GETTING INSIDE

Greg Gary's first season as head coach at Centenary wasn't exactly successful. The Gents won only eight games and dropped nine of their last 10.

Now comes Year Two, and it doesn't look too good so far.

Gary welcomes back five letter-winners from last year's squad, although none of them averaged as many as six points per game last season. And four of the five are guards, giving Gary very little depth up front.

What he does have up front is senior forward Jerrald Bonham, who is the only senior on the Centenary roster. Bonham is strong up front and started 25 of 30 games but has trouble with fouls, which limited him to slightly more than 20 minutes a game last year.

Junior Roman Tubner joins sophomores David Perez, Tyler Johnson and Maxx Nakwaasah in a crowded backcourt. Nakwaasah became a full-time starter in the second half of last season, so he'll certainly be given a chance to keep his starting spot, while Tubner will also be counted on for much more production this season.

After that, Gary has several new faces to piece into the team in a hurry. The Gents do get to play five of their first seven games this year at home, which is a help, although they open with games at Marquette and Grambling State.

The season is likely going to be one big experiment, as Gary tries his best to figure out his best combination of players. He hopes to get a good idea early and improve upon last year's victory total.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Centenary had its troubles on the boards in 2008-09, ranking ninth in the league in rebounds with 29.8 per game and finishing last in rebounds allowed, giving up 38.9 per game.

--G David Perez led the Gents in free-throw shooting as a freshman, connecting on 24-of-29.

--F Jerrald Bonham averaged more than three fouls per game despite playing an average of only 20.1 minutes. His four disqualifications for fouling out ranked third on the team.

LAST YEAR: 8-23 overall, 6-12 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Greg Gary; second year at Centenary (8-23).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "With what we lost from the previous year and with what transpired here, it was probably expected to be picked where we were. But we have a bunch of new guys who have been working extremely hard this preseason along with the returnees. We can't control other people's opinions of ourselves, but we can control how hard we work and how much better we get every day. We are very excited to get the season started." -- Coach Greg Gary on Centenary being picked to finish last in the Summit League.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Coach Greg Gary has a number of players who he is hoping to count on early. Late signee Travis Sims is only 6-6 but is good at using his body on the interior, averaging 9.8 rebounds per game as a senior in high school. He and fellow freshmen David Swartz (6-8, 225), Travis Sims (6-6, 210), Matt Marseille (6-6, 200) and Jeron Trotman (6-6, 200) will all be given the opportunity to earn minutes up front, where the Gents are a little thin. Freshmen guards Leo Davis and Jonathan Blount will be given a little more time to develop since Centenary has a number of backcourt returnees.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Gents would like to get some victories on the board early to build some confidence and bring the team together before the conference schedule. Home games with Texas College on Nov. 19, Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 27 and Northwestern State on Nov. 30 are certainly winnable before Southern Utah and Missouri-Kansas City come to town for league games at the beginning of December. The Gents can't afford to go into the Summit League games reeling from tough losses.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Coach Greg Gary seems to have Centenary headed in the right direction, although the process could be a long one. Gary has a number of his own recruits on the team now, so he should feel good about the team and its potential. Another solid season with a few surprising wins will really boost Gary and the team's confidence moving forward.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Tyler Johnson, G David Perez, G Maxx Nakwaasah, F Jerrald Bonham, F Matt Nichenko.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Coach Greg Gary added a new assistant to his staff at the end of the summer, with Amadou "Pape" Koundoul rounding out the coaching staff. Koundoul joins Adam Walsh and Mark Richmond as assistants.

--G Daman Starring started the first four games last season before succumbing to injury for the year and earning a medial redshirt. Starring is expected to be back at 100 percent.

--With so much experience in the backcourt, coach Greg Gary might find himself going with three- and four-guard lineups in the early going simply to have enough experience on the floor.

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IUPU-FORT WAYNE

GETTING INSIDE

Dane Fife has definitely raised the expectations at IPFW.

In his first four seasons at the school, Fife, a former Indiana guard, has coached the Mastadons to school records in victories, and now the team is hoping to take the next step.

Fife returns four of his top five scorers from last year's team that won 13 games, and they're hoping to improve on that number yet again.

Senior forward Deilvez Yearby, the Summit League's Sixth Man of the Year, was a solid inside presence for IPFW, averaging 9.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game.

Whether he'll continue to come off the bench is uncertain, but he'll certainly be a big part of the Mastadons' plans this year.

Also back are senior Nick Daniels and juniors Zach Plackemeier and Ben Botts, all guards. The backcourt is full of experience and could dominate for the team, especially early in the season.

Fife does have junior college transfers Antwone Snead and Oleg Kovalov, along with 6-10 sophomore Trey McCorkle, who will attempt to provide some help for Yearby in the paint.

