The powers that be at this University had a tough decision to make before last season.  The Hornets had come off a solid season in NAIA basketball making the elite eight nationally and Division One basketball, specifically the SWAC, came calling.  The SWAC had been stuck on seven teams for a few years and needed to round up to an even number and the opportunity to join the most prestigious HBCU league in the country was quite an honor.  The problem was that this would mean leaving behind Alabama A&M.  The rivalry between the Hornets and the Bulldogs is one of best and most visceral in the entire country.  The brawls from the football field and the Marching bands have carried over to the basketball court where the two games both teams can count on playing in front of sold out SRO crowds.  The SWAC promised the Hornets and the Bulldogs that as soon as they could find another team to join they would bring back the rivalry but for now it would only be the Hornets.  After much deliberation the Hornets accepted the invitation and jumped head long into this bold new world of major college basketball. That meant playing their first year with much of the talent being carryover NAIA level.  What it really meant was a bunch of athletic kids who were not quite right for other schools but were some dang good basketball players who knew how to play but were just not quite good enough for the SEC or the SWC.  Remember there are only 20 schools in those two conferences and football is like it is in the SWAC, the main draw.  There are a ton of kids from these southern states who can flat play this game but have got overlooked from the old boys for one reason or another and are out to prove they can hang with the best.  For Alabama State the chip that most of these kids (and coaches) carry is at an entirely different level as they are just getting their feet wet and have much to prove in the SWAC.  Be careful as Edie Brickell would say because that water can get deep out there and these boys found that out the hard way in their first year swimming with the sharks of the SWAC.

Leading the way is Sophomore Kevin Loder. Loder is a great wing.  Great motor is the description most used to describe Loder but he is more than that.  A tenacious player who gives his all for the team, Loder is really the soul of this team.  Iron Man might be his moniker as he a cerebral player who works hard and makes the most of his abilities.  He also uses every trick in the bag to get the job done.  He is not big (six foot six, 205) but spent much time guarding power forwards and sometimes even centers.  He is not like most of the players on this roster as he comes from Michigan which as anyone can tell you is a bit different even in basketball than Bama.  Loder is a bit of an outsider (Tony Stark) but is so talented and tricky that Oliver knew he had to get him onto the court as much as possible.  He taught his teammates a few of tricks and became the sixth man until Willie Scott got drafted by Uncle Sam (for special duty) and opened up the door for his Avenger.  Scott only missed a few games but by the time he got back Loder had become the man in Montgomery. Loder was most important to this team in that he brought a different approach and mentality to the game and his style seemed to spread throughout his teammates.  Oh, and he can shoot a little too. 

Sophomore Lewis Jackson is another of the gifted wing players on the roster.  This small-town kid from Wetumpka is also six foot six (notice a trend here) with a strong 200 pound body.  Jackson, like the rest of his teammates on the wing, can really score.  ‘Flash’ might be his appropriate moniker as he is as about as quick as they come.  His first step is mindboggling and if he gets the chance to isolate against a defender he will for sure get by him to the hoop with his super speed.  Jackson does not have the range of Rogers but he just as effective of a scorer and he is a true student of the game.  He is a little better suited for the rigors of the post game and got that role primarily out of need and opportunity.  Lewis is a very smart player and will do whatever it takes for his Hornets to win but is better suited for the wing.  He is the ultimate team player who can pass, rebound as well as score.  Jackson is a gifted player who uses everything he has to succeed and really understands the game. 

Sophomore Terry Brooks is a true shooting guard who started at point for the Hornets, well, at least some of the time.  He has great range and seems to be able to score on anybody.  He is not really suited for point (another wing) but wanted on the floor and this was his best hope. Jackson is a better passer but Brooks is definitely better suited to guard other point guards so this team took turns running the show but that only mattered in half-court sets and this team was running more than half of them time. Brooks gives Oliver another guy who could flat fill it up when he gets going but the young coach knows he needs a true point. 

