FORT WAYNE –
Austin Toros
Location: Austin, Texas
NBA affiliate: San Antonio
Coach: Taylor Jenkins
2011-12 record: 33-17
At Mad Ants: March 22
The skinny: Former Illinois standout Luther Head is with the Toros again. Justin Dentmon, who averaged 22.8 points last season, is the leading scorer returning.
Bakersfield Jam
Location: Bakersfield, Calif.
NBA affiliates: Atlanta, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix, Toronto
Coach: Will Voigt
2011-12 record: 28-22
At Mad Ants: March 10
The skinny: Former Wisconsin center Brian Butch, 6-11, is back. Butch played 17 games with the Jam last season and averaged 15.3 points and 9.8 rebounds.
Canton Charge
Location: Canton, Ohio
NBA affiliate: Cleveland
Coach: Alex Jensen
2011-12 record: 27-23
At Mad Ants: Nov. 28, Dec. 18, Feb. 4, March 5
The skinny: Former Mad Ants guard Thomas Baudenet went to the Charge in a trade. Canton also has a pair of former West Virginia players in 6-foot-8 Kevin Jones and 6-6 Alex Ruoff.
Erie BayHawks
Location: Erie, Pa.
NBA affiliate: New York
Coach: Gene Cross
2011-12 record: 28-22
At Mad Ants: Nov. 23, Feb. 26
The skinny: Returning at forward is former Mad Ant Marvin Phillips. The BayHawks had Joey Graham on its preseason roster. Graham played nine games last season in Erie and averaged 20.8 points.
Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Location: Fort Wayne
NBA affiliates: Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee
Coach: Duane Ticknor
2011-12 record: 14-36
The skinny: Ticknor is team’s fifth coach. Ants return veteran guards Ron Howard and Walker Russell Jr. and have No. 1 overall draft pick in 6-10 forward JaJuan Johnson, the former Purdue All-American and 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year.
Idaho Stampede
Location: Boise, Idaho
NBA affiliate: Portland
Coach: Michael Peck
2011-12 record: 21-29
At Mad Ants: March 2
The skinny: Former Michigan State guard Durrell Summers scored 32 points in the Stampede’s preseason game. Also returning is 6-7 Jason Ellis, who averaged 13.8 rebounds last year.
Iowa Energy
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
NBA affiliates: Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, Washington
Coach: Kevin Young
2011-12 record: 25-25
At Mad Ants: Nov. 30
The skinny: A familiar name could be Dominique Morrison, a 6-6 forward who played at Oral Roberts, a Summit League opponent of IPFW. The Energy’s first draft pick was 6-5 guard Justin Hurtt, from Tulsa.
Los Angeles D-Fenders
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
NBA affiliate: Los Angeles Lakers
Coach: Reggie Theus
2011-12 record: 38-12
At Mad Ants: None
The skinny: Theus is a former head coach at Sacramento and assistant with Minnesota. The D-Fenders have former Ants center Jarrid Famous.
Maine Red Claws
Location: Portland, Maine
NBA affiliate: Boston
Coach: Mike Taylor
2011-12 record: 21-29
At Mad Ants: Nov. 25, Dec. 14, Jan. 31, March 21
The skinny: The Celtics assigned 7-0 Fab Melo and 6-7 Kris Joseph to the Red Claws. Maine also drafted former Butler guard Shelvin Mack and former Indiana guard Jeremiah Rivers. Former Ant Corey Allmond is also on the roster.
Reno Bighorns
Location: Reno, Nev.
NBA affiliate: Memphis, Sacramento, Utah
Coach: Paul Mokeski
2011-12 record: 21-29
At Mad Ants: March 29
The skinny: Already one of the bigger teams in the league, the Bighorns got 7-foot David Harrison. Harrison played 189 games with the Indiana Pacers from 2004-08. Reno has three others listed at 6-9 or taller.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Location: McAllen, Texas
NBA affiliate: Houston
Coach: Nick Nurse
2011-12 record: 24-26
At Mad Ants: Feb. 8, March 24
The skinny: Nurse, the former Iowa coach, returns 6-7 forward Marshall Brown, who averaged 10.2 points last season, and 6-5 guard Jermaine Taylor, who averaged 14.2 last year.
Santa Cruz Warriors
Location: Santa Cruz, Calif.
NBA affiliate: Golden State
Coach: Nate Bjorkgren
2011-12 record: 29-21
At Mad Ants: Jan. 3, Jan. 5
The skinny: It was the only franchise switch of the offseason, as Dakota went from Bismarck, N.D., to Santa Cruz, Calif. The Warriors obtained former Ants guard Cam Jones in a trade. Jones averaged 14 points last season with Fort Wayne.
Sioux Falls Skyforce
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D.
NBA affiliates: Miami, Minnesota, Orlando, Philadelphia
Coach: Joel Abelson
2011-12 record: 15-35
At Mad Ants: Feb. 6
The skinny: The Skyforce could have the tallest player in the D-League this season in 7-5 Will Foster of Gonzaga. Notre Dame’s Luke Zeller was on the preseason roster, as was former Mad Ant Obi Muonelo. Leo Lyons (14.9 points per game) and Lance Thomas (12.6) are veterans back from last season.
Springfield Armor
Location: Springfield, Mass.
NBA affiliate: Brooklyn
Coach: Bob MacKinnon
2011-12 record: 22-28
At Mad Ants: Dec. 15, March 1
The skinny: Springfield acquired 6-3 guard Ben Uzoh from Rio Grande Valley. The Armor have former Notre Dame forward Carlton Scott and former Butler guard Shawn Vanzant.
Texas Legends
Location: Frisco, Texas
NBA affiliate: Dallas
Coach: Eduardo Najera
2011-12 record: 24-26
At Mad Ants: Dec. 28, March 31
The skinny: Former NBA player Najera takes over as the Legends’ coach. Also on the bench will be former NBA great Sam Perkins, who will serve as assistant. Christian Eyenga, a 6-7 forward who played with Cleveland, leads the list of players.
Tulsa 66ers
Location: Tulsa, Okla.
NBA affiliate: Oklahoma City
Coach: Darko Rajaskovic
2011-12 record: 23-27
At Mad Ants: DNA
The skinny: Former Indiana Tech forward Rodney Bartholomew, a fifth-round draft choice, was still on the 66ers’ roster. Sent to Tulsa from Oklahoma City were former Syracuse guard Andy Rautins and former Georgetown forward Hollis Thompson.