Things all seem to be shaping up for a solid run at the postseason for the Mastadons. It's just a matter of Fife finding the right components to plug into the right places, and that might take a little time.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Coach Dane Fife already ranks third in school history in career coaching victories, notching 48 in his first four seasons on campus. Fife's 48 wins rank behind second-place Tim Russell (67).

--F Deilvez Yearby tied an IPFW school record with his 54 blocked shots in 2008-09. Yearby accomplished the feat despite starting only 10 games and playing only 22.4 minutes per game.

--G Ben Botts was nearly perfect from the line in 2008-09, missing only six free throws all season. Botts' 65-of-71 shooting (91.5 percent) easily led the Mastadons.

LAST YEAR: 13-17 overall, 8-10 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Dane Fife; fifth year at IPFW (48-70).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Deilvez has to make up his mind if he's happy with being a pretty good player in the Summit League or being a great player in the country, because he's that talented. This could be the biggest off-season in Deilvez's life if he wants to play at the next level." -- Coach Dane Fife told the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette about forward Deilvez Yearby.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: With so many returnees in the backcourt, coach Dane Fife needed some frontcourt help, and he seems to have gotten it with junior college transfers Antwone Snead and Oleg Kovalov, who should give the frontcourt a little more bulk. Freshman Eli Lee hasn't met too many jump shots he didn't like and should be an impact player for the Mastadons before too long.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Dane Fife didn't do his team any favors with the early-season non-conference slate, which includes road games against Wisconsin, Washington State, Gonzaga and Toledo. If those games don't take too much of a toll on the Mastadons, they start the conference season in early December with a home date with league favorite Oakland. Then comes the toughest trip of the year, to face national runner-up Michigan State on Dec. 19.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Dane Fife has really turned around the attitude of the IPFW program in the time he's been on campus. The question now is whether he can push the team to the next level, where the Mastadons can compete for a league title and a postseason berth on a perennial basis. Fife doesn't seem to be settling for the easy way either, putting the team through a horror of a non-conference schedule to get them ready for Summit League action.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Zach Plackemeier, G Ben Botts, G Nick Daniels, F Deilvez Yearby, F Trey McCorkle.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Dane Fife added to his coaching staff with the hiring of Azeez Ali in August. Ali spent the past two seasons on the staff at Chattanooga, serving as the director of basketball operations.

--The Mastadons have a number of different lineups that they could go with in 2009-10, from a big lineup that includes 6-10 sophomore Trey McCorkle or an uptempo game with sophmore Jeremy Mixon and redshirt freshman Frank "Brandon" Gaines.

--IPFW is hoping Deilvez Yearby can take that next step and become a star player, potentially drawing some attention to the program as pro scouts start to come out to see him play.

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IUPU-INDIANA

GETTING INSIDE

There are big things expected from IUPUI this season, as well there should be considering what coach Ron Hunter has returning from last year's team that won 16 games.

Seniors Robert Glenn, Jon Avery and Billy Pettiford lead a group of nine letter-winners who are back for the Jaguars, including four starters.

Glenn is the kingpin of the group, as the senior looks to build on the end of last season, when he scored in double figures in 18 of the team's final 19 games.

The 6-7 Glenn was a force inside, making 61 percent of his field goals and blocking a team-high 50 shots.

But Glenn isn't alone up front, with Avery and Pettiford back as well, each bringing his own unique qualities to the frontcourt. Avery shot a school-record 67.9 percent from the field and grabbed a team-best 5.9 rebounds per game.

Pettiford led the Jaguars in assists with 74 and steals with 32 from his forward spot.

Throw in sophomore swingman Alex Young and junior wing Leroy Nobles, and you can see the reasons for the high expectations.

The biggest question mark is freshman point guard Greg Rice, who expected to step right in and run the team. But even that isn't a worry for Hunter, who feels really good about the team he's got entering the season.

"Personnel-wise, I think we've addressed some areas and built a really good core," Hunter said. "We've got some really good bigs, we've got some wings that can score and defense and a good group of guards."

Whether that will be enough will only be answered in the coming months.

NOTES, QUOTES

--IUPUI was the only team other than Oakland to receive a first-place vote in the recent preseason poll of the Summit League's media, coaches and sports information directors. Oakland earned 34 first-place votes and the Jaguars, who were picked to finish third, got the other first-place nod.

--Senior forward Robert Glenn was selected to the preseason All-Summit League first team as voted on by the league's coaches, media and sports information directors. Glenn, who was the conference's Top Newcomer last season, averaged 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in 2008-09.

--G/F Alex Young averaged 10.8 points per game as a freshman, the top scoring average by a first-year player in IUPUI's Division I history. Young was also the top scoring freshman in the Summit League.

