GETTING INSIDE

Consider this the Buzz Peterson era No. 2 at Appalachian State.

Peterson, who coached at Appalachian State from 1996-2000 and led the Mountaineers to a 79-39 record, returned to his old stomping grounds after the school fired former coach Houston Fancher following last season.

As with most coaching changes, Appalachian State believes it might have the missing piece to go with all that talent Fancher assembled on the court.

That talent was limited last season, when Appalachian State's inconsistency marred what was expected to be a Southern Conference-contending lineup.

The Mountaineers won more than two games in a row only one time during the 2008-2009 season. Instead, Fancher's team went on to a series of disappointing losses until the season was ended by Davidson in the Southern Conference tournament.

Now, most expect Peterson to inspire the sort of turnaround he did in 2005-2006 at Coastal Carolina -- his previous coaching stop. At Coastal, Peterson inherited nearly the same lineup that suffered through a losing season in the previous year and took the Chanticleers to within one game of an NCAA tournament appearance.

It isn't a shock that Peterson, who spent the last two years in the front office of the Charlotte Bobcats after leaving Coastal Carolina, brought some of the success with him from Coastal.

Assistant Jamie Kachmarik joined the Mountaineers after having a successful six-year stint at Coastal Carolina, primarily as a recruiter.

At Appaclachian, Kachmarik will again lead the recruiting charge. Peterson also added Jason Capel, a former North Carolina standout and the brother of Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel.

The trick for the Mountaineers and their new coaches will be getting the most of out a strong corps of returning players. Appalachian State brings back 12 players and all five starters from the end of last season.

Appalachian State's bench is also loaded, as this year's non-starters spent significant time on the court in the Mountaineers' high-octane offense last season.

If all those pieces can be fitted together properly, the Mountaineers should be able to rebound from last year's sub-par record.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Mountaineers bring back two of the premier rebounders in the Southern Conference from a year ago. Junior forward Isaac Butts finished second in the conference with 8.5 rebounds per game and senior forward Josh Hunter was fourth at 7.2.

--Senior guard Ryann Abraham's status on the team was up in the air at the end of last season, but now, he appears to be in good standing with coach Buzz Peterson. Abraham, who was suspended in January for what former coach Houston Fancher deemed "attitude" issues, was allowed back on the team and played solid minutes in the team's two-game trip to the Bahamas in August.

--In terms of experience, no team in the league may be able to imitate what Appalachian State is returning. The Mountaineers have 11 players on the roster who played at least nine minutes per game a season ago.

LAST YEAR: 13-18 overall, 9-11, fourth in the Southern Conference North Division.

HEAD COACH: Buzz Peterson (career 201-134); first year in second stint at Appalachian State (79-39).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Those practices and games were great for us. The staff got a chance to evaluate each player's strengths and weaknesses and gave us the opportunity to see what kinds of different lineups we can use throughout the year." -- First-year coach Buzz Peterson, on what 10 August practices in preparation for an exhibition trip to the Bahamas did for the Mountaineers.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: As two of the team's four new players are transfers and will sit out this season, the quest to squeeze new faces into an already experienced lineup won't be quite as difficult. However, it might still be a task to find minutes for Nathan Healy and Ryan Kilmartin, talented freshmen who come in with impressive high school backgrounds. Healy, a 6-foot-7 forward from New Bern, N.C., averaged 19.7 points and 12 rebounds a game as a high school sophomore. Kilmartin, a 6-foot-4 guard from Charlotte, was part of a ton of overall success at both the high school and AAU level, as well as a spot on the Wales 2006 silver-medal squad in the FIBA European Championship.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: It might be difficult for the Mountaineers to gauge much from their non-conference schedule. Appalachian State will play several teams that are perceived to be either on a much lower or much higher level than themselves, including games against Arkansas (Nov. 20) and Louisville (Nov. 23). The best non-conference measuring stick might turn out to be a Nov. 30 game at home against Winthrop in the return game from last year's ESPNU BracketBusters event. Conference play will hit full swing when the Mountaineers play host to the Citadel on Jan. 6.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Few argue that this load of talent has anywhere to go but up after the Mountaineers finished 13-18 last year. With the locally well-known Peterson back in Boone, N.C., the Mountaineers have to be considered one of the top teams in the Southern Conference. When orchestrating minutes and keeping players happy is your No. 1 problem, it stands to reason that wins could pile up in droves.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Ryann Abraham, G Kellen Brand, G Donald Sims, F Isaac Butts, F Josh Hunter.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The Mountaineers' top two big men, Josh Hunter and Isaac Butts, both spent time easing back onto the practice court after they suffered minor knee injuries during the postseason. However, both have healed and are expected to be at full strength soon.

--Two Appalachian State guards are on pace to top the 1,000-point mark for their careers this season. Senior Kellen Brand stands only 21 points short of the scoring mark, while junior Donald Sims is 221 shy.

--The lone holdover to the coaching staff at is Matt McMahon, who will be entering his 10th season on the bench after playing for Peterson during the head coach's first four years heading the program.

--Buzz Peterson plucked two former Big South honorees to play for the Mountaineers during the off-season. Former Charleston Southern forward Omar Carter, the Big South's Freshman of the Year in 2007-2008, and Anthony Breeze, another member of the 2007-2008 all-freshman team in the Big South, will sit out this season and have two years of eligibility remaining.

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CHATTANOOGA

GETTING INSIDE

A repeat trip to the NCAA Tournament will be no easy task for Chattanooga this season. The Mocs lost nearly every bit of production from last year's staff, leaving coach John Shulman starting virtually from scratch.

Most notably among the losses is guard Stephen McDowell, who finished second in the conference in scoring at 18.1 points per game.

Gone, too, from the starting lineup are Kevin Goffney, Nicchaeus Doaks (who was third in the Southern Conference in rebounding at 8.6 per game), Khalil Hartwell and Keyron Sheard.

The numbers associated with the loss of those players is staggering. Shulman will have to replace 88.1 percent of the scoring, 77.9 percent of the rebounds, 83.6 percent of the assists and 88.7 percent of the steals Chattanooga proeduced last season.

And then there's this number -- 1. That's how many starts the players on the roster had a season ago.

Matters became complicated, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported, when Shulman was forced to suspend the team's best returning player, Ty Patterson, for the fall semester.

Additionally, junior college transfer Troy Cage and forward Chris Early will be limited at the beginning of the season because of to injuries. Early was productive in limited minutes as a freshman and was expected to be a solid contributor this season.

