This battle went on through last season with the Bulldogs quite surprisingly holding the lead for much of the season.  The Bulldogs showed they had more than enough talent to hang with the elite of this conference but the loss of the only two true big men on the team in the off season has been a blow to this program that they might not be able to recover from.  A late season slide (collapse) cost the Bulldogs a shot at their first MEAC title and possibly a trip to the NIT.  But all that seems to be a long time ago as when junior star Tom Boswell announced he was transferring to hated rival South Carolina you could feel the air coming out of the collective breath of Bulldog fans.  But when star center Julius Keye decided to go play with another HBCU school in Mississippi it felt more like someone had punched these fans in the stomach.  Legendary coach Dave Whitney somehow convinced the 6’10 Keye to transfer to Alcorn State and all of a sudden the team with the most dominant front line in the league last year were suddenly without a legitimate big man.  The tallest man now on the returning roster is awful green as in junior Carl Green who goes 6’8.  There are a pair of sophomores who are also 6’8 but they are even greener as neither Franklin Giles nor Steven Mazyck have even played in a varsity game as of yet, spending their entire first year on the JV squad.  Giles has some potential as a rim protector but Mazyck is more of a wing then a post player so Alexander knows what he will be recruiting in the near future.  The problem is these two guys transferred so late that Alexander and his staff really had no chance of replacing his two big men.  Sad part is the Bulldogs have a solid team coming back including the best back court in the MEAC. 

The leader and team captain for the Bulldogs is Senior Robert Lewis.  The ultra-quick point guard is not only an incredible ballhandler (his two ball drill before the game to warm up is sensational) but is one of the best passers in the MEAC.  Like many of his teammates (and many other MEAC players) Lewis came down from Pennsylvania on the proverbial ‘Philly Underground Railroad.’  Lewis leads by example as he is one of the hardest working guys you will ever come across.  He is not big as five ten which may be the only reason he does not get the attention he deserves from the Pros. He can score as he is almost unstoppable with his speed going to the hoop but he gives up some of that to get his teammates the ball. Lewis could also skip a few ball handling drills and work a little more on his outside shooting.  This is his Achilles heel but this kid loves his process so much that he does not seem to mind letting other guys on his team score more.  Speaking of being unselfish, Lewis actually gave up some of his assists and ball handling so his sidekick in the backcourt (the erstwhile Harry Nickens) could do his thing.  The Bulldogs will not be the same without Lewis leading their vaunted break but Alexander is not waiting to find his replacement.  He has recruited a stud from up the road in Hartsville to learn from the maestro but no way he ever fills the shoes of this legend in Orangeburg. 

If Lewis was the heart to the Bulldogs than fellow Senior Lindberth ‘Bird’ Moody was the soul.  With all of the great nicknames one could come up with that great first name one wonders how he got the moniker of the ‘Bird.’  That is until you see him play.  Moody looks completely unorthodox running the court as he sticks out with his long arms and neck but boy can he play.  Moody is an incredible offensive player who loves to go one on one with his ability to terrorize defenders.  The Bird posts up players from about 18 feet in and if they come up on him he ‘flies’ by them with his great quickness.  If they give him room he peppers them with low flying jump shots.  He led the Bulldogs in scoring and to show how important he was when he missed a few games down the stretch they lost three of four.  He came back for the tourney but was not the weapon he was all year.  He is a little small (6’2) to play wing at the D-1 level but the fans around here don’t care as they love seeing Linberth firing away from everywhere on the court to the chants of ‘Fly, Bird, Fly!’ 

Senior Frank Card is the real deal.  Another Philly product, Card is Mr. Everything for the Bulldogs.  A solid forward who does whatever it takes to win.  He is a good scorer, defender, rebounder and leader.  The only issue for Card was the fact that he is better suited as a small forward as he was most of his career in Orangeburg.  And in Orangeburg the Bird is the word and he plays the three. This has obviously hurt his playing time as this tough kid has been a backup swing forward since he got here.  With Boswell gone, Card will try to move up to the four. He has some size but is less than 200 pounds and in this league (even at six seven) you get beat up.  Card has a complete game but his toughness will be tested this year. Players like this define a program but it is asking an awful lot of Card to replace Boswell who is quite arguably the best player that ever went to SC State.  But as Card says if his uncle Frank Underwood can replace the President then he can take over the power forward spot.  If all works out the kids in Orangeburg will be doing the ‘Watusi’ in the stands. 

