- November 2nd, 2008, 8:15 pm
#206427
I've fallen behind on posting these...sorry about that...
VMI Keydets (Last Season: 14-15; 6-8, 5th in Big South; Lost in First Round of Big South Tournament; RPI - 275)
Head Coach: Duggar Baucom (4th season at VMI)
Players that are Returning:
G Chavis Holmes, Sr. (6'4", 195 lbs) – 18.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 spg, 44.4 FG%, 36.0 3PT% (82 made threes), 70.9 FT%
G Travis Holmes, Sr. (6'4", 195 lbs) – 15.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 spg, 41.0 FG%, 27.0 3PT% (41 made threes), 77.3 FT%
G Austin Kenon, So. (5'11", 180 lbs) – 12.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.4 spg, 42.5 FG%, 40.4 3PT% (57 made threes), 80.0 FT%
F Willie Bell, Sr. (6'7", 205 lbs) – 8.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 spg, 54.5 FG%, 41.4 3PT% (12 made threes), 67.1 FT%
C Stephen Sargent, Fr. (7'0", 245 lbs) – Played in 4 games, 4.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 75.0 FG%
G Adam Lonon, Jr. (5'11", 175 lbs) – 4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.1 spg, 51.1 FG%, 18.2 3PT% (4 made threes), 64.9 FT%
F Hunter Houston, So. (6'6", 195 lbs) – 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 28.4 FG%, 25.5 3PT% (13 made threes), 50.0 FT%
F Quinn Brownfield, So. (6'7", 195 lbs) – 2.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 36.2 FG%, 35.7 3PT% (15 made threes), 60.0 FT%
G Carl Josey, Jr. (6'5", 195 lbs) – 1.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 21.4 3PT% (3 made threes), 43.8 FT%
G Joey Cantafio, So. (5'6", 150 lbs) – Played in 14 games, 1.1 ppg, .6 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Reggie Williams (6'6", 195 lbs) – 27.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.2 spg, 52.8 FG%, 27.9 3PT% (43 made threes), 67.1 FT%
G Christian Hunter (6'2", 180 lbs) – 7.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.1 spg, 30.4 FG%, 31.6 3PT% (62 made threes), 71.4 FT%
G Nick Matson (6'4", 190 lbs) - Played in 4 games, 1.5 ppg, .3 rpg
G Tim Maypray (5’8”, 165 lbs) – Played in 4 games, .5 ppg
New Players:
G Keith Gabriel, Fr. (6’2”, 180 lbs) – United Faith Acad., Charlotte, NC
F Ron Burks, Fr. (6’4”, 205 lbs) – Paul VI HS, Mitchellville, MD
G Michael Sparks, Fr. (6’4”, 195 lbs) – Tates Creek HS, Lexington, KY
C Wayne Whiting, Fr. (6’7”, 240 lbs) – Benedictine HS, Chester, VA
F Aaron Blosser, Fr. (6’3”, 205 lbs) – Frank Cox HS, Virginia Beach, VA
Reggie Williams may no longer be at VMI, but do not expect the Keydets to slow down one bit from the frenetic pace that has led them to be the highest scoring team in the NCAA the last two years. However, they will definitely miss Williams’ presence on the court, as he led the nation in scoring the last two seasons, and was also the Keydets’ best rebounder as well. Duggar Baucom is going to have to hope that the players returning this season, along with the first recruiting class that was specifically recruited toward the ‘Loot n’ Shoot’ style, are capable of making up for Williams’ lost production.
The Keydets will likely lean a lot on senior twins Chavis and Travis Holmes. The Holmes brothers have been a steady force on VMI’s roster ever since they arrived in Lexington three years ago. They are both very athletic and both can get on big scoring spurts (especially Chavis) and both are good rebounders at the guard position (especially Travis). They each are pesky on the defensive end and are generally the catalyst to creating the turnovers needed to run Baucom’s system. They will likely start along side a couple of 5’11” guards, giving the Keydets a four-guard system when the game tips off. Running the point will be Adam Lonon. Lonon is very quick and handles the ball fairly well, but he is definitely not a good shooter, though he improved his scoring output last season by attacking the basket more often than he did his freshman year. Anchoring the perimeter will be Austin Kenon. Before becoming ineligible in the second semester of his freshman season last year, Kenon was putting up very impressive numbers, and was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the Big South. So while he will be a new face to many Big South foes (since he only played two conference games), there is no reason that VMI’s opponents should be surprised by the shooting and scoring ability of Kenon. Forward Willie Bell will likely be the final starter. He will have the task of being the back-row defender in VMI’s trapping scheme, and also the primary rebounder. He is capable of filling both of those roles and he is able to step out and hit the occasional three-pointer on the offensive end.