All in all, Shulman and the Mocs have their work cut out for them. The good news is that the coach has again loaded the team with players who have previous experience at other colleges, including two who previously played at major schools.

"We have a lot of hungry guys right now and a lot of competition," Shulman said. "Every spot is up for grabs and playing time is a precious commodity. I really like this team and its potential, but you'd like to have a lot of known commodities. There is very little known about this team."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Chattanooga enters the 2009-2010 season tied with West Virginia and Davidson for the most Southern Conference tournament titles. The Mocs earned their 10th last season when they defended their home court en route to advancing to the NCAA Tournament.

--Due to graduations, suspensions and injuries, the Mocs' top returning scorer and rebounder isn't one with eye-popping numbers. Sophomore forward Chris Early, who averaged three points and two rebounds per game, is the most noted player available for the start of the season.

--Coach John Shulman has repeatedly said that transfer guard Keegan Bell could put up similar numbers to that of departed guard Stephen McDowell. Bell, who sat out last season after transferring from Vanderbilt, chose Chattanooga over Michigan, Notre Dame and Butler after deciding to leave the SEC school.

LAST YEAR: 18-17 overall, 11-9, tied for first in Southern Conference North Division; lost to Connecticut in first round of NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: John Shulman (career 90-72); fifth year at Chattanooga (90-72).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Everybody has said we just need to bond. We've got a great point guard, Keegan Bell. ... I think everybody is expecting a lot out of everybody on this team right now. All we have is each other." -- Junior Troy Cage, on how a team full of new players will meld for Chattanooga.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: While most of the first-year player talk revolves around point guard Keegan Bell, Troy Cage, Ridge McKeither and Josh Odem also are expected to compete for serious playing time right away. Ridge was a junior college All-American a season ago at North Dakota State College of Science, where he averaged 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. He shot better than 55 percent from three-point range.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Coach John Shulman admitted after last season's non-conference schedule that perhaps he took it a little too hard on his players. So, he trimmed down the early season schedule a bit from a year ago. Still, Chattanooga will take on Elite Eight qualifier Missouri on Nov. 24, as well as Georgia Tech on Dec. 14.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Calling this a rebuilding year might seem obvious, considering the Mocs have to replace so much so quickly. But most of the players from this year's team saw first-hand how Chattanooga should be able to compete for a top-tier spot in the league every season. Led by another round of transfers and young players, the increasing experience level should help as the Mocs go.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Keegan Bell, G Ricky Taylor, F Troy Cage, F Ridge McKeither, F Dante Harvey.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Dante Harvey appears to be healthy after missing nearly a month during Southern Conference play last season. When he was healthy, Harvey was able to provide some life off the bench, including during a very effective seven minutes during the league tournament title game.

--The only returning player with a start for the Mocs is 7-foot-1 center Jeremy Saffore. The big man doesn't always seem to fit in Chattanooga's run-and-gun offense, but limited experience across the board should provide for more playing time.

--Junior forward DeAntre Jefferson might finally be finding his niche in his third college stop. After spending time two junior colleges, Jefferson stepped in right away and recorded a double-double in one of the Mocs' pre-season exhibition games in Toronto.

--When senior forward Ty Patterson returns, the Mocs will have a player who averaged more that eight points and three rebounds per game off the bench last season. Patterson was suspended for the fall semester.

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COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON

GETTING INSIDE

The question at the College of Charleston is simple: Will this be Bobby Cremins' best team in his four years at the school?

The answer appeared to be a definitive "yes" until the last week of September, when the team received some bad news. Junior forward Antwaine Wiggins will miss the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee. The school announced on its athletics Web site that Wiggins injured himself during a preseason workout.

How much that affects the Cougars, though, will remain to be seen. Wiggins was indisputably the team's best defender, often drawing the toughest defensive assignments regardless of the opponents' primary strength. He blocked 31 shots and had 37 steals last season.

Offensively, he averaged 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds while starting every game.

Now, the Cougars might have to lean on their top-notch backcourt more than ever. Guards Andrew Goudelock and Tony White might comprise the best guard combo in the Southern Conference, and if the Cougars are going to challenge for the North Division title, it will likely be because of those two.

Replacing the offensive and defensive talents of Wiggins will probably fall into the hands of first-year expected starters Jeremy Simmons, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound junior, and Florida State transfer Casaan Breeden.

Simmons is the top returning rebounder on the team at 5.1 per game. Now, he will have to prove he can not only pick up his defensive game, but also that he can considerably improve upon the 6.8 points he averaged as a sophomore.

The rest off the inside support will have to come from a handful of inexperienced faces. If Cremins can find the right combination, and White and Goudelock perform to expectations, the Cougars might still find the answer they're looking for.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Cougars will start the 2009-2010 season with two 1,000-point scorers on the roster. G Andrew Goudelock (1,036 career points) eclipsed the plateau at the end of last season, when he was a sophomore. Fellow G Tony White (1,081 points) will be starting his senior year.

--The loss of junior forward Antwaine Wiggins means Charleston will have a smaller lineup, the Charleston Post and Courier has reported. In Wiggins' place, guard Donavan Monroe will start, meaning the Cougars will start three guards as opposed to three big men.

--The Jan. 4 home game against North Carolina has already been dubbed "The toughest ticket in town," but it isn't the first -- nor will it be the last -- time College of Charleston has a home game against a big-conference opponent during Bobby Cremins' stint at the school. South Carolina visited last season, and Clemson and Tennessee will also be making trips to Charleston in the next two seasons.

LAST YEAR: 27-9 overall, 15-5, tied for second in Southern Conference South Division; lost to Richmond in second round of the CBI Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Bobby Cremins (career 519-344); fourth year at College of Charleston (65-37).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's a bummer. I'm really disappointed. I really feel bad for Antwaine. It's a tough blow. He's a great kid and he's absolutely brokenhearted right now." -- Cougars coach Bobby Cremins, quoted in the Charleston Post and Courier, on the loss of returning starter Antwaine Wiggins to an ACL tear during the offseason.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The last time a Southern Conference team plucked a big name out of Charlotte Christian School, the basketball world started to pay attention to a relatively unheard of school named Davidson. Now, that's not to say College of Charleston SF Willis Hall -- who broke Stephen Curry's scoring mark at the high school -- will do what Curry did. But he won't be a bad addition, either. Hall should see significant minutes early and be a prime contributor off the bench.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Cougars' non-conference schedule will again include a number of stouts tests, starting with in-state opponent Winthrop, a traditionally strong recruiter in South Carolina. College of Charleston will also play at Tennessee (Nov. 27), at Clemson (Dec. 19) and at the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii, where opponents will range from SMU and UNLV to Northeastern, St. Mary's and USC. The non-conference slate is topped off with a Jan. 4 home game against defending national champion North Carolina.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Charleston brass might have done themselves a considerable favor when they signed coach Bobby Cremins to a two-year extension during the offseason. Cremins is under contract through the 2013-2014 season, meaning first-year players can expect to have him on the sidelines throughout their college career. It should also continue to impact immediate recruiting.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Andrew Goudelock, G Tony White, G Donavan Monroe, F Jeremy Simmons, F Casaan Breeden.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The first-year class at Charleston includes Florida State transfer Casaan Breeden, who will be eligible after the first semester ends. The 6-foot-8, 205-pound forward played in 66 games in two-plus seasons for the Seminoles, averaging 4.7 points per game during his final half season. He sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.

