Atlantic 10 Conference 2005-06 Preview
The 2004-05 season was decidedly different for the Atlantic 10 from the previous season. After the success of 2003-04 season, where four teams made the NCAA Tournament and two reached the Elite Eight, the conference went down several notches and saw just one team in the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, only two teams made the NIT, although St. Joseph’s was the runner-up.
In light of that, the conference enters the 2005-06 ready to prove that two seasons ago was no fluke. Instead, it would appear that last season was one of growing pains, as the conference was young last season. 37 freshmen and sophomores averaged at least 15 minutes per game, while 16 seniors averaged the same. That bodes well for the conference starting this season, as there is more experience in the conference than last season. Not surprisingly, most teams in the conference project to be better this season.
The Atlantic 10 also welcomes two new members, as Charlotte and St. Louis left Conference USA after last season. Charlotte is expected to be a contender right away, as the 49ers return a strong team from last year’s NCAA Tournament entrant. With 14 teams, the conference has opted to scrap the division format it employed when it had 12 teams.
Much like teams transferring in, the conference will see a number of transfers from other teams become eligible this season and potentially become impact players on their teams. They range from Oklahoma transfer De’Angelo Alexander (Charlotte), former LSU forward Regis Koundjia and Pittsburgh transfer Donte Milligan (Massachusetts) to Ryan Lambert (Western Kentucky to Duquesne), Tyler Relph (West Virginia to St. Bonaventure) and Adam Simons (North Carolina State to Xavier).
Some things to watch for this season:
- John Chaney’s return to Temple will continue to be a source of controversy, especially when the Owls are on the road.
- Charlotte should be the team to beat right away, led by All-America candidate Curtis Withers, steady point guard Mitchell Baldwin and Oklahoma transfer De’Angelo Alexander.
- Fordham‘s rise from last season should continue, as young players like Bryant Dunston, Marcus Stout and Kevin Anderson are a year older and Chris Bethel could be the top freshman in the conference.
- St. Joseph’s will be a late-blooming team, as the Hawks will be very inexperienced and thus have growing pains early in the season. If the freshmen and less-experienced veterans come together, the Hawks will be tough to beat later in the season.
- Travis Ford begins a new era at Massachusetts, promising to bring a lot of enthusiasm to the campus. His team has questions at the point, but overall there’s talent and experience to make the postseason.
- Dayton could be a sleeper, as the Flyers have a senior leader in the backcourt, three sophomore starters primed to break out, and a freshman in Charles Little who should immediately help them out.
- If Dawan Robinson isn’t able to return from his suspension, or if injuries come up again, it could be another difficult season for Rhode Island. The Rams could also be a much-improved team and wind up in the upper division.
Preseason Awards
Player of the Year: Curtis Withers, Charlotte
Rookie of the Year: Chris Bethel, Fordham
Defensive Player of the Year: Mardy Collins, Temple
Primed to Break Out: Norman Plummer, Dayton
All-Atlantic 10 Team
Mardy Collins, Sr. G, Temple
Rashaun Freeman, Jr. F, Massachusetts
Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Sr. F, George Washington
Steven Smith, Sr. F, La Salle
Curtis Withers, Sr. F, Charlotte
Charlotte (21-8, 12-4 Conference USA)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Mitchell Baldwin (7.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 3.8 apg)
Jr. G De’Angelo Alexander (transfer from Oklahoma)
So. G Leemire Goldwire (6.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Sr. F Curtis Withers (18.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.8 apg)
Sr. F E.J. Drayton (8.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The 49ers will be in the BCA Invitational to start the season, then have mostly home games the remainder of non-conference play. The big games look to be Mississippi State and Indiana, both at home, while they get a road test with Rutgers in December. In the Atlantic 10, they get Temple and Xavier just once each, both at home.
Outlook: One of the emerging teams in the country, Charlotte has become a consistent winner under Bobby Lutz and should continue that in their first season in the Atlantic 10. They lose three starters, but one will prove to be addition by subtraction (disappointing center Martin Iti) and the two returning starters are Withers, All-America candidate, and Baldwin, a steady point guard who posted a 2.4 assist/turnover ratio last season. Oklahoma transfer De’Angelo Alexander should pick up a lot of the slack on the wing, while junior college transfer Courtney Williams will aid in the frontcourt.
The 49ers don’t boast tremendous depth, but have the right veteran cast and the good newcomers to be the team to beat. Their success in Conference USA in recent seasons will certainly help them here, and the inside-outside combination of Withers and Alexander will be very difficult for opponents to handle.
