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Tuesday, November 7
SWAC Breakdown

ESPN.com

HOW THEY'LL STACK UP

ALABAMA ST.: Defense wins championships and the Hornets play D.

ALABAMA A&M: Not eligible for postseason, but will make foes work.

ALCORN STATE: Third straight league crown not in future.

PRAIRIE VIEW: Could rise, but not all the way to the top this season.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ST.: Lost eight of final 10 games last season.

TEXAS SOUTHERN: Chris Miller (Soph., 10.8 ppg.) provides bright future.

SOUTHERN: Clark & Henderson a very good backcourt duo.

JACKSON STATE: Won't make encore NCAA Tournament appearance.

ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF: Needs to find offensive option among new faces.

GRAMBLING: May have been worst D-1 team in the nation last year.

Tuesday, Nov. 7
It's simply Alabama State's turn.

The Hornets return all five starters and have steadily moved up each season in the league. Rob Spivery has been patient with this team and watched it mature with the return of Tyrone Levitt. Unlike some of its competitors, Alabama State didn't go out of its way to get clobbered in non-conference games. The Hornets go to TCU as their lone high-major road game. The move should pay off as the Hornets build confidence, not to mention a decent record before they go into conference play.

ESPN.com All-SWAC

Guard: Greg Burks
Junior, 5-8, Prairie View

Guard: Courtney Henderson
Senior, 6-2, Southern

Forward: Marcus Fleming
Senior, 6-8, Alcorn State

Forward: Tyrone Levitt
Junior , 6-5, Alabama State

Center: Henry Jordan
Senior, 6-10, Mississippi Valley State

Player of Year ...
Marcus Fleming, F, Alcorn State
The 6-8 senior forward led the Braves in scoring and rebounding a year ago (15.8 ppg., 7.3 rpg) and did so by dominating inside with a smooth, yet physical, style.

Introducing ...
KeShawn Hampton, F, Alabama A&M
This 6-6, 230-pound juco transfer is expected to replace the Bulldogs' leading scorer and rebounder -- Terrance Vanlier. Hampton averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds at Danville (Mass.) Community College.

Best backcourt ...
Alabama A&M: Desmond Cambridge and Damion Crayton. The backcourt doesn't need to have a go-to player, rather a corps of guards who play defense and contribute to the scoreboard. Cambridge, Crayton and Dwaynius Harris do exactly that for the Bulldogs. Add Steve Ward, Courtney Phillips and Adrian Hargrove to the rotation and it is easy to see why A&M doesn't need a true center in its pressure attack.

Best frontcourt ...
Alcorn State: Marcus Fleming, Larry Robinson and Walter Harper. Fleming is the preseason player of the year, while Robinson averaged 17 points at Lee before sitting out last year. The 6-8 Harper mans the middle, where he's started the past two seasons.

Team on way up ...
Alabama State: With all five starters returning, the conference crown in the Hornets' to lose.

Team on way down ...
Jackson State: Finishing in the top half of the conference will be a major task even with three returning starters.

Tournament tough ...
NCAA: Alabama State.

ALSO SEE
ESPN.com Preseason Top 25