--Another first-year player, freshman Rashad Wright (Kent, Conn.) is expected to play considerable minutes right away for the Cougars. Wright, who averaged 10.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in prep school last season, fits into the mold of Bobby Cremins players. Wright is 6-foot-9 and about 200 pounds.

--Cremins is expected to have two scholarships with which to recruit this year, as one of the team's three seniors is a walk-on.

--F Antwaine Wiggins, who will miss the season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, should return for the 2010-2011 season with two years of eligibility remaining.

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DAVIDSON

GETTING INSIDE

Now, everyone gets the chance to see if Davidson basketball is more than only Stephen Curry.

The All-Everything guard departed the Wildcats after his junior season to pursue his life in the NBA, leaving Davidson without arguably the best player the Southern Conference has ever known.

For coach Bob McKillop, making due won't be easy.

The Wildcats lost a scorer, a leader and the type of player who made others better.

Now, there is a lot of slack expected to be picked up by three seniors -- guards Bryant Barr and Will Archambault and forward Steve Rossiter -- and junior guard Brendan McKillop, who in the past two seasons was used primarily to spell Curry.

McKillop will give the Wildcats something they didn't have last season, even with Curry. The 6-foot-1 guard is a true point guard who had nearly as many assists (50) as he did field goals (54). When he did shoot, he was primarily a three-point threat, finishing fourth on the team in long-range shots and makes.

Obviously Curry's absence is huge; another is that of F Andrew Lovedale. He established himself as a modicum of consistency, playing and starting in all 35 games last season. He averaged 12.5 points and was tops in the league in rebounding at 8.7 boards per game.

Lovedale is expected to be replaced by sophomore forward Frank Ben-Eze, who at times showed flashes of his future. Defense probably will be his greatest impact. Ben Allison, another regularly used player from a year ago, will push Ben-Eze not only for playing time but also starting status.

Regardless, this Davidson team will be one that is centered around the guard play. McKillop, Archambault and Barr will likely be the deciding factors if the Wildcats sink or swim without Curry.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Wildcats were the top-scoring team in the Southern Conference last season, averaging 77.8 points per game. Defense was a strong point as well, as the Wildcats were third in the league, allowing only 65.9 points per game.

--Forward Steve Rossiter is the only returning player from a year ago who started every game. He averaged 6.1 points and 5.9 rebounds a game.

--Senior forward Will Archambault started only nine games as a junior, but he started seven of the team's last eight, maybe in preparation for this season. It also was a direct correlation to his play during a strong 12-game stretch during the crux of conference play when he averaged 12.2 points per game.

LAST YEAR: 27-8, 18-2, first place in Southern Conference South Division; lost to St. Mary's in second round of the NIT.

HEAD COACH: Bob McKillop (overall 367-232); 21st year at Davidson.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The last few years, our schedule has put us in a position to receive exposure on a national stage, and the competition has given us the opportunity to become a better program." -- Davidson coach Bob McKillop, on what appears to be another season with a handful high-profile, nationally televised games.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Two of fresh faces have Davidson fans eager for the season to start. G J.P. Kuhlman and F Jake Cohen enter the Wildcat program with impressive high school resumes. Cohen averaged a double-double and five blocked shots per game, and he also connected on 40 percent of his three-point shots. Kuhlman was the spark that led the Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Providence School to a top-50 national ranking. Kuhlman averaged more than 18 points, six assists and six rebounds per game as a senior.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Davidson won't be shying away from early season big games again this year. The Wildcats will be playing Butler on Nov. 14 in a rematch of last year's ESPNU BracketBusters contest. Additionally, Davidson will face Gonzaga on Dec. 12, either Hofstra or St. John's on Dec. 21 and UMass on Dec. 30. That's not to mention a Dec. 3-5 conference home slate against The Citadel and College of Charleston.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Wildcats were successful before Stephen Curry, and all signs point to them being that way again now that the star is gone. Coach Bob McKillop probably will move back toward a more team-oriented approach for the time being. That means fundamentals, fundamentals and more fundamentals. With that sort of game plan, the Wildcats should again be near the top of the conference.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Brendan McKillop, G Bryant Barr, G/F Will Archambault, F Steve Rossiter, F Frank Ben-Eze.

ROSTER REPORT:

--North Carolina prep standout Jordan Downing gave a verbal commitment to Davidson for 2010-2011, the Charlotte Observer reported. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound guard is one of four players from Hopewell High who has accepted a Division-I scholarship.

--Freshman guard Nik Cochran is the third player in recent years coach Bob McKillop has plucked out of Montreal's Champlain St. Lambert school. Teammate Will Archambault and the now-departed Max Paulhus Gosselin preceded Cochran.

--Davidson lost top assistant Matt Matheny, who took the head coaching job at Elon. Matheny was with the Wildcats for 16 seasons, the last six as associate head coach.

--Sophomore transfer Clint Mann will sit out the season per NCAA rules after transferring in from Iowa State. The Kansas-born Mann played in 18 games with the Cyclones before heading to Davidson. He has three years of eligibility left.

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ELON COLLEGE

GETTING INSIDE

No team in the Southern Conference will have a fresher look in 2009-2010 than Elon. That's because few teams in the league needed a reboot more.

The Phoenix not only lost three of their top players, but fired coach Ernie Nestor. Nestor had only one winning season in six years at Elon, and with patience wearing thin, the administration decided it was time for a change.

In his place, Elon brass went to the school in the league with a recent history that provided the most success: Davidson. The Phoenix hired long-time Wildcat assistant Matt Matheny, who also played at Davidson under Bob McKillop.