After uncharacteristically losing two of their first four home games last season, they never lost in Charlotte again. If this season’s team can repeat that success, they should be in good shape.
George Washington (22-8, 11-5 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G Carl Elliott (8.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.6 spg)
Jr. G-F Danilo Pinnock (13.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.5 spg)
Sr. F Pops Mensah-Bonsu (12.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
Sr. F Mike Hall (10.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Sr. F Omar Williams (9.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference slate is loaded with home games and doesn’t have too many marquee matchups. The only road games are at Morgan State and North Carolina State, while they also take on Maryland off-campus in the nation’s capital. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Temple, Xavier and Fordham all on the road only.
Outlook: With Mensah-Bonsu and Hall pulling out of the NBA Draft, the Colonials return four starters and as such figure to again be one of the teams to beat. They remain a balanced team and one that will push the tempo, especially once LSU transfer Regis Koundjia becomes eligible in December. Elliott capably runs the show and will be fine with the talent around him, as he can continue his pass-first work with all the scorers this team has.
Now they have more experience, including in the NCAA Tournament, which will make them that much more dangerous. The starting frontcourt is composed of seniors and Elliott and Pinnock have started or played key minutes since their freshman year. The Colonials have better depth, but will still need to take care of the ball and play solid defense since it’s a given that they’ll be able to score.
Xavier (17-12, 10-6 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Stanley Burrell (12.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.1 apg)
Jr. G-F Justin Cage (11.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.2 apg)
Sr. G Dedrick Finn (8.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.2 apg)
Sr. F Brian Thornton (10.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Jr. F Justin Doellman (10.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.0 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: Purdue, Cincinnati and Illinois highlight the non-conference schedule, with the Boilermakers and Bearcats at home and the Illini in Chicago. Road games at Miami (Ohio) and Creighton won’t be cakewalks. The conference schedule doesn’t really have a break either way: Charlotte and Temple on the road only, George Washington and Fordham only at home.
Outlook: With five starters returning and only one senior gone, the Musketeers figure to have the personnel and experience to contend again. Finn and Burrell could be a dynamic backcourt, while Doellman and Thornton quietly do good work inside and Cage is one of the conference’s best defenders and will continue to contribute in several ways.
Finn is really they key, as earlier in his career he looked like he had the potential for stardom, but hasn’t reached it and partly because of off-court issues. He got suspended early last year, and got suspended again for an off-court incident in late October. It’s another distraction and a break in the continuity of the team. If he plays to his potential, Burrell can blossom even more and the frontcourt players become more effective as well. There is no proven backup behind Finn, adding to his importance.
Temple (16-14, 11-5 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Mardy Collins (17.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.8 spg)
So. G Mark Tyndale (12.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Jr. G Dustin Salisberry (10.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Sr. F Antywane Robinson (8.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Jr. C Wayne Marshall (6.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Owls are known for tough non-conference schedules, and this year is no different. They are in the Preseason NIT, then the highlights are Miami, at Penn, Alabama, at Auburn, South Carolina, Villanova (Big 5), Maryland and Duke. In Atlantic 10 play, they get Charlotte on the road and George Washington at home.
Outlook: Chaney’s return will surely evoke controversy, especially when the Owls are on the road, but he’ll also be coaching a very good veteran team. Collins will again be a candidate for Player of the Year, and the perimeter will be solid with Tyndale and Salisberry joining him. Tyndale was an immediate contributor and will be one of the conference’s best players sooner rather than later.
Though he never became a major enforcer, Butler’s departure hurts the frontcourt, meaning that players like Robinson, Marshall and Dion Dacons must all improve. Complicating that is Marshall being out indefinitely with an unknown injury. There isn’t much depth in the frontcourt, and while Dacons has the potential to be a nice player, he hasn’t played many minutes in his career thus far.
Regardless of personnel, the matchup zone will continue to befuddle opponents and be good enough for a few wins all by itself. The Owls are never an easy victory, and there’s no reason to think this season will be any different in that regard.
Dayton (18-11, 10-6 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Brian Roberts (9.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.4 apg)
Sr. G Warren Williams (6.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Sr. F Monty Scott (11.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
So. F Norman Plummer (9.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
So. F Chris Alvarez (3.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Non-conference play contains a few tests and a scheduling oddity, as they play Cincinnati twice. They take on the Bearcats in Cincinnati, then face them again in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic, which is the highlight of the non-conference schedule. They play good mid-majors in Miami (Ohio) and Creighton, and host DePaul and Vanderbilt. The conference schedule has no real surprises; they get Temple at home only and George Washington in the nation’s capital, and play Charlotte and Xavier twice.
