- (Sports Network) - OUTLOOK: Memphis swept both the Conference USA regular-season and tournament titles for a third straight time in 2007-08, and the Tigers enter this season as the league favorite once again after making an appearance in the national title game last year. The Tigers, who have won 42 straight games against C-USA foes, lost several key players from last year, but enough talent returns to make John Calipari's bunch a force in the league once again. The UAB Blazers, thanks to the return of Robert Vaden, could challenge Memphis for the league title after finishing second in the league standing at 12-4 last season. The Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles welcome back their entire starting lineup from a 19-win team and will also be in the mix when all is said and done. The reigning College Basketball Invitational champions, Tulsa will look to build off a solid 2007-08 campaign with the return of three starters. The return of Stefon Jackson, who ranked seventh in the nation in scoring in 2007-08, gives Texas-El Paso hope for a C-USA title. UCF also welcomes back one of the top scorers in Jermaine Taylor and he paces a young Knights' club. The Marshall Thundering Herd will be aided by the return of three starters and some big- school transfers, while the Houston Cougars will try to overcome the loss of their top two scorers. The Tulane Green Wave posted a second straight winning campaign in 2007-08 and they will try to continue that trend this season. The SMU Mustangs have some rebuilding to do, especially in the backcourt, and will most likely struggle through another losing campaign. The East Carolina Pirates also have a lot of rebuilding in front of them, as does the Rice Owls, who went winless in league play last season. CONFERENCE CHAMPION: Memphis

PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1. Memphis, 2. UAB, 3. Tulsa, 4. Southern Mississippi, 5. Texas-El Paso, 6. UCF, 7. Houston, 8. Marshall, 9. Tulane, 10. SMU, 11. East Carolina, 12. Rice

TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:

MEMPHIS - Last season, the Tigers became just the third C-USA team to advance to the Final Four and the first to play in the national title game. Although Memphis lost in overtime to Kansas in the championship game, it still had a campaign to remember. The 2007-08 Tigers went an incredible 38-2 overall under Calipari and they also completed a second straight perfect C-USA campaign, going 16-0. Since the start of 2005-06, Memphis is 48-1 versus C-USA foes and that includes three straight C-USA Tournament titles. The Tigers though, have some holes to fill this season, as they lost the services of three stars in Derrick Rose, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Joey Dorsey. Rose, the first pick in the NBA draft, was the C-USA Freshman of the Year in 2007-08, while Douglas- Roberts was the league's Player of the Year and Dorsey the Defensive Player of the Year. Overcoming those losses won't be easy, but Memphis has the talent to do so. Antonio Anderson and Robert Dozier are the two returning starters and they enter 2008-09 with their sights set on joining the 1,000-point club. The 6-6 Anderson was one of the most underrated players around last season, but he showed he could do it all by posting 8.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 3.4 apg. He will be counted on to provide leadership as well this season. Doneal Mack (6.9 ppg) and Willie Kemp (5.0 ppg) are two more experienced players that will log time in the backcourt, but newcomers Tyreke Evans and Roburt Sallie will push hard for starting jobs. Evans is one of the most heralded freshman around and Sallie is a talented scorer that needed three years to arrive at a Division I school. Along the front line is where Dozier can be found, as the 6-9 forward looks to build off a solid 2007-08 campaign in which he turned in 9.2 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Dozier is a fine defender and shot blocker and will be counted on to anchor the frontcourt. Shawn Taggart, a 6-10 forward, posted 5.9 ppg and 4.2 rpg off the bench last season, but those numbers should soar with an expanded role. Incoming freshman Wesley Witherspoon should make an immediate impact, as the 6-8 heralded recruit has tons of talent and ability.