While the starting five looks to be a solid cast of returning players, the bench is filled with little-used returnees and a batch of newcomers. In the backcourt, Carl Josey returns for his junior season. He is not a very strong scorer, but does bring some toughness off the bench. Freshmen Keith Gabriel, Ron Burks, and Michael Sparks should be able to bring athleticism off the bench this season and all will likely see quality minutes this season. In the frontcourt, the most intriguing player off the bench is seven-footer Stephen Sargent. Sargent received a medical redshirt after only playing four games in his freshman season. VMI has not had a player close to Sargent’s size since they started running their new system, so it will be interesting to see how he fits in. He will be joined by returnees Hunter Houston and Quinn Brownfield, who each saw occasional time off the bench last season. Also, freshman Wayne Whiting brings some size off the bench as well.
The Keydets struggled mightily last season when Reggie Williams missed a few games due to injury. They have had several months now to acclimate themselves for life without Williams, and should look much better than they did during those four games that he was out (the Keydets went 0-4, including a 44-point loss to Winthrop during that span). What remains to be seen is if Baucom can get any better long term results with his style of play than he has had the last two years. Until VMI can assemble an eight-to-ten-deep rotation of strong shooters and athletic defenders, it will be difficult to maintain success with their style of play. And while Kenon looks to be a very strong shooter, most of the returning players are not great pure shooters. So while some of the newcomers may fit that role, it is doubtful that VMI will be ready to climb into the upper-half of the standings this year.
My Prediction:
15-14 overall, 8-10 in the Big South; Eighth place finish; Will lose in the first round of the Big South Tournament
VMI Keydets (Last Season: 14-15; 6-8, 5th in Big South; Lost in First Round of Big South Tournament; RPI - 275)
Head Coach: Duggar Baucom (4th season at VMI)
Players that are Returning:
G Chavis Holmes, Sr. (6'4", 195 lbs) – 18.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 spg, 44.4 FG%, 36.0 3PT% (82 made threes), 70.9 FT%
G Travis Holmes, Sr. (6'4", 195 lbs) – 15.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.2 spg, 41.0 FG%, 27.0 3PT% (41 made threes), 77.3 FT%
G Austin Kenon, So. (5'11", 180 lbs) – 12.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.4 spg, 42.5 FG%, 40.4 3PT% (57 made threes), 80.0 FT%
F Willie Bell, Sr. (6'7", 205 lbs) – 8.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.6 spg, 54.5 FG%, 41.4 3PT% (12 made threes), 67.1 FT%
C Stephen Sargent, Fr. (7'0", 245 lbs) – Played in 4 games, 4.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 75.0 FG%
G Adam Lonon, Jr. (5'11", 175 lbs) – 4.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 2.1 spg, 51.1 FG%, 18.2 3PT% (4 made threes), 64.9 FT%
F Hunter Houston, So. (6'6", 195 lbs) – 3.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 28.4 FG%, 25.5 3PT% (13 made threes), 50.0 FT%
F Quinn Brownfield, So. (6'7", 195 lbs) – 2.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 36.2 FG%, 35.7 3PT% (15 made threes), 60.0 FT%
G Carl Josey, Jr. (6'5", 195 lbs) – 1.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 45.9 FG%, 21.4 3PT% (3 made threes), 43.8 FT%
G Joey Cantafio, So. (5'6", 150 lbs) – Played in 14 games, 1.1 ppg, .6 rpg
Players that are Gone:
F Reggie Williams (6'6", 195 lbs) – 27.8 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.9 apg, 2.2 spg, 52.8 FG%, 27.9 3PT% (43 made threes), 67.1 FT%
G Christian Hunter (6'2", 180 lbs) – 7.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.1 spg, 30.4 FG%, 31.6 3PT% (62 made threes), 71.4 FT%
G Nick Matson (6'4", 190 lbs) - Played in 4 games, 1.5 ppg, .3 rpg
G Tim Maypray (5’8”, 165 lbs) – Played in 4 games, .5 ppg
New Players:
G Keith Gabriel, Fr. (6’2”, 180 lbs) – United Faith Acad., Charlotte, NC
F Ron Burks, Fr. (6’4”, 205 lbs) – Paul VI HS, Mitchellville, MD
G Michael Sparks, Fr. (6’4”, 195 lbs) – Tates Creek HS, Lexington, KY
C Wayne Whiting, Fr. (6’7”, 240 lbs) – Benedictine HS, Chester, VA