LAST YEAR: 16-14 overall, 9-9 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Ron Hunter; 16th year at IUPUI (249-194).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're excited about what we've got here. This is the time of year that everyone's excited and everyone's optimistic, but I really like this group of guys. They work hard and want to improve every day. We've got three seniors that want to go out as winners and there's a lot of depth up and down this roster." -- Coach Ron Hunter.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The hope is that 5-11 freshman point Greg Rice can step right in and take over the controls. Rice was a two-sport standout at Ben Davis High School and averaged 18 points, three rebounds and three assists per game as a senior. The other true freshman on the squad is 6-3 guard David Mazanowski, who should help provide backcourt depth as the season wears on.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Jaguars don't play a home game until Nov. 25, and that's after they've taken on such programs as Drake, Auburn, Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois. That home date, against Indiana East, will need to be a victory because a little more than a week later, two conference home games loom large against North Dakota State and South Dakota State. IUPUI must be prepared for league play from the get-go or it could put itself in a hole that will be hard to get out of.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Ron Hunter has put IUPUI on the map as the team has gained more and more recognition nationally over the last few years. Getting back atop the Summit League would certainly help that as well, but Hunter is heading into his 16th season and has put the program in good shape to compete for years to come.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Greg Rice, G/F Leroy Nobles, F Alex Young, F Robert Glenn, F Jon Avery.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Coach Ron Hunter got a big commitment in October when 6-7 senior forward Donovan Gibbs of Louisville Iroquois High School decided to join the Jaguars next year. Gibbs had been getting interest from Butler, Oklahoma State, Xavier, Western Kentucky and several other schools. Gibbs joins 6-9 big man Mitchell Patton of South Knox High School among the verbal commitments for the 2010-11 season.

--G Stephen Thomas must sit out this season after transferring from Dayton. Thomas, a 6-1 guard, will be a junior when he becomes eligible for the 2010-11 season.

--F Jon Avery has shown plenty of strength on the interior, but the Jaguars are hoping for even more as his body fills out. At 205 pounds, Avery could stand to beef up a bit for the war in the trenches.

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MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY

GETTING INSIDE

Coach Matt Brown's squad had a difficult time of it in 2008-09, fielding the league's youngest team and losing 11 games decided by seven points or fewer.

But for all the pain the team suffered through last year, the experience that was gained in those tough losses should help the Kangaroos get back on track again this year.

Five letter-winners were lost but there are seven returning, including starters Bakari Lewis and Spencer Johnson. Lewis really came on after becoming eligible midway through the season following his transfer from Nicholls State.

Another transfer becomes eligible, with Jay Couisnard ready to go after a year off since coming from Evansville.

Yet another potential impact player is freshman Kirk Korver, brother of Utah Jazz forward Kyle Korver. If he's anything like his brother, the younger Korver will provide some long-range firepower for the Kangaroos.

In all, the Kangaroos have five players returning who started at least 12 games last season, so Brown will have plenty of options.

If the team can learn to put things together in close games, the Kangaroos could make a major step forward in the league standings. If not, it could be another long, painful season.

NOTES, QUOTES

--With victories over Wichita State and Bradley last season, Missouri-Kansas City notched wins over consecutive Missouri Valley Conference opponents in the same season for the first time since 2001-02 and for only the third time in school history.

--G Bakari Lewis averaged 10.8 points per game in his 20 games with the Kangaroos last year, ranking him ninth among sophomores in scoring average in school history.

--F Spencer Johnson made the most starts for UMKC last year with 30, but he also had the most personal fouls on the team with 102 and his nine disqualifications were one more than the rest of the team combined.

LAST YEAR: 7-24 overall, 3-15 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Matt Brown; third year at UMKC (18-45).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think the month of December will give us a good indication of where we're at for Summit League play with games against Missouri, Wichita State and Saint Louis." -- Coach Matt Brown.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Kirk Korver certainly has the bloodlines to be a contributor to the Kanagaroos this season, as his three older brothers played Division I basketball (Kyle and currently Kaleb at Creighton, Klayton at Drake). Korver should provide some solid outside shooting and toughness off the bench. Freshman Alex Bazzell and junior college transfer Michael Gholston Jr. will give UMKC some backcourt depth, while freshmen Max Rockmann and Fred Chatmon will look to give the team some frontcourt minutes off the pine.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Kangaroos get a fairly easy start to their schedule, with three of their first five games at home. One of the road games, at Nebraska, is a chance for the team to measure itself against a big conference school. And UMKC had better get itself together early on, because road games at Oral Roberts on Dec. 3 and Centenary on Dec. 5 start off the conference season.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Things are looking good for the Kangaroos under Matt Brown. There have been struggles in the early going of Brown's regime, but he is starting to turn things around with a roster full mostly of his own recruits. The youthful team of a year ago is going to turn into a veteran squad that should only get better as the season wears on.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Bakari Lewis, G Dustin Dibble, F Spencer Johnson, F LaTreze Mushatt, F Daniel Brady.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Jay Couisnard has made quite an impression at UMKC since transferring from Evansville, as shown by his selection as one of the team's tri-captains this season before he's even played a game.