Outlook: The Flyers return four starters and will be a more experienced team than last season, when they won 18 games. Williams gives them a senior floor leader, while Scott will be the go-to guy and Plummer and Roberts will be ready to really blossom. Sophomores Alvarez and Jimmy Binnie should only get better with another year of experience and more playing time as well. Freshman Charles Little was a nice pickup as well and should be a key reserve sooner rather than later.
While the Flyers have good talent, starting three sophomores means they won’t have the most experienced team. But they boast a wealth of young talent that will have its big nights along the way. Additionally, they have a lot of interchangeable parts and can go with a few different types of lineups. If they continue to take care of the ball and play the same good defense they did last season, look for them to possibly be in the NCAA Tournament hunt.
St. Joseph’s (24-12, 14-2 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Dwayne Lee (9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.1 spg)
So. G Abdullai Jalloh (4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.5 apg)
Sr. G Chet Stachitas (10.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.0 apg)
So. F Rob Ferguson (3.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg)
Sr. F-C Dave Mallon (3.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference slate will be a challenge. Besides their Big 5 games, they play Kansas and Ohio State, head out west to take on St. Mary’s and Gonzaga, and play at Bucknell, which will not be an easy win. About the only real break they got in the Atlantic 10 was getting Charlotte at home only.
Outlook: Had Dwayne Jones returned, the Hawks would have looked like a contender in the Atlantic 10. But with his departure and that of two other starters, the Hawks will be a very inexperienced bunch as just two starters are back and most of the other main holdovers having played relatively limited minutes last season. Lee is a good place to start after the nice improvement he made last year at both ends of the floor, and Stachitas is a steady senior with good winning experience. Dave Mallon is a senior, but has been hampered by injuries for much of his career. Players like Jalloh, Ferguson and sophomore Pat Calathes really need to grow up in a hurry; all have shown flashes of potential, but the Hawks need more than that from them.
Freshmen like Jordan Fowler and post players Ahmad Nivins and Alvin Mofunanya will need to contribute right away. It would be a surprise if either Nivins or Mofunanya is starting by the end of the season. Not helping matters is that freshman guard Edwin Lashley, who figured to be an immediate contributor on the perimeter, could miss significant time after coming down with mononucleosis in October.
Head coach Phil Martelli did an excellent job with last season’s team, and he has a similar challenge in front of him personnel-wise. The Hawks probably won’t be an up-tempo team, but they won with a slow-it-down style last season and can do it again with the personnel they have this season.
Fordham (13-16, 8-8 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Marcus Stout (13.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.2 spg)
So. G Kevin Anderson (4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.6 spg)
Sr. G Jermaine Anderson (12.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Fr. F Chris Bethel
So. F Bryant Dunston (14.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.3 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The Rams open up at the Paradise Jam, then stay on the road for most of non-conference play. Highlighting the schedule are road dates with Holy Cross, Virginia, Manhattan and Notre Dame. In conference play, they got a bit of a break by having to play Charlotte and George Washington in the Bronx only, though they’ll only play Temple and Xavier on the road.
Outlook: The future is very bright for the Rams, and they rewarded head coach Dereck Whittenburg during the off-season with a contract extension. This season, they have a squad that is still young, but now with more experience than last season. Stout and Jermaine Anderson will be key complements on the wing, and Kevin Anderson got better running the show as the season went along. The frontcourt will be in better shape as well, as Dunston is already one of the conference’s top forwards and Bethel might be the top newcomer. A healthy Michael Binns (he missed a good portion of the non-conference schedule last year) will also help, as he’s a tough, physical post player who can complement Dunston.
They might have some growing pains since most of their key players will still be sophomores, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they can put forth a winning overall record and post their first-ever winning Atlantic 10 mark. The Rams had some momentum from the end of last season and their young players should only get better. One danger is that they certainly won’t sneak up on anyone this season.
Massachusetts (16-12, 9-7 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Jr. G-F Maurice Maxwell (11.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 spg)
Jr. G Art Bowers (8.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 apg)
Sr. G-F Jeff Viggiano (4.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg)
Jr. F Rashaun Freeman (15.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Jr. F Stephane Lasme (6.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 2.6 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule is highlighted by annual games against rivals Connecticut and Boston College, both of which are on the road. They also play UAB close to home in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic, will be in the Panasonic Holiday Tournament in New York, and have good mid-majors in Boston University and Davidson. In conference play, they get a couple of breaks: they get Charlotte, Xavier and Dayton at home only, while play George Washington only on the road.
