle of the SEC," coach Bruce Pearl said.

"With Tyler coming back, we're in the discussion of being in the upper half of the league."

Smith is joined by 6-9 Wayne Chism, who averaged 13.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and bullish 6-10 junior Brian Williams, who averaged 5.0 and 5.6 coming off the bench.

The Vols won't have promising sophomore Emmanuel Negedu, however, after he collapsed during an offseason workout.

Also back is Scotty Hopson, a sharpshooter whose freshman season -- which included 36 percent 3-point shooting and 9.2 points a game -- probably was underrated since he was seen as the second coming of Lofton. That's a role he wasn't ready for, but he might be closer this season.

Senior J.P. Prince has done just about everything for the Vols and will take over the low post. He began his career as a point guard at Arizona. In addition to scoring -- he was a total of three points shy of averaging in double figures -- he gives the Vols energy with his fast-paced play.

Bobby Maze returns as the starting point guard after finishing with 109 assists last season, about double his 54 turnovers. Newcomer Marvin Goins, who likely will be slowed early after having knee surgery, and Josh Tabb will back him up.

Overall, it's a well-balanced, experienced, deep team that expects to win and is capable of making a deep run into March.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl led the USA Open Men's Team to the gold medal in the World Maccabi Games, an event often described as the Jewish Olympics. The U.S. team finished 5-1 and beat Israel in the title game.

--F Tyler Smith, who decided to return for his senior season instead of entering the NBA draft, is a two-time All-SEC first-team selection.

--F Wayne Chism gave the Volunteers a rare combination last season. He was the leading rebounder at 8.0 per game and also shot 32 percent on 3-pointers (41-of-128).

LAST YEAR: 21-13 overall, 10-6 in the SEC; lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Bruce Pearl (career 415-121); fifth year at Tennessee (98-37).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I like our team. I like our depth. And obviously I like our experience." -- Coach Bruce Pearl, who welcomes back all five starters and key backups.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Kenny Hall is a 6-8 freshman who was rated as one of the top power forward prospects in the country and was among Rivals.com's top 75 prospects. He could contribute in a backup role and give the Vols point production down low. Marvin Goins is a 5-11 point guard who played at Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) last season after spending his freshman year at Ball State, where he had 26 starts. Skylar McBee is a 6-3 freshman guard who turned down offers from some mid-level schools to walk on with the Vols.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Tennessee traditionally has played an ambitious scheduled under coach Bruce Pearl, and 2009-10 is no exception. The non-conference schedule features trips to Southern California on Dec. 19 and Memphis on Dec. 31 and a home game against Kansas on Jan. 10. Earlier, the Vols play East Carolina in the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Nov. 20 with a second-round game against either DePaul or Northern Iowa. Purdue and Boston College are in the opposite bracket.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: It could be said the Vols took a step backward, at least a small one, last season when they lost their final regular-season game to fall into a tie for first place in their division, lost in the title game of the SEC Tournament, then lost a first-round NCAA Tournament game to Oklahoma State. If they come back hungrier and with more focus, they could take a big step back to the top.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Bobby Maze, SG Scotty Hopson, SG J.P. Prince, SF Tyler Smith, PF Wayne Chism.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Emmanuel Negedu will miss the season following surgery early in October to insert an implantable cardio defibrillator. Negedu collapsed after a September workout following what was called sudden cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation. His teammates and athletic trainers took quick action to get Negedu, a 6-7 sophomore, proper medical attention, essentially saving his life.

--PG Marvin Goins, one of three newcomers to the roster, had knee surgery early in October and isn't expected back until early November at the earliest.

--F Renaldo Woolridge has released three mix tapes under the name "Swiperboy" and has about 100 songs available online. He is taking a break from recording rap music until after basketball season.

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VANDERBILT

GETTING INSIDE

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings looks for the SEC to recover from what was generally considered a "down" year for the conference last season.

Only three teams made into the NCAA Tournament, the fewest since the field was expanded in 1985.