Nickens and Lewis were in a difficult position as both players are point guards.  Good thing Nickens is a terrific scorer as well and these two studs could easily coexist together.  As a matter of fact, both made all-league and are without question the best back court in the MEAC.  This will be Nickens team next year and he will without question be the main man in Orangeburg but for now these two will go on dominating their peers in the MEAC.  And they will need to even more without the lost big men. This DC area product stepped onto campus being the BMOC and he has not quit pumping in jump shots.  At six one he has a complete game for a swing guard averaging over 15 points a game and almost five assists though he shared ball handling duties with Lewis.  He is just as adept getting to the hoop as he is hitting jumpers so Alexander knew he had to get the ball in his hands as much as he could.  His ability to hit big shots off the dribble or off the catch make him one of the most dangerous players in the MEAC. Nickens might not get the publicity of some of the other players but he is probably the best player on the roster (Now) and is for sure the go to guy when this team needs a basket. 

The obvious choice to take over the low post is the multitalented Teddy Wright.  The senior stud once teamed with the Bird to form a potent front court but Wright was pushed to the bench by the two stud big men.  Wright can score and board some but like the Bird is way undersized for the post.  This might have worked in the old days of the CIAA but this is D-1 and size does matter.  Alexander will be looking elsewhere for some post players but will be looking for defense and board guys first as he knows his perimeter guys can light it up.  Juniors Phil Stephens, Art Snipe, Alex Barron plus sophomore Rodney Mack are in the running for minutes with Card and the three 6’8 guys we mentioned.  These guys were not expected to be much more than valuable guys off the bench but with the two transfers someone to step up.  Based on last year, Stephens should get the first shot.  He is the only returning big man who played often.  He is a defender and board guy but is limited vertically at only 6’5.  He is smart and tough and will play but Alexander would like someone a bit bigger playing center.  Snipe is only 6’6 and Barron is 6’5 as well but they will get their shot.  Barron can score and might have an advantage but has been inconsistent.  Mack might have the best chance as he showed he can flat bang down low though admittedly this was on JV.  The sophomore power forward is the prototypical post up on the blocks dude.  This kid was not heavily recruited but he can score with a variety of moves and can really board.  Mack is a bit undersized at only six foot six but has the strength and desire to get the job done. Fellow sophomores Giles (Django as he has dubbed) and Gregory Wilson formed a solid front line with Mack the last half of the year on JV and might get a chance to replicate this sooner than later.  Wilson is a three but at 6’6 realizes his best shot at playing this year will be down low and not on the wing with the Bird in town.   

Alexander does not have the type of bench that he would have liked especially since he will have to move up players into bigger roles sooner then they are ready for.  This is a huge weakness for this team but several players will get opportunities and they better be ready.  There is some depth in the backcourt with juniors Johnny ‘Radar’ Thornton, Willie Brown and Phil Lane moving on up.  Thornton actually was the third guard most of last year and can flat score.  He gives the Bulldogs instant offense off the bench and would start on most MEAC teams.  Brown has some size at 6’6 and will play.  Where and when is the question as he improved dramatically from first to second year on the JV.  A wing with this size is needed on this team and this kid is athletic as well.  Now, can he shoot?  Lane is a point guard who can score some but will be lucky to play more than mop up minutes behind the dynamic duo in front of him.  Sophomore Joe Robinson played some on JV last year and almost assuredly will be there again.  If any of these guys were big men they might have a shot but not behind Lewis and Nickens. 

The South Carolina State Bulldogs had a good year in the tough MEAC.  At one point they were leading the eventual champion North Carolina A & T for the conference title.  Four losses to end the year and another in the first round of the conference tourney left a bad taste in the mouths of the Bulldogs.  Coach Cy Alexander will for sure use the collapse as motivation for next year but he has bigger fish to fry.  Losing two great players to the transfer portal will for sure hurt but Alexander has enough dogs left in the pound to put up a fight.  As long as Lewis and Nickens do not transfer at the last minute this team should continue to compete for league titles at least for this year.  But the coach who got his name from the two of the three best pitchers in baseball history knows that no matter how good his guards are if you don’t have some guys to guard the rim and grab some boards this team is not going to beat anyone.  And especially not the Aggies from up North as they just reloaded again.  And that front line is deep and mean.  They only get to play once this year as this league has expanded to 11 teams but there are a couple of games this team has circled for the upcoming year.  A home game against the hated Gamecocks and a trip to Mississippi to take on HBCU powerhouse Alcorn State have some added motivation for the Bulldogs this year.  I wonder why!!!!