Hofstra Pride (10-22 overall, 3-15 conference)
Projected starting five:
Sr. G Stevie Mejia
So. G Taran Buie
Jr. F Jamal Coombs-McDaniel
Sr. F David Imes
Jr. F Steven Nwaukoni
Important departures:
The Pride lose three starters, but two are big losses: conference scoring leader Mike Moore (19.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.7 spg) and the team’s second-leading scorer, Nat Lester (14.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg). Also gone is Dwan McMillan (5.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 4.8 apg), who started 25 games at point guard last season.
Returning:
29.7 percent of scoring and 52.4 percent of rebounding
Additions:
So. G Taran Buie (transfer from Penn State)
Jr. F Jamal Coombs-McDaniel (transfer from Connecticut)
So. G Shaquille Stokes (transfer from Hawaii)
Fr. F Jordan Allen (redshirt)
Fr. G Dallas Anglin
Fr. F Jimmy Hall
Fr. F Darren Payen
Fr. F Kentrell Washington
Schedule Highlights:
The non-conference slate isn’t devoid of tough games, as they head to Purdue, host Marshall and have a road date with Northeast favorite LIU, but all in all it’s a pretty manageable schedule. After opening CAA play with Georgia State at home, three of the next four are on the road and all are tough ones: Delaware, Northeastern and George Mason. They close with three straight at home before a road date with Towson in the regular season finale.
Projected finish and outlook:
Hofstra is another team with a lot of newcomers to integrate, but the added challenge for the Pride is in the transfers that are among the newcomers. The talent level of the transfers will raise expectations a bit, but Mo Cassara already had to suspend Buie and Coombs-McDaniel, which isn’t an auspicious start. There are lots of questions, but if a motivated Mejia stays healthy during his last go-round and Buie and Coombs-McDaniel start playing up to their reputations entering college, the Pride will have a big boost. Imes and Nwaukoni are unspectacular players up front, with the latter likely to be pushed by freshmen Hall and Payen, both of whom could be good rebounders. Anglin is a fine addition who should play right away on the perimeter, and don’t be surprised if he gets a lot of minutes as he went to St. Anthony’s and thus knows what winning looks like and has been well-coached. Hofstra’s first place for improvement is defensively, as they were last in the conference in field goal percentage defense. If they force a lot of turnovers like they did last season, that will give them more chances, but they will also need to shoot better as they were next-to-last in field goal percentage.