UAB - The Blazers won 23 games and made the NIT last season and with four starters and nine letterwinners back from that squad, coach Davis certainly has his best team since taking over the program a few years ago. The reason expectations are so high in Birmingham is the return of Robert Vaden, who declared for the NBA draft, but withdrew his name to return to school. Vaden, the 2007-08 C-USA Newcomer of the Year, is coming off one of the best seasons in program history, setting school records for points (695), three-pointers (142) and three-point attempts (355). The 6-5 guard was also chosen as the league's Preseason Player of the Year after averaging a healthy 21.1 ppg in 2007-08. Another plus for UAB this season is the return of Paul Delaney III, who missed most of last season with a knee injury. The 6-2 guard was a first- team all-league choice in 2007 and if he hadn't gotten hurt last season, many believe UAB would have easily made it to the NCAA Tournament. Channing Tony is another player that can get the job done at the perimeter and he chipped in 10.5 ppg, while being a steady performer last season. In the frontcourt is where UAB has some holes to fill after 6-9 Walter Sharpe (14.1 ppg) left for the NBA draft. Jeremy Mayfield, a 6-10 forward, has underachieved, but the team is hoping he can break through this season. UAB however, does return one weapon in the post and that is Lawrence Kinnard. The 6-8 forward produced 11.1 ppg and 6.8 rpg last season and will be counted on to do even more this time around.

TULSA - After going an even 8-8 in league play during the regular season, Tulsa won three straight contests in the C-USA Tournament before losing to Memphis in the finals. Following that run, the Hurricane landed in the inaugural CBI, where it eventually won the championship. Tulsa gained lots of experience with its late run and that should pay dividends in 2008-09. Head coach Doug Wojcik welcomes back three starters and 67 percent of last year's scoring, so expect Tulsa to be just as competitive this time around. Ben Uzoh is the team's top returning player and the 6-3 guard paced the Hurricane with 15.6 ppg last season. He can get the job done inside or out and is even a solid rebounder, pulling down 5.4 rpg. Glenn Andrews (7.9 ppg) and a highly touted juco transfer, Adrian Hernandez are the top candidates to join Uzoh at the perimeter. Up front, Tulsa boasts one of the top big men in the league in Jerome Jordan, a 7-0 center that is a shot-blocking machine. Last season, Jordan set a school and league record with 143 blocks and he also added 10.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg to the mix. Ray Reese netted 7.7 ppg last season, but the team is hoping the 6-5 forward can develop into a better scorer to complement Jordan down low.

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI - The Eagles posted another solid campaign in 2007-08, but were once again left out of the postseason despite a 19-14 record. All but two players return for USM, giving head coach Larry Eustachy a chance to lead the program to its first postseason appearance since 2001. It all starts in the backcourt, where the Eagles are loaded with the trio of Jeremy Wise, R.L. Horton and Courtney Beasley all returning to their starting roles. The 6-2 Wise is a two-time all-conference choice and he is coming off a fine sophomore campaign that saw him lead USM in scoring (18.7 ppg) as well as assists (4.2 apg). The 6-0 Horton emerged as a dependable freshman last season and averaged 11.9 ppg, while the 6-3 Beasley broke through and recorded 10.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Craig Craft adds some depth to the backcourt after netting 8.0 ppg off the bench last season. Inside, Sai'Quon Stone and Andre Stephens return as starters and will look to build off their solid sophomore campaigns. The 6-6 Stone is a versatile player that turned in 8.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg last season, while the 6-8 Stephens came on strong down the stretch and finished with 6.3 ppg and 4.8 ppg. Both will need to improve in their scoring if the Eagles are to make a run at the postseason.

TEXAS-EL PASO - The Miners went 19-14 a year ago and even earned a spot in the inaugural CBI under second-year head coach Tony Barbee. Three starters and seven letterwinners return from that club and that includes star Stefon Jackson. The 6-5 guard led C-USA in scoring with 23.6 ppg last season and if he can improve on his three-point shooting, there is no reason Jackson can't improve on that number and that is just scary. He will be accompanied in the backcourt by Randy Culpepper, the league's top sixth man last season. The 6-0 guard played an important role as a freshman in 2007-08 and he has both the ability to score (12.8 ppg) and defend. Julyan Stone was another sound freshman for UTEP last season and although he didn't score much (2.8 ppg), he did do the little things like rebound (4.1 rpg) and set up his teammates (3.5 apg). While the perimeter is strong for the Miners, the same can't be said about their frontcourt, which is short on options. Tavaris Watts, a 6-8 forward, is the lone proven threat down low and he will need to step up after averaging only 6.9 ppg as a starter last season. Some help however, may come from Memphis transfer Kareem Cooper, who has good size and some experience. The 7-0, 290-pound Cooper isn't much of a scorer, but he should provide some much-needed rebounding and a presence on defense.

