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Coach: Jerry Eaves (61-121 in six seasons overall and at N.C. A&T)

Home court: Corbett Center (5,700), Greensboro

2008-09: 16-16, 9-7 MEAC

Tickets: Season tickets are $100; single-game tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for fans 12 and younger. For information visit www.ncataggies.com or call 334-7749.

Official team Web site: www.ncataggies.com

Scoring: The Aggies like to run, playing an uptempo style that shuttles players in and out of the game. When they're right, scoring should be balanced. Senior PG Tavarus Alston (11.1 ppg) is the top returning scorer, and senior F Robert Johnson averaged nearly 10 ppg. Versatile freshman Austin Witter could add instant offense to the Aggies.

Rebounding: Everybody rebounds on a press-and-run team, but F/C Thomas Coleman averaged 6.3 per game to lead last season's team. C James Porter returns after a redshirt year, and he is a relentless rebounder. Freshmen Austin Witter and DaMetrius Upchurch could provide immediate help inside.

Defending: The Aggies play an uptempo style, using pressure defense to create transition offense. They'll play a variety of full-court presses, and prefer to drop back into a half-court man-to-man defense. F/C Thomas Coleman averaged nearly 3 blocks per game last season, and G Tavarus Alston had 56 steals.

Coaching: Jerry Eaves has done a remarkable job rebuilding the Aggies to respectability. He took over a program that went 1-26 the season before his arrival, and he won 15 total games in his first three seasons. But Eaves has won at least 15 in each of the last three seasons, and his teams play remarkably hard.

Intangibles: Eaves says this year's freshman class is perhaps his best batch of recruits since his arrival at A&T. If they mesh quickly, and C James Porter comes back strong from a redshirt season, the Aggies could be one of the MEAC's best.

Projection: The Aggies have improved their record in each of Jerry Eaves' six seasons. Season No. 7 could see another improvement, and it's realistic to believe N.C. A&T will win 17 or 18 games heading into the conference tournament. Only the MEAC champ will go to the NCAA tournament, and that's within A&T's reach.

SCHEDULE

November: Friday, Brevard, 7; 15, at Marshall, 2; 17, at Ohio U., 7; 20, Davis & Elkins, 7; 23, Middle Tennessee State, 7; 25, at UTEP, 9:05; 26, at New Mexico State, 9; 28, at Lamar, 8:05.

December: 5, at Norfolk State, 6; 13, at Northwestern, 5; 21, at Miami, 7:30; 23, at Tennessee, 7; 30, at Tulane, 7.

January: 5, Carson-Newman, 7; 9, at Florida A&M, 7:30; 11, at Bethune-Cookman, 7:30; 16, Howard, 4; 18, Hampton, 8; 23, at S.C. State, 4; 25, at Winston-Salem State, 7:30; 30, Coppin State, 4.

February: 1, Morgan State, 8; 6, Delaware State, 4; 8, Maryland-Eastern Shore, 8; 13, at Howard, 4; 15, at Hampton, 8; 17, S.C. State, 7; 22, Winston-Salem State, 8; 27, at Coppin State, 4.

March: 1, at Morgan State, 7:30; 4, Norfolk State, 8.

N.C. A&T ROSTER

STARTERS

RESERVES