Take A Knee’s 2009-10 SBC Basketball Preview

New Orleans Privateers

Probable Starters

PG. Devin McDonald 6’0” 185 Jr.
(10.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.3apg @ San Jacinto College)

SG. Billy Humphrey 6’3” 195 Sr.
(12.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 1.7apg – 2007-08 @ Georgia)

SF. Charles Carmouche 6’2” 175 Soph.
(3.5ppg, 2.4rpg, 1.3apg)

PF. Ejike Hart 6’8” 225 Sr.
(2.8ppg, 4.8rpg, 0.5apg)

C. Jaroslav Tyrna 6’10″ 225 Jr.
(6.5ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.5apg)

UNO Certainties:

Humphrey.  Billy Humphrey was a 3 year contributor at UGA and will slide directly into the starting line-up for the Privateers, as well as Newcomer of the Year and all-conference discussion.  Humphrey was predominantly a three point specialist in his first 2 seasons for UGA, but developed a more all-round game as a junior as his role expanded.  With the lack of scorers on the UNO roster, Humphrey will have the chance to put up Bo McCalebb like scoring numbers.

UNO Questions:

A dependable second option. Then, a third option.  The Privateers return just 2 of their top 7 scorers from last season. If you add their points per game together, you’d just brush double figures (Tyrna 6.5ppg, Carmouche 3.5ppg).

2 graduations and 4 players leaving the program, guard Darrian McKinstry (10ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.7apg) and redshirt center Jacolby Pittman the most vital early departures, have left Joe Pasternak with a patch work of unproven players to play around Humphrey.

A Nice Luxury Would Be:

A big man developing a consistent offensive game.  There are many concerns about the New Orleans basketball program, but a lack of size is not one of them.  Pasternak will have 5 players 6’8” or better available, but only one has shown any flashes of an offensive game that isn’t exclusively an offensive rebound and put back.

Tyrna is the most likely candidate for a breakout… He upped his production significantly as a sophomore and has confidence out to the three point line.  If he can piece together a double figure scoring campaign it would take significant pressure off of Humphrey.

This Team is Special if…:

I don’t know… Reverse Katrina?  I really don’t see a way this team makes it way out of the SBC basement this season.  Humphrey is a plus-talent, and Pasternak will have his team playing tough basketball. But it is going to take some unexpected newcomer contributions or some unrealistic improvements from several returnees just to make this team competitive.

Email the author: jhemingway.sbc@gmail.com