The lowdown
2000-01 record: 22-9; 11-5 in C-USA (1st in National)
Final Ranking: NR
Postseason: None.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. How will the Eagles handle losing the leadership of Vandarel Jones and Mel Cauthen? The two dominated that role last season and will be hard to replace.
2. Benjamin Lambert is the best of the newcomers, but will he buy into James Green's system early enough to have a huge impact?
3. Who will play the point? Will they be able to play the same kind of intensity on defense?
Three Key Facts
1. With 11 wins in conference play last season, the Golden Eagles won a share of their first C-USA regular season crown. It also marked a high-water mark in conference wins for Southern Mississippi and its 22 overall victories was the most since the 1986-87 season when the Eagles went 23-11 en route to the NIT title.
2. Despite losing leading scorers David Wall (14.0 ppg) and Vandarel Jones (12.7) The Golden Eagles return 40 percent of their scoring output from last season, led by Elvin Mims (12.7 ppg).
3. Southern Mississippi reached the NIT for the second straight season last year and for the eighth time in team history.
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: Southern Mississippi continues to be a tough assignment defensively, picks up enough home wins to get in the NIT yet again.
Worst case: Point guard becomes a problem and the Eagles can't challenge for a top spot in their division and finish out of the NIT race.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Elvin Mims
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Sr.
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F
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6-5/205
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PTS: 10.0 | REB: 5.4 | AST: 0.7
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Kilavorus Thompson
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Sr.
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F
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6-7/220
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PTS: 7.4 | REB: 5.2 | AST: 2.3
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Mario Myles
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Jr.
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G
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6-5/190
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PTS: 6.1 | REB: 3.9 | AST: 1.6
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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David Wall
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F
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6-5/225
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PTS: 14.0 | REB: 3.2 | AST: 1.2
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Vandarel Jones
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C
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6-9/230
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PTS: 12.7 | REB: 7.4 | AST: 0.6
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Southern Mississippi Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Jasper Johnson
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F
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6-7
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Hollandale, Miss./Simmons
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James Pattman
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G
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6-1
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Lilburn, Ga./Berkman
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Carey Rigsby
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F
C
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6-9
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Houston/Western Oklahoma JC
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Dante Stiggers
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G
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6-2
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Houston/Alief-Hastings
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