Only two of his players have starting experience, and both are forwards. Tommie Sykes is a 6-7 senior and the leading returning scorer (10.4) and rebounder (5.3). He had seven starts. Gilbert, who started 26 games, was about a point and rebound behind.
Of the other returnees, only one, center Fabio Ribeiro, saw any time. He played in only six games before going out with an injury. Guards Hugh Mingo (injury) and Fred Brown (transfer) