by Sports Xchange

KEY EARLY-SEASON GAMES: The Delta Devils get a total of one home game in all of November and December, so they'd better take advantage of their Nov. 19 contest with Champions Baptist. MVSU travels to Washington State and Gonzaga to start the regular season, followed by the Chicago Invitational, which matches the Devils up with Iowa State and Saint Louis on the road. MVSU will be tested early, but as long as the players see the games as learning experiences that will help in SWAC play, the Devils will be OK.

PROGRAM DIRECTION: The Delta Devils appear to be in good hands with former Kentucky assistant Sean Woods. The entertaining up-tempo offense he prefers will also draw a number of athletes to the program that know they're going to get a chance to play because of the number of players Woods rotates in.

Getting some success on the floor with some wins is crucial to taking the next step, though, so this will be a big year for Woods and the Devils.

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP: PG D'Angelo Jackson, G Kevin Burwell, G Julius Cheeks, G Tashan Newsome, G/F Shannon Behling.

ROSTER REPORT:

--G Julius Cheeks improved as the season progressed last year, upping his scoring average in league play as well as shooting better from the field, the 3-point line and the free-throw line against conference opponents.

--G/F Shannon Behling was the Devils' most prolific 3-point shooter, taking the most attempts (166) on the team from beyond the arc and burying 57 of them (34.3 percent).

--Signee Jacob Blankenship has taken a long road to MVSU, stopping at Daytona State College and Santa Fe College in Florida. The 6-9, 250-pound Blankenship will be a junior and should help the interior game of the Devils.