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October 13th,
2006
By Joel
Welser
Broadcast Basketball
Hofstra
Pride
Overall Rank:
#29
Conference
Rank: #1 CAA
2005-06:
26-7, 14-4, 3rd
2005-06
postseason: NIT
 Forget
about the snub that was dealt to Hofstra by the NCAA Selection
Committee. It’s a new year and Coach Tom Pecora has his squad
ready to leave no doubt that the Pride deserve a bid this year.
The backcourt is one of the best in the nation, and that’s not
just at the mid-major level. However, the frontcourt lost both
starters and a couple unproven players are going to have to step
up to replace the big guys in the paint.
Who’s Out:
Power
forward Aurimas Kieza and center Adrian Uter combined for 20.4
points and 15.1 rebounds per game during their senior seasons.
The points can be covered by the backcourt, but the rebounding
could turn into a problem. Seldom used center Kenny Harris has
also graduated.
Who’s In:
The
frontcourt minutes are up for grabs and center Greg Washington
will earn a chance at some quality playing time. The 6-10
Brentwood, New York product has plenty of potential and is
surprisingly athletic for his size. At 6-7 and 220 pounds,
Mantas Leonavicius has the size to battle inside and the
shooting ability to be effective on the perimeter. Charles
Jenkins and Sal Patricio will battle for minutes in the
backcourt. Jenkins has the ability to play at the point or on
the wings and that versatility will be valuable in the years to
come. Patricio is a great scorer from anywhere on the court and
will spend his freshman campaign learning from some of the best
in the business.
Who to Watch:
Loren
Stokes, Antoine Agudio and Carlos Rivera are names that will be
known by the end of March, if they aren’t already. Stokes
averaged 17.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists last year.
He’s the team leader and a future NBA prospect. Agudio may be
the best shooter in the conference and averaged 17.2 points per
game and shot 42.1 percent from long range last year. Rivera
isn’t quite the scorer as his teammates, but the point guard has
done a great job running the show. Despite being just 6-2,
Rivera has a knack for rebounding. Greg Johnson provided most
of the depth last year and averaged 2.4 points and 1.6 assists.
After a promising freshman season, it would be very helpful if
Johnson could provide more minutes in order to give the starters
some much needed rest.
Final
Projection:
If Hofstra is on
the schedule, you want to play them early in the year before
last year’s frontcourt roleplayers turn into bonafide CAA big
men. Mike Davis-Sabb and Chris Gadley are the expected
starters. Neither averaged over 1.5 points per game last year,
but the minutes were limited. Gadley showed signs of what is to
come during the NIT run last year and will take over much of the
rebounding loss. Sophomore Arminas Urbutis will be in the mix
as well after averaging just 6.3 minutes in 22 contests as a
freshman. The post players will need to get involved early in
order for the Pride to avoid becoming a one dimensional squad.
If the post players can equal what Kieza and Uter did last year,
Hofstra can win a game or two in the NCAA Tournament. If not,
they’re good enough to go dancing, but will find it tough to
make a run.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Carlos Rivera,
Senior, Guard, 11.1 points per game
Antoine Agudio,
Junior, Guard, 17.2 points per game
Loren Stokes,
Senior, Guard, 17.4 points per game
Mike Davis-Sabb,
Sophomore, Forward, 1.5 points per game
Chris Gadley,
Sophomore, Forward, 1.5 points per game
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