Delaware Blue Hens (18-14 overall, 12-6 conference)
Projected starting five:
Jr. G Devon Saddler
So. G Jarvis Threatt
So. G Kyle Anderson
Jr. F Carl Baptiste
Sr. C Jamelle Hagins
Important departures:
G Khalid Lewis (5.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.6 apg) (transferred) is the only starter lost, while Kelvin McNeil (2.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) (transferred) is also gone from last season’s team.
Returning:
87 percent of scoring and 83.5 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Jr. F Carl Baptiste (transfer from Saint Joseph’s)
Fr. F Maurice Jeffers
Fr. G-F Marvin King-Davis (redshirted)
Fr. G Sean Locke
Fr. G Terrell Rogers
Fr. G Troy Thomas
Schedule Highlights:
Monte Ross scheduled like a contending team’s coach would for non-conference play. They open in the NIT Season Tip-Off with Penn and possibly host Virginia in the first two games, and it wouldn’t be a shocker if they advanced to New York. More tough road games await at Temple, Duke and Villanova, while home games include visits from Lafayette and Penn. In CAA play, the most noteworthy stretch comes in February, when a stretch of four games in eight days includes three on the road and ends with these three in five days: at George Mason, Old Dominion, and at Northeastern.
Projected finish and outlook:
This is the season Monte Ross has been building towards since taking over. The Blue Hens have a lot going for them, from two of the best players in the conference in Saddler and Hagins to one who was perhaps the hottest freshman at the end of last season in Threatt to a deeper bench. Hagins has improved steadily every year and is more of a leader, and with Baptiste joining him up front he doesn’t have to carry as much of a load and the Blue Hens shouldn’t get out-rebounded again. Saddler is the team’s clear leader and players like Anderson gained valuable experience as freshmen last season. Ross has enjoyed working with this team thus far, and that was a big reason they had the success they had last season. They enter this season ready to contend and see a better postseason bid this time around.