The rebuilding job at Elon, though, is going to take more than one offseason. The Phoenix were 11-20 overall and 7-13 in league play last season, winning only twice on the road.

The lowest point came when the Phoenix were embarrassed at home by Appalachian State on a night when the school was supposed to be celebrating its 100 years of basketball.

Forgetting all of that, Elon must do so without an established star. Ola Atayebi, who averaged 13.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and Brett James, who averaged 13.2 and 5.0, are gone, as is productive forward Monty Sanders.

Without them, the Phoenix will need immediate contributions from several new players.

The burden, however, probably will fall on the shoulders of guard Chris Long, who was second in the league in assists at 4.0 per game last season as a sophomore. It will be his job not only to run Matheny's offense and make sure the ball is distributed to those who can make things happen.

NOTES, QUOTES

--No player on the roster has ever experienced a winning record at Elon. The Phoenix last had a record above .500 in 2005-2006, when Elon was 15-14.

--Freshman forward Brett Ervin made good on his original signing with Elon and stayed with the school despite signing before former coach Ernie Nestor was fired. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound native of West Virginia should challenge for playing time right away.

--All 10 players from last year's squad remained with the program, an oddity of sorts after a coaching change.

LAST YEAR: 11-20 overall, 7-13, fifth in the Southern Conference North Division

HEAD COACH: Matt Matheny, first year at school and as a college head coach.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We want to play against the best competition so that we will be best prepared for the battles in the Southern Conference. There are great ACC opponents, including Wake Forest and N.C. State, that are in our region and present opportunities to challenge our players." -- First-year coach Matt Matheny, on his approach to the non-conference scheduling.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Elon is taking its time filling out its roster in the Matt Matheny era. The Phoenix added only two players for the 2009-2010 season. Brett Ervin, a talented forward out West Virginia is one. The other is 6-foot-8 forward Roger Dugas, who spent the last two years playing with Canada's National Elite Development Academy. Given a lack of big men and the Elon's recent problems, both could be in the lineup sooner rather than later.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Phoenix aren't simply playing cupcakes while the team adjusts to new coaches and players. Elon has a number of relatively tough games, including an appearance in the preseason NIT tournament, a Dec. 13 game against Wake Forest and a Dec. 17 game against North Carolina State.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Elon fans feel the Phoenix have nowhere to go but up after Ernie Nestor's time as coach. Elon had only one winning season in Nestor's six years, and that was a 15-14 showing in 2005-2006. Bringing Matt Matheny on board could change that if the winning attitude he brings from Davidson rubs off.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Chris Long, G Devan Carter, G Josh Bonney, F T.J. Douglas, F Adam Constantine.

ROSTER REPORT:

--First-year coach Matt Matheny has applied a principle he learned from former boss Bob McKillop. Matheny's first signing at Elon included a foreign-born player, Roger Dugas from Quebec, Canada.

--Senior forward Adam Constantine is the team's top returning rebounder at 4.8 per game.

--With only 12 players on the roster and four of those seniors, the Phoenix will have a lot of room to play with in the November signing period.

--Every coach on the Elon sideline is new to the program. In addition to head coach Matt Matheny, Tim Sweeney, Justin Gainey and Will Roberson join the bench.

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FURMAN

GETTING INSIDE

Coach Jeff Jackson suffered through one frustration after another when Paladins were dropping like flies last season, particularly when Bobby Austin and Daryl Evans wend down with season-ending injuries before the end of December.

Other players missed handfuls of games, and others, at times, were too dinged up to start. It led to 11 Paladins starting games, with only guard Jordan Miller starting all 30.

But no combination worked. Furman didn't beat a Division-I opponent until Jan. 26 and won only four conference games, tied for the worst in the league. And the Paladins were 0-16 away from Timmons Arena.

"I think last year was all the results of all the injuries and of all our youth," Jackson said. "We're now healthy. We're now physically better. We know have guys who are able to play."

With everyone but Austin healthy, and a number of second-year players with close to 30 games under their belt, the coach is convinced he can turn things around.

Barring any early-season injuries, the Paladins will have what amounts to the most experience of any team in Jackson's four years. And while that might not be saying much for a team that has won 15, seven and then six games in his three seasons, he's confident this year will be better.

So much so, that Jackson said his team is in position to earn one of the South Division's two byes for the Southern Conference Tournament in March.

"I think the one thing is it will be hard for people to focus on any one player," he said. "We should have every opportunity to compete for one of those byes. To me, this is the best team that we've had since we've been here, including my first year."

NOTES, QUOTES

--The low point for Furman's 2008-2009 season came against Davidson on Jan. 21, when the Paladins fell, 83-43. It was Furman's worst conference loss in 51 years.

--Two first-year players, forwards Amu Saaka and Colin Reddick, will be starters early on this season for the Paladins. The team returned several backcourt players but are thin inside.

--The only injury from last season that is still affecting the Paladins is that of guard Bobby Austin. The sophomore continues to suffer from a stress fracture in his back sustained before last season. Coach Jeff Jackson said he has no timetable for Austin's return.

LAST YEAR: 6-24 overall, 4-16, sixth in Southern Conference South Division.

HEAD COACH: Jeff Jackson (career 49-123); fourth year at Furman (28-63).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I thought that was the best thing that our coaching staff did. We handled it pretty well. We're going to get some dividends out of it." -- Coach Jeff Jackson, on how Furman dealt with injury after injury in 2008-2009.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: As two first-year players, Amu Saaka and Colin Reddick, appear poised to be starters, the new faces in Greenville will likely have a major impact. Saaka, a transfer from South Florida, wasn't a huge contributor for the Bulls but did show flashes of potential. Reddick entered the program with his twin brother Charlie.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: For a team that won only six games last year, any early season game could be considered a key test. But the Paladins will get an opportunity to find out early if they are going to be able to compete with some of the best teams in the Southern Conference. Furman opens league play on Dec. 3 against Appalachian State (Dec. 3), arguably the most talented team in the league. Two days later, the Paladins play Western Carolina at home. If Furman can get at least a split, they will be light years ahead of last season.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Listening to coach Jeff Jackson, he'd have you believe Furman is not only on its way up, but also on the way toward the top. The fourth-year coach is confident his team will be in the top half of the Southern Conference South Division this season. Room for improvement is great for a team that has won only 13 games in the last two seasons.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Justin Dehm, G Jordan Miller, F Amu Saaka, F Colin Reddick, F Brandon Sebirumbi.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Should sophomore forward Bryson Barnes not get a starting nod, he should be a valuable asset off the bench. He led the team with 5.3 rebounds per game and was third in scoring at 8.5 last season.

