Rebuild......
1) Zero returning double-digit scorers
2) No impact seniors (and possibly upperclassmen)
3) Worst (on paper) returning group of upperclassmen perhaps in VCU history (Curry, Williams, Douglas - all of which averaged less than 5 ppg and none are proven shooters)
4) 9 frosh/soph (BMB is essentially a soph if he has to sit)
5) One proven shooter/scorer (Hyland)
6) No established big
7) Entire starting five from 18-13 team departed
We are likely A-10 mid-pack at best. Probably end up in the 15-19 total win range. That’s hopefully the initial step of an upward climb back to national relevance by 2022-23 (when we are upperclassmen-heavy again).
2020-21 is a developmental year; first time in a long time.
I commend your optimism, though.
Our 2011-12 roster, the winningest in school history:
Briante Weber - freshman
Teddy Okereafor - freshman
Darius Theus - junior
Rob Brandenberg - sophomore
Juvonte Reddic - sophomore
Bradford Burgess - senior
Treveon Graham - freshman
Jarred Guest - freshman
Heath Houston - redshirt freshman
Reco McCarter - redshirt freshman
Troy Daniels - junior
DJ Haley - sophomore
David Hinton - redshirt junior
Pretty much everyone was an unknown, and we saw how it turned out. So it's possible. Like I said in the MSS thread, if BMB gets to play immediately, and/or we land a reclassified Wheeler, we should have the size, depth, etc. to surprise people and maybe rise back to the top. But if those don't happen, a stopgap like Smith would still help. His free throw shooting would be a liability though. Our incoming freshmen are unproven but have been beasts against a lot of better competition that they won't see in the A10. So you never know.