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Conference preview: APR issues thin out the SWAC

Mike Davis

UAB’s coach Mike Davis issues instructions form the side line during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida in Gainesville, Fla., Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. Florida defeated UAB 79-61. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

AP

Throughout the month of October, CollegeBasketballTalk will be rolling out our previews for the 2012-2013 season. Check back at 9 a.m. and just after lunch every day, Monday-Friday, for a new preview item.

To browse through the preview posts we’ve already published, click here. To look at the rest of the Top 25, click here. For a schedule of our previews for the month, click here.

This season, six teams of the possible 10 are eligible for postseason play in the conference as Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Mississippi Valley State, Texas Southern and Grambling State all received bans for low APR scores and NCAA violations. Southern returns from its own postseason ban as one of the favorites in the conference with second-year coach Roman Banks getting back guard Derick Beltran. Prairie view A&M gets Jourdan DeMuynck and 6-11 Jules Montgomery to anchor the Panthers.

Texas Southern had a one of the most unique situations in the college basketball season with Mike Davis entering the program on an interim basis. Then earlier this month, the Tigers announced Davis was signed to a four-year contract, which they should’ve done in the first place...then they get barred from the NCAA Tournament. He gets back Omar Strong, a sharpshooter who averaged 13.3 points last season. Jackson State managed only seven wins last season but Kelsey Howard is a stud who will ease the loss of Jenirro Bush and they get Ole Miss transfer Dundrecus Nelson at the semester break. Alabama State has to replace four starters after making the NCAA Tournament two of the past four seasons, while Alcorn State gets back guard Marquiz Baker, a solid scorer who missed all but five games last season due to injury. Alabama A&M will have the services of Demarquelle Tabb, who averaged 10.6 points and 7.6 boards last year.

After the best season in school history, Mississippi Valley State will be forced to replace it’s coach (Chico Potts for Sean Woods) and their top five scorers. UAPB has the tools in forward Daniel Broughton and wing Mitchell Anderson but has the postseason ban to face. Grambling State isn’t going to be much better than last season’s four-win team, with Quincy Roberts leaving and having to do all this under a new coach in Joseph Price.

All-Conference Team
G: Omar Strong, Texas Southern*

G: Marquiz Baker, Alcorn State

G: Kelsey Howard, Jackson State

F: Demarquelle Tabb, Alabama A&M

F: Daniel Broughton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

*-Player of the Year

Predicted Finish
1.) Southern

2.) Prairie View A&M

3.) Texas Southern

4.) Alcorn State

5.) Jackson State

6.) Arkansas-Pine Bluff

7.) Alabama A&M

8.) Alabama State

9.) Mississippi Valley State

10.) Grambling State

David Harten is the editor of The Backboard Chronicles. You can follow him on Twitter at @David_Harten.