Outlook: New head coach Travis Ford has promised to bring life back to the program and get the fans into the Mullins Center, which has often been quite empty in recent years. He’ll inherit a team that is in good shape personnel-wise save for questions at the point guard spot. Freeman is a good start and Maxwell has a nice future ahead, and it will help if Bowers can stay healthy since he has shown plenty of potential when healthy. Dante Milligan, who transferred from Pittsburgh, is eligible and should bolster the frontcourt; it wouldn’t be a surprise if he winds up starting before long.
Maxwell could take over the point after leading the team in assists last season, a move which would be easier if Bowers can stay healthy and shoot the ball as well as he is capable of. Viggiano is a steady, versatile role player who will help lead the team. Lasme has shown he can block shots and is an emerging rebounder, but he still needs to improve his post scoring ability so that he won’t be a liability on offense.
Rhode Island (6-22, 4-12 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G Jon Lucky (5.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.3 apg)
Sr. G Dawan Robinson (redshirt)
Sr. F Jamaal Wise (redshirt)
Sr. F Terrance Mack (7.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg)
So. F Will Daniels (6.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: Rhode Island won’t leave home much before Atlantic 10 play, as only three road games (Utah, Boston University and Houston) are on their schedule. Highlighting that portion’s home games are Providence and Boston College, while Ohio and Manhattan will be tough mid-major matchups. Conference highlights are Charlotte and George Washington on the road only, Xavier, Temple and St. Joseph’s at home only.
Outlook: It looked like the Rams could go back to being contenders this season; they return Robinson and Wise as well as every starter except Scott Hazleton, and they bring in a good recruiting class. But there are some questions, making this team look more like an X-factor. In September, Robinson was suspended at least through much of November. He is practicing with the team and reportedly on track to return shortly after the season starts.
If Robinson comes back and is in the form of 2003-04 and the team stays healthy, the Rams should be able to contend for postseason play, as they’ll have a veteran team and potentially one of the best backcourts in the conference in Lucky and Robinson – if they can stay healthy. Lucky has missed time in the preseason with injuries just like last year. Freshman Jimmy Baron can really shoot the ball, and look for his dad to get him into situations where that strength can shine through. If he plays along with Robinson, who can get to the basket, they could make for a lethal combination.
The Rams got to develop some depth last year with the many injuries suffered, but the frontcourt is still full of question marks on the low post. Terrance Mack is perhaps the one certainty, though Will Daniels added strength in the off-season and appears primed to break out. Junior college transfer Darrell Harris also looks like he can have an impact, as he’s athletic and gives them a little more size inside. It wouldn’t hurt if junior J.R. Moore and senior Jon Clark could become factors as well.
Richmond (14-15, 8-8 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
So. G-F Monty Sanders (1.2 rpg)
So. G-F Oumar Sylla (transfer from Valparaiso)
Sr. F Jermaine Bucknor (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.9 apg)
Jr. F Gaston Moliva (4.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
Sr. C Kevin Steenberge (12.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.3 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: The schedule won’t be easy for this team, though it starts with four straight home games against Hampton, Virginia, McNeese State and Seton Hall. They’re also in the Colonial Classic and have home dates with good mid-majors in Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion and Wake Forest. In conference play, they get Charlotte and George Washington twice.
Outlook: The Spiders look like a middle of the pack team at best. They already have a coaching change to adapt to, and the departure of the top two point guards and a key shooting guard from last season’s team really stings.
Things are promising in the frontcourt with Steenberge and Bucknor being talented veterans. Both should do well under new head coach Chris Mooney, but they might not be as good as they could be since there may well be problems getting them the ball. There is no experienced holdover in the backcourt, so adapting to Mooney’s style becomes that much more important.
2005-06 looks like a rebuilding year for the Spiders as Mooney and his staff recruit players for their system and try to recoup some of the personnel losses in the backcourt.
St. Louis (9-21, 6-10 Conference USA)
Projected Starters:
Fr. G Tommie Liddell
So. G Dwayne Polk (5.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.6 apg)
Sr. F Vas’Shun Newborne (3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg)
Jr. F Justin Johnson (2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Jr. C Ian Vouyoukas (6.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule is a good mix of home and away games, as well as competition. Highlights are road dates with Hawaii, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, North Carolina and Mississippi, and home games against Southern Illinois, Gonzaga and Iowa. They get Charlotte and George Washington only on the road, and Temple only at home in conference play.
