TAAC report

SportsLine.com Report
April 15, 2000

Georgia State finally broke through and realized its potential, winning 12 of its final 14 regular season games, and ended up sharing the conference regular season title.

On the way, coach Lefty Driesell passed Norm Stewart, Ray Meyer, and Don Haskins on the list of all-time victories at the Division I level and now sits eighth with 733 victories, 13 behind Phog Allen for seventh place.

However, the man who has taken Davidson, Maryland, and James Madison to the NCAA Tournament still wants to take the Panthers to the promised land.

Last year brought another thrilling semifinal loss, as Samford was able to overcome 60 percent shooting by GSU, including 70 percent in the second half, to move on to the TAAC Championship, where it defeated UCF and moved on to the NCAA Tournament.

The Panthers had most of the pieces in place, coming together down the stretch as Shernard Long, Anton Reese, and Kevin Morris, all former transfers, learned to play together and thrived.

Morris struggled mightily at the onset of the season and sat in favor of JUCO transfer D.J. Wootson on many occasions, but turned it up late in the season to finish among the league's assist leaders. Reese also played his best ball when 2000 rolled around, while Long didn't need too much time to shake off the rust after his transfer from Georgetown, instantly becoming the league's most prolific scorer.

Jarrod Hill and Donnie Davis also improved in the post, rebounding well and playing their roles, but in the end, the Panthers' season ended in the same place the 1999 campaign ended -- the TAAC semifinals.

A glance at 2001

The Panthers will again be in the mix as one of the TAAC's top teams, with Morris running things at the point and Wootson providing a backcourt boost off the bench. With Reese gone, LSU transfer Daryl Cooper figures to inherit his off guard position, giving Driesell a potent trio of transfers on the wing. Long, of course, is the centerpiece of the equation, and will likely get consideration for Preseason Player-of-the-Year honors. Davis and reserve Lydell Gunsby return up front, and will be joined by another transfer, Alabama's Cedric Patton, who is 6-foot-7.

The Coach

Driesell is a coaching legend whose time has not yet passed him by. He still hungers for one last trip to the NCAA Tournament, and has shown no signs of stepping aside or slowing down. Incidentally, despite the fact that he is a throwback, The Lefthander employs a fast break offense and a brand of basketball that is among the most fun to watch in the league.

Who'll Be Back

Long returns to light up scoreboards, but may also have to handle a heavier portion of the board work on a team that's extremely quick but not big. Davis, who came to GSU as a large two guard, will be used primarily at power forward and may even see some time at center, where only Gunsby returns. Morris and Wootson are also back at the guard slots, meaning GSU's ball handling duties will be well taken care of.

Who's Gone

Reese has completed his eligibility, taking his sweet shooting stroke with him. Also gone is the frontcourt trio of Hill, Markeal King, and Torquin Gresham.

Key Newcomers

Cooper and Patton are SEC transfers that will add to the quality of the GSU roster. Both are athletic and should thrive in Driesell's up-tempo style. JUCO transfers Bam Campbell (6-5, 190) and Thomas Terrell (6-7, 210) will replace the pieces that left the frontcourt. Lamont McIntosh, the only prep newcomer signed by the Panthers, is a 6-2, 175-pounder from Stone Mountain, Ga. who gets to learn under the tutelage of seniors Morris and Wootson.