America East Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season
6. UMass Lowell Riverhawks
Projected Starters
Guards – Obadiah Noel (SR), Ron Mitchell (SO), Bryce Daley (JR)
Forwards – Connor Withers (SO), Allin Blunt (JR)
Bench – Kalil Thomas (SO), Salif Boudie (GR), Charlie Russell Jr (SO), Darion Jordan-Thomas (SO), Anthony Blunt (FR), Max Brooks (FR), Richie Greaves (FR), Caleb Bates (FR)
Coming off a 13-19 overall record with a 7-9 conference record in 2019-20, the Rivercats will be back for their 8th season at the Division I level. UMass Lowell has never finished above .500 in conference play, even though they have posted back-to-back seasons at 7-9 in the conference.
Last season’s team consisted of an elite-shooting team that finished first in the conference on offense. In 2019-20, the Riverhawks averaged 74.6 points per game, while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor.
However, on the defensive side of the ball, UMass Lowell struggled as they allowed an average of 76 points per game to opponents while allowing their opponents to shoot 46.3 percent from the floor.
One example of the Riverhawks’ struggles defensively could be summed up when UMass Lowell allowed 104 points in their first meeting to Maine. The Black Bears ranked last in the conference in scoring in 2019-20. Obviously, the main point of emphasis that the Riverhawks will need to improve on this season will be their defense.
Meanwhile, offensively UMass Lowell will be looking to fill in the holes to its offseason departures. The biggest loss this offseason was when Second-Team All-Conference guard, Christian Lutete (19.3 ppg, 7 rpg), graduated from the program. Lutete was impressive all season long, leading the Riverhawks in scoring, rebounding, and shooting. Lutete’s biggest game was when he scored a career-high 51 points last season against Long Island University.
Lutete happens to be one of the top two efficient scorers to graduate from last season’s roster. The second player being a four-year starting guard, Josh Gantz (8.5 ppg). Gantz converted on 51.4 percent of his shots while making 18-of-23 shots during a two-game stretch in late February.
The last player of significance that the Riverhawks lost in the offseason was point guard Jordyn Owens (5.8 ppg, 3 apg). Owens started 17 games last season and led UMass Lowell in assists per game. He decided to transfer in the offseason.
As for what the roster will look like for this season, First-Team All-Conference guard, Obadiah Noel (18.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg) will be back. Noel will have to be the senior leader on the court this season for the Riverhawks to make a positive impact. Noel and Stef Smith from Vermont are the only two First-Team selections that will return to the conference this season.
As for Noel, he is looking to build off an outstanding 2019-20 season where consistency was the key. He scored double-digit point totals in every game but one last season. Noel even proved that he could score against tougher opponents. He scored 15 points against Ohio State and 16 points against Michigan, with both games shooting 50 percent from the floor.
Defensively, Noel shined for the Riverhawks, averaging 1.7 steals per game last season. I expect Noel to average 20-plus points per game this season. He should be due for a massive year.
Head coach Pat Duquette will also bring back Ron Mitchell (8.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.2 apg) to the team. Mitchell is a future rising guard looking to make the second-year jump this season for the Riverhawks. He played meaningful minutes as a freshman and will look to string together a more consistent season.
The last guard I predict in the starting lineup UMass Lowell is junior Bryce Daley (3.4 ppg, 2.6 apg 2018-19). He missed last season due to injury, but started nine games during the 2018-19 season, scoring a career-high 16 points against Albany.
As for the two starters at forward, I project that Connor Withers (9.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) will be the rising player to watch this season. Withers, a 2020 All-Rookie Team selection, has the opportunity to build off a spectacular freshman season. He averaged 29.3 minutes per game and was a productive shooter converting on 50.9 percent of his shots.
One positive takeaway from Withers’ freshman season was a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds against Ohio State. If Withers can take the much-needed steps up in year two, UMass Lowell could find themselves even higher on this list with Noel’s preseason expectations.
The last player I predict in the Riverhawks starting five is junior forward, Allin Blunt (3.6 ppg). Blunt started four games last season averaging 15 minutes per game. He received an uptick in minutes towards the end of the season.
In my projected starting five, UMass Lowell’s roster is undersized compared to the other teams in the conference. Both of the forwards are listed at 6-7, so I don’t expect UMass Lowell to have a traffic season rebounding since the Riverhawks’ leading rebounder Lutete graduated in the offseason.
However, UMass Lowell should be able to get some help from 6-8 forward Salif Boudie, who is a grad transfer from Arkansas State. Boudie, a native from Mali, is a career 64.2 percent shooter, converting on all two-point shots.
The Riverhawks have never finished a season at the Division I level with a winning record. Replacing Lutete is going to be a difficult task. However, I predict that Noel is going to have a massive season and will carry UMass Lowell.
I also expect Withers to take the steps upward to be the second-best player on the roster behind Noel. This season, I predict the Riverhawks to finish around mid-pack in the America East.