TEXAS SOUTHERN
Coach: Johnny Jones (319-248 overall, 24-14 in one season at Texas Southern). Last season: 24-14, 14-4; second in SWAC; lost in CIT semifinals.
Outlook: In two of the last three seasons, Texas Southern’s roster has featured the SWAC Player of the Year. In between those seasons, former guard Demontrae Jefferson had the highest scoring average in the conference. Entering this season, Jones doesn’t expect any one player to stand out, but what his team lacks in star power, it makes up for in depth. The Tigers will be particularly strong in the frontcourt, which includes preseason all-conference forward Eden Ewing and a trio of transfers in Jethro Tshisumpa (Mississippi State), John Walker III (Texas A&M) and Chris Baldwin (now eligible a year after his transfer from Massachusetts). Point guard Tyrik Armstrong will lead the backcourt after taking the starting job in the latter part of last season. The Tigers dealt Prairie View A&M its only SWAC loss a year ago. They’ll likely have to do it more than once to retake the conference crown this season.
Player to watch: Ewing, a Richmond native, began his career at Purdue before transferring and joining the Tigers on the court in mid-December last year. Shortly after his debut, Ewing became a double-double machine before his production dwindled a bit late in the season. As the team’s top returning scorer, rebounder and shot blocker, he’ll be an influential part of a deep frontcourt. Key games: Dec. 4 at Gonzaga; Dec. 21 at Oregon; Jan. 11 vs. Prairie View A&M; Feb. 8 at Prairie View A&M.