Here are 3 things to know about UNCW basketball ahead of 2024-25 season

Posted by Admin October 23, 2024 Basketball

With just 12 days until the UNCW men’s basketball team gets its 2024-25 regular season underway, it’s time to look at the Seahawks’ revamped squad this season

After another terrific regular season (21-9) last winter, UNCW was a one-and-done in the Coastal Athletic Conference tournament, a mark that extended their NCAA Tournament absence to seven consecutive seasons.

The last time UNCW went dancing was under the reign of current NC State coach Kevin Keatts, but could that change this season?

With a revamped roster and one of its most advantageous schedules in recent memory, the Seahawks are ready to turn the tides. Here are three things you should know ahead of the team’s Nov. 4 regular season matchup with Mount Olive.

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New look roster for UNCW basketball

While seven new faces were signed to UNCW’s roster this offseason, a few steady hands are returning.

Junior Noah Ross, who averaged just 3.5 points per game last season, should step into a more prominent role.

“I feel like I’ve taken a leap,” Ross told the StarNews. “Being older now, the game’s started to slow down.”

Graduate student Donovan Newby (7.3 ppg) and junior Nolan Hodge (4 ppg) are also back. They round out a core that adds transfer guards Greedy Williams (Chipola College, JUCO) and Elijah Jamison (Miluwakie).

“We wanted to go back to trying to make our roster look like (It did in the 2022 season) and add more depth to it,” UNCW coach Takayo Siddle said. “We just wanted to upgrade in every area.”

Going big

UNCW’s biggest offseason acquisitions are, well, big.

Standing 7 feet tall and weighing about 280 pounds, junior forward Harlan Obioha is in from Niagra, where he averaged 10.3 points and 7.8 rebounds last season.

The post specialist has had a curious journey to collegiate basketball as he was also one of the top high school offensive linemen recruits in the state of Kansas. While many thought he might follow football, Harlan says basketball was always his first love.

“I had everyone telling me I was making a huge mistake,” the junior said of his decision to pursue basketball collegiately.

“Coming to a place like Wilmington is completely different. It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to, something that I dreamed of. This is what college basketball really is. It’s Wilmington.”

The Seahawks also picked up Makoi Mabor Marier, an in-state high school basketball recruit who stands just shy of seven feet. Born in South Sudan, Marrier averaged 17.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks at Gaston Christian Academy in Gastonia last year.

It’s been a long time since UNCW has had this type of size, something Siddle knows will work to the team’s advantage this season.

“It’s the biggest team we’ve ever coached,” Siddle said. “The style that we’ve tried to create, going to the glass with extreme force … we wanted to try and prepare for some of the better teams in our league.”

Winning in tournament season

Despite three straight 21+ win seasons, the Seahawks losing spell in the CAA tournament continues.

“The main thing is for us just to do the next thing well,” Siddle said. “We really can’t think about the conference tournament right now. It’s all about the next thing in front of us.”

What’s next for UNCW is its regular season opener at Trask Coliseum on Monday, Nov. 4 against Mount Olive. The Seahawks will host Georgia Southern on Friday, Nov. 8, before a two-game road stretch featuring the anticipated contest with Kansas.

Find UNCW’s full schedule here.