BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama State University was picked to win the 2014-15 Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball championship in a preseason poll of the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
The announcement was made by the SWAC during its annual media teleconference on Wednesday, October 15.
The Hornets return every player including all five starters from last season's team that finished 19-13 overall and 12-6 in the conference which was a tie for second place. The season ended with the Hornets reaching the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament and receiving an invitation in the College Insider's Tournament (CIT). Last year’s regular season champion Southern University came in second place followed by last season’s SWAC Tournament Champion Texas Southern in third. Arkansas Pine Bluff was predicted to finish fourth with Alcorn State coming in fifth.
Rounding out the poll includes: Prairie View, Alabama A&M, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, and Grambling State.
2014-15 All-SWAC Preseason Men's Basketball TeamThe 2014-15 All-SWAC preseason first and second teams are highlighted by junior guard LeAntwan Luckett (Alcorn State) and senior center Luther Page (Alabama State). Luckett was selected as the SWAC Preseason Player of the Year with Page garnering the SWAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Luckett was second in the SWAC in scoring averaging 16 points per game. He scored in double figures 26 of his-31 contests, notched over 20(+) points nine times and picked up a career-high 31 points vs. Alabama State last season. Luckett also earned a career best six steals vs. Mississippi Valley State.
Page helped lead ASU defensively by holding its opponents under 70 points per game and improved their win total by nine games a season ago. Page averaged seven points per game to go along with 5.1 rebounds per contest, which was 15th in the SWAC. He shot 49 percent from the field and also had 33 steals.Additionally, both Luckett and Page were voted on as All-SWAC preseason first team selections.
Rounding out the squad list is guard, Jamel Waters (Alabama State), Montrael Scott (Prairie View), Bobby Brown (Alabama State),
The second team includes: guards Marcel Mosely (Arkansas Pine Bluff) and A’Torri Shine (Grambling State), forwards Jose Rodriquez (Texas Southern), and Marquis Vance (Alcorn State) with the Octavius Brown earning the center spot for Alcorn State as well.
2014-15 SWAC Men's Predicted Order of Finish(Selected by SWAC Head Basketball Coaches and SID's)
TEAM | POINTS (FIRST Place Votes)1. Alabama State 106 (4)2. Southern 95 (1)3. Texas Southern 91 (3)4. Arkansas Pine Bluff 76 (1)5. Alcorn State 75 (1)6. Prairie View 74 (1)7. Alabama A&M 62 (1)8. Jackson State 619. Mississippi Valley State 3310. Grambling State 30 (1)
2014-15 Preseason All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Team (Selected by SWAC Head Basketball Coaches and SID's)
Preseason SWAC Player of the Year: LeAntwan Luckett - Alcorn StatePreseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year: Luther Page - Alabama State
FIRST TEAM Position | Player | SchoolGuard | Jamel Waters | Alabama StateGuard | Montrael Scott | Prairie ViewForward | LeAntwan Luckett | Alcorn StateForward | Bobby Brown | Alabama StateCenter | Luther Page | Alabama StateSECOND TEAMPosition | Player | School
Guard | Marcel Mosely | Arkansas Pine -Bluff
Guard | A’Torri Shine | Grambling State
Forward | Jose Rodriquez | Texas Southern
Forward | Marquis Vance | Alcorn State
Center | Octavius Brown | Alcorn State
Courtesy: SWAC.org
