Field set for Cancun Governor's Cup

The field has been set for the Cancun Governor's Cup, which will be held in Cancun, Mexico from Dec. 22-24. The Billikens will be part of the eight-team field.

 The Billikens will be joined in Cancun by Mississippi, Southern Mississippi, East Tennessee State, Northeastern, Colorado State, Appalachain State and Texas State. The games will be held at the Poliforum Benito Juarez Arena in Cancun. The tournament is sponsored by ESPN Regional Television.

 Of the eight teams in the tournament, seven of them qualified for postseason play in 2010. The schedule for the tournament has not been determined as of yet.

 Here is a capsule look at the field.

 Saint Louis (23-13) finished in fourth place in the Atlantic 10 Conference and advanced to the championship series of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The Billikens return all five starters, including All A-10 guard Kwamain Mitchell. SLU also has a talented recruiting class in the fold.

 Ole Miss (24-11) won a share of the Southeastern Conference West Division and advanced to the Final Four of the National Invitational Tournament, before losing to eventual champion Dayton of the A-10. Guard Terrico White left school early for the NBA Draft, but the Rebels will return their leading scorer in 5'10" guard Chris Warren.

 East Tennessee State (20-15) won the Atlantic Sun postseason tournament and the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Buccaneers are led by head coach Murray Bartow. ETSU returns four starters, plus they regain the services of redshirt standout Mike Smith from Van-Far High in Vandalia, Mo. The 6'6" Smith averaged 15 points a game in 2009 in leading the Bucs to the NcAA Tournament. He missed the 2010 season with a stress fracture.

 Northeastern (20-13) finished in second place in the Colonial Athletic Assocation and earned a berth to the NIT, where they were defeated at UConn 59-57 in the first round. One of Northeastern's top recruits is 6'10" center Ryan Pierson from CBC. Despite the graduation of a excellent senior class, Northeastern returns All-CAA guard Chaisson Allen, who averaged 13.7 points a game.

 Southern Mississippi (20-14) earned a berth to the College Insiders.com Tournament. The Golden Eagles return all five starters, including All-Conference USA forward Gary Flowers. The head coach is Larry Eustachy, who led Iowa State to the Elite Eight on the NCAA Tournament in 2000.

 Appalachain State (24-13) won the North Division of the Southern Conference and advanced to the semifinals of the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament. The Mountaineers have a new coach in former North Carolina standout Jason Capel, who is the younger brother of Oklahoma University head coach Jeff Capel and son of former Old Dominion head coach Jeff Capel, Sr.

 Colorado State (16-16) of the Mountain West Conference advanced to the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The Rams will return their top three scorers in guard Dorian Green and forwards Andy Ogide and Travis Franklin.

 Texas State (16-16) is a member of the Southland Conference. Texas State will return its top player in 6'7" All-Southland Conference performer Cameron Johnson.