Mississippi State
Last season: 13-19, failed to make the postseason.
Nickname: Bulldogs. Coach: Ben Howland.
Conference: Southeastern.
Key returners: A group of experienced seniors includes Craig Sword, Fred Thomas and Gavin Ware. Sword struggled at the beginning of last season because of a back injury, but was very good down the stretch, averaging a team-high 14.4 points per game in conference play. The 6-foot-9 Ware is the team's best returning post player - he averaged 10 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds last year. Junior point guard I.