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 Jared C. Tilton/Getty Imagesn /

Key reserves

The UMBC Retrievers have some guaranteed experience off the bench in 2018-19. 6-foot-10 big man Nolan Gerrity averaged 2.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 35 appearances last year. He didn’t get a whole lot of playing time in 2017-18, but he should be looked upon to lighten the load on the interior for UMBC this upcoming season.

Senior forward Max Portmann will log some quality minutes, even without a starting role this upcoming season. Portmann made 21 appearances in 2017-18, averaging 10.9 minutes per game. Rising junior Max Curran should see an uptick in minutes as well. He produced 4.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 21 appearances last season. He put up a career-high 21 points along with 10 rebounds last season against Central Pennsylvania College as a starter, but by season’s end, he was a reserve off the bench.

As mentioned earlier, the Retrievers will have a good number of guards to work with. Ricky Council II could emerge as the first man off the bench after getting a season under his belt in 2017-18. Jack Schweitz will look to find his role as well. UMBC was a team that went seven to eight players deep consistently last season. That should be the case this upcoming season but don’t surprised if they go even deeper and test their youth.

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