After missing the postseason for the fourth consecutive year, expectations are at an all-time high in Senatobia. Northwest has plenty of depth and boasts one of the league's most athletic rosters that features a pair of potential NJCAA All-Americans in sophomore A.J. Cunningham and talented redshirt freshman Jordan Hulsey.

Now in his third season at the helm of the Northwest basketball program, head coach Jimmy Adams' squad is loaded with arguably the most talented roster during his tenure. A 42-year coaching veteran and first-time collegiate head coach, Adams is 21-25 overall in two seasons at Northwest and 8-15 in MACJC North Division play.

"Our goal is to get to the state tournament every year," Adams said. "We think we can win 18 games this year and make a good run. To be honest, we haven't played well enough to make it the last two years. Our division has three outstanding teams this year in East Mississippi, Northeast and Itawamba, and I would have to say that the four of us will battle it out for the available spots into the postseason. But this team can succeed in the north, and even win this thing, but it's going to be a tough job and we could finish anywhere from first to seventh."

Northwest returns just two starters from last season's 9-13 team that fell well short of preseason expectations and finished near the bottom of the conference with a 3-8 record. The Rangers showed signs of their potential at the early part of the season, opening up 5-3 with all three losses by a combined nine points, including two in overtime. But a five-game losing streak from Dec. 2 through Jan. 17 by an average of double digits had Northwest looking up at the conference leaders for the remainder of the season. The drought was momentarily cured by a four-game winning streak, but five more losses to end the year put the cap on just the second losing season in the last 18 years dating back to the 1992-93 season.

Eleven of Northwest's 23 scheduled regular season games in 2011-12 will be played in the friendly confines of Howard Coliseum, a place the Rangers have thrived over the last two decades. Dating back to the 1995-96 season, Northwest has won 86 percent of its games in Senatobia, including three undefeated regular seasons. That trend hopes to continue with an explosive product that is expected on the court this year. The Rangers open the season with six road games in their first nine contests and will play a pair of Top 15 opponents in 7th-ranked East Mississippi (Dec. 5, Feb. 6) and 15th-ranked Columbia St. (Jan. 10).

"The question will be can we get off to a good league record at home," Adams said. "We'll play a few at home before the break, and then eight at home in the new year. On the other side, winning on the road is tough in any league. Teams that excel in this league typically win all their home conference games and split on the road."

NORTHWEST BACKCOURT
Returning Starters: 1

After a steady stream of solid point guards running the offense, that trend will continue again in 2011-12 with returning sophomore Darius Woods running the point. Northwest will also have a solid second and third option for the first time under Adams, including sophomore Everick Morris and freshman Chris Kelley.

Woods played in all 22 games last season, averaging 8.5 points, 2.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds-per-game, starting nine of the final 10 in place of Martrevious Sanders. Woods made an immediate impact in the lineup, posting seven games in double figures, including a career-high 21 points at Coahoma. Morris played in all 24 games as a freshman during the 2009-10 season, averaging 7.6 points and 1.7 assists-per-game and also leading the team in 3-point percentage (36 percent). He was ruled ineligible until after Christmas break, and hopes to return to the Rangers in January. Kelley averaged 20.9 points and 3.2 assists-per-game as a senior at Lewisburg High School last season and was scheduled to be redshirted this season, however, that quickly changed with the absence of Morris the first half of the year.

"We're a point guard short right now of having a complete team," Adams said. "Darius will have to play 30 minutes a game the first half of the year with Everick unavailable, and I feel like those two are some of the best in the league at handling the ball and running our team. It will be a luxury to have both after the break."

Northwest combines that with a bunch of inexperienced but talented freshmen in shooting guards Tevin Moore, Kenyatta Jones and Bernard Jones. Moore, a McDonald's All-American at Olive Branch High School, redshirted last season for Northwest and will get the start at the No. 2. Both Jones's averaged 20 points a game or more as high school seniors last season.

"Those guys are all talented freshmen, but need a bunch of grooming," Adams said. "It's going to take awhile for them to get their feet wet and get the experience they need to play in this league."

NORTHWEST FRONTCOURT
Returning Starters: 1

Northwest's lone returning starting forward is MACJC First Team All-State performer A.J. Cunningham, who averaged a team-best 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds-per-game and also posted five double-doubles a season ago. Coupled with a pair of newcomers in freshmen Jordan Hulsey and DeMarcus McVay, who both stand at 6-foot-8 and 220-pounds and will be in the starting rotation, the Ranger frontcourt is stacked with length and athleticism.

"We're hoping to get double-doubles from two of those three guys every game," Adams said. "All three of those guys can score. Hulsey is more of a post player, McVay is an inside-out player and Cunningham is an outside-in player. We can post up all three and rotate in and out."

Returning to the frontcourt from last year's team are sophomores Antonio Jones, Kendrick Moore, Caleb Van Tassell and Willie Williams. All four saw time on the court last year, with Jones playing in 21 games, Moore playing in 10 and Van Tassell and Williams combining for 12. Jones saw the most significant time at just under eight minutes-per-game, while Moore averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds-per-game before being ruled ineligible at the turn of the year. The Rangers' bench play will rely highly on the play of the aforementioned four players, giving Northwest a chance to rotate 10-11 players a contest.

Also joining the frontcourt are newcomers La'Barron Collins (6-4, 190), dual-sport threat Domonique Harris (6-5, 235) and Jimmy Henderson (6-10, 235). All three will play a role this season for the red and blue and will see time off the bench.

The 2011-12 season will tipoff on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. against Southwest Mississippi.