The hardest aspect of last season for Darryl Proctor, Ray Barbosa and Cavell Johnson was the waiting.
The trio all watched from the sideline as UMBC went 12-19, including 7-9 in the America East Conference. The three players were helpless as the lossess mounted, as each was forced to sit out a year after transferring from other schools to follow NCAA rules.
But now their wait is over ? and it couldn?t have ended at a better time for UMBC, which is coming off its best record in seven years. Proctor, Barbosa and Johnson are all transfers who bring a wealth of extensive Division I experience and should provide Retrievers coach Randy Monroe with his best team since being hired at the end of the 2003-04 season.
“We definitely have a lot more options this year,” Monroe said. “But how we do overall this year will depend on how the team does with the little battles both on and off the court. By putting the work in during practice and avoiding distractions off the court, the wins will come.”
UMBC?s transfers should account for about 40 points per game, based on the players? previous averages. Leading the group is Proctor, a forward and former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, who averaged 15.2 points and 9.2 rebounds at Coppin State.
Johnson and Barbosa, both seniors transferred to UMBC from James Madison. Johnson, a 6-foot forward, averaged 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds two years ago. Barbosa, a 6-foot-2 guard,scored nearly 10 points a game for the Dukes as a junior.
“Sitting out last year made us even hungrier,” Proctor said. “We?re looking forward to getting out there and helping make the team better.”
Monroe said he is also excited to see how his new players blend with his returning players. Two starters are back in guard Jay Greene and forward Justin Fry, but the Retrievers? top scorer from last season was guard Brian Hodges. A 6-foot-3 senior, Hodges gave UMBC nearly 15 points per game off the bench.
UMBC opens its season Nov. 10 with a non-conference game against St. Peter?s, and opens its conference schedule at Stony Brook on Jan. 10. The Retrievers also have a number of challenging non-conference games including at West Virginia (Dec. 15) and at 2007 NCAA tournament finalist Ohio State (Dec. 29).
“We have a lot more scoring depth this year,” Johnson said. “While we didn?t play together on the court last year, we got to practice together and learn the system. We?re ready to play.”
RETRIEVERS AT A GLANCE
» Coach: Randy Monroe (Fourth season 33-57)
» Last Year: 12-19 overall, 7-9 America East. Lost to Vermont, 72-63, in conference tournament semifinals.
» Returning players: G Jay Greene, 5-8, 9.6 ppg, 5.3 apg; F Justin Greene 5.6 ppg, 1.1 bpg; G Brian Hodges, 6-3, 14.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg; F Uwem Eshietedoho, 6-8, 1.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg; G Matt Spatafora, 6-5, 1.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg; F Tyler Massey, 6-10, 0.3 ppg, 0.4 ppg.
» Top Newcomer: F Darryl Proctor. The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds a game two years ago at Coppin State. Those numbers would have led UMBC last year.
» Big Game: Dec. 29 at Ohio State. This should be the toughest game on the Retrievers? schedule as they travel to take on the Buckeyes, who advanced to the NCAA tournament title game last season.
» Key to the Season: Defense. Lastseason, the Retrievers were eighth in the nine-team America East in field goal percentage defense (.446) and last in three-point field goal percentage defense (.386).
» Tickets: $10 adults, $6 children. For information call (410) 455-2205
Key number: 38.4. Combined points averaged per game two years ago by transfers Proctor, Cavell Johnson and Ray Barbosa.
? Ron Snyder