"We just had a year where a lot of our programs were very, very young," Stallings said. "I think you'll see just the exact opposite of that this year. ... We'll have experienced teams that will raise the quality of our league, and it will show come tournament time."

You can include Stallings' Commodores in that group.

Vandy didn't have a senior on its roster last season, and Stallings ended up starting three freshmen -- Jeffery Taylor (31 starts), Brad Tinsley (28), and Steve Tchiengang (16 of his 25 appearances) -- for most of the year.

The Commodores went 19-12 and finished 8-8 in the conference.

Not only will those three return, but they will be joined by junior center A.J. Ogilvy, a two-year starter and the leading scorer at 15.4 points a game, and senior point guard Jermaine Beal, the team's assist leader and No. 2 scorer at 12.5 points per game.

Stallings sees big things coming from Ogilvy, who had injury problems last season and missed two games.

"If we can keep A.J. healthy and free from injury, we'll see a tremendous improvement in him," Stallings said.

In addition to the inside-outside combination of Ogilvy and Beal, the Commodores have threats on the perimeter with Tinsley, a 41-percent 3-point shooter, and newcomer John Jenkins.

The one snag: The Commodores play in what appears to be the tougher Eastern Division against the likes of Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina and Florida.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Vanderbilt finished with a 3-2 record on a summer tour of Australia -- paid for out of coach Kevin Stallings' pocket. The tab was $100,000.

--C A.J. Ogilvy, who set a Vandy freshman scoring record with 578 points, became the first sophomore in school history to top the 1,000-point career mark when he had 448 last season despite fighting injury problems that cost him two games and one start. He has averaged 16.3 points a game over his career.

--G Jermaine Beal enters his senior season with 356 assists (3.7 per game). He is No. 8 on Vandy's career list. Atiba Prater is the school record-holder with 517 assists (4.5 per game).

LAST YEAR: 19-12 overall, 8-8 in the SEC.

HEAD COACH: Kevin Stallings (overall 312-191); 11th year at Vanderbilt (189-128).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think that the perception of our league has suffered at times when Kentucky has been down. From that standpoint, I think the higher-ups would tell you that it's good for Kentucky to be good. But I don't particularly want Kentucky to be good. We have enough good teams in our league already." -- Coach Kevin Stallings, on the impact of coach John Calipari at Kentucky.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: After last year's big recruiting crop that produced three starters, the Commodores add only one newcomer this season, but 6-4 guard John Jenkins is a good one and could provide significant help on the perimeter with his shooting. Rivals.com rated him a 5-star prospect and Scout.com tabbed him as a 4-star recruit.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The early schedule will either toughen or drain the will of the Commodores. After two home games, they head for the EA Sports Maui Invitational, making a stop for a game against Saint Mary's in California on the way. Once in the islands, the Commodores will open on Nov. 23 against Cincinnati, and play Maryland or Chaminade in the second game. Arizona, Gonzaga and Wisconsin are featured in the other bracket. December starts with a four-game stretch against Missouri at home on Dec. 2, DePaul at home on Dec. 5, Illinois on the road Dec. 8 and Western Kentucky in Nashville's Sommet Center on Dec 11. Things ease a bit after that, but the Commodores should have a good idea where they stand by mid-December.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Commodores missed the postseason last season, but have the makings of an NCAA Tournament team in 2009-10. The early schedule provides the quality to enhance their credentials when tournament selection time arrives.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Jermaine Beal, SG Brad Tinsley, G/F Jeffery Taylor, F Steve Tchiengang, C A.J. Ogilvy

ROSTER REPORT:

--C A.J. Ogilvy, who is from Sydney, got a chance to get home when the Commodores played a five-game tour of Australia. Coach Kevin Stallings acknowledged that Ogilvy was a primary reason for the trip. "The destination was certainly a choice made with A.J. in mind," Stallings said.

--G-F Lance Goulbourne, who played in 23 games off the bench as a freshman, was a standout tennis player in high school with a serve clocked at 130 mph.

--G John Jenkins topped 30 points in every game he played as a high school senior at Station Camp High in Gallatin, Tenn.

Posted 10/23/2009 8:38 AM ET