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LOCATION: Itta Bena, MS
CONFERENCE: Southwestern Athletic (SWAC)
LAST SEASON: 14-13 (.518)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 10-6 (4th)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 1/4
NICKNAME: Delta Devils
COLORS: Green & White
HOMECOURT: Harrison Health Complex (6,000)
COACH: Lafayette Stribling (Miss. Industrial '57)
record at school 230-235 (15 years)
career record 230-235 (15 years)
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ASSISTANTS: George Ivory (Mississippi Valley '87)
Harvey Wardell (Alcorn State '69)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 17-22-19-6-14
RPI (last 5 years) 223-144-189-298-227
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in conference semifinal.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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A year after enduring its worst season in Lafayette Stribling's 15-year tenure, Mississippi Valley State rebounded last season. The Delta Devils, who managed just six wins in 1998, added eight more last season and finished 14-13, including a 10-6 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. While the record may not have been impressive, it may have been Stribling's best coaching job. Stribling guided the Delta Devils to that record with five new starters. With four starters back, along with 10 lettermen, look for Mississippi Valley State to be back in contention for not only the SWAC regular-season title, but the conference championship as well. "We have talent," Stribling said. "I just hope that we can play together." While the Delta Devils have talent, if they are to contend for the SWAC title, they will have to do it without one of the league's best players.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT C BENCH/DEPTH B
FRONTCOURT B INTANGIBLES B
Anything short of contending for the league title this season will be a disappointment for Mississippi Valley State. While Faragi Phillips' loss is a big one, the Delta Devils size and shot blocking ability could make them a difficult team to play. We think the Valley returns enough talented and experienced players to be in the hunt for the SWAC championship. |
Guard Faragi Phillips earned first-team All-SWAC honors a year ago after leading the league in scoring (20.9 ppg.), steals (2.96) and three-point field-goal percentage (.383), while finishing second in free-throw percentage (.774) and 10th in assists (2.54 per game). Six-foot senior guard Marcus Metcalf (13.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg) will likely carry more of the scoring load. Metcalf was the league's eighth-leading scorer a year ago and was sixth in the league in three-point field-goal percentage (.346). While Metcalf will provide Mississippi Valley State with some outside firepower, Stribling said the Delta Devils will go as far as their front line can take them. Center Henry Jordan, a 6-10 junior, and forwards Derrick McInnis, a 6-11 junior, and David Burks, a 6-7, 230-pound senior, will lead Mississippi Valley State's charge toward the top of the SWAC standings. "We'll go as far as our big men take us," Stribling said. Jordan averaged 9.0 points and 7.0 rebounds last season, but his most important statistic was blocked shots. He was second in the nation in blocks per game (108 for a 4.0 average) behind only Tarvis Williams of Hampton (5.0). That number easily led the league. McInnis averaged only 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds, but was fifth in the conference in blocked shots (1.56 per game). It's little wonder the Valley's opponents shot just .394 percent from the field. Burks, the SWAC Newcomer of the Year, was selected second-team All-SWAC. Burks (8.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg) was fifth in the league in rebounding, while shooting .490 percent from the field, ninth-best in the conference. Sophomore forward James Nelson, a 6-5, 185-pounder, was chosen to the SWAC All-Rookie Team after averaging 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds. "We will make some teams think twice before going in on our big men," Stribling said. In addition to Metcalf, guards Mario Edwards, a 6-1 senior, and 6-2 senior Johnny Dotson, will team with 6-6 junior forward Dante Thornton and provide the Delta Devils with some outside shooting. Edwards averaged 6.2 points and shot 41 percent from beyond the arc. Dotson averaged 5.2 points, while Thornton averaged just 3.8 points but shot 36 percent from three-point range. Newcomers Steven Reed, a 6-0 freshman, and Dewayne Jefferson, a 6-2 junior, could also figure into the backcourt mix. Other newcomers include 6-2 freshman guard Kevin Conley, 6-7 freshman Attarius Norwood and 6-7 freshman Willie Neal. Jefferson spent last season at East Mississippi Community College, while Reed was a standout at Florence High School. "We have good some outside shooters," Stribling said. "We should be quicker and I think this squad will be able to control the game, play good defense and score some points." Mississippi Valley State finished fourth in the league in scoring (72. 9), fourth in scoring margin (minus-1.2 ppg.), eighth in field-goal percentage (.391), fourth in free-throw percentage (.645) and second in three-point field-goal percentage (.333). The Delta Devils were fifth in the league in scoring defense (74.1), second in field-goal percentage defense (.394), sixth in rebounding margin (minus-2.6) and second in three-point field goals made (6.52 per game). Mississippi Valley State has another difficult pre-conference schedule that includes road games at UNLV, Detroit, Drake, Cincinnati, Michigan State and an appearance in Iowa State's Tournament. "This year we might have the nation's toughest schedule," Stribling said.
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