William & Mary Tribe (6-26 overall, 4-14 conference)
Projected starting five:
Jr. G Brandon Britt
Sr. G Matt Rum
So. G Marcus Thornton
Jr. F Kyle Gaillard
Jr. F Tim Rusthoven
Important departures:
Two starters have departed: G-F Quinn McDowell (12.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.6 apg) and G Kendrix Brown (4.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Returning:
72.3 percent of scoring and 70.8 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Fr. F Sean Sheldon
Fr. G-F Terry Tarpey
Schedule Highlights:
The Tribe will get some challenges in non-conference play as they have road games at Purdue, Vanderbilt, Richmond and Wake Forest. Home games are hard to come by, with just four on the slate, and aside from the aforementioned road games it’s not an overwhelming schedule. Early in CAA play, they play three straight on the road before coming home for three straight.
Projected finish and outlook:
Last year was one to forget for the Tribe as they were ravaged by injuries and never got untracked. McDowell was never 100 percent and Gaillard had to redshirt, and the inconsistency of Britt and Boatner didn’t help. It’s a new year, though, and there is good talent returning primarily on the perimeter. Britt and Thornton can create all day, while Rum can play off them well as the third guard. If Boatner finds his stroke again, which is not a given since he had knee surgery over the summer, the Tribe will have as deep a perimeter unit as any team in the conference, especially since Tarpey will be too good to keep on the bench. Gaillard’s return is a big boost up front, where Rusthoven very ably held down the fort as well as could be expected last season. With Gaillard back and sophomore Tom Schalk ready to make a jump after they hoped to redshirt him last year, the frontcourt in theory will be significantly better this time around. Gaillard gives them more options, including defensively, and if others up front like Schalk and Fred Heldring benefit from the experience they gained last season, it will be a blessing in disguise. Only Hofstra allowed opponents to shoot a better percentage from the field last season, and if the offense struggles at times again the defense will have no choice but to be better. William & Mary is usually a team with little margin for error, and this team doesn’t look any different in that regard.