F Aaron Blosser, Fr. (6’3”, 205 lbs) – Frank Cox HS, Virginia Beach, VA
Reggie Williams may no longer be at VMI, but do not expect the Keydets to slow down one bit from the frenetic pace that has led them to be the highest scoring team in the NCAA the last two years. However, they will definitely miss Williams’ presence on the court, as he led the nation in scoring the last two seasons, and was also the Keydets’ best rebounder as well. Duggar Baucom is going to have to hope that the players returning this season, along with the first recruiting class that was specifically recruited toward the ‘Loot n’ Shoot’ style, are capable of making up for Williams’ lost production.
The Keydets will likely lean a lot on senior twins Chavis and Travis Holmes. The Holmes brothers have been a steady force on VMI’s roster ever since they arrived in Lexington three years ago. They are both very athletic and both can get on big scoring spurts (especially Chavis) and both are good rebounders at the guard position (especially Travis). They each are pesky on the defensive end and are generally the catalyst to creating the turnovers needed to run Baucom’s system. They will likely start along side a couple of 5’11” guards, giving the Keydets a four-guard system when the game tips off. Running the point will be Adam Lonon. Lonon is very quick and handles the ball fairly well, but he is definitely not a good shooter, though he improved his scoring output last season by attacking the basket more often than he did his freshman year. Anchoring the perimeter will be Austin Kenon. Before becoming ineligible in the second semester of his freshman season last year, Kenon was putting up very impressive numbers, and was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the Big South. So while he will be a new face to many Big South foes (since he only played two conference games), there is no reason that VMI’s opponents should be surprised by the shooting and scoring ability of Kenon. Forward Willie Bell will likely be the final starter. He will have the task of being the back-row defender in VMI’s trapping scheme, and also the primary rebounder. He is capable of filling both of those roles and he is able to step out and hit the occasional three-pointer on the offensive end.
While the starting five looks to be a solid cast of returning players, the bench is filled with little-used returnees and a batch of newcomers. In the backcourt, Carl Josey returns for his junior season. He is not a very strong scorer, but does bring some toughness off the bench. Freshmen Keith Gabriel, Ron Burks, and Michael Sparks should be able to bring athleticism off the bench this season and all will likely see quality minutes this season. In the frontcourt, the most intriguing player off the bench is seven-footer Stephen Sargent. Sargent received a medical redshirt after only playing four games in his freshman season. VMI has not had a player close to Sargent’s size since they started running their new system, so it will be interesting to see how he fits in. He will be joined by returnees Hunter Houston and Quinn Brownfield, who each saw occasional time off the bench last season. Also, freshman Wayne Whiting brings some size off the bench as well.
The Keydets struggled mightily last season when Reggie Williams missed a few games due to injury. They have had several months now to acclimate themselves for life without Williams, and should look much better than they did during those four games that he was out (the Keydets went 0-4, including a 44-point loss to Winthrop during that span). What remains to be seen is if Baucom can get any better long term results with his style of play than he has had the last two years. Until VMI can assemble an eight-to-ten-deep rotation of strong shooters and athletic defenders, it will be difficult to maintain success with their style of play. And while Kenon looks to be a very strong shooter, most of the returning players are not great pure shooters. So while some of the newcomers may fit that role, it is doubtful that VMI will be ready to climb into the upper-half of the standings this year.
My Prediction:
15-14 overall, 8-10 in the Big South; Eighth place finish; Will lose in the first round of the Big South Tournament
- By LU Armchair coach