MVP: Zach Nutall is an All-Southland First-Team selection and will be a name to watch for conference MVP this season as an elite go-to scorer for the Bearkats.

The Ceiling: One thing this squad has is experience, although so much of it comes via the JUCO ranks. If Nutall shines and the newbies produce, there is plenty of reason to believe the Bearkats will be among the Southland’s top contenders. A second or third-place finish looks reasonable.

The Floor: It’s risky business with a roster that includes so many newcomers. This team was extremely busy with the comings and goings department since it was last seen. If the newcomers struggle at this level, the Bearkats could be a mid-pack league team that needs a big finish for a favorable seed into the league tournament.

Projected Starting Five

Zach Nutall
G | 6-3 | Jr. | Bryan, Texas

Demarkus Lampley
G | 6-2 | Sr. | Phenix City, Ala.

Tristan Ikpe
F | 6-6 | Jr. | Deer Park, Texas

Manny Crump
F | 6-8 | Jr. | Miami, Fla.

Dylan Robertson
F | 6-10 | Jr. | Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Jason Hooten
Head Coach

Game of the Year: Stephen F. Austin

Impact First-Year Player: Tristan Ikpe

Season Preview

Trivia question. Which Southland Conference team led league winner Stephen F. Austin at halftime in two meetings last season?

Answer: Sam Houston.

Now the prediction: With a potential league MVP highlighting a roster lined with several promising newcomers, Sam Houston looks like a team that should be among the contenders in the Southland race.

Shooting guard Zach Nutall is a league MVP candidate because of his scoring potential, passing and defense.

The senior averaged 15.4 points and 4.4 rebounds while adding 64 assists and 45 steals for a Bearkat team that finished 18-13 and 11-9 in the Southland, good for fourth place last season.

When addressing other veterans with impressive statistics, the list is short. Demarkus Lampley averaged eight points and 2.2 rebounds in his first season at Sam Houston last season.

But as far as experience goes, that's about it.

Among the departed since last season are Kai Mitchell (14.4 ppg), Chad Bowie (8.3 ppg), Danan Swoope (7.6 ppg), RJ Smith (7.7 ppg) and Xavier Bryant (5.6 ppg).

With so many vacancies, head coach Jason Hooten, a consistent winner in the league who begins his 11th season, filled out the roster with newcomers, including a handful from JUCOs.

The list starts with junior Tristan Ikpe, a 6-foot-6 forward who averaged a double-double with 17.3 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore at Blinn JC last season.

Ikpe pulled down 877 career rebounds and registered 22 double-doubles. His 344 rebounds as a sophomore ranked second in the nation among junior colleges.

"Tristan has continued to improve every year," Hooten said. "We felt like Tristan's ability to rebound the ball at a high level was something our team was drastically missing this past season. His work ethic, toughness and consistency will be welcomed with open arms."

Other newcomers of note are junior guard Donte Powers of East Mississippi Community College, Dylan Robertson of Shelton State, junior forward Manny Crump of Colleyville CC and junior Javion May of Colby CC.

Powers averaged nine points as a sophomore. Crump averaged 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in his final year at Colleyville.

Robertson, a 6-foot-10 forward, averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds and shot 74 percent from the floor in a title season at Shelton State. May averaged 11.6 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Having a lineup of Nutall and Lampley and the five JUCO signees gives the rotation one legitimate star (Nutall), a senior (Lampley) and five newcomers who have a track record of being able to score.

After those seven, it's a crap shoot as to who earns the right to contribute.

Senior Terryonte Thomas averaged 3.4 points while averaging about 10 minutes in his first season with the Bearkats.

Hooten has a track record of piecing together competitive teams in the Southland. He has led Sam Houston to five 20-win campaigns in the last seven seasons.

The Bearkats have finished third or better in the league in 11 of the last 15 seasons.

How will they fare in the league this time around?

Nutall is a star. Then, it's about how well the newcomers perform.