Senior Willie Scott was the other starting forward spot and is a solid team player who at one point was putting up ridiculous numbers in NAIA.  He would be Thor though that does not quite fit.  He is ultra-strong and does carry a big hammer so he has that going for him.  He is not big enough (6’5) to guard big men but gave it his best. Scott has some games down low but should be more of a swing forward and is most definitely not a center.  Oliver is all for having the best guys play and Scott was the best player that could play post so he started, at least to begin the year. And to be honest he did not back down even against the monsters of the SWAC.  Strangely he was a no show 20 games into the year for a practice and many thought he had went back home to Asgard to help out his home planet.  Well, he did leave to help fight the bad guys but had been drafted and was going to join the Avengers for real.  He apparently accomplished his mission and is supposedly flying back to Montgomery this fall.  Scott is obviously not the most communicative guy on the planet but he can play some hoop and when he gets out of the military this angel will be back in Montgomery but this year as the sixth man swing forward. 

Oliver did have some options that he tried to find a suitable post player. Junior Gregg Northington can play.  He has got size (7-1 238) and can score and board.  But he is not as physical as Oliver wanted and definitely needs some personal motivation.  He could be really good as he showed a couple of times this season (22 and 14 versus Grambling and Willis Reed) but needs to stay focused and quit taking so many games off.  When he wants he can dominate the paint and block shots and even eat up space.  But other times he gets overmatched by guys with a little more swagger and toughness.  Still, Northington is without question the most important player on the roster and if this team is going to improve in the SWAC he has got to become more consistent and a bit edgier. 

Oliver really attempted to find some help for Northington up front and there was some limited success.  Junior Lawrence Lilly had played next to Northington as the first twin towers two years ago in the NAIA and led to their domination.  Oliver wanted to run more and put Lilly directly behind big Greg up front but Lilly did not like coming off the bench.  He also didn’t like (neither did Northington) that the fans looked at the duo as ‘freaks’ instead of the solid ballplayers they are.  The Hornets actually have more than enough size which this team showed does not necessarily matter.  Senior Jim Dew and JC transfer L.C. Mason give this team four guys 6’10 and over to rotate in and there is another kid transferring in from Stetson who goes 7’1 and has even a longer last name.  None of that matters if they are not on the court and Oliver seems unwilling to play the bigs together like his predecessor did at the lower level.  He does have guys who can play the four so it makes sense especially with all of the great wings.  Junior Jim Cooper was supposed to be the starting power forward (never was) and has skills but only made it through twelve games before he was lost for the year.  Now you see why Oliver was looking for answers up front?  Senior Dan Crenshaw was undersized (six foot six) to play the four but did get to play often and had some solid games.  Obviously, he was a bit overmatched at times down low but Crenshaw can play and is not afraid to mix it up.  Speaking of mixing it up fellow Senior John Davis is a beast.  He does not score much (at all) but can he bang and board. If he could make a lay-up Davis would be starting but his ability to board and bang down low is needed on a team not know for it’s physicality.  Sophomore Darrin Mayo also got some minutes up front and played well though he is another who is limited due to size at 6’6.  He was the star of the JV team but might have to wait in line another year with all of these guys coming back. 

Now for the obvious weakness.  Sophomore Michael Freeney is the only true point guard on the roster returning and barely played the first month.  When he finally did get called up full-time from the HV, Freeney did well in limited minutes.  He can dish and defend and the team seemed to do better when he was on the court.  Freeney really came on the second half and looks to be the starter next year as he is not only a great distributor but has great leadership qualities. The future of the team relies on this 6’0 kid but Oliver has made it clear he made a mistake and is looking high and low to find more true point guards.  He is not immune to going into the Juco ranks and is even using the portal.  Captain America himself is coming back to Montgomery but is not clear if he will be playing point or his more natural wing. 

Midnight in Montgomery turned much quicker than this team wanted as the Hornets were never really in contention in the SWAC.  What do you do when your whole roster is either six foot six or 6’11?  Coach Oliver does not trust using the Twin Tower approach though it worked in the past and decided he would used a rotation of wing players. At about four positions.  This philosophy led to a high octane offense but they could not stop anyone.  Quick guards destroyed the Hornets and put the Kibbatch on what should have been a better season with all of the high flying talent on the roster.  The Hornet fans loved the fast paced scoring machine of a team but to win you must be able to play at least some half court sets and defend. Hopefully some of their young big men will get better and Oliver seems to have found his point guard.  One thing for sure he has found his wings and who knows what can happen to this athletic squad if they get going on a run next year.  They could be tough to stop and one thing is for sure they will be fun to watch in Montgomery.