Jackson Free Press

The great thing about sports is that each season begins fresh and anew. Every new year, hopes begin high, and every fan dreams of dancing.

Nevertheless, the 2010-2011 men's college basketball season didn't give us much to be excited about in Mississippi. The potential was in place for a couple of teams to reach the postseason; however, only Ole Miss made it to the National Invitational Tournament in late March. Still, California bounced the Rebels in the first round, 77-74.

Mississippi State had postseason aspirations. Then came the players coming to physical blows on national TV. A slow start from suspensions doomed the Bulldogs.

Southern Miss had big postseason hopes, but a weak schedule and lack of quality wins did them in. Sadly, the Golden Eagles returned all five starters last season and still failed to reach the Big Dance or any postseason tournament.

Jackson State hoped to follow up an NIT appearance in 2009-10 with a second straight postseason trip last season. The Tigers had to win the SWAC tournament to have any hope but fell in the semifinals.

That was then. Now, on to the 2011-2012 season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS

Coach: Rick Stansbury (13th season at MSU, 255-140 overall record, 105-87 SEC record)
2010-11 Season: 17-14 (9-7 SEC) Lost in quarterfinals of SEC tournament to Vanderbilt 87-81 to end the season
Arena: Humphrey Coliseum
Radio: 105.9 WOAD-FM

No team enters the season with hopes as high as the Bulldogs. Returning star Dee Bost comes back for his senior season.

If MSU can keep temperamental star Renardo Sidney in shape and happy, their postseason chances will greatly increase. Add potential superstar freshman Rodney Hood into the mix, and the Bulldogs could be a dangerous team in SEC play.

UTEP transfer Arnett Moultrie, who has contributed right away, and guard Brian Bryant round out the starting five. Stansbury has a strong bench of players to rely on.

The Bulldogs have started the season strong with a 10-1 record and upsets of ranked Texas A&M and Arizona. The lone MSU loss is a strange slip up to Akron.

Outlook: Mississippi State is ranked and playing well. This season the SEC could be a stronger conference. Already, five schools are ranked in the top 25. Problems are beginning again in Starkville with Bryant suspended for breaking team rules and Moultrie missing time with a knee tendonitis. Quality wins and a strong SEC could go a long way to helping the Bulldogs go dancing. Conference play begins Jan. 7 for MSU.

OLE MISS REBELS

Coach: Andy Kennedy (6th season at Ole Miss, 133-78 overall record, 112-65 Ole Miss record, 32-34 SEC record)
2010-11 Season: 20-14 (7-9 SEC) Lost in first round of the NIT to California 77-74 to end the season
Arena: C. M. Tad Smith Coliseum
Radio: 97.3 WFMN-FM

The Rebels made a postseason appearance after a win in the first round of the SEC Tournament. Guards Chris Warren and Zach Graham led the team but both have departed.

Ole Miss returns three starters this season, but none averaged double digits in scoring. Leading the way is Terrance Henry who is the returning high scorer with 9.7 points per game. Joining Henry is Nick Williams and Reginald Buckner. The team will also count on guard Dundrecous Nelson and forward Steadman Short to help lead.

Jelan Kendrick, a highly prized transfer from Memphis and a former McDonald's High School All-American, will be able to play after the 2011 fall semester. The Rebels also signed three highly touted Mississippi prospects who could all contribute this season: Aaron Jones, Jarvis Summers and LaDarius White.

Outlook: Ole Miss has played a soft schedule so far this season. At 8-1, the Rebels lone loss was a 30-point blowout to a ranked Marquette team. Mississippi will be tested in conference play with ranked MSU, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Vanderbilt waiting in the wings. The Rebels postseason dance card will be made or broken in SEC play.

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES

Coach: Larry Eustachy (8th season at USM, 377-249 overall record, 117-104 USM record, 44-66 C-USA record)
2010-11 Season: 22-10 (9-7 C-USA) Lost to Memphis in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament 66-63 to end the season
Arena: Reed Green Coliseum
Radio: 105.1 WQJQ-FM or 620 WJDX-AM

After returning five starters last season, senior guard Angelo Johnson is USM's only returning starter and the returning high scorer with 7.5 points per game. The Golden Eagles will need senior guard and forward Maurice Bolden to step up early.

Keith DeWitt out of Chipola Junior College in Florida was a highly sought-after player from the JUCCO ranks. Dewitt may contribute early, and Jonathan Mills, a transfer from College of Eastern Utah, will join him. Both Mills and Dewitt will help a group of returning players attempt to get USM its third straight 20-win season.

Southern Miss turned down a chance to play in some smaller postseason tournaments last season. The Golden Eagles have not reached the NCAA Tournament since back-to-back appearances in 1990-91.

USM has never advanced past the first round.

Outlook: At 7-2, the Golden Eagles are on pace to have a third 20-win season. But USM has played an even softer schedule than Ole Miss. Southern Miss has not played a ranked team and does not have a ranked team on the current schedule. C-USA has been down the past couple of seasons. USM might have to win the C-USA Tournament to go dancing.

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS

Coach: Tevester Anderson (9th season at JSU, 234-180 overall record, 131-128 JSU record, 95-49 SWAC record)
2010-11 Season: 17-15 (12-6 SWAC) a loss to Grambling State 81-75 in the semifinals of the SWAC tournament ended the season
Arena: Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly
Radio: 620 WJDX-AM

Jackson State is in the same boat with USM. The Tigers, like the Golden Eagles, only have one returning starter from last season. Jenirro Bush is the lone senior and returning starter on this team. Bush averaged 14.4 points per game to lead the Tigers last season.

The Tigers will need juniors Davon Jones and Raymond Gregory to step up and help carry the load with Bush. Junior guard Christian Williams should see time in the backcourt with Bush.

With so many new faces, Anderson will have to do one of his best coaching jobs of his career. A tough opening schedule will make sure these young Tigers are tested before SWAC play begins.

Outlook: No one can accuse Jackson State of playing a soft schedule. The Tigers are 1-9 to start the season but have played four teams who were or are ranked in the top 25 this season. Even the non-ranked team JSU has played didn't have a bunch of slouches. The tough opening schedule might pay off, because the only way JSU is going dancing is to win the SWAC tournament.

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