Navy Midshipmen (8-23 overall, 2-12 league)
Projected starting five:
So. G Tilman Dunbar
Jr. G Brandon Venturini
Sr. G Thurgood Wynn
Jr. F Worth Smith
So. F-C Will Kelly
Important departures:
The only departures who played anything resembling significant minutes last season were G Isaiah Roberts (3.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg in seven games) and G Brennan Wyatt (1.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg).
Returning:
91.2 percent of scoring and 87 percent of rebounding
Additions:
Fr. G Tim Abruzzo
Fr. F-C Edward Alade
Fr. G Payne Andrus
Fr. G Michael Brown
Fr. F Enuoma Ebinum
Fr. G Zach Fong
Fr. F James Hemphill
Fr. G Kyle Quintana
Fr. G Grant Vermeer
Schedule Highlights:
Navy plays four home games in a non-league schedule that starts with the Midshipmen opening Towson’s new arena. They also go on the road to play at Virginia and Northeast contender Bryant. Patriot League play begins with a tough stretch: at Loyola (Md.), home against Lafayette and at Boston University.
Projected finish and outlook:
Navy brings a lot back, which can be good or bad. On one hand, there is continuity and more experience, but on the other hand much of this group played for last season’s 8-23 team. They have a good core with Dunbar, Venturini and Smith, all of whom are capable of being all-league players. Smith could get a double-double on a lot of nights. Wynn and Kelly are the primary complements, and a number of other players, including nine freshmen, will compete for roles and minutes behind them. Navy’s big areas for improvement involve finishing possessions at both ends of the floor, as they must rebound better after they were last in the league in rebounding margin last season, and make more shots, as they took good care of the ball but were last in the league in field goal percentage. They weren’t bad defensively, even coming in third in turnovers forced, but they need to get results from their hard work.