--G Dustin Dibble is due to improve a great deal from his freshman season. Dibble shot only 32.0 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from three-point range, but the Kangaroos expect those percentages to go way up this year.

--F LaTreze Mushatt continues to impress UMKC coaches with his effort plays. Mushatt earned a lot of praise for his offensive rebounding and hustling defense as a freshman last year.

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NORTH DAKOTA STATE

GETTING INSIDE

What a difference a trip to the NCAA tournament can make.

Despite falling short against Kansas in the NCAA Tourney last year, North Dakota State was still a darling of the tournament, which continued this year when ESPNU included the Bison in its coverage of Midnight Madness.

Unfortunately for coach Saul Phillips, the same team isn't coming back for a second shot at the Big Dance, with only one starter back.

Forward Michael Tveidt is good -- he was a second-team preseason all-conference pick -- but he can't do it all alone, which is why the Bison were picked for fifth place in the preseason poll.

Last year's players off the bench, forward Dejuan Flowers, forward Sam Sussenguth and guard Josh Vaughan, all of a sudden become part of the starting five, leaving Phillips to search for a fifth starter as well as some reserve help.

The Bison won't sink to the bottom of the standings, but anyone looking for a repeat of last year's 16-2 run through the conference schedule probably will be disapponited.

The experience of making the run to the NCAAs will make this year's team better, but it will also have to last for a while because it's not likely they'll be dancing again this season.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Bison came within 10 points of Kansas in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but that's a distant memory after all of last year's double-figure scorers -- Ben Woodside (23.2), Brett Winkelman (18.6) and Mike Nelson (11.6) -- have graduated.

--F Michael Tveidt was one of the top three-point shooters in the Summit League in 2008-09, connecting on 44.9 percent of his shots from beyond the arc to rank third.

--Of the nine players who played at least 200 minutes for the Bison last year, F Dejuan Flowers had the fewest assists, seven, or an average of 0.2 per game.

LAST YEAR: 26-7 overall, 16-2 in the Summit League; lost in first round of the NCAA Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Saul Phillips; third year at North Dakota State (42-20).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Our nationally televised game gives us a chance to showcase our program in homes across America versus one of college basketball's best players in Craig Brackins." -- Coach Saul Phillips on North Dakota State's game on Jan. 9 against Iowa State that will be televised on ESPNU.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Coach Saul Phillips will need something from his newcomers as he searches to find some depth. Guards Mike Felt, Nate Zastrow and Taylor Braun will all get a shot at playing in the backcourt with a number of last year's guards having departed. Up front, two redshirt freshmen, 6-6 Caleb Shockman and 6-9 Andy Nagel, will get the first opportunities at breaking into the rotation, while true freshman Jordan Aaberg, 6-9 and 210, has the size to help as well.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Bison are going to be a hunted team after making the NCAA Tournament, so they'll have to be ready for a number of teams' best shots. Even a team like Minot State, which visits on Nov. 18, is going to see a win over North Dakota State as a big deal. The conference season begins with a pair of road games on Dec. 3 at Western Illinois and on Dec. 5 at Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis, and the Bison need to be stable by that point in order to get off on the right foot.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Bison are certainly in a good spot right now, but it's up to coach Saul Phillips to keep them near the top of the conference. Losing four starters is likely going to force a step back from last year's dominance, but Phillips needs to strike the recruiting trail while the iron is hot and keep North Dakota State among the league's elite.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Freddy Coleman, G Josh Vaughan, F Michael Tveidt, F Dejuan Flowers, F Sam Sussenguth.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Michael Tveidt must learn to play with the defense paying plenty of attention to him. As the only returning starter for the Bison, he'll likely draw the opposition's best defender.

--F Dejuan Flowers needs to become on the boards. Flowers averaged 3.3 rebounds per game a year ago, but at 6-7, 220, he should be able to get many more opportunities on the glass this season as a starter.

--F Sam Sussenguth has been working hard in order to see a much bigger role this season. The senior averaged only six minutes per game in his 27 outings a year ago. Sussenguth should see that number go way up, especially in the early going as coach Saul Phillips looks to his veterans to lead the way.

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OAKLAND

GETTING INSIDE

It's good to be at Oakland these days.

