I'm not sure there was a better story in the college basketball season than Georgia's magical run in the SEC tournament that basically saved Dennis Felton's job.

Felton's team reeled off four straight games - including a pair in one day - and earned an improbable spot in the NCAA tournament last season.

Gone are leading scorer Sundiata Gaines, fellow senior Dave Bliss and even Billy Humphrey.

But Felton is excited about the future with the addition of a strong freshman class led by the most highly touted recruit in the Felton Era - Howard "Trey" Thompkins.

"I think it'll be a team that everyone has a hard time getting a handle on going into the season," Felton said. "But I love our team with all these talented, young guys. I love their character and their chemistry."

It didn't hurt that the holdovers - seniors Terrance Woodberry and Corey Butler - as well as junior Albert Jackson and sophomores Jeremy Price, Zac Swansey, Chris Barnes and Troy Brewer - were all apart of the special run last March down in Atlanta.

"It was big for all those guys to go through that," Felton said. "But it started to happen before that week. A couple of guys had to go and the rest of the guys had the ability to pull together through the struggles in the middle of the season and that was the only reason they were able to win the SEC championship."

Swansey and freshman Dustin Ware will share the point guard duties. Swansey has a year of experience, but Ware is quicker and strong enough to make the transition quickly. Felton said he may wind up playing the pair together for stretches.

Thompkins will give the Bulldogs a versatile forward they lacked a year ago - someone who can open the court because of his ability to draw an opposing big man all the way out to the three-point line. Thompkins is currently recovering from a stress fracture in his foot that has set him back, but Felton is optimistic he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Woodberry is the team's leading returning scorer after averaging 11 points per game last season. Felton has plenty of other options on the wing - Butler, Brewer and freshmen Travis Leslie (Felton called him a "freak athlete"), 6-foot-8 Serbian Drazen Zlovaric and local kid Ebuka Anyaorah.

"We've added a lot of size to our perimeter," Felton said. "We'll be a lot bigger and more athletic than we've ever been."

Price, Barnes, Jackson and Thompkins will be the foursome that comprises the power forward and center spots. Price and Barnes have each dropped about 20 pounds. Felton said that Price is in the best shape of his life while Barnes has worked on his off-hand after wrist surgery in May.

HOWARD COULD HOST PRESIDENT FOR SEASON-OPENER

Howard coach Gil Jackson is secretly hoping to have a well-known guest at his season-opener on Nov. 14.

"We play Oregon State at home and I don't know what's going to happen and whether Barack Obama will be the sitting President, but if he is, I'm pretty sure he'll be at the game - or his wife will be there."

Obama's brother-in-law is Oregon State new coach Craig Robinson, who should see a different Howard club than the one that won just six games last season.

A year ago, Howard coach Gil Jackson was forced to play shooting guard Curtis White out of position at the point.

"He's really a two and it took away his ability to score," Jackson said. "I thank him for doing it, but he's really not a natural point guard. He's a scorer."

Jackson has brought in a pair of freshman point guards to help solve the high-turnover issue last season. Milwaukee native Chris McHenry, a 5-foot-11 lefty who brings toughness to the table, and 6-foot-2 Louisiana native Calvin Thompson, who possesses a good feel for the game and the ability to finish around the basket, should share the duties.

"I'm thinking we're going with two guys to make one," Jackson said.

Jackson has guarded optimism after returning from a Labor Day trip to the Bahamas in which the Bison went 1-1.

White will move to the shooting guard spot and focus on scoring. Last season's leading scorer, senior Eugene Myatt (14.1), should start on the wing but will need to become more consistent this season. If not, Drexel transfer Rob Hampton, the team's most athletic player, could certainly cut into his playing time.

Howard will go with 6-foot-8 junior Kandi Mukole and 6-foot-8 sophomore Adam Walker at power forward and sophomore big man Paul Kirkpatrick and Nate Cooper in the middle.

Jackson said the 6-foot-6 sophomore Anthony Thomas turned in the most surprising performance on the trip. ``He had the best showing," Jackson said. "He rebounded well, finished well and wasn't turning it over."

Jackson, in his third season at the helm, is looking to improve on last season's 6-26 campaign.

"We have some people and just need to get some chemistry so we can move into the upper-half of the league," he said.

RANDOM NOTES: Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger donated $500,000 to his alma mater, New Mexico, to help in the $60 million renovation of The Pit. The new locker room will be named after Granger. .. Indiana State starting point guard Harry Marshall, who averaged 10.1 points per game, is ineligible for the first semester. ... Santa Clara hosts the longest-running campus tournament, the Cable Car Classic, which is in its 43rd year. The field this year includes Belmont, James Madison and UTEP. ... Nevada coach Mark Fox picked up a commitment from Vancouver Columbia River (Wash.) 6-foot-10 big man Steven Bjornstad. ... Findlay Prep's Clarence Trent will choose from Cal and Washington, according to Findlay coach Todd Simon.