UMBC Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Retrievers

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 16: Josh Rosario #1 of the UMBC Retrievers reacts from the bench during the second half of their game against the Virginia Cavaliers during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 16, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

Projected starters

Arkel Lamar and Joe Sherburne are both back for the UMBC Retrievers after averaging double figures in scoring in 2017-18. Lamar averaged 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 assists per game in 33 appearances (30 starts) last season. Sherburne put up 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per contest through 36 appearances (29 starts). Sophomore forward Daniel Akin will also be back after starting in 20 of his 36 appearances in 2017-18. They will be prepared to have things on lock on the perimeter and inside, but they’ll need some backcourt help.

Guards Josh Rosario and Isaiah Rogers combined to appear in 19 games last season, so minutes could be aplenty for newcomers Jack Schweitz, R.J. Eytle-Rock and Jose Placer. Providence transfer Ricky Council II will also be in the mix after sitting out the 2017-18 season due to transfer rules. Eytle-Rock and Placer are most likely to emerge as starting candidates.

Eytle-Rock is a 6-foot-4 guard from England with the ability to play either guard spot. Placer is a Puerto Rican native that recently finished participating in the FIBA U18 Americas Championship where he averaged 11.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game.

Their point of attack may come from their frontcourt in 2018-19, but the approach will remain the same: Be an efficient team from 3-point range. The Retrievers ranked 32nd in the NCAA last season in 3-point percentage as a team (38.7 percent). They went 12-of-24 (50 percent) in their rout of No. 1 seed Virginia in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

The Retrievers will look to develop more firepower in 2018-19. Sherburne and Lamar are good starting points. Lamar shot 42.6 percent from 3-point land in last while Sherburne shot 41.2 percent from behind the arc and finished second on the team with 77 makes last season.

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