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TAAC overview

Georgia State, UCF try to overtake Samford

Special to CNNSI.com

Samford coach Jimmy Tillette has his team ready for another run at the postseason. Doug Pensinger/Allsport

Order of Finish 1. Georgia State 2. Central Florida 3. Samford 4. Troy State 5. Mercer 6. Stetson 7. Jacksonville 8. Jacksonville State 9. Campbell 10. Florida Atlantic

Top storylines

Georgia State is not only the favorite to win the league's regular-season title this year, but it also has an edge with the TAAC Tournament scheduled for the GSU Arena.

Samford, which has played in the NCAA Tournament the last two years, isn't going away quietly, despite the fact that three starters and three reserves are missing from a year ago. Akron transfer Cornell Felton, a point guard, will help fill the void.

Central Florida, which reached the TAAC Tournament finals last season, should be much improved, so a three-team chase for the league's regular-season title is possible.

The TAAC boasts two coaches among the top 15 winningest active coaches in NCAA Division I. Georgia State's Lefty Driesell is third with 733 victories, and Jacksonville's Hugh Durham is 14th with 556. Driesell enters the season just 13 wins shy of Kansas legend Phog Allen and seventh place on the all-time list.

Players to Watch

Top Three Players

Sebastian Singletary, F, Stetson • Singletary (15.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg), a first-team All-TAAC pick, dominates in the paint, where he tied for the TAAC rebounding lead. And he can also play on the perimeter, where he averaged 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Marc Salyers, C, Samford • The 6-10 center was first-team All-TAAC a year ago and finished third in the league in scoring (16.8 ppg), sixth in rebounding (7.2 rpg), third in field-goal percentage (.538) and ninth in free throw percentage (.736). Shernard Long, G, Georgia State • Long, the 6-4 former Georgetown guard, led the Panthers in scoring (16.9 ppg) and the TAAC in steals (2.8 spg) last year after joining the team seven games into the season.

Top Newcomer

Kris Hunter, C, Jacksonville • The 6-11, 230-pound senior becomes eligible after sitting out a season after his transfer from the University of Virginia. Hunter averaged 5.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.0 blocks (second in the ACC) for the Cavaliers two years ago, starting 19 games.

Coaches

Hot Coach

Jimmy Tillette, Samford • Tillette has taken Samford to the NCAA Tournament the last two years. He recently signed a pair of contract extensions through 2010, but if Samford keeps winning, bigger schools will come calling, just as they did for Tillette's former boss at Samford, John Brady, who's now at LSU.

Coach on the Hot Seat

Hugh Durham, Jacksonville • After three years, the veteran coach is just 28-53. The prospects for Jacksonville finishing higher than seventh in the league aren't good.

Mark Your Calendar

Jan. 13, Central Florida at Georgia State • An early indicator of whether the Panthers can defend their turf. Feb. 1, Georgia State at Samford • The road to the TAAC regular-season title goes through Birmingham. Feb. 22, Georgia State at Central Florida • The league regular-season title could come down to this game.

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