The Golden Grizzlies, everyone's pick to win the Summit League title this season, return four starters from last year's team that won 23 games, and coach Greg Kampe now gets to plug St. John's transfer Larry Wright into the lineup.

Oakland's story starts with junior center Keith Benson, who towers over the competition in the Summit League. Benson led the league in blocked shots and was second in the conference in rebounding last year.

Point guard Johnathon Jones led the nation in assists with 8.1 per game, and he'll be back to run the show for the Golden Grizzlies. Jones also found time to average 13.3 points per game.

Forward Derick Nelson returns after redshirting a year ago because of a foot injury. Nelson averaged 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds a game in 2007-08.

Also back are wings Will Hudson and Drew Maynard to give Oakland plenty of firepower and experience.

Then there's Wright, who sat out last year after playing for the Red Storm two years ago, connecting on 40.2 percent from three-point range. He should fit right in as the Grizzlies look to replace leading scorer Erik Kangas.

Yes, Oakland is going to be feeling the pressure of being the favorite in the league this season, but there are worse things a team could be forced to go through.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Oakland has won 17 or more games in each of the past three seasons: 19 in 2006-07, 17 in 2007-08 and 23 in 2008-09.

--F Keith Benson broke the Oakland single-season and all-time school records in blocked shots with 87 last season, giving him 127 in his career.

--F Will Hudson set a single-season school record for field-goal percentage in 2008-09, connecting on 68.2 percent.

LAST YEAR: 23-13 overall, 13-5 in the Summit League; lost in the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

HEAD COACH: Greg Kampe; 26th year at Oakland (419-314).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Obviously, I think we all knew this was going to happen when you look at all we had coming back. I'm happy that the coaches in the league would recognize us and the fact that we have some pretty good players with three being named to the preseason all-league team. The only thing that really matters are what the records are in the end. We understand that and we're really looking forward to getting started." -- Coach Greg Kampe on the Grizzlies being named the favorite in the Summit League this year.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Tops on the list of newcomers is St. John's transfer Larry Wright. The 6-2 guard is a solid three-point shooter and finished third on the Red Storm with 9.1 points per game in 2007-08. Redshirt freshman Jay Thames will bring some size to the frontcourt at 6-9 and 220, and he was able to practice with the team last year, so he'll be ahead of the true freshmen coming in. Guards Travis Bader, Ledrick Eackles and Drew Valentine will add to the depth in the backcourt.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Oakland would like to get off to a good start, but the schedule isn't exactly set up for that. Road games with Wisconsin, Kansas and Memphis are coming in December, while a date at Michigan State on Dec. 10 gives the Golden Grizzlies a chance to match up against one of the nation's best and see where the team is a month into the season.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Oakland is looking like a solid program in the Summit League for years to come. Greg Kampe has been with the Golden Grizzlies for 25 years and he's not looking to go anywhere with the way his team is becoming a perennial contender. The Golden Grizzlies are trying to become a mid-major that can match up with some of the nation's best, and this year's team could really go a long way toward making a national name for the program.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Johnathon Jones, G Drew Maynard, F Will Hudson, F Derick Nelson, C Keith Benson.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Johnathon Jones was named the Summit League's Preseason Player of the Year, but Oakland coaches don't see the guard looking for his own shot ahead of his teammates' looks. Jones is a point guard at heart and enjoys the pass more than the shot.

--F Derick Nelson looks very good in preseason practices after missing all but two games last season because of a foot injury. Nelson redshirted and will be a senior this year.

--Oakland coaches are hoping to see good things from Keith Benson in his match-ups with some of the better big men in the country against Kansas on Nov. 25. A bad performance wouldn't be harmful to his development, but a good game would certainly pump up his confidence so early in the season.

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ORAL ROBERTS

GETTING INSIDE

The Golden Eagles came up short in their quest for a fifth consecutive regular-season title a year ago, and now coach Scott Sutton has something new: an inexperienced squad.

Oral Roberts endured heavy graduation losses, with three starters and six letter-winners moving on.

Sutton will rely upon his two returning starters from a year ago, sophomore forward Dominique Morrison and senior forward Kevin Ford. Both were selected to the Summit League All-Newcomer squad a year ago.

Ford played only half a season after transferring from Ball State, but his high-flying game took hold quickly, as he was able to establish himself as one of the league's top dunkers.

Guard Roderick Pearson, a transfer from Southeast Missouri State, becomes eligible and will help fill some of the void in the backcourt. Two years ago, Pearson averaged 10.2 points per game for Southeast Missouri.

Sophomores Michael Fletcher, Ken Holdman and Beloved Rogers will be looked to for help in the backcourt, while sophomore swingman Kyron Stokes, who started nine games a year ago, will see his role expand greatly.