UCF - The Knights underachieved for their standards last season, as they stumbled to just a 16-15 finish under veteran head coach Kirk Speraw. Just two starters are welcomed back, so UCF will count on several new faces to make an impact in 2008-09. The team though, does return one of the top scoring options in the conference in Jermaine Taylor. The 6-4 guard finished fourth in the league with 20.8 ppg and he led UCF in scoring in 24 of 31 games. With a lack of options, expect Taylor to possibly improve on his scoring and even contend for Player of the Year honors in C-USA. Incoming freshmen will help fill out the rest of the backcourt for the Knights. In the front, the Knights return one starter in Kenrick Zondervan, a 6-9 center that produced 4.9 ppg and 4.3 rpg. Tony Davis also has some experience, as the 6-7 forward made nine starts last season and averaged 6.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Clemson transfer A.J. Tyler (6-9) and incoming freshman P.J. Gaynor (6-7) will add depth to the frontcourt and could possibly start.

HOUSTON - The Cougars won 24 games last season, their highest total since 1992, and they also reached the semifinal round of the inaugural CBI. The program even finished in third place (11-5) in the C-USA standings, but with only one starter back, head coach Tom Penders has a lot of work ahead of him. The lone returning starter in Kelvin Lewis, a 6-4 guard that is a better defender than scorer. Still, he averaged 10.2 ppg last season, so there is potential to put points on the board. Zamal Nixon (5.9 ppg) showed a glimpse of what he is all about as a freshman last season and could contend for a starting role along with reserve DaShaun Williams (5.8 ppg). Brockeith Pane is another player that could make the leap into a starting role after the 6-2 guard averaged 6.3 ppg off the bench in 2007-08. Inside, the Cougars will need some major help and they are hoping 6-11 Marcus Cousin can develop into a big time player after posting 4.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg a year ago. Juco transfers are expected to add depth to the frontcourt and make an immediate impact for the Cougars.

MARSHALL - Under first-year head coach Donnie Jones the Thundering Herd went 16-14 overall and 8-8 within the league. Three starters are back, along with three heralded transfers, and that should have Jones and Marshall competing for a 20-win campaign in 2008-09. The three starters welcomed back are all forwards, including Markel Humphrey. The 6-5 Humphrey ranked second on the team in scoring (13.1 ppg) and grabbed 5.6 rpg, as he earned third-team accolades for the second straight season. Tyler Wilkerson, a 6-8 forward, was a pleasant surprise for the Herd last season and he averaged 9.2 ppg and 5.9 rpg, while 6-6 Tirrell Baines made an immediate impact as a freshman with 11.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg in 2007-08. Octavius Spann, a former Georgetown forward, has good size at 6-6, 220 pounds and he should add depth to an already talented frontcourt. At the perimeter, Marshall welcomes back an experienced player in Darryl Merthie (8.1 ppg), but the backcourt will most likely be led by some new faces. One of those newcomers is Purdue transfer Chris Lutz, who led the Big Ten in three-point percentage in 2006-07. Brandon Powell came over from Florida and the 6-3 guard is a slasher who can score. Freshman Damier Pitts is a highly touted rookie and could even jump right into the a starting role.

