GETTING INSIDE

Once you reach the bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up, or at least that’s what Southern and coach Rob Spivery are hoping.

Spivery’s squad suffered its third straight losing season in 2008-09, going 8-23 for the worst record in school history.

But the Jaguars are hopeful that the worst is behind them, that the team is ready for an upswing.

“If we can stay healthy, and the new guys learn the system throughout the first part of the season, I believe we have a good chance to be a very good ball team,” said Spivery. “Defensively, our philosophy will change a bit, in that we will be picking up full-court man-to-man primarily, and offensively we will pretty much stay the same, other than we will push the ball up the court more. I think we have the guard play this season that will get us back to where we need to be.”

The Jaguars return seven lettermen, though only one of those was a starter, forward Douglas Scott.

Spivery will have some experience to work with, but he also has to put players in new roles, especially with Scott being the leading returning scorer at just 6.9 points per game.

But pushing the tempo could help the Jaguars take the step forward they’re looking for.

“I am really looking forward to seeing how this group of guys progresses,” said Spivery. “We as a staff feel this is one of the better groups of guys we have had, and think we can become a real good basketball team.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• The Jaguars got off to a horrendous start last season, dropping their first 12 games and 15 of their first 16 before going 7-8 the rest of the way.

• F Douglas Scott ranked fifth in the SWAC in offensive rebounds per game in 2008-09, snagging 2.3 per game. He was also tops in the league in defensive rebounds per game with 4.9 per contest.

• G Jazz Williams played only 15 minutes a game last season but he still put up the second-most 3-pointers on the Jaguars (88) and had the second-most made 3s (29), as well.

Last Year:   8-23 overall, 8-10 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Head Coach:   Rob Spivery (career 318-300); 3rd year at Southern (29-34).

Quote To Note:   “Doug was perhaps the most consistent player of us last season, and most definitely the best inside presence that we had. He is a key ingredient to our success. We are going to need Doug to take more of a leadership role, especially on the defensive end.”—Coach Rob Spivery on the Jaguars’ only returning starter, Douglas Scott.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   There is no shortage of new faces for coach Rob Spivery to choose from. A few are certainly intriguing prospects. Junior college transfers Nick Walls, Norm Nixon Jr. and Johnnie Young will get time in the backcourt this season. Three other guards come in as true freshmen and might need to wait a little longer for consistent time. Up front, four transfers—Quinton Doggett, Horace Dixon, Blake Sanford and Bobby Lee—will provide some athleticism and depth, while true freshman Madut Bol will be given some time to develop.

Key Early-season Games:   The young Jaguars don’t have much time to get acclimated to each other before the major road tests begin, as Southern opens with a home game against Xavier (La.) before hitting the road for games at Baylor, Oklahoma State, Utah and Brigham Young. December provides a chance for some home cooking, with contests against Talladega and Chicago State that should help the Jags gain some confidence heading into the conference season.

Program Direction:   Southern has really struggled since making the NCAA Tournament in 2006, suffering through three straight losing seasons.

Coach Rob Spivery needs to integrate 14 newcomers with seven returnees this year, though very few of the veterans played full-time last year. Spivery has plenty of players to choose from, and how well he melds them into a team this year could tell the tale of his long-term future with the Jaguars.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Brandon White, G Jazz Williams, F Julius Ingram, F Earnest Jones, F Douglas Scott.

Roster Report:  

• It should be an interesting parents weekend at Southern, with the sons of former NBA players Manute Bol (Madut Bol) and Norm Nixon (Norm Nixon Jr.) joining the Jaguars this season.

• G Barry Honore was being counted on to be a big part of Southern’s squad this year, but he transferred to Oklahoma in the off-season. Honore averaged 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season.

• F Julius Ingram is considered one of the more talented players on the Southern roster, but he hasn’t shown the consistency the team is looking for just yet.