The Golden Eagles don't have any delusions about getting back atop the league standings this year, but they aren't throwing in the towel already . With so few seniors among this bunch, a two- or three-year plan might just include another title.

NOTES, QUOTES

--With 184 career victories entering the 2009-10 season, coach Scott Sutton is close to becoming the second coach in school history to win 200 games.

--F Kevin Ford seems to have finally found a home after a very long journey around college basketball. Ford played one season at New Mexico State in 2005-06, one season at College of Charleston in 2006-07 and transferred from Ball State without playing a game.

--F Dominique Morrison set a Oral Roberts record for starts by a freshman with 31 last year. He was named a CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshman All-American after averaging 9.6 points per game.

LAST YEAR: 16-15 overall, 14-4 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Scott Sutton; 11th year at Oral Roberts (184-126).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Another year, another challenging schedule. I'm excited about what we've been able to put together. I always like to assemble a tough non-conference schedule. With trips to Louisville and Wake Forest plus the Cancun Challenge games against Stanford and Virginia, this year is no different." -- Coach Scott Sutton on the Golden Eagles' 2009-10 schedule.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: The Golden Eagles will need some production from their newcomers this year, as opposed to other seasons when Scott Sutton didn't have to rely on them quite as much. G Roderick Pearson becomes eligible after sitting out a year following his transfer from Southeast Missouri State, and he should jump right into the mix. Pearson made 46 starts at Southeast Missouri, including 27 as a sophomore. Junior F Michael Craion brings some experience from two years at Independence Community College, where he averaged 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last year. Freshman big man Damen Bell-Holter brings a 6-10, 245-pound frame that Sutton will definitely find a place for in the paint.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: Oral Roberts will be going through a growing process early in the season, but the schedule isn't exactly set up for some growing. Road games with Wake Forest, Stanford and Virginia are among the first four of the season, with the Cancun Challenge hopefully bringing the team together. The Summit League schedule opens with home games against Missouri-Kansas City and Southern Utah early in December, meaning Oral Roberts must be ready to go quickly.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Oral Roberts has been one of the top programs in the Summit League over the past five years, and one season or two away from the top of the heap isn't going to diminish the program. Coach Scott Sutton keeps his team competitive both in the conference and against a very tough non-conference schedule, making Oral Roberts one of the most respected mid-majors in the country.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Roderick Pearson, G Ken Holdman, F Dominique Morrison, F Kevin Ford, F Micheal Craion.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Ken Holdman played in 24 games a year ago before suffering a season-ending groin injury on Feb. 24. Holdman isn't expected to feel any lasting effects to the injury and should be perfectly fine for the season opener.

--F Kamarachi Onyirioha left the basketball team to concentrate on his studies at Oral Roberts. Onyirioha played in only 10 games in 2008-09.

--F Andre Hardy played in 30 games and started four last year, but transferred to Cal State Fullerton.

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SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

GETTING INSIDE

You want experience? South Dakota State has experience.

Try 10 letter-winners back from last year, including all five starters for coach Scott Nagy.

The question is, is experience going to be enough to push the Jackrabbits higher than their seventh-place finish of a year ago. Summit League coaches, media and sports information directors sure think so, picking South Dakota State fourth in the preseason poll.

It certainly helps that senior Garrett Callahan and junior Anthony Cordova are among the returnees. Callahan was a preseason first-team all-conference pick, while Cordova was selected on the second team.

They will team with Clint Sargent to give Nagy three returning double-figure scorers to rely on.

The motivation is there too after South Dakota State lost five of its last six games to derail hopes of a higher finish in both the regular season and in the conference tournament.

The Jackrabbits have plenty of talent; now it's just a question of putting it together for a solid run at the top of the league.

NOTES, QUOTES

--The Jackrabbits weren't very quick in going for the ball defensively, ranking last in the Summit League in steals in 2008-09 with only 4.6 per game.

--Though he averaged only 6.2 points per game a year ago, G Dale Moss showed his scoring potential with a 27-point effort against Missouri-Kansas City in February. Moss' total was a team high for the season.

--G Garrett Callahan tied a school record in 2008-09 when he shot 12-for-12 from the free-throw line in a Feb. 12 game against Southern Utah. Callahan shot 83.9 percent from the line for the season.

