Delaware Blue Hens (10-20 overall, 9-9 conference)
Projected starting five:
So. G Kory Holden
Jr. G Cazmon Hayes
So. G-F Chivarsky Corbett
Jr. F Maurice Jeffers
Sr. F Marvin King-Davis
Important departures:
G Kyle Anderson, the team’s leading scorer, is the only key departure from last season’s team.
Returning:
83.2 percent of scoring and 91.2 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Fr. G Curtis Lochner
Schedule Highlights:
The Blue Hens will be on the road a lot, as just three home games are on their non-conference slate. Two of them should be good challenges, as Bradley and South Florida come to Newark, with Fairleigh Dickinson being the other. The road portion features Iona, Temple, Ivy League contender Columbia, Boston College, Villanova and defending MAC champion Buffalo. Conference play begins with an early indication of just how good this team can be, although it features four of five at home right after they open at Hofstra. James Madison comes to town, then they go to Northeastern, who they host only nine days after playing in Boston in bit of a scheduling oddity. They also have a three-game road stretch matched by a three-game homestand later on.
Projected finish and outlook:
Delaware will be one of the more interesting teams to watch this season. They return almost everyone, though the one starter who is gone was their leading scorer last season. However, it’s almost the same team otherwise, including almost nothing in the way of additions due to Monte Ross’ contract situation last year. Now that Ross is back on campus, though, the Blue Hens can try to pick up where they left off last season, growing up during CAA play after a rough start. Holden needs to take the next step now, as he was right there in a tight Rookie of the Year race, while Hayes and Corbett will flank him. Hayes made a nice improvement last season, while Corbett was quietly one of the CAA’s best freshmen. Jeffers showed the potential to be a double-double guy at times last season, especially at the end as he finished strong. King-Davis will never make a highlight reel but is a solid presence alongside him. Devonne Pinkard and Barnett Harris, the latter of whom is the ultimate energy guy, give them some depth up front. But that’s also the concern for this team overall, although their practices will be plenty competitive as they have two transfers sitting out this season. The Blue Hens will likely go as far as their starting perimeter players can take them. It’s still a relatively young team, and feels like one that may be a year away from contending for the top spot.
