- (Sports Network) - TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS: BRYANT - The Bulldogs were one of the top teams at the Division II level the past few years, even reaching the national title game in 2005. With sustained success comes the desire to seek new challenges, so Bryant ushers in a new era as it makes the leap to D-I, doing so under the watchful eye of new head coach Tim O'Shea. The former head man at Ohio University, O'Shea is well aware of what awaits his Bulldogs and he feels they will be up to the task, as four starters from last year's 18-13 team return, including forward Cecil Gresham (12.1 ppg). Gresham could enjoy a breakout season if all goes according to plan. Another guy to keep an eye on is point guard Chris Birrell, a 11.2 ppg scorer in 2007-08 who also dished 4.3 apg. As a team, Bryant averaged just 64.5 ppg, but did a fine job defensively by allowing only 62.9 ppg. The team would, however, like to shoot better than the 40.2 percent from the floor it did last season. CHICAGO STATE - Second-year head coach Benjy Taylor hopes the 11 wins his team claimed in 2007-08 will serve as a stepping stone for greater things to come. That effort is made that much easier with the return of First Team All- Independent guard David Holston. The ninth-leading scorer in the nation a year ago (23.1 ppg, national-best 130 three-pointers), Holston is just 5-8, but plays well above his means and is clearly the engine that drives the Chicago State machine. Holston will get help from backcourt mate John Cantrell, who averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. No other returnee averaged double figures so it will be up to the two guards to carry most of the load once again. The Cougars averaged 73.2 ppg last season, but gave up close to 80 so tightening the reins is paramount to the team's chances of exceeding last year's win total.

CS-BAKERSFIELD - Coach Keith Brown is excited about the prospect of this new season, as his club is hungry to improve upon last year's 8-21 campaign. Senior guard Terrence Johns led the Roadrunners in scoring (13.2 ppg) and steals (25) in 2007-08, but he shot less than 40 percent from the field -- the team hitting just 40.6 percent overall. Justin Dennis is a highly-touted juco transfer who should help take some of the pressure off Johns, particularly with regard to the game out on the perimeter. Where CSUB is likely to feel the strain is down low as only 6-10 sophomore Cory Brown offers much in the way of notable size. One intriguing guy expected to have a breakout year is junior forward Trent Blakley, who tallied eight double-digit scoring efforts in the final 10 games of last season.

LONGWOOD - The Lancers have won nine games in each of the past two seasons, and if there is to be an upward swing guys like Kirk Williams and Ryan Bogan will need to lead by example. Williams (16.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg) paced the team in both scoring and rebounding in 2007-08, and even bigger things are expected from the senior forward this time around. As for Bogan, he averaged 11.7 points and 4.8 caroms per contest from his spot in the Longwood backcourt last year. One guy who could enjoy a monster season is redshirt junior Dana Smith, who averaged 10.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game before going down with a knee injury early and missing the bulk of the '07-'08 campaign. Junior guard Kevin Swecker could make some noise as well after netting 8.8 ppg last year. Offensive production was Longwood's problem last season (68.4 ppg), and the team would certainly like to shoot better than the 40 percent effort it put forth.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL - The 2007-08 season, the Eagles' first at the Division I level, was anything but memorable as the team took its lumps in winning just four of 30 games. NCCU was outscored by an average of 22 ppg and was guilty of nearly 21 turnovers per tilt -- troubling stats to say the least. The return of second-leading scorer Bryan Ayala (13.0 ppg, 4.0 apg) should help stabilize the backcourt, while up front a guy like 6-8 juco transfer Lamar Pittman could make a splash early on. Coach Henry Dickerson has his work cut out for him as his club gets set for a tough schedule that includes bouts with Wake Forest, Kent State, Tulsa, Drake, Arkansas, South Carolina, Michigan and Miami- Florida, among others. While logging more wins than losses isn't likely, a more competitive campaign could be in the offering.

SAVANNAH STATE - Coach Horace Broadnax has done a nice job turning around a program that had been on the skids in recent years. The Tigers won 13 games last year, matching the win total from the previous five seasons combined. Savannah State did not have one player average double figures in scoring, and as a result put up just 59.5 ppg. Both Chris Linton and Anthony Jones are expected to carry the team this season, although in order to do so they will have to elevate their respective games well above the mere 8.6 and 8.5 ppg, respectively, that they averaged last year. Some talented newcomers could also figure into the mix for SSU, including a pair of 6-7 forwards in Arnold Louis and Rashad Hassan. Keep an eye on 6-10 juco transfer Glen Izevbigie, a native of England, who averaged better than 10 ppg and shot nearly 53 percent from the field last year at Garrett Community College (MD).

SEATTLE - The Redhawks notched their third straight winning season in 2007-08, going 18-9 playing a Division II schedule. Nine players return from that squad, including junior guards Chris Gweth (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Ricky Berry (9.5 ppg). Overall, a glaring lack of size will likely hurt Seattle as it stares down the barrel of a challenging docket that includes games against Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, Oregon State and Loyola Marymount, among others. The Redhawks do have 6-11 junior Jared Casey on the roster, as well as three 6-8 forwards in Gavin Gilmore, Leigh Swanson and Austen Powers. It will be interesting to see where coach Joe Callero turns for scoring though, as Gweth isn't capable of carrying the load by himself.





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