LAST YEAR: 13-20 overall, 7-11 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Scott Nagy; 15th year at South Dakota State (256-162).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think people realize we return a very good basketball team. Certainly the rest of the league noticed Garrett (Callahan) and Anthony (Cordova), but I think those two would tell you that where the team finishes is the most important thing and not the individual recognition." -- Coach Scott Nagy on Callahan and Cordova earning preseason all-league honors.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Four newcomers dot the Jackrabbits' roster, including three guards who should add some depth. Nate Wolters, Brayden Carlson and Chad White will get a chance to contribute in bench roles, although breaking into regular playing time could be tough with so many returnees. Tony Fiegen, a 6-7 forward, also faces an uphill climb getting into the frontcourt rotation, although his athleticism may get him some opportunities.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Jackrabbits get themselves some early tests in the Paradise Jam in November, with an opening-round game against Purdue, followed by either Boston College or St. Joseph's. The first two Summit League games are on the road, with trips to Indiana-Purdue Indianapolis and Western Illinois on the December schedule.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Jackrabbits are poised to make a move up in the Summit League standings with so many returnees. Even with so many veterans, there are only three seniors on the roster, making Scott Nagy very happy that he'll get to continue to work with most of this group for a few years, keeping South Dakota State in the mix in the conference race.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Garrett Callahan, G Dale Moss, G Clint Sargent, F Anthony Cordova, F Kai Williams.

ROSTER REPORT:

--South Dakota State coach Scott Nagy added Brian Cooley to his coaching staff late in the summer. Cooley served the last two years as a graduate assistant under Nagy.

--G Garrett Callahan enters his second season with brother Griffan Callahan on the Jackrabbits' roster. Garrett is a 6-1 senior and Griffan is a 6-4 sophomore.

--South Dakota State might want to see G Dale Moss shoot more from long range. He had the top three-point percentage on the team last year at 66.7 percent, but he only shot six times from beyond the arc. The coaches want to see him look for his shot a little more.

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SOUTHERN UTAH

GETTING INSIDE

It's been a rut the Thunderbirds are ready to get out of, this fifth-place business.

Southern Utah has finished fifth in the Summit League standings the last four seasons, and the team is ready to make the move up from that spot this year.

Last season saw the Thunderbirds notch their first Summit League Tournament victory since 2003 before falling in the semifinals to eventual champion North Dakota State.

Now coach Roger Reid feels he has the size to contend in the league after signing 6-10 Matt Hodgson and 6-11 Dallin Bachynski.

First, though, Reid needs to find replacements for the three starters he lost, especially with only four letter-winners returning. With all the new faces, Reid almost feels like he's starting from scratch.

"I always like to start with the fundamentals (in practice), but with so many new guys, we have to assume they don't know anything so we start from the beginning," Reid said.

He's certainly hoping that all-league guard Davis Baker, who averaged 17.4 points per game, can lead the way, no matter who's on the floor, but he'll certainly need some help.

Fellow seniors Drew Allen and Byron Byrd, and sophomore Jake Nelson will do their best to provide leadership as well.

"As a staff, we're really excited to get going," Reid said. "One of the main reasons is we've finally got our own guys here. We're young but we're starting with a good group of young kids.

"We have seven freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and three seniors. It's going to be a big challenge, but we think it's going to be fun, and this should be a fun team to watch."

NOTES, QUOTES

--Southern Utah was deadly from the free-throw line in 2008-09, leading the nation at 79.6 percent.

--G Davis Baker led the team in scoring at 17.7 points per game, but he'll must look to pass more after dishing out only 39 assists and turning the ball over 70 times.

--Swingman Jake Nielson earned a starting nod midway through the 2008-09 season as a freshman and never gave it up. He'll be counted on to up his scoring average from last year's 5.8 points per game.

LAST YEAR: 11-20 overall, 8-10 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Roger Reid (career 174-115); third year at Southern Utah (22-39).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's exciting to start to build a program with a group of guys who will be with us, who we can work with and develop. This group has worked very hard getting to this point, in conditioning and in the weight room, and I know they're excited to get into practice too." -- Coach Roger Reid.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Coach Roger Reid is excited about the height he was able to bring into the program with 6-11 Matt Hodgson and 7-0 Dallin Bachynski, both labeled as "steals" for the Thunderbirds by ESPN.com. The players who could have more of an impact early, though, as junior college transfers Ryan Brimley and Brian Cameron. Both will provide some offense from the perimeter for Southern Utah. The backcourt will be well-stocked with the arrival of freshmen guards Joel Einfelt, Scott Friel, Damon Heuir and Jordan Weirick.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The team will get a chance to get away together when they open in the Hawaii Tip-Off Classic in Honolulu before playing three home games that will help build some confidence. A road trip to Utah State will provide a test Nov. 28, just prior to the first two league games of the year, at Centenary and at Oral Roberts, at the beginning of December.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Roger Reid enters his third season at the helm of the Thunderbirds with a group of players that he's recruited. Reid has been successful in his previous coaching stops so there's no reason to think he can't help Southern Utah turn the corner. This year's team has a nice balance of youth and experience and could pull a few surprises before the season's done.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: G Drew Allen, G Davis Baker, G/F Jake Nielson, F Byron Byrd, C Matt Massey.

