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 Images /

Overview for UMBC this upcoming season

The UMBC Retrievers will have a hard time replacing prolific scorer Jairus Lyles in 2018-19, but they should still be a competitive bunch in the America East Conference. Arkel Lamar and Joe Sherburne both look primed for breakout seasons after getting a taste of the NCAA Tournament. It was the Retrievers’ first visit to the Big Dance in a decade, if they hope to do it again, they’ll need to win their conference.

The Vermont Catamounts and the Hartford Hawks will be their biggest competition in the conference this upcoming season. The Retrievers went 3-0 against Hartford and 1-2 against the Catamounts last season. Vermont defeated UMBC, 81-53, on Feb. 3 during regular season conference play but the Retrievers were undeterred in the conference tournament.

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A last-second 3-point shot from Jairus Lyles with 0.5 seconds left in the America East Conference championship game gave UMBC an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament on March 10. The UMBC Retrievers will need more of those heroics to remain atop the America East in 2018-19. Odom is 46-24 (.657) so far in the America East through two seasons as head coach. Look for a new star to emerge for his squad this upcoming season, especially as March approaches.

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