[lsbal]

Traci Carter and Malik Ellison were best friends in high school when they played together.

Coach Gal said this is the best freshman class he has brought in.

High expectations for frosh Flowers.

Gal said Miroslav Stafl is the best offensive down low player he has brought in.

Malik Ellison's father was basketball great "Pervis".

On the women's side:

Senior Lawrencia Moten's father was ex NBA'er Lawrence.

Junior Liz Garcia's (who has been out injured her frosh & soph years) brother is Andrew Garcia who plays for Stonybrook.

Completely different women' team for first year head coach Valley.

Their best player (Abed) graduated. The next two most productive players Jade Young and Sierra Dicosta (went to East Carolina with ex-coach) have both transferred.

No one who will start has played more than 2 minutes before. Expecting a very transitional year.

 

[umainealum]

On the women's side:

No one who will start has played more than 2 minutes before. Expecting a very transitional year.

Wait. No starter on this year's team has played more than 2 minutes in a game? Wow, I know all teams have years where there is a huge amount of turnover, but I can't imagine any team EVER in women's college basketball would have had something like that happen. I mean, not a single returning player has ever played more than 2 minutes in a game? That is crazy!

 

[lsbal]

Wait. No starter on this year's team has played more than 2 minutes in a game? Wow, I know all teams have years where there is a huge amount of turnover, but I can't imagine any team EVER in women's college basketball would have had something like that happen. I mean, not a single returning player has ever played more than 2 minutes in a game? That is crazy!

So it is possible that someone who starts has played some decent minutes last year but this is how their roster stacks up:

Players back who were injured last year:

Jabril Ingram....played decent minutes last year and probably would have started but got injured halfway through last year and was out the rest of the year and I think is out this year due to injury.....

Liz Garcia....missed frosh & soph years due to injuries.

Charlette Leurs....missed frosh season due to injury

Azariah Wade....missed frosh season due to injury

Brielle Wilborn...played 6 games and missed the rest of last year due to injury

Lawrencia Moten....played half of last year then missed the second half due to injury..

Others who are back who played some minutes last year:

Sierra Smith..played about 11 minutes per game last year....maybe will start this year...

Jada Lucas...played about 9 minutes per game last year....likely off bench....

Jordan Mclemore....played about 12 minutes per game last year....likely off bench...

New players:

Nina Farkic....transfer from Western Mich....maybe sit out if not will start

Abby Streeter....transfer from URI....maybe sit out if not will start

Carmen Villalobos...frosh....probably start

Irene Primo....frosh.....probably start

Kaela Dothard...frosh

 

[lsbal]

BTW.....very curious to see what 7'2 Cian Sullivan can bring to the table.....they seem very excited about him.

 

[umainealum]

So it is possible that someone who starts has played some decent minutes last year but this is how their roster stacks up:

Players back who were injured last year:

Jabril Ingram....played decent minutes last year and probably would have started but got injured halfway through last year and was out the rest of the year and I think is out this year due to injury.....

Liz Garcia....missed frosh & soph years due to injuries.

Charlette Leurs....missed frosh season due to injury

Azariah Wade....missed frosh season due to injury

Brielle Wilborn...played 6 games and missed the rest of last year due to injury

Lawrencia Moten....played half of last year then missed the second half due to injury..

Others who are back who played some minutes last year:

Sierra Smith..played about 11 minutes per game last year....maybe will start this year...

Jada Lucas...played about 9 minutes per game last year....likely off bench....

Jordan Mclemore....played about 12 minutes per game last year....likely off bench...

New players:

Nina Farkic....transfer from Western Mich....maybe sit out if not will start

Abby Streeter....transfer from URI....maybe sit out if not will start

Carmen Villalobos...frosh....probably start

Irene Primo....frosh.....probably start

Kaela Dothard...frosh

Wow, I just don't know what to say about all that. I highly doubt any team in the country has had such a lack of returning playing time. That is just crazy. Thank you for breaking the roster down like that as I had no idea what Hartford had coming back nor did I remember all those injuries.

Hopefully Coach Valley can bring that program back up.

 

[lsbal]

I listened to a podcast that Coach Gal was on. A few notes:

He expects 2 freshman to e 4 year starters.

Moses Flowers

Miroslav Stafl 6’10 from Czech Republic. Said Georgia tech was recruiting him.

