UNC Wilmington Seahawks (13-18, 7-11)
Projected starting five:
So. G Tanner Milson
Sr. G Trevor Deloach
So. F Donte Morales
Jr. F Keith Rendelman
Jr. C Matt Wilson
Important departures:
G Chad Tomko (17.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.3 apg), G Ahmad Grant (7.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg) and G Darryl Felder (2.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) graduated.
Returning:
55.5 percent of scoring and 70 percent of rebounding
Additions:
The Seahawks have eight freshmen, all of whom should get opportunities to play right away.
Fr. F Nate Anderson
Fr. F Dylan Sherwood
Fr. F Cedric Williams
Fr. F Luke Hager
Fr. G Freddie Jackson
Fr. G Craig Ponder
Fr. G K.K. Simmons
Fr. G Adam Smith.
Schedule highlights:
The Seahawks will spend a lot of time away from home in nonconference play, with trips to Maryland and Dayton highlighting the road slate. One home game is a very good one, as Conference USA sleeper Marshall comes to town in November. In CAA play, they play three of four on the road in the annual stretch with four games between Saturday and the following Saturday. After that, however, they play three of four at home.
Projected finish and outlook:
Seahawk fans will need to get a program with eight freshmen on the roster this season. There’s some talent, but the lack of experience and the usual inconsistency of freshmen means there will be more ups and downs than usual. Fortunately, they went overseas in the summer, which allowed the staff to get an early look at the freshmen.
The holdovers are not to be forgotten, starting with Rendleman, who has been very business-like and gives them an active forward who competes at both ends. Trevor Deloach and Tanner Milson have talent in the backcourt, and Donte Morales, who has been more vocal this year, looks poised to make a jump up front alongside Rendleman. Matt Wilson had his moments last year and will get opportunities as well, so there are some existing pieces to help the freshmen along.
A nice addition for this team will be size, as three of the newcomers are 6’9″ or 6’10”, and that will help Rendleman be even more effective. Peterson has preached patience from the outset, and that will be necessary this year. But with the pleasant surprise of last season’s performance and a reasonably good group of holdovers, this team might be a little better than some might expect.
