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Tuesday, November 7
TAAC Breakdown

ESPN.com

HOW THEY'LL STACK UP

GEORGIA STATE: Talent and home-court advantage in TAAC tourney.

SAMFORD: Coach Tillette's contract runs through 2010. That's security!

CENTRAL FLORIDA: Balanced, solid in all areas. A good combination.

TROY STATE: Derick Davis will provide spark right away.

MERCER: All five starters return but still not among TAAC elite.

STETSON: Lack of depth in frontcourt will be tough to mask.

JACKSONVILLE: Better defense will keep 'Fins out of basement.

JACKSONVILLE ST.: Won't be nearly as pleasant a surprise this season.

CAMPBELL: Adam Fellers is only proven scorer who returns.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC: Posted one win against Division I teams a year ago.

Tuesday, Nov. 7
Lefty Driesell has a great shot to get back to the NCAA Tournament with Georgia Tech, behind Georgetown transfer Shernard Long and Georgia Tech transfer Kevin Morris. No other Trans America Athletic Conference team has as athletic, nor as heralded a backcourt.

But look out for Samford. Jimmy Tillette stayed at Samford and continues to make the Bulldogs a threat to win the TAAC every season. His Princeton style is the toughest system to coach against in the league and, that alone, keeps them in games.

But Driesell should get a bid, returning to the NCAA Tournament with his fourth team (Davidson, Maryland and James Madison).

ESPN.com All-TAAC

Guard: Shernard Long
Senior, 6-4, Georgia State

Guard: Adam Fellers
Junior, 6-2, Campbell

Forward: Sebastian Singletary
Senior, 6-5, Stetson

Forward: Marc Salyers
Senior, 6-9, Samford

Center: Scott Emerson
Sophomore, 6-9, Mercer

Player of Year ...
Shernard Long, G, Georgia State
The Panthers were 1-6 when Long joined the team -- they went 16-6 the rest of the way. Yes, the 6-4 Long is that good. The former Georgetown guard led the Panthers in scoring (16.9 ppg.) and the TAAC in steals (2.8 spg.).

Introducing ...
Kris Hunter, C, Jacksonville
He was second in the ACC in blocks two seasons ago for Virginia and now will dominate the paint in the TAAC. Hunter, at 6-foot-10, gives the Dolphins reason to feel good about this season.

Best backcourt ...
Georgia State: Shernard Long and Kevin Morris. A pair of former D-1 guards are just just two reasons why the Panthers should reach the NCAA Tournament. Morris (12.9 ppg, 5.0 apg.) started his college career at Georgia Tech, while Long was a Hoya before becoming a Panther. The pair could hold their own in the Big East or ACC. They'll simply dominate in the TAAC.

Best frontcourt ...
Central Florida: Jason Thornton, Paul Reed and Evandro Moretti. But there are other bodies to move in and out. Thornton is the main weapon (12.7 ppg.). The 6-6 forward can be a go-to player for the Golden Knights.

Team on way up ...
Georgia State: This group should get "Lefty" back to the Dance.

Team on way down ...
Troy State: Last year's regular-season champions won't repeat but could be a threat come tourney time.

Tournament tough ...
NCAA: Georgia State.

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