- November 7th, 2009, 12:40 pm
#283312
VMI Keydets
(Last Season: 24-8 overall; 13-5 in Big South, 2nd, lost in finals of Big South Tournament)
Head Coach: Duggar Baucom
Returning Players (with stats from 08-09 season):
G Austin Kenon, jr. (5-11, 180) – 16.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 43.0 FG%, 39.0 3PT% (119 made threes), 71.4 FT% - 31.8 min/game
G Keith Gabriel, so. (6-3, 180) – 13.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 40.3 FG%, 36.3 3PT% (89 made threes), 54.8 FT% - 21.2 min/game
G Michael Sparks, so. (6-4, 195) – 7.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 39.4 FG%, 31.8 3PT% (49 made threes), 65.8 FT% - 18.6 min/game
F Ron Burks, so. (6-4, 215) – 4.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 37.1 FG%, 30.6 3PT% (22 made threes), 60.5 FT% - 22.1 min/game
F Hunter Houston, jr. (6-6, 195) – 3.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 43.1 FG%, 29.3 3PT% (12 made threes), 50.0 FT% - 8.3 min/game
G Carl Josey, sr. (6-5, 195) – 0.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 29.4 FG%, 16.7 3PT% (1 made three), 0 made FTs – 5.4 min/game
G Adam Lonon, sr. (5-11, 175) – 2.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 47.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 67.9 FT% - 10.8 min/game – Played in 14 games
C Wayne Whiting, so. (6-7, 240) – 1.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 100 FT% - 3.1 min/game – Played in 13 games
C Stephen Sargent, so. (7-0, 245) – 1.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 50.0 FT% - 2.6 min/game – Played in 8 games
F Aaron Blosser, so. (6-3, 205) – 0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 100 FG%, 100 3PT% (1 made three), 0 FTs made – 2.3 min/game – Played in 4 games
Players that are Gone:
G Chavis Holmes (6-4, 195) – 22.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 bpg, 3.4 spg, 51.2 FG%, 44.1 3PT% (83 made threes), 82.9 FT% - 33.2 min/game
G Travis Holmes (6-4, 195) – 19.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.2 spg, 49.7 FG%, 30.3 3PT% (36 made threes), 78.7 FT% - 31.5 min/game
F Willie Bell (6-7, 205) – 8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.4 spg, 44.2 FG%, 26.9 3PT% (14 made threes), 71.4 FT% - 29.3 min/game
F Quinn Brownfield (6-7, 195) – 1.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 27.8 FG%, 23.7 3PT% (9 made threes), 50.0 FT% - 6.2 min/game
G Joey Cantafio (5-6, 150) – 2.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 62.5 FG%, 100 3PT% (3 made threes), 71.4 FT% - 4.0 min/game – Played in 7 games
Newcomers:
G Joe Carr, fr. (6-3, 195)
F Stan Okoye, fr. (6-5, 195)
F Nick Gore, fr. (6-6, 205)
About the Keydets:
The Keydets surprised many people last season when they finished near the top of the standings and made the Big South championship game despite the loss of Reggie Williams, perhaps the best player to ever play for VMI. However, head coach Duggar Baucom’s high-scoring crew proved that they were more than a one-man team and gave other teams fits with their up-tempo, three-point-shooting style. Baucom will need to prove once again to everybody that he can withstand the loss of key players as the Holmes twins are now gone from the program, and as the key pieces of last season’s Keydets, Chavis and Travis Holmes will definitely be missed.
With their unconventional style, the Keydets rely a lot on having a cast of guards and smaller forwards to launch three-pointers and create havoc on the defensive end with plenty of traps and aggressive attempts at steals. This season’s team will be no different, and that key cog for the long-distance attack will be junior Kenon Austin. In his first two seasons, Austin has proven to be one of the most accurate three-point shooters in the Big South. Although he is a bit undersized, he never seems to have much trouble finding openings. Joining Austin in the starting backcourt will be senior Adam Lonon. Lonon has been an unsung contributor to the high-octane VMI style over the last few years, though he missed a bulk of last season due to injuries. He is one of the few players on the roster that will not hurt you from outside, but he has an ability to find the open players and he is able to take the ball to the basket at times and effective at drawing fouls. A pair of sophomores are likely to join Austin and Lonon in the starting lineup. Keith Gabriel and Ron Burks each had solid freshman campaigns and both proved valuable to the Keydets in different ways. Gabriel is capable as being just as effective from behind the arc as Austin. However, he faded down the stretch and was not much of a factor late in the year. Burks was a versatile player last season, showing his strengths as a defender and rebounder. Burks also filled in well at point guard when Lonon was out.
