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SWAC overview

Alabama teams look to dominate conference play

Special to CNNSI.com

Order of Finish 1. Alabama State 2. Alabama A&M 3. Alcorn State 4. Prairie View 5. Mississippi Valley State 6. Texas Southern 7. Southern 8. Jackson State 9. Arkansas-Pine Bluff 10. Grambling

Top storylines

Prairie View's sophomore sensation Greg Burks is the son of Greg Burks Sr., an AAU coach in Flint, Mich. Burks Sr. has pointed several players in the Flint area to SWAC schools. Burks, who wasn't heavily recruited coming out of high school, actually took an initial visit to Mississippi Valley State, but coach Lafayette Stribling didn't have a scholarship for him.

Alcorn has not lost at home the past two years. The Braves are 31-5 against SWAC opposition during the regular season the past two seasons. Orlando Camp, who without a doubt would have been one of the best players in the league, will never suit up for Alcorn as expected. The 6-foot-7 Camp sat out at Alcorn last season. He was offered a $300,000 salary by a team from Greece and opted to take it. "I can't blame him,'' Alcorn coach Dave Whitney said. "I would have done the same thing.'' Whitney has rubbed shoulders with several legends. Ex-Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp used to allow Whitney and a friend to sneak into Rupp Arena to watch practice.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Marcus Fleming, F, Alcorn State • Fleming is the league's preseason player of the year. A 6-8 senior, Fleming led the Braves in scoring and rebounding a year ago in earning all-conference first team honors. Greg Burks, G, Prairie View • Burks (18 ppg., 4.35 apg.), a 5-8 junior, was an All-SWAC selection as a sophomore after finishing the season as the league's leading scorer and second-leading assist man. Burks scored 20 or more points 14 times last season, including a career-high 32 against Wichita State. Tyrone Levett, F, Alabama State • The 6-5 Levett led the Hornets in scoring 13 times last season and scored in double figures in all but four games. Levett scored 20 or more points four times, including a season-high 26 points against Alabama A&M.

Top Newcomer

KeShawn Hampton, F, Alabama State • Hampton, a 6-6 junior transfer from Danville (Mass.) Community College, averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds as a sophomore.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Rob Spivery, Alabama State • Alabama State finished fifth in the conference two years ago and finished in a three-way tie for fourth last season with Jackson State and Texas Southern. It's never easy to make the leap from fourth or fifth place all the way to the top in one year, especially at a school with little or no hoops tradition. But that's the goal of Spivery and the Hornets.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Larry Wright, Grambling • The 1999-2000 season was a season of lasts for Grambling under first-year coach Wright. The Tigers not only finished last in their own conference, they also finished last in the nation with a No. 318 RPI.

Mark Your Calendar

Dec. 30, Alabama State at Alabama • The preseason pick of the SWAC tests the waters of the SEC. Jan. 8, Alabama State at Alabama A&M • The top choices for league champion meet for the first time. Feb. 10, Alabama A&M at Alabama State • The second matchup of SWAC powers should determine the seeding for the tournament.

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