■ William & Mary and Hampton capsules plus previews of the Big South and CAA,
William & Mary men at a glance
Last year: 14-17, 10-8 CAA
(fourth)
Coach: Dane Fischer (first season)
Season opener: Tuesday at
High Point, 7 p.m.
Strengths
Two words: Nathan Knight. In an offseason that saw a mass exodus of talent, the best news Fischer received is that Knight (21 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.3 bpg) was returning for his senior year. Point guard Luke Loewe’s jump shot remains a work in progress, but he’s solid defensively and careful with the ball.AndyVanVliet,atransferfrom Wisconsin, is a perimeter-skilled 7-footer. Grad transfers Bryce Barnes (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Tyler Hamilton (Penn) should make immediate impacts.
Weaknesses
When last season ended, W&M appeared to have a championshipready team with all five starters returning. Instead, head coach Tony Shaver was fired and four players who had combined for 44 points and 18 rebounds a game transferred. Fischer and his staff worked hard to assemble a full roster, but Knight’s the only player who averaged more than 6 ppg last season. The Tribe has won with offense in the past but will have to get significantly better on the defensive end.
Prediction
The Tribe was picked seventh in the CAA’s preseason poll, and that looks about right. Knight will have a lot placed on his sturdy shoulders and must stay out of foul trouble, which he did a better job of last year. There is plenty of unknown in the Colonial this season with only six of its top 20 scorers returning.
Schedule
NOVEMBER
5: at High Point, 7 p.m.; 8: at American, 7 p.m.; 12: at Wofford, 7 p.m.; 15: Hampton, 7 p.m.; 18: at Oklahoma, 7 p.m.; 21: at Stanford, 10 p.m.; 26: Morehead State, 7:30 p.m.; 30: at Buffalo, 2 p.m.
DECEMBER
3: Old Dominion, 7 p.m.; 8: at Fairfield, 2 p.m.; 15: Goucher, noon.; 19: at St. Joseph’s, 7 p.m.; 22: vs. St. Francis (Washington, D.C.), 1 p.m.; 3: at Elon, 7 p.m.
JANUARY
2: at Hofstra, 7 p.m.; 4: at Northeastern,
4 p.m.; 9: UNC Wilmington, 7 p.m.; 11: Charleston, 2 p.m.; 16: at Delaware, 7 p.m.; 18: at Drexel, 2 p.m.; 23: James Madison, 7 p.m.; 25: Towson, 4 p.m.; 30: Northeastern, 7 p.m.
FEBRUARY
1: Hofstra, 4 p.m.; 6: at Charleston, 7 p.m.; 8: at UNC Wilmington, 7 p.m.; 13: Drexel, 7 p.m.; 15: Delaware, 4 p.m.; 20: at Towson, 7 p.m.; 22: at James Madison, 4 p.m.; 29: Elon, 4 p.m.
MARCH
7-10: CAA tournament (Washington, D.C.)