Outlook: The Billikens enter after a tough final season in Conference USA, as they struggled to a 9-21 record. They were certainly competitive, as 12 games were decided in the final minute of play, but they lost 11 of those games. Their solid defense, which was tops in Conference USA, should give them a chance to compete in the Atlantic 10 right away, and their young players who had growing pains last year will be a year older. Two starters are gone, but full-time starter Dwayne Polk returns and spot starters Anthony Drejaj, Vas’Shun Newborne and Ian Vouyoukas all return.
Freshmen Tommie Liddell and Kevin Lisch figure to give some more life to the backcourt. Liddell can play both guard spots and should start right away, while Lisch brings a reputation as a good shooter. They should improve the backcourt noticeably and give fans hope for the future on a team with just two seniors.
La Salle (10-19, 5-11 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Jermaine Thomas (14.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg)
So. G Tabby Cunningham (6.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 1.6 spg)
So. G Darnell Harris (11.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Sr. F Steven Smith (20.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.6 spg)
Jr. F Mike St. John (6.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 apg)
Schedule Highlights: Aside from Philadelphia Big 5 games, which include Villanova and Penn, the non-conference schedule is light. The toughest games appear to be Drexel and Hofstra, both at home.
Outlook: Head coach John Giannini freely admits his team has a ways to go to become contenders, but with five starters back the Explorers should at least push towards .500. Smith’s decision to return gives them one of the league’s best players and another senior leader alongside Thomas. Cunningham and Harris can be very good players, but they’ll likely have to log major minutes again with an overall lack of depth.
The frontcourt will again have problems, as this team simply doesn’t have a great deal of size and the newcomers won’t change that. Freshman Paul Johnson will help, but he’s a combo forward and is 6’6″, hence not adding much size although he should develop into a nice player.
There will be growing pains, but look for the Explorers to take some steps forward in 2005-06. Giannini, whose contract was extended through 2010 in October, went light on the non-conference schedule so that the team can hopefully win games early and build confidence. If it works as planned, the Explorers may surprise some people in Atlantic 10 play.
Duquesne (8-22, 5-11 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Bryant McAllister (16.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.8 spg)
Sr. G Jack Higgins (9.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.7 apg)
So. G-F DeVario Hudson (8.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Sr. F Keith Gayden (5.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Jr. F-C Kieron Achara (11.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 1.5 bpg)
Schedule Highlights: We’ll find out soon enough if this season has the potential to be any different for the Dukes. In non-conference play, they travel to Akron and West Virginia and host Pittsburgh and Boston College.
Outlook: The Dukes lost just one starter, and there is reason for some hope from a personnel standpoint. Achara seems poised to become one of the conference’s better post players, while McAllister gives them a scorer and Hudson and Duke both have the potential to be good players. But the lone starter gone was their point guard, and much of the conference should get better in addition to the two new teams. If a solution emerges at the point, the Dukes just might make some good steps forward to go with the league. Failing that, it might be another long season in Pittsburgh and Danny Nee’s seat should get hotter.
St. Bonaventure (2-26, 1-15 Atlantic 10)
Projected Starters:
Sr. G Ahmad Smith (14.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Sr. G Wade Dunston (11.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.2 apg)
So. G Tyler Relph (transfer from West Virginia)
Sr. F Patrick Lottin (10.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg. 2.3 apg)
Jr. F Paul Williams (transfer from Siena)
Schedule Highlights: The non-conference schedule is light, with the hope of getting wins to boost confidence. West Virginia comes to Rochester, while the Bonnies only play three road games plus a tournament at Florida International before Atlantic 10 play. They lucked out in conference play in getting Duquesne and Richmond twice, with Fordham being the other team they play twice.
Outlook: It’s easy to say the Bonnies should be better, as a team can’t do much worse than just two wins, but that’s not the only reason to think so. They should be a tougher out and win a few more games with three good seniors in Smith, Dunston and Lottin, but contention looks to be a little ways off at the moment. Though they lose just one starter, and one who didn’t put up great numbers, this will be much the same team that won just two games albeit a year older.
Relph should help, but he’s another perimeter player and the frontcourt is where the most room for improvement is. The Bonnies will go small, for the most part, though Paul Williams adds some size to the frontcourt and should start immediately.