--To say coach Jeff Jackson doesn't recruit South Carolina might be an understatement. The Paladins have only two in-state players on the roster. One of those, Garrett Copeland, is a seldom-used walk-on.

--It won't be difficult telling the Reddick twins apart. Charlie is a 6-5 guard while Colin is a 6-9 post player. Charlie will wear No. 12, Colin No. 34.

--Furman added one new coach when it hired David Wilson. He worked previously under Elon coach Ernie Nestor, who was fired from that school after last season.

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GEORGIA SOUTHERN

GETTING INSIDE

Georgia Southern's season ended as one of the worst in school history, so the Eagles made a change. They replaced coach Jeff Price with a familiar face, former Georgia Southern star Charlton Young.

The former Eagle started 97 consecutive games from 1989-1993, averaging 14.8 points and 4.9 assists per game.

With Young, Georgia Southern hopes it can take the successes of its past and refuel a program that struggled mightily last season. The team fell apart after injuries and suspensions, and Southern won only one of its last 13 games.

It went from bad to worse when the Eagles lost their final four games of the season by double digits, including a season-ending, 43-point loss to Davidson.

Young already has shown the bravado Georgia Southern fans are hoping for.

"I would like to make a public announcement, and that public announcement is very simple: it is time to get our swagger back. It is time to realize who we are," he told fans at a rally, as quoted by the Statesboro Herald.

That won't be easy, but Georgia Southern's cupboard is by no means bare.

The Eagles return Willie Powers, one of the best guards in the conference, along with exciting sophomore guard Ben Drayton and their backcourt mate Antonio Hanson.

They should form one of the best guard lineups in the Southern Conference, one that will give opponents fits.

The Eagles also return 6-foot-7 forward Tyler Troupe, who was a fraction of a point from averaging in double digits. All that together adds up to a team that should be able to score points. It will be a big step in the right direction for a team that fell on hard times a season ago.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Georgia Southern lost more games last season (22) than all but one other team in school history. The 1995-1996 team had 23 losses.

--Guard Willie Powers is back at 100 percent after going down in the 11th game of last season because of an ACL tear. Before his injury, Powers was the Eagles' top weapon, averaging 14.5 points and nearly four assists per game.

--Senior forward Sandy Perry will not be available until the end of the first semester, the school announced. Perry was suspended after he ran into academic difficulty. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.4 rebounds per game last season.

LAST YEAR: 8-22 overall, 5-15, fifth in Southern Conference South Division.

HEAD COACH: Charlton Young, first year at Georgia Southern and as a college head coach.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our guys have really pushed themselves to get better in individual workouts, and as a program, in a short amount of time, we have accomplished a great deal both on and off the court. We're excited about our schedule and know what it is going to take to reach our goals." -- Coach Charlton Young, on what his team needs to do to turn around the 8-22 season from a year ago.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Neither of Georgia Southern's first two signees are expected to be major contributors right away, but that doesn't necessarily mean they won't. The Eagles signed 6-7, 215-pound forward Cameron Baskerville out of Marietta, Ga., and 6-8, 210-pound forward Rory Spencer from Atlanta. Spencer spent two years at Johnson County Community College in Kansas, where he averaged more than 14 points per game for the NJCAA Division-II national champions.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Eagles will find out right away if they can sustain long-term success after several big-name opponents dot the schedule early. Georgia Southern will play at South Carolina on Nov. 16 before playing at Florida two days later. The Eagles also will play North Carolina State on Dec. 12. Combine that with the three-day, three-opponent Legends Classis in Statesboro Nov. 27-29, and Georgia Southern will have plenty of chances to show what it can do before the conference schedule begins.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Eagles have all the makings to make fans forget the troubles of last year's squad. Georgia Southern has a new head coach, a load of players ready to make good on the potential they have and a fan base hungry for success. The Eagles have very reachable expectations. Not only is a .500 record attainable, but probably anticipated.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Willie Powers, G Ben Drayton, G Antonio Hanson, G Antoine Johnson, F Tyler Troupe.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Two high school players were released from their letters of intent after Georgia Southern's coaching change. Emarri Bailey, a highly touted recruit from Arlington County Day in Jacksonville, Fla., and Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, a three-star recruit from Tampa, both asked to be released from their commitments.

--Sophomore Colby Wohlleb is being evaluated after suffering a left leg injury during the preseason. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 4.9 points per game as a freshman. Senior Blake Thompson will be out until at least January after injuring his right knee. Thompson played in seven games last year.

--Guard Antoine Johnson was reinstated after being suspended by former coach Jeff Price last season. Johnson, a 6-foot senior, averaged six points and nearly two assists per game before he was suspended.

--The Eagles added walk-on guard Alex Coxworth to the roster. Coxworth, who is 6-2, played at Centennial High School is Alpharetta, Ga., where he averaged 12 points per game as a junior when the team was atop the Georgia rankings.

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SAMFORD

GETTING INSIDE

Samford's basketball season has turned into a tribute to Jim Griffin.

The senior-to-be died in his sleep on Sept. 8 of an undiagnosed heart condition, leaving his teammates and coaches wondering how to deal without one of their own. Griffin was an inspiring player, described by coach Jimmy Tillette as someone who played "with his heart," as quoted in the Birmingham, Ala., News.

The Bulldogs are doing their best to move on from the tragedy, all the while build on the momentum they put together in their first season in the Southern Conference.

Samford, picked for last in the league, went on to finish third in the North Division and win two games in the Southern Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs eventually fell to eventual tournament champion Chattanooga.

"We feel great about this upcoming season," senior point guard Trey Montgomery said. "I think it's been remarkable how well our team has turned it around in the last two years.

"Prior to last season, we were picked dead last in the conference and then we made it all the way to the semifinals of the (conference) tournament. We all feel good about the team this season."

The Bulldogs return four starters, losing only Curtis West, who already know how to execute Tillette's Princeton-style offense. Three of those players started all 32 games last season.

There probably won't be any wholesale changes, and the stability the Tillette's style should be in full force by the time the conference play begins.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Despite playing in a conferencel in which half of the teams averaged at least 70 points per game, the Bulldogs held opponents to more than seven fewer per game at 62.2. The defense was a direct application of the team's slower offensive style.

