By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
MONROE, La. – The regular season is fast approaching for a ULM basketball team that promises to move at a quicker pace too this year.
"The main thing that's different is, last year we were a little slower," said sophomore guard
Michael Ertel, the returning Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. "This year we're more athletic. We go up and down a lot more with a lot more dunks and lob plays. That's the main thing."
The Warhawks give fans a sneak peek with their home exhibition game on Nov. 1 against Henderson State (7 p.m.) before playing the season opener on Nov. 6 at Jackson State (7 p.m.). ULM's first home game against Millsaps tips off at noon on Nov. 10.
"I'm starting to feel it," ULM coach
Keith Richard said. "Our team is evolving. Even as far back as this summer and it's still true today, we've got good guard play. I still feel it every day in practice. We've got numerous guards and that will ultimately be the strength of our team."
Travis Munnings, a second-team All-Sun Belt selection who led the Warhawks in scoring (15.9 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg), likes what he's seeing in practice.
"I see a good team," Munnings said. "I think we'll be very quick and very active. We've got a lot of talent and guys who can play multiple positions. I feel like we won't have situations where we go four or five minutes without scoring. We have aggressive guys, who are athletic."
Beyond the presumptive headliners like Munnings, Ertel and highly-anticipated Wichita State transfer
Daishon Smith, Richard noted three players who are carving out important roles this preseason.
"
Jontray Harris, the graduate transfer from Oral Roberts has had a good camp," Richard said. "He's going to end up being an important player for us.
"
Brandon Newman, who played for us last year and played about nine or 10 minutes a game, has had a real solid fall camp. He's going to be in the mix.
"And
Wade Martin is starting to come along. He didn't play last year due to an injury. He had surgery and didn't play the whole year. He's starting to come on a little bit.
"Those three guys have really caught my eye."
The squad caught a tough break in preseason drills recently as
Youry White, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound center from Copiah–Lincoln suffered a season-ending knee injury. White's injury comes after the surprise defection of 6-10
Sam Alabakis, who accepted an offer to play professional Australian Rules Football instead of returning to the team as expected.
"This past week,
Youry White tore his meniscus and had surgery, and he's out for the year," Richard said. "So, we're getting a little thin in there."
Now, Richard is counting on more from Hill College transfer
Andre Washington (6-8, 195), along with a more versatile role for
Tyree White.
"(Washington) been in the mix all along," Richard said. "
Andre Washington is getting more and more acclimated to the way we like to do things and the way we want to play. He's also been a pleasant surprise.
"We're going to have to move
Tyree White from playing the four to play some center as well. We've just got to adjust. Rebounding is a little bit of a concern for us, with losing those guys in particular. But these things happen, and it's part of sports. I've never been one to dwell on the loss of players due to injury. Let's find a way to make it work."
Last year, ULM finished 16-16 overall, 9-9 in the Sun Belt and reached the conference tournament quarterfinals. The Warhawks won eight of their last 11 regular-season games and extended their season with a berth in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, where they lost to Austin Peay in the opening game.
"I'm excited to come back for my senior year," Munnings said. "I want to complete unfinished business and try to make it to the NCAA Tournament. I want to compete at a high level and try to push my team to be the best it can be."
