Take A Knee’s 2009-10 SBC Basketball Preview

UL – Monroe Warhawks

Probable Starters

PG. Tony Hooper 5’11”  175 Sr.
(8.0ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg)

SG. Dynile Forbes 6’2” 185 Sr.
(11.0ppg, 2.4rpg, 0.7apg)

SF. Malcolm Thomas 6’6” 195 Sr.
(12.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 0.8apg)

PF. Lawrence Gilbert 6’7”  200 Jr.
(10.9ppg, 5.0rpg, 0.7apg)

C. Rudy Turner 6’8” 275 Jr.
(10.2ppg, 6.8rpg, 0.3apg)

ULM Certainties:

Options.

Forbes, Gilbert, Turner and Thomas all averaged double figures last season. Jarvis Hill (6’2” 210 Sr.) started 28 games and had a very strong start to the season. Hooper is a proven talent back after a… Ummm… Ahem, foot injury. And coach Orlando Early has added to his wing arsenal with a couple of talented JUCOs in Hugh Mingo (6’3” 185 Jr.) and Tommie Sykes (6’4” 200 Jr.).

ULM has a bevy of options. Early’s mission, one that he has failed to accomplish for the past 2 seasons, is to find the right combination.

ULM Questions:

Point Guard.  The 1 position has been a revolving door since Brandon Roberts’ injury as a freshman that essentially ended his career.

This season’s options:  A former walk-on, a Division II JC transfer, an under-performing sophomore, or a shoot first, shoot second, shoot third senior.

A Nice Luxury Would Be:

If Tony Hooper is a changed man.

Hooper may indeed have injured his foot, but fact is he (and guard Kenneth Averette) were kicked off the team last year… And while I can’t confirm this, based on my assessment of the ULM roster he seems to be playing his senior season without a scholarship.  Hooper is an all-conference caliber talent capable of big scoring nights, and should be the leader for the Warhawks.

This Team is Special If…:

Orlando Early has mastered advanced chemistry.

ULM’s division winning 2006-07 season is looking more and more as though Early caught lightning in a bottle… Especially considering the following season saw the return of all the key cogs of that squad, but resulted in a disappointing 10-21 record.

Early certainly has pieces to work with. Turner has turned a developmental corner and is one of the better posts in the conference, and these wings can score. The question remains, though… Can Early find a way to put it all together?

Email the author: jhemingway.sbc@gmail.com