--Senior Trey Montgomery's 51.1 shooting percentage was the league's best among guards last season and was good enough for eighth overall as he averaged 11.6 points per game.

--Andy King finished fifth and Josh Bedwell was sixth in the Southern Conference in three-point shooting percentage last season.

LAST YEAR: 16-16 overall, 9-11, third in Southern Conference North Division.

HEAD COACH: Jimmy Tillette (career 195-161); 13th year at Samford (same).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're very excited about this upcoming season. I think we have a great chance to do well in conference play and we have a great mix of returning players and new guys. If we can stay healthy, then I think we'll have a great chance to compete in our league." -- Coach Jimmy Tillette, on his team's outlook on the season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Bulldogs have three first-year players, Levi Barnes, Andrew Windler and Gregg Wooten. Barnes, a 6-10 center from Douglasville, Ga., averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots a game as a high school senior. He was rated as the top rebounder and shot blocker in Georgia by MaxPreps and led his high school team to the independent schools state title.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Bulldogs will get another shot at several in-state teams as well as two Big 12 opponents, before the Southern Conference schedule. Samford will play cross-town foe Alabama-Birmingham on Nov. 15, Texas A&M on Nov. 20), Texas Tech on Nov. 28 and Alabama on Dec. 16. The team's first two league games -- at home against Elon on Dec. 3 and UNC Greensboro on Dec. 5, should allow the Bulldogs to start the conference play in solid position.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: There's a feeling of constant growth at Samford, but year two in the Southern Conference should tell if the Bulldogs are going to be able to consistently challenge for a North Division title or if they are simply fighting to stay out of the cellar. This season, plenty of experience leads a squad that should be a contend division contender.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Gaby Bermudez, G Trey Montgomery, G Josh Davis, F Bryan Friday, C Andy King.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Gregg Wooten, who signed during the late signing period, should compete for the starting point guard spot right away. The Memphis native capped his prep career with more than 1,000 points and set his school's all-time assist record.

--Senior guard Trey Montgomery (681 career points) and senior forward Bryan Friday (670) could both finish the season in the top-20 of the school's all-time scoring lists if they repeat their point production from last year.

--Guards Gaby Bermudez and Josh Bedwell will be sidelined to start the season, the Birmingham News reported, after suffering stress fractures.

--Samford will be a family affair this season. Brothers Bryan (senior) and Matt Friday (sophomore) again are on the roster. So is Jeffrey Merritt, whose brothers Joe Ross and J. Robert also played for coach Jimmy Tillette at Samford.

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THE CITADEL

GETTING INSIDE

The Citadel basketball program in 2008-2009 was one chock-full of history.

The Bulldogs, improved from six victories to 20 last season, obliterating all sorts of school records. It was the school's second 20-victory team, and it led to NCAA Division-I's top turnaround of the season.

In the conference, the Bulldogs won 15 games for the first time in school history. Coach Ed Conroy became the first Citadel coach to be selected Coach of the Year, by both the coaches and the media, in 20 years.

But can the Citadel repeat the feat this year?

No longer will the Bulldogs have the services of forward/center Demetrius Nelson. The post player turned into one of the most dynamic big men in the league a season ago.

Nelson finished fifth in the league with 16.4 points per game, 11th in rebounding at 6.5, second in field goal percentage at 59.6, 10th in free throw percentage at 77.3 and 11th in defensive rebounding at 4.5.

However, junior guard Cameron Wells, a former Southern Conference freshman of the year and a member of the All-Conference team a season ago, returns.

Wells averaged 34.5 minutes per game and was one of the more active players in the league, finishing among the conference leaders in scoring, steals and assists.

As with any other year Conroy has been in charge of the Citadel, the Bulldogs will have to maneuver another tough non-conference schedule. West Virginia, Michigan State, Texas A&M and Houston all precede the team's holiday break.

"This schedule will be extremely challenging," Conroy said. "Michigan State and West Virginia are going to have the chance to be as good as anybody in the country.

"Texas A&M will be a top-25 team. Houston should be picked to finish in the top three in Conference USA, and as always, the Southern Conference will be one of the top mid-majors leagues in the country."

Last season, a similarly themed schedule -- including Virginia Commomwealth, Iowa, Michigan State and South Carolina -- prepared the Bulldogs for all that history.

Repeating the feats and becoming the first Citadel team since 1961 to have back-to-back winning records in the conference won't be easy. But Conroy believes it can be done.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Bulldogs' 11-game winning streak from Jan. 22-Feb. 26 was the longest such streak for the program since the 1926-1927 season.

--Guard Zach Urbanus averaged 34.6 minutes per game to lead the conference and backcourt mate Cameron Wells was second at 34.5, besting Davidson guard Stephen Curry's 33.7 minutes.

--Cameron Wells was the sixth best scorer in the league last year at 15.6 points per game.

LAST YEAR: 20-13, 15-5, second in the Southern Conference South Division.

HEAD COACH: Ed Conroy (career 74-100); fourth year at The Citadel (33-60).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "This is by far our most veteran team returning. We have a large group of guys familiar with our system. It has been a great fall in terms of physical, mental, and academic development. I think a lot of this can be attributed to the strong group of returners we have." -- Coach Ed Conroy, on the state of his team coming into the 2009-2010 season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Ed Conroy was clear in his recruiting purpose. Of the eight newcomers brought in this season, history shows that some will be lost to the military school's training regiment. However, with so many of the first-year players being big men, Conroy hopes to replace the skill in the post he lost with the departure of Demetrius Nelson. The most intriguing pickup may be that of Washington transfer Joe Wolfinger. The 7-foot, 255-pound center has range few seven-footers do; during his final year at Washington, he hit 19 three-pointers.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Bulldogs will againplay a difficult non-conference schedule, including a trip to Springfield, Mo., for the Hispanic College Fund Challenge on Nov. 20-22. There, the Citadel will face Eastern Michigan, Missouri State and Maryland-Eastern Shore. From there, the Citadel will play at West Virginia on Nov. 24 before playing host to Davidson on Dec. 3, Georgia Southern on Dec. 5 and Michigan State on Dec. 7.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: If last season was any indication, the Bulldog basketball team is well on its way out of the bottom-feeder spot in the league it held before Ed Conroy's arrival. As this season progresses, observers will have a clear view if last season's success was a blip or a trend. The team has the right mix of experience and youth to keep this roll going.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Cameron Wells, G Zach Urbanus, G/F Austin Dahn, G/F Daniel Eykyn, F Bryan Streeter.