TULANE - The Green Wave won 15 of its first 21 games last season, but stumbled down the stretch and finished just 17-15 overall. Despite the poor ending, Tulane still finished with its second straight winning campaign for the first time since 1997. Head coach Dave Dickerson will have three returning starters to work with this season, although the Green Wave must replace 41 percent of its scoring from a year ago. Kevin Sims highlights the returning starters, as the 5-10 guard is a considered a playmaker that produced 12.2 ppg and 3.7 apg last season. Kris Richard could join Sims at the perimeter and the 6-5 guard will look to build on a freshman campaign in which he netted 3.2 ppg. In the frontcourt, Tulane returns a pair of starters in Robinson Louisme and Daniel Puckett. The 6-7 Louisme is the team's leading returning rebounder at 5.4 rpg and he is also a decent scorer, posting 9.8 ppg. As for Puckett, he turned in 5.1 ppg and 3.1 rpg a year ago, but the Wave will be counting on him to produce at a higher level this season. David Booker, a 6-7 transfer from Charlotte, could also help right away with his bevy of skills.

SMU - The Mustangs took a step back in their second year under head coach Matt Doherty, as they finished just 10-20 in 2007-08. Doherty though, has brought in some highly regarded recruiting classes during his brief stay at SMU, so it is only a matter of time before things are turned around. This year's club welcomes back four starters, but the group is young and will need some time to develop. The lone senior on the roster is Bamba Fall, a 7-1 center that is a solid defensive presence that averaged 11.8 ppg and 5.6 rpg a season ago. Papa Dia joins Fall in the low post and the 6-9 forward enjoyed a solid freshman campaign in 2007-08, producing 9.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg. Alex Malone, a 6-8 forward, was also a solid contributor as a freshman last season, as he notched 7.6 ppg. At the perimeter, Mike Walker (5.4 ppg) and Ryan Harp (4.4 ppg) return to their starting roles after successful freshman campaigns in 2007-08. Paul McCoy is a heralded recruit that could start immediately in the backcourt, as he is a great athlete with plenty of toughness.

EAST CAROLINA - The Pirates endured another poor campaign in 2007-08, as they went just 11-19 under first-year head coach Mack McCarthy. Eight players return from last year's club, but just one starter in Sam Hinnant. The 6-4 guard had two 30-point games last season and he led ECU in scoring with 11.0 ppg. He is also the top returning three-point threat in the conference, hitting on 40.4 percent of his tries. James Legan is another three-point threat and the 6-3 guard will look to build off his 7.3 ppg scoring average from a year ago. Chris Turner is a highly regarded recruit and he has the type of talent that could earn him a starting spot at the perimeter. Jamar Abrams (4.2 ppg) is another intriguing option for ECU, as the 6-6 guard/forward saw a lot of type as a freshman last season and could be ready to take over as a leader. In the low post, freshman Darrius Morrow is expected to make an immediate impact after averaging a double-double in high school.

RICE - The Owls suffered through a simply horrific campaign in 2007-08, as they went 0-16 within the league and 3-27 overall. The team played its home schedule at three different Houston-area venues due to the renovation of Autry Court and it also suffered several significant injuries. With Autry Court now up and running following a 27-million dollar upgrade and a healthy roster, the Owls appear ready to put the misery of last season behind them. Rice will also get a fresh look with new coach Ben Braun, who took California to more postseason appearances than any other coach in school history. Braun inherits a team that return four starters, all in the backcourt. Leading the way is 6-1 Rodney Foster, who averaged 11.2 ppg despite missing time with a broken hand. Lawrence Graham (8.5 ppg) was another reliable player for Rice last season and he turned in 8.5 ppg. Bryan Beasley netted 3.3 ppg as a freshman last year and if he can cut down on his turnovers, there is no reason that number shouldn't improve dramatically. Cory Pflieger missed all but five games with an ankle injury last season, but now fully healthy, he should make an impact. In the frontcourt, the Owls are hoping 6-11 Navy transfer Trey Stanton can provide some scoring and rebounding. He will be joined by Suleiman Braimoh, who averaged 4.0 ppg and 3.3 as a freshman in 2007-08.





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