Transfers from ODU could help young squad

Coach: Buck Joyner (12th season, 186-176).

Last season: 15-19 overall, 8-10 Big South.

Fans in the stands?: Fans will not be allowed at home games this season.

Where to watch: Hamptonpirates.com

Storylines: The Pirates must replace four of their top six scorers, including Jermaine Marrow (graduation) and Ben Stanley (transfer), who were 1-2 in scoring in the Big South Conference. The seven newcomers nearly match the nine returning lettermen, and Joyner expects a bumpy start to the regular season. ODU transfers Marquis Godwin and Dajour Dickens help restore missing experience, and Joyner hopes to have a solid team playing cohesively by conference tournament time.

Predicted order of finish: Winthrop, UNC Asheville, Charleston Southern, Gardner-Webb, USC Upstate, Radford, High Point, Longwood, Hampton, Campbell, Presbyterian.

Schedule

Dec. 1: at George Washington, 8 p.m.

Dec. 3: vs. William & Mary, postponed because of a positive COVID-19 test in W&M program. Dec. 7: at Norfolk State, 7 p.m. Dec. 10: vs. Regent, 6 p.m.

Dec. 13: at VMI, 1 p.m.

Dec. 15: vs. William & Mary, 6 p.m. Dec. 18: at Howard, TBA

Dec. 21: at Charleston Southern, 7 p.m.

Dec. 22: at Charleston Southern, 6 p.m.

Dec. 30: vs. Gardner-Webb,

2 p.m.

Dec. 31: vs. Gardner-Webb, noon Jan. 4: at Radford, 6 p.m.

Jan. 5: at Radford, 6 p.m.

Jan. 9: vs. UNC Asheville, 3 p.m. Jan. 10: vs. UNC Asheville, 3 p.m. Jan. 14: at USC Upstate, TBA

Jan. 15: at USC Upstate, TBA

Jan. 19: vs. Campbell, 6 p.m.

Jan. 20: vs. Campbell, 4 p.m.

Jan. 24: at Winthrop, 3 p.m.

Jan. 25: at Winthrop, 6 p.m.

Jan. 29: vs. High Point, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30: vs. High Point, 4 p.m.

Feb. 4: at Longwood, TBA

Feb. 5: at Longwood, TBA

Feb. 11: vs. Presbyterian, 6 p.m. Feb. 12: vs. Presbyterian, 4 p.m. March 2: Big South tournament, TBA