ROSTER REPORT:

--The Bullodgs' roster is slightly misleading. While The Citadel sports a 24-man roster -- by far the largest in the league -- it stands that only a select few will see significant this season. Last season, when the Citadel also had the largest roster in the Southern Conference, but only seven players averaged more than 11 minutes per game.

--The second-biggest loss for the Bulldogs was that of John Brown. The up-and-coming forward came on strong at the end of the season, nearly taking over the team's rebounding lead, but he withdrew from school after last season.

--The only eligibility losses from last year were star big man Demetrius Nelson and seldom-used Jonathan Brick, who averaged less than one point a game.

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UNC-GREENSBORO

GETTING INSIDE

UNC Greensboro must struggle with a scenario no coach wants to deal with. After finishing the 2008-2009 season with only five victories, the Spartans returned all but one of their regular starters.

So is losing experience better than starting from scratch?

Coach Mike Dement is hoping that his upperclassmen think back to how well the team played two seasons ago in answering that question. That year, the Spartans -- who included current seniors Mikko Koivisto and Ben Stywall -- won 19 games and were contenders for a top-tier spot in league play.

Last year, that wasn't the case. UNC Greensboro was 10th in the league with (62.9 points per game, last in shooting percentage at 39.8, 11th in three-point percentage at 31.5, last in assists at 10.3, 11th in turnover margin at -2.5) and last in assist-turnover ratio at 0.7.

Defensively, it was worse. The Spartans were ninth in points allowed at 73.9 per game, last in scoring margin at -10.9) and last in steals at 5.3.

UNC Greensboro equaled the most losses in one season since the team moved to NCAA Division I. The Spartans lost 10 straight games during one stretch and had two more losing streaks of six games or more.

That's the bad news. The good news is this: It can only go up from here.

With Koivisto and Stywall, the Spartans have two very capable offensive weapons. Koivisto led the team at 12.4 points per game and Stywall added 11.7. Greensboro also has Kendall Toney, who averaged 8.0, back in the mix.

If the Spartans can find a dedicated ball-handler to distribute opportunities to all those players, the scoring should increase.

At the same time, the Spartans badly need to find some help off the bench. No other returning player averaged more than 4.2 points per game.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The 2009-2010 season will be the Spartans' first playing all of their games at the Greensboro Coliseum. UNC Greensboro will host 15 games at the arena.

--While the majority of the Spartans returned for this season, Greensboro did suffer one major loss. Would-be sophomore Damian Eargle transferred to Youngstown State this summer. Eargle averaged 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a freshman. He also led the Southern Conference with 57 blocked shots.

--Coach Mike Dement used 19 starting lineups last year, the most of any team in the Southern Conference.

LAST YEAR: 5-25, 4-16, sixth in Southern Conference North Division.

HEAD COACH: Mike Dement (career 312-313); ninth year at UNCG (107-126).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We said we were going to have an upgraded schedule with the move to the Greensboro Coliseum, and there is no doubt that this schedule will be one of the best in the nation. We will be tested in our non-conference schedule by some very good teams, including several from the top-rated conference in the nation -- the ACC." -- Coach Mike Dement, on the gauntlet of teams (six from the ACC) the Spartans will play this season.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Spartans signed four players, including three in the late signing period. C Brian Cole, was rated as one of the top-40 players at his position in the country. Coach Mike Dement also signed Gs Korey VanDussen and Brandon Davis, F Taylor Hoffer.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Spartans' non-conference schedule might be as grueling as any in the league. UNC Greensboro will play Duke on Nov. 13, Virginia Tech on Nov. 17), Clemson on Nov. 20, Wake Forest on Dec. 28, North Carolina State on Dec. 31 and Maryland on Jan. 3. That's six ACC opponents, and it probably won't matter much that four of those games -- Clemson, Wake, N.C. State and Maryland -- are a product of getting big-name games to play at the Greensboro Coliseum. Given Greensboro's attendance averages, home-court advantage will likely sway to the visiting teams.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Dragging themselves out of the bottom of the Southern Conference North Division is obviously priority No. 1. But coach Mike Dement's overall record proves that he can have success at the school. In two stints in Greensboro, it took that 25-loss season from a year ago to drop him to below .500. It's going to be a long road for the Spartans, but there's little reason to believe they will repeat their 5-25 record from last year.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Senior forward Ben Stywall, who averaged 11.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a junior, had eight double-doubles last season.

--Ben Stywall, who has 801 career points, is 28 away from joining the top 25 scorers in school history. He is one of only six players at UNC Greensboro to grab 600 rebounds, starting the season with 638.

--After former assistant coach Kevin Easley departed for High Point, coach Mike Dement added Corey Gipson to the coaching staff and promoted Brian Judski. Kevin Oleksiak, who scored more than 1,000 points in his Spartan career, was added as director of basketball operations.

--Former Spartan Landon Clement, who left UNC Greensboro midway through last season, landed at North Carolina Central during the summer. Daniel Oliver, a 5-foot-10 guard, also left the team after the season.

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WESTERN CAROLINA

GETTING INSIDE

Realistically, Larry Hunter couldn't have drawn up his fourth season at Western Carolina much better.

The Catamounts achieved their first winning season in more than a decade en route to earning a share of the Southern Conference North Division title. Western's 16-15 record might not have looked like much, but it indicated that Catamounts are going to be contenders in the division for years to come.

It started with Harouna Mutombo, the Southern Conference freshman of the year. The 6-foot-4 guard started all 31 games (one of two players to do so), averaging 14.4 points and 1.8 steals per game.

The season included highs (the winning record) and lows, primarily how the season ended. After earning a bye in the first round of the Southern Conference Tournament, the Catamounts dropped their second-round game to College of Charleston.

Using that reminder, Western is driven to do more this season.

For all the good that Western did last season, expectations will be much higher this time. In addition to Mutombo, the Catamounts return every other major piece of last season's team.

That list includes Brigham Waginger, who averaged 8.4 points per game and had 102 assists), Brandon Giles, who averaged 13.2 points per game and Jake Robinson, who checked in at 9.2.

Giles shifted between positions last year, playing the two, three and four. The changes didn't affect his scoring, as he was second on the team in points per game.

All that production and experience gives Hunter every reason to believe this team will be as good if not better.

The overall stability of the program should help the Catamounts contend in the North, especially considering Chattanooga has five new starters and Appalachian State has a new coach.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Western Carolina would love to repeat last season's home record. At the Ramsey Center, the Catamounts were 11-2, losing a non-conference game to Gardner-Webb and a league game to the Citadel. However, Western Carolina won only two conference games on the road.

