Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#138 Texas Southern

2003-04: 14-15, 10-8

SWAC

By Joel Welser

Don’t let the Tigers 14-15 overall record last year fool you.  For the Southwest Athletic Conference they had one heck of a tough schedule with visits to Baylor, Southern Mississippi, Colorado State and Hawaii.  They didn’t win any of those tough road games last year, and they may not this year either, but they’ll be ready to make a run during the conference games.

Who’s Out: Starter Lionel Willis is the big loss in Houston.  Willis averaged over ten points per game and nearly five boards.  Also leaving are role players Akil Butler and Jamaal Clark.

Who’s In: The freshmen class won’t come in and make a huge impact, but the potential for the future is there.  Guards Bobby Cole and Justin Wilson, as well as forward Jacques Jones will join head coach Ronnie Courtney’s 2004-2005 Tiger squad.

Who to Watch: The key to the Tigers season will be point guard Sean Walker.  Texas Southern had a big problem with turnovers last year, with a team average of 18.8 per game.  Compare that to the team assists of only 10.3 and you have a ratio that won’t win a conference title.  Walker has to bring some control to the offense and make that assists to turnover ratio much more respectable.

Projected Conference Rank: Mississippi Valley State and Alabama State will put a lot of pressure on the Tigers, but Texas Southern will hold on tightly to the top spot in the SWAC.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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