ROSTER REPORT:

--F Matt Massey sat out last season after transferring from Nova Southeastern College, where he averaged 7.1 points and 4.9 rebounds as a true freshman in 2007-08. The Australian should provide some toughness on the interior but he can also move out to the perimeter to shoot.

--Both of the Thunderbirds' junior college transfers, Ryan Brimley and Brian Cameron, played at Snow College, where Roger Reid previously coached. Cameron played for Reid at Snow in 2006-07 before serving an LDS mission, while Brimley played at the school last year.

--G/F Jake Nielson is the top returning assist man for the Thunderbirds with his 43 last year. Nielson is a solid passer but Southern Utah is hoping he can be more aggressive looking for his shot this season.

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WESTERN ILLINOIS

GETTING INSIDE

In Jim Molinari's first season at Western Illinois, the Fighting Leathernecks improved to second in scoring defense in the league.

Now Molinari needs to find some offense after losing his only double-figure scorer from a year ago, David DuBois, who averaged 17.9 points per game.

Senior G David Nurse is the leading returning scorer for Western Illinois, having averaged 8.4. That's not going to do the trick in the Summit League, so Molinari is going to need to find some other scorers as well.

One intriguing option is Molinari's son, Billy, who joins the team as a freshman.

The offense might not be the best, but the defense is sure to be solid, as it has been at Molinari's previous coaching stops of Northern Illinois, Bradley and Minnesota.

As long as Molinari's squad can work hard on defense, the offense could come in turnovers and fast-break opportunities. For now, Molinari is content to make sure his team that features seven newcomers learns the defense first.

With only two seniors on the roster, this could be a work in progress through next season. But Molinari is hoping to send those two seniors out with some winning times.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Western Illinois ranked No. 2 in the Summit League in scoring defense in 2008-09, allowing 65.1 points per game. That was an improvement from the previous year, when the Leathernecks ranked sixth in the league.

--G Ceola Clark was second in the Summit League in steals per game last season, recording 1.7 swipes despite starting only five games.

--F James Granstra was the top shot-blocker for Western Illinois in 2008-09, recording 15 in 27 games. The Leathernecks are hoping for bigger things from Granstra this season, especially if he can stay on the floor for more than 17 minutes per game.

LAST YEAR: 9-20 overall, 6-12 in the Summit League.

HEAD COACH: Jim Molinari (career 232-206); second year at Western Illinois (9-20).

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Abdou has a tremendous attitude. He shows up with the desire to help the team in any way possible and become the best player he can be. Before he can help the team, he will need to gain more strength and I am confident in (strength and conditioning) coach (Chris) Anderson that he can progress in time for the season." -- Coach Jim Molinari on late signee Abdou Niang.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

SCOUTING THE NEWCOMERS: Coach Jim Molinari is certainly familiar with one recruit, son Billy Molinari out of Peoria (Ill.) Christian. Though he might not want to seem like he's playing favorites, it seems likely Molinari will give his son a chance early since he'll know the defensive schemes the team is using. Freshman David Gebru, a 6-10, 215-pounder, gives Molinari more size inside. The Leathernecks could use more rebounding and shot-blocking, so Gebru will be given the chance to prove he can do those things. Swingman Jelani Johnson is another possible wing player who could find himself on the floor early.

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The season gets off to a tough start with the Leathernecks opening with road games against Arizona State and Kansas State. After that, much of November and December is filled with home games, with Western Illinois playing seven of its first 11 games in Macomb. Included in that slate are Summit League games with North Dakota State and South Dakota State. Neither is a gimme, even at home, but the Leathernecks need to pull out at least one victory to avoid falling in an early hole in the league standings.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: Jim Molinari has turned a number of teams into solid defensive squads, and he's hoping to do the same thing with Western Illinois, making the Leathernecks a perennial threat for the postseason. It's going to take a little while, but with some early success, Molinari could start to see things turning around soon.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG Ceola Clark, G Davis Nurse, G Quenton Kirby, F James Granstra, F/C Jeremy Felton.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Ceola Clark had the top shooting percentage from three-point land in the Summit League a year ago, but he shot the ball only 65 times. Look for Jim Molinari to encourage Clark to look for his shot more, if only to open things up for the offense against packed-in defenses.

--The Leathernecks need some rebounders to step forward. Last year's team averaged only 27.4 rebounds per game, with Ceola Clark the leading returning rebounder with his 3.2 average. Molinari is leaning on James Granstra to become more of a force on the glass.

--F Jeremy Felton was the last of this year's signees but he's going to be counted on early. Felton transferred from Mineral Area Community College, where he average 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game. His 6-7, 210-pound body will be put to work early and often.