Expects this to be their best defensive team. Much more athletic.

 

[South End]

Interesting that we hadn't heard anything about Stafl until the roster was released. If Stafl and Flowers earn starting spots, I assume they would join Carter, Ellison and Kingman. Starting five would be 3 transfers and 2 freshmen.

 

[RazorRamon]

anxious to see whether the hype is real with these new additions...

 

[lsbal]

Interesting that we hadn't heard anything about Stafl until the roster was released. If Stafl and Flowers earn starting spots, I assume they would join Carter, Ellison and Kingman. Starting five would be 3 transfers and 2 freshmen.

I haven’t heard much about Kingman but I have heard that Hunter Marks is going to be a pleasant surprise. I think 3 possible lineups:

Carter
Ellison
Flowers
Kingman
Stafl

Carter
Ellison
Flowers
Stafl
Sullivan

Carter
Ellison
Flowers
Marks
Stafl

 

[lsbal]

anxious to see whether the hype is real with these new additions...

Me too!

I follow flowers Instagram account. He posts some amazing dunks on there.

 

[RazorRamon]

Me too!

I follow flowers Instagram account. He posts some amazing dunks on there.

AJ Gray also has been getting hyped up on twitter as well, kid has some hops... if all these guys end up being for real, they will actually be a nice surprise in conference play...

 

[lsbal]

AJ Gray also has been getting hyped up on twitter as well, kid has some hops... if all these guys end up being for real, they will actually be a nice surprise in conference play...

Yeah his highlight reel is quite athletically impressive. Gray though isn’t a fresh until next year.

No idea what we really have this year or if they mesh well but hopefully there is some talent.

 

[lsbal]

In listening to a podcast tha Gal was on recently from what I gather the players look like this.

Carter-start
Ellison-start
Stafl-frosh center...said best offensive center he has recruited. 6’9 250
Flowers-sounds like he will be a good one
Marks-6’9 sounds like he is expected to take a leap forward in his soph year

Henry-sounds like this frosh pg is gaining to get time. Gal said lightening quick and doesn’t turn the ball over.
Colovic will be backup center to Stafl. Has not missed a shot since fresh year ( shot 10-10 from the field last year).
Sullivan-7’2 transfer from Lasalle he said he will have a role. Sounds like he needs to work for playing time.
Williams- he didn’t mention him so I am assuming this Marist transfer is sitting out this year.
Kingman-juco- I do not think he mentioned him.
Mitchel-will play some backup minutes
Dunne-will also play some backup minutes
Bonus-said playing well in preseason. Will have to fight for minutes.
Stepanyats-didn’t mention him.

 

[NotDeadYet]

If Dunne is playing "backup minutes" then Hartford has better starting players, so we can expect better overall performance. Gallagher is, in my opinion, a better coach than Dempsey or Herrion. If he has the players he can win the games.

The AE below UVM, UA and SBU looks potentially very competitive to me. Except for Bing and UNH and maybe Maine.

 

[catpower]

If Dunne is playing "backup minutes" then Hartford has better starting players, so we can expect better overall performance. Gallagher is, in my opinion, a better coach than Dempsey or Herrion. If he has the players he can win the games.

The AE below UVM, UA and SBU looks potentially very competitive to me. Except for Bing and UNH and maybe Maine.

Just so we're clear: He's talking Michael Dunne, not Jason. Older bro graduated. Little bro is a walk on.

 

[NotDeadYet]

Just so we're clear: He's talking Michael Dunne, not Jason. Older bro graduated. Little bro is a walk on.

Oh. Well, uh...

 

[lsbal]

I assume he is a walk-on but I see Cameron McCravy a 6’0 guard from North Carolina was added to the roster. Video on him.

 

[RazorRamon]

Henry and Moses look legit in their first 2 games. Traci Carter hasn't shot well, hope he can start sinking them in. Games like last night make you realize how badly they miss a 'go-to' down the stretch in Ellison. Long season to go, but they have shown some nice flashes so far. The future of this team looks bright as long as they all stay with Hartford

 

[vtballerfan]

for AE Fantasy purposes, anyone know how long Ellison will be out? There is not injury news on Fantrax

 

[RazorRamon]

someone posted earlier could be a multi week absence. He's in a boot, so that could mean anywhere from a week to 2-3 weeks. Hopefully he's back next week