--Senior guard Brigham Waginger led the Southern Conference in steals last season, averaging 2.6 per game.

--Brandon Giles enters the season ranked 36th in the Western Carolina record book for points in a career with 1,011, seven shy of 35th.

LAST YEAR: 16-15 overall, 11-9, tie for first in Southern Conference North Division.

HEAD COACH: Larry Hunter (career 559-297); fifth year at Western Carolina (50-73).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "With a veteran team returning, we wanted to assemble a non-conference schedule that will provide great challenges, while also enabling us to hopefully grow and gain some confidence as a team before we head into the bulk of conference play after the New Year." -- Coach Larry Hunter, on his approach to the 2009-2010 schedule.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Catamounts are fortunate in that every major contributor to last year's team returns. Coach Larry Hunter added two junior college players, Mike Williams and Anthony Phillips. Williams was a two-year starter at Jackson State Community College in Tennessee, where he averaged 19.2 points and 5.4 assists as a sophomore. Phillips averaged better than 14 points in both seasons he played at Miami-Dade Community College in Florida.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Western Carolina sprinkled a few big dogs into this year's schedule. The highlight might be a Nov. 18 trip to Texas. The Catamounts will host the three-day CBE Classic in Cullowhee. Western Carolina will play non-conference games against Louisville on Dec. 12 and Clemson on Dec. 22. Area rival UNC Asheville will cap off the non-conference slate on Dec. 30.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The talent potential in Cullowhee is high, considering last year's team didn't mesh until later in the season and then ended up earning a share of the North Division crown. The Catamounts expect to be in the fray for the title again this year, and behind sophomore Harouna Mutombo and a number of other key players, that shouldn't be a problem.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Brigham Waginger, G Harouna Mutombo, G Keaton Cole, F Richie Gordon, F Adrian Gailliard.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Sophomore Harouna Mutombo spent the summer playing at the Canadian national team developmental camp and traveled to Spain with the team. He was one of 19 players across Canada invited. Mutombo is the sixth Canadian to play at Western Carolina since 2001.

--G Keaton Cole averaged 7.8 points per game during the last seven games of last season after he took over a starting spot.

--Five of the eight top scores for Western Carolina last season were first-year players.

--Former preferred walk-on center Sam Smithson was awarded a scholarship after last season.

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WOFFORD

GETTING INSIDE

What probably said more than anything else about Wofford basketball last year was what opposing coaches had to say. One by one down the stretch, the other coaches in the Southern Conference said no team worried them more than the Terriers.

That culminated into expectations for the Southern Conference Tournament, where Wofford was beaten in the first round by eventual NCAA qualifier Chattanooga.

"I thought we should have been one of the best teams last year," guard Junior Salters told the Spartanburg Herald Journal. "When we lost in the tournament, it was really disappointing."

Consider that fuel for the competitive fire.

The Terriers return their big three from a year ago. That includes Noah Dahlman, arguably the preseason player of the year, who averaged 17.8 points and 6.4 rebounds a game last year. His game turned into something else during conference play, when he averaged 19 points a game.

There's also Salters, who overcame a gluteus muscle injury to average 15 points and 3.7 points per game. Opponents found the slashing Salters one of the toughest in the league to guard.

And then there's forward Tim Johnson, the often overlooked part of the trio. The 6-foot-6 forward came out of nowhere to average a league-best 8.7 rebounds per game while scoring 10 points per game.

The combination has the Terriers (and those opposing coaches) again thinking Wofford could be the team to beat in the South Division.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Wofford's 12 league victories were the most by the Terriers since they joined the Southern Conference in 1997-1998. It also cued the team's first winning season since joining NCAA Division I.

--Of all of F Noah Dahlman's accomplishments, it might be hardest to believe he did everything last year coming off the bench for the majority of the season. Dahlman started only 10 of the 29 games in which he played. At one point during the season, he even asked coach Mike Young if he could remain a reserve.

--Corey Godzinski, a 6-foot-8 guard, is healthy after dealing with injury problems last season. Godzinski missed seven games, but he averaged 7.0 points per game. He started 21 of the 23 games in which he appeared.

LAST YEAR: 16-14 overall, 12-8, fourth in the Southern Conference South Division

HEAD COACH: Mike Young (career 90-116); eight year at Wofford (same).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've even had to temper things a little bit. Flattery is like perfume. It's OK to smell it, but don't drink it. We haven't accomplished anything yet. We have the opportunity to do great things, but we have done anything to this point." -- Coach Mike Young, quoted in the Spartanburg Herald Journal, on the expectations that Wofford should be one of the top teams in the Southern Conference South Division.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: While Wofford did sign a couple of new players, the excitement within the team encircles two transfer who become eligible this season. Two of junior Noah Dahlman's former high school teammates -- Cameron Rundles (Montana) and Jamar Diggs (Wayne State) -- transferred into Wofford after playing two years at their first college stops. Both also played AAU ball with Dahlman, meaning the chemistry should still be there.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Wofford has never been one to shy away from big-name competition, and this year will be no different. The Terriers will play Pittsburgh on Nov. 13, Georgia on Nov. 17, Bradley on Nov. 22 and Illinois on Nov. 24. From there, Wofford will still play Michigan State on Dec. 4, Navy on Dec. 12, South Carolina on Dec. 19 and UNC Asheville on Dec. 21).

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Wofford appears on the way up with a combination of successful players, confidence from last season's squad and a schedule that at times can seem much easier during conference play. The Terriers are primed for their best season since joining the Southern Conference, and given they can sustain the beginning of their league slate, should be able to finish among the top half of the South Division.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Brad Loesing, G Junior Salters, G Corey Godzinski, F Tim Johnson, F Noah Dahlman.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Wofford has two scholarship freshmen on the roster. The program enrolled 6-9 center Domas Rinksalis from Lithuania and 6-5 forward Nathan Parker from Knoxville, Tenn.

--Sophomore guard Brad Loesing will again be responsible for guarding opposing teams' primary guard threat. Last season, Loesing covered Stephen Curry of Davidson, Stephen McDowell of Chattanooga and Cameron Wells of the Citadel.

--Cameron Rundles, a transfer from Montana, and Jamar Diggs, from Wayne State, both were their former conferences' newcomers/freshman of the year.

--Junior forward Noah Dahlman, who averaged 17.8 points per game, is the top returning scorer in the Southern Conference.

Posted 10/22/2009 11:59 PM ET