Posted by BillFromTampa

Alcorn State, out of the SWAC Conference, finished last season 7-22 and in eighth place. Of those seven wins only one was out of conference, a 76-71 over Arkansas Baptist. This season the Braves are picked to finish fourth.

Led by head coach Sam West, Alcorn returns several quality players. Junior forwards Almaad Jackson, Juan Wyatt, and James Kendrick, junior guard. Delvin Thompson, and senior guard Alleo Frazier round out a solid starting lineup for West.  Last season Jackson, 6-9 190 pounds., ranked tenth in the SWAC in rebounding averaging 5.6 rpg to go along with his 7.8 ppg last season.

Kendrick was a role player last season averaging 11 mpg. In those minutes the 6-8 200 pound forward, corralled two boards a game and 2.6 ppg. He will be asked to fill the role of DeAndre Thomas who pulled down 4.4 rebounds a game and 9.8 ppg.

The 6-8 225 Wyatt, who plays the five spot, led the Braves last season in scoring percentage with 54.7% from the floor. Wyatt is definitely not a three point threat however as he hoisted just one unsuccessful attempt from behind the line. He did pull down 4.4 rebounds a game in 2004-2005.

Thompson, named the SWAC’s 2005 newcomer of the year, ranked fifth in the conference in scoring with 14.9 ppg. This year the 6-1 Thompson was named to the pre-season All SWAC second team.

He is backed up by 6-6 junior Sirdonta Washington.

Just 5-6 tall, Frazier led the team in assists with 75 to go along with 54 turnovers. He averaged 4.3 ppg and was the team’s leading free throw shooter at 71.8% from the line.

Jumane Reed backs up Frazier but is just a freshman. He is considerably taller however at 6-3.

Where Alcorn State lacked last season was there were not a lot of options from behind the arc. Thompson was the main three point shooter connecting on 45 of 145 attempts (31%). Junior forwards Clifton Douglas and Patrick Horton have attempted to fill that void in the early going this season. But in the Braves’ one game, they combined for just 2 of 13 threes. Frazier did average 33% making 24 three pointers.

Like Florida State, the Braves have played just one game this so far this season. They fell 69-52 to the South Florida Bulls in Tampa. Alcorn shot just 3-of-24 from 3-point range and got outrebounded 45-37. “It was not a good night for us,” Alcorn coach Sam West said.

Thompson did perform well though scoring 18.