While the core of Austin, Lonon, Gabriel, and Burks look to be the players that will see the most playing time, there is a cast of returnees and newcomers that will also see plenty of time on the court. Of the returnees, sophomore Michael Sparks and junior Hunter Houston are the most capable of joining Austin and Gabriel as the outside threats for VMI. Sparks, like many Keydet freshmen going through the ‘rat line’, had his ups and downs last season. Houston has had trouble staying on the court due to injury, but he has had brief flashes where he has shown that he is capable of hitting the long-ball. Sophomore centers Wayne Whiting and Stephen Sargent have yet to really show how they will fit into Baucom’s system, though they have the potential to bring a different element to the team due to their size. The freshman class for the Keydets has the potential to contribute right away. Nick Gore will be relied on for his outside shooting, and his 6’6” height could create some matchup troubles since many times he will be the tallest Keydet on the court, yet he will be firing away from beyond the arc. Joe Carr will battle for point guard time with Lonon and Burks. And Stan Okoye brings a versatile skill set, similar to the style seen by the Holmes twins.
There is little doubt that the Keydets will once again score a ton of points and cause some problems to their opponents due to their frenetic style. Baucom proved last season that his style of play can withstand the loss of key personnel, but the loss of the Holmes twins, along with Willie Bell, will likely lead to a finish toward the middle of the pack, and not near the top. The twins had impressive scoring stats, but they brought very good rebounding and tenacious pressure defense to the court. They had the perfect size, athletic ability, and skill-sets to thrive in Baucom’s system. Bell also was a strong rebounder and good defender. The returning cast does not have many guys that have proven to be as strong on the boards and defensive end as the twins and Bell. That’s not to say that some players will not emerge to do those things, but I feel like the loss of those players will prove to be harder to overcome for the Keydets than the loss of Williams going into last year.
My Prediction:
15-13 overall, 8-10 in conference – 6th place finish – lose in semifinals of Big South Tournament
(Last Season: 24-8 overall; 13-5 in Big South, 2nd, lost in finals of Big South Tournament)
Head Coach: Duggar Baucom
Returning Players (with stats from 08-09 season):
G Austin Kenon, jr. (5-11, 180) – 16.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 spg, 43.0 FG%, 39.0 3PT% (119 made threes), 71.4 FT% - 31.8 min/game
G Keith Gabriel, so. (6-3, 180) – 13.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.4 spg, 40.3 FG%, 36.3 3PT% (89 made threes), 54.8 FT% - 21.2 min/game
G Michael Sparks, so. (6-4, 195) – 7.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 39.4 FG%, 31.8 3PT% (49 made threes), 65.8 FT% - 18.6 min/game
F Ron Burks, so. (6-4, 215) – 4.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 37.1 FG%, 30.6 3PT% (22 made threes), 60.5 FT% - 22.1 min/game
F Hunter Houston, jr. (6-6, 195) – 3.7 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 43.1 FG%, 29.3 3PT% (12 made threes), 50.0 FT% - 8.3 min/game
G Carl Josey, sr. (6-5, 195) – 0.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 29.4 FG%, 16.7 3PT% (1 made three), 0 made FTs – 5.4 min/game
G Adam Lonon, sr. (5-11, 175) – 2.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 47.6 FG%, 0 made threes, 67.9 FT% - 10.8 min/game – Played in 14 games
C Wayne Whiting, so. (6-7, 240) – 1.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 100 FT% - 3.1 min/game – Played in 13 games
C Stephen Sargent, so. (7-0, 245) – 1.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 50.0 FG%, 0 made threes, 50.0 FT% - 2.6 min/game – Played in 8 games
F Aaron Blosser, so. (6-3, 205) – 0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg, 100 FG%, 100 3PT% (1 made three), 0 FTs made – 2.3 min/game – Played in 4 games
Players that are Gone:
G Chavis Holmes (6-4, 195) – 22.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.1 bpg, 3.4 spg, 51.2 FG%, 44.1 3PT% (83 made threes), 82.9 FT% - 33.2 min/game
G Travis Holmes (6-4, 195) – 19.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.2 spg, 49.7 FG%, 30.3 3PT% (36 made threes), 78.7 FT% - 31.5 min/game
F Willie Bell (6-7, 205) – 8.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2.4 spg, 44.2 FG%, 26.9 3PT% (14 made threes), 71.4 FT% - 29.3 min/game
F Quinn Brownfield (6-7, 195) – 1.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 27.8 FG%, 23.7 3PT% (9 made threes), 50.0 FT% - 6.2 min/game
G Joey Cantafio (5-6, 150) – 2.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 62.5 FG%, 100 3PT% (3 made threes), 71.4 FT% - 4.0 min/game – Played in 7 games
Newcomers:
G Joe Carr, fr. (6-3, 195)
F Stan Okoye, fr. (6-5, 195)
F Nick Gore, fr. (6-6, 205)
About the Keydets:
The Keydets surprised many people last season when they finished near the top of the standings and made the Big South championship game despite the loss of Reggie Williams, perhaps the best player to ever play for VMI. However, head coach Duggar Baucom’s high-scoring crew proved that they were more than a one-man team and gave other teams fits with their up-tempo, three-point-shooting style. Baucom will need to prove once again to everybody that he can withstand the loss of key players as the Holmes twins are now gone from the program, and as the key pieces of last season’s Keydets, Chavis and Travis Holmes will definitely be missed.
With their unconventional style, the Keydets rely a lot on having a cast of guards and smaller forwards to launch three-pointers and create havoc on the defensive end with plenty of traps and aggressive attempts at steals. This season’s team will be no different, and that key cog for the long-distance attack will be junior Kenon Austin. In his first two seasons, Austin has proven to be one of the most accurate three-point shooters in the Big South. Although he is a bit undersized, he never seems to have much trouble finding openings. Joining Austin in the starting backcourt will be senior Adam Lonon. Lonon has been an unsung contributor to the high-octane VMI style over the last few years, though he missed a bulk of last season due to injuries. He is one of the few players on the roster that will not hurt you from outside, but he has an ability to find the open players and he is able to take the ball to the basket at times and effective at drawing fouls. A pair of sophomores are likely to join Austin and Lonon in the starting lineup. Keith Gabriel and Ron Burks each had solid freshman campaigns and both proved valuable to the Keydets in different ways. Gabriel is capable as being just as effective from behind the arc as Austin. However, he faded down the stretch and was not much of a factor late in the year. Burks was a versatile player last season, showing his strengths as a defender and rebounder. Burks also filled in well at point guard when Lonon was out.
While the core of Austin, Lonon, Gabriel, and Burks look to be the players that will see the most playing time, there is a cast of returnees and newcomers that will also see plenty of time on the court. Of the returnees, sophomore Michael Sparks and junior Hunter Houston are the most capable of joining Austin and Gabriel as the outside threats for VMI. Sparks, like many Keydet freshmen going through the ‘rat line’, had his ups and downs last season. Houston has had trouble staying on the court due to injury, but he has had brief flashes where he has shown that he is capable of hitting the long-ball. Sophomore centers Wayne Whiting and Stephen Sargent have yet to really show how they will fit into Baucom’s system, though they have the potential to bring a different element to the team due to their size. The freshman class for the Keydets has the potential to contribute right away. Nick Gore will be relied on for his outside shooting, and his 6’6” height could create some matchup troubles since many times he will be the tallest Keydet on the court, yet he will be firing away from beyond the arc. Joe Carr will battle for point guard time with Lonon and Burks. And Stan Okoye brings a versatile skill set, similar to the style seen by the Holmes twins.
There is little doubt that the Keydets will once again score a ton of points and cause some problems to their opponents due to their frenetic style. Baucom proved last season that his style of play can withstand the loss of key personnel, but the loss of the Holmes twins, along with Willie Bell, will likely lead to a finish toward the middle of the pack, and not near the top. The twins had impressive scoring stats, but they brought very good rebounding and tenacious pressure defense to the court. They had the perfect size, athletic ability, and skill-sets to thrive in Baucom’s system. Bell also was a strong rebounder and good defender. The returning cast does not have many guys that have proven to be as strong on the boards and defensive end as the twins and Bell. That’s not to say that some players will not emerge to do those things, but I feel like the loss of those players will prove to be harder to overcome for the Keydets than the loss of Williams going into last year.
My Prediction:
15-13 overall, 8-10 in conference – 6th place finish – lose in semifinals of Big South Tournament
- By LUGrad2000
- By ballah09