First day of the season so have had a lot of time to look at these first few games. Let's start the season out right with a couple of W's.
Vermont -1' - The Catamounts return all 5 starters from last year's very young and inexperienced team. By the end of the year, the green and gold were back in the America East title game. Tromboli leads this team but this game will be decided by the big men. The Privateers have their own backcourt scorer in McCalebb who missed last year with a wrist injury 4 games in. Parlow can also score especially from behind the 3point line but is out for this game (about a week) with a sprined ankle. McNeilly started last year with McCalebb going down and brings some scoring and can get the ball to the open man. Frosh Reynolds looks to get the start and brings some quickness and scoring. But here comes the problem for the Privateers, they are going to get killed inside. Elias redshirted last year with a knee injury and seems to have stayed off of it all of last season, while eating Twinkees and gaining a bit of "bad weight" according to Coach Williams. Elias played decently in their latest warmup game, but was held to zero rebounds in their first exhibition. The Catamounts bring in Klimes and Holm with McIntosh rounding out the frontcourt. These guys will be the factor. Klimes can play defense, takes high percentage shots but can not hit from behind the 1-point line. Look for the size of the Catamounts to dominate the paint and the better guards of the Privateers not be able to keep it close.
Hampton +23' - Too many points for a Terapin team that won't play defense and put a team away. Strawberry, Jones, Ibekwe and even Gist can score, but they let their opponents score too easily. Turnovers is also a problem with this Terapin team. 17 TOs and 23 TOs in their warm up games. The Pirates lost all of their starters from an underachieving NCAA Tourney team. New coach Nickelberry wants to bring his "Frantic 40" style of play which should see the Terapins TOs to stay on the high side. While no starters return, the Pirates do return MEAC Tourney MVP West. The Pehoua brothers need to step up this year. Nickelbery also brings in what could be the best MEAC recruiting class ever led by 6-8 Freeman. The Terps have the talent advantage but I thing the Pirates have the edge in heart. Terps win but not by 23.
GL to ALL
Vermont -1' - The Catamounts return all 5 starters from last year's very young and inexperienced team. By the end of the year, the green and gold were back in the America East title game. Tromboli leads this team but this game will be decided by the big men. The Privateers have their own backcourt scorer in McCalebb who missed last year with a wrist injury 4 games in. Parlow can also score especially from behind the 3point line but is out for this game (about a week) with a sprined ankle. McNeilly started last year with McCalebb going down and brings some scoring and can get the ball to the open man. Frosh Reynolds looks to get the start and brings some quickness and scoring. But here comes the problem for the Privateers, they are going to get killed inside. Elias redshirted last year with a knee injury and seems to have stayed off of it all of last season, while eating Twinkees and gaining a bit of "bad weight" according to Coach Williams. Elias played decently in their latest warmup game, but was held to zero rebounds in their first exhibition. The Catamounts bring in Klimes and Holm with McIntosh rounding out the frontcourt. These guys will be the factor. Klimes can play defense, takes high percentage shots but can not hit from behind the 1-point line. Look for the size of the Catamounts to dominate the paint and the better guards of the Privateers not be able to keep it close.
Hampton +23' - Too many points for a Terapin team that won't play defense and put a team away. Strawberry, Jones, Ibekwe and even Gist can score, but they let their opponents score too easily. Turnovers is also a problem with this Terapin team. 17 TOs and 23 TOs in their warm up games. The Pirates lost all of their starters from an underachieving NCAA Tourney team. New coach Nickelberry wants to bring his "Frantic 40" style of play which should see the Terapins TOs to stay on the high side. While no starters return, the Pirates do return MEAC Tourney MVP West. The Pehoua brothers need to step up this year. Nickelbery also brings in what could be the best MEAC recruiting class ever led by 6-8 Freeman. The Terps have the talent advantage but I thing the Pirates have the edge in heart. Terps win but not by 23.
GL to ALL