UPCOMING CIAA
iirr?iHH?r 'if1 1
S WAC Hopes for Encore
playing in Colorado Springs within the
United States Junior Olympic system. He
is a honorable mention preseason Ail
American selection by several publica
tions. Last year he record 28 double-dou
bles.
In addition to Scales, Southern returns
Vincent "JumbT Jones a 5-9 guard who
played both the point and shooting posi
tions last year. A sparkplug off the bench,
Jones averaged 14.1 points and 4 2 assist
MJumbi understands die type of things we
are attempting to do on the basketball
floor," Jobe said. "He is my kind of pHy
er, he enjoys the game and does not have a
conscious. He is the kind of player you
want on your team when the game is on
the line.**
Temple transfer Johnny Conic is
expected to see a lot of playing time. The
6-5 guard/forward from Saginan, Mich.
"We will be young and inexperienced
even though we return a good number of
veterans players," Jobe said. "These guys
will have to get used to playing in a hurry
or we could take our lumps early."
GRAMBLING STATE (13-14, 5-9),
prediction: Fourth
This may be the year G-men put it all
together for fifth-year coach Aaron James,
a former standing-out player for G ram
bling.
The Tiger return of four starters,
including the nation's tenth leading scorer
in 6-4 junior Kenny Sykes. Sykes, one of
the most exciting players in the league,
averaged 23.9 points last year.
. James is looking for his first winning
season since coming to G rambling.
"Experience will make the difference
this year," James said. "When its close
down the stretch, we'll win some of the
kind of close games we lost last year.**
In addition to Sykes, the G-imen have
1 1 other letteimen returning. Grambling's
other returning starters include 6-3 guard
Donyea Jones (9.1 ppg, 2.1 apg), 6-1
senior guard Sean Jones (3.6 ppg, 3.8
apg), 6-6 junior forward Michael Tardy
(9.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and 6-7 junior forward
Gray (4.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg).
TEXAS SOUTHERN (12-15, 8-6)
prediction: Fifth
The Tigers loss six of 12 leuermen
from last year, but return one of the best
guard combinations in the league.
Returning at one guard spot is two
time team scoring leader Theon Dotson
(6-2, Sr.), who averaged 16.4 points per
game. His backcourt mate will be SWAC
Freshmen of the Year Kevin Granger. The
6-2"50phomore averaged 11.8 points last
year.
The two will be joined by several
newcomers in the lineup.
"We should be among the top four
teams in the conference,** said Texas
Southern coach Robert Moreland, the
dean of SWAC coaches. "Lack of experi
ence will be the biggest difference
between this year's team and last year's.
We could be better before this year is out
It depends on how fast the front-court
develops.**
Anthony Jones, a 6-6 senior, averaged
4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds to earn a start
ing spot late in the season. Thomas Foster,
a 6-6 junior, will also be counted on to
help at the forward position. Joey Vidrine
(6-9), a transfer from Pearl River Junior
College, Anon Warren, (6-9), and Regi
nald Whi taker (6-8) will contend for the
Starting center SDOL
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY (13-15, 7
7), prediction: Sixth
This will be rebuilding year for the
Delta Devils.
Mississippi Valley lost two players ?
Alphonso Ford and Mark Buford ? to the
NBA draft. Ford, an all-conference per
former for four years, is the school's all
time leading scorer. Buford was a fast
developing center for the Devils.
Valley coach Lafayette Stribling is
confident his team will be able to com
pete. "We want a balance attack," Strib
ling said. "We have a general mix of high
school and junior college players. Scoring
will not be our problem. Youth will be.
The lone starter back for Valley tis
George Norris. The 6-6 junior averaged 6
7 points and 4.9 rebounds per contest
"This team could be better,** Stribling
said. "We don't have no stars, but we'll
play team balL This will be a trying to win
team.**
ALCORN STATE (7-20, 5-9) pre
diction: Seventh
Times have gotten tough for the once
proud Braves program.
After suffering through a 7-20 season,
Alcorn State fired fourth-year coach Lon
from page 3
nic Walker. Alcorn hired Southern Illinois
assistant Same Weaver, who'll embark
upon his first season as a collegiate head
coach. The task facing Weaver is trying to
rebuild the- Braves program into the pow
erhouse status it enjoyed in the 1970's and
80s.
"We have made some big adjust
orients" Weaver said. "We have lost some
personnel. We will have six freshmen. It
will be an uphill climb, but the guys seem
ready to work hard. We have an identity
crisis. We are learning a ne^v system." It
will probably be a rough first year for the
Braves.
Alcorn will rely on guard Marcus
Walton until ins*ide players Marcus
Pi tun an and Fred Ashley become eligible
after the holiday break.
PRAIRIE VIEW (1-26, 0-14) pre
diction: Eight
The Panthers have a struggling bas
ketball that has won only one game the
past two years. The 1993-94 campaign
may not be any better.
Prairie View returns three startesr
from last year. The Panthers must improve
on defense, which they gave up an aver
age of 102 pointers per game. "Last year
we were able to score; we were just lack
ing in defensive strength,** coach Elwood
Plummer said. "We lost four games by
two points and two games by four points ,
last year, which was an improvement over
the 1991-1992 season. We improve as the
season progressed."
? Derrick Mahone