#11 - South Alabama

The Jags are in almost as bad shape as we are. Only one starter returning from a team that was 7-11 in conference.

POSITIVES: Their only returning starter is a good one. Josh Ajayi averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.4 ppg and shot well, and he is a big body at 6-7 and 224. He is a good place to start building. Graduate transfer Rozelle Nix from Pitt did not play a lot there, but he definitely will fill the lane at 6-11 and 300#. Throw in Kevin Morris at 265#, and they definitely have the beef. They shouldn't get pushed around inside. As might be expected after losing so much, USA does have several promising players coming in with what looks like a strong recruiting class.

NEGATIVES: There is just not a lot of experience on this team. After Ajayi, the next most minutes last season was by Clarksville's Dederick Lee. Also, they are not overly tall other than Nix; and I wonder about their quickness inside. They do have five redshirted players on the roster, so that could be a hidden plus.

Coach Graves is in somewhat the same position as Flanigan. He will be under pressure to produce, and may not have much firepower with which to do it, this year.

(09-05-2017 06:58 AM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  #11 - South Alabama

The Jags are in almost as bad shape as we are. Only one starter returning from a team that was 7-11 in conference.

POSITIVES: Their only returning starter is a good one. Josh Ajayi averaged 10.6 ppg and 5.4 ppg and shot well, and he is a big body at 6-7 and 224. He is a good place to start building. Graduate transfer Rozelle Nix from Pitt did not play a lot there, but he definitely will fill the lane at 6-11 and 300#. Throw in Kevin Morris at 265#, and they definitely have the beef. They shouldn't get pushed around inside. As might be expected after losing so much, USA does have several promising players coming in with what looks like a strong recruiting class.

NEGATIVES: There is just not a lot of experience on this team. After Ajayi, the next most minutes last season was by Clarksville's Dederick Lee. Also, they are not overly tall other than Nix; and I wonder about their quickness inside. They do have five redshirted players on the roster, so that could be a hidden plus.

Coach Graves is in somewhat the same position as Flanigan. He will be under pressure to produce, and may not have much firepower with which to do it, this year.

I thought Graves was a very good hire at the time. I would say he is under a lot more pressure than Wes, since he has already had 4 seasons at USA. Not sure he can survive another season, without major improvement.