Southland report

SportsLine.com Report
March 5, 2000

The Lumberjacks have been the cellar-dwellers for two consecutive seasons in the Southland Conference.

After winning their first two SLC games this season, they lost 15 of their final 16 games, dropping 11 games by less than 10 points and two by one point.

The Lumberjacks beat Rice early in the season and were competitive for most of the year, but never figured out how to win consistently.

A Glance at 2001

There are many questions about the future. SFA did improve to 6-21 this season after finishing last year 4-22, but clearly some major changes will have to take place if the Lumberjacks want to be a conference tournament contender.

The Coach

Derek Allister announced his resignation, effective at the end of the season, with several weeks left in the season.

A new coach has not been hired yet, and no interim coach has been named. Allister finished his four-year career at Stephen F. Austin with a 33-74 record and one Southland Conference tournament appearance.

Who'll Be Back

That's a good question. With a new coach and new staff coming in sometime during the offseason, there is the possibility that quite a few members of the this year's team will not be wearing purple and white in the fall.

Ron Banks was one of the better newcomers in the Southland this year, averaging 14.1 points while finishing third in field-goal percentage at 55.6. Allister clearly knew his job was in jeopardy and brought in five other transfers along with Banks.

Emmanuel Jackson was one of the five, and he finished the year as the sixth-leading rebounder in the conference with eight boards a game. Junior Aaron Radl, who showed he is one of the better 3-point shooters in the conference, should be back for his fourth season as a Lumberjack.

Who's Gone

Again, a good question. The only players who will not be back for sure are seniors starters Terrance Lofton and Jermaine Lyons. Lofton averaged 13.4 points and Lyons posted 2.74 assists.