LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's Basketball is all set to open up their 2024-25 season this weekend as they head to the campus of Mississippi College for the SIAC/GSC Crossover.
The Tigers will begin their campaign against Albany State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. before turning around and playing Central State on Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
"The start of the season is always an exciting time for the players and coaches," said head coach
Nick Woodruff. "We have a number of new guys which always provide new challenges but we look forward to facing them and coming together as a group."
After putting together a 19-11 record last season, West Alabama comes into the new year with a new look roster. While bringing in nine transfers, UWA returned their two leading scorers from a year ago in
Jaylen Lemons and
Thaddeus Williams. Lemons and Williams will be the starting backcourt for the Tigers on opening weekend after the duo combined to score 27.3 points per game last season, leading West Alabama to the GSC Semifinals.
West Alabama's star studded backcourt duo will most likely have two of the highest usage rates, but
Caleb McGill is primed to have a breakout season. McGill only garnered 15 minutes per game last season, but he will see a massive uptick in that department as the 6'6" forward is projected to start in 2024-25. The senior is skilled in a lot of different areas but his ability to score the ball at all three levels will give UWA a spark offensively that they didn't have last year.
After losing
Terry Durham in the offseason, coach Woodruff went out and secured Coastal Alabama CC transfer
Michael McIntosh who went on to put together a strong preseason camp. McIntosh, a 6'7" forward, headlines West Alabama's frontcourt group that's filled with new faces such as Dadrevious Weathers,
Bryson Hall, and
Rasean Frederick. McIntosh gives UWA another scoring threat down low as the junior enters his inaugural season with the Tigers after averaging 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on 63 percent shooting last year.
The Albany State Golden Rams come into the 2024-25 season after a down year in 2023-24 where they put together a 9-19 record. One of those nine wins came against West Alabama as the Golden Rams handed the Tigers a 70-65 defeat in Albany. In that game, Blaise Wallace scored a game-high 21 points on 6-13 shooting and he's back for the Golden Rams this season. Wallace, a 6'7" forward, averaged 11 points and 9.1 rebounds as a true freshman for Albany State last year and presents matchup problems for every team on the Golden Rams' schedule.
Alongside Wallace is arguably Albany State's best overall player in Shakur Poteat. Poteat enters his junior season after leading ASU's offense with 16.9 points and 3.1 assists per game in 2023-24. The 6'1" combo guard is an elite shooter who shot 38.4 percent from three last season but as a volume scorer, can struggle with his efficiency. Poteat will have the ball in his hands a ton on Saturday night and if West Alabama can force him to shoot under 40 percent, which he did 15 times last season, it will bode well for the Tigers.
The Central State Marauders enter their 2024-25 campaign after an abysmal 3-25 season in 2023-24 and a change of leadership as the program announced Travis Lewis as the team's new head coach in July. Also, in the offseason, the Marauders lost a 18.6 point per game scorer in Willie Jackson but brought back Steven Key II. Key II, a 6'3" guard, averaged 14.1 points and 3.1 rebounds last season, leading to the junior being selected to the Preseason All-SIAC team back in October. The guard scored in double figures in 21 games, scoring 20 plus in five of them as he looks to turn the tides for Central State, beginning this weekend against West Alabama.
"Our group knows the significance of the games this weekend against two tough regional opponents," Woodruff continued. "ASU really exposed us in some critical areas last year and CSU has a new coach and crop of players that gave a DI opponent all they could handle in an exhibition. We will have our hands full with a quick turn around on Saturday to Sunday, but the guys are excited to see where we stand in the early stages of the season."
Saturday's matchup against Albany State is set for 7:30 p.m. while Sunday's contest against Central State is slated for 4:00 p.m from the A.E. Wood Coliseum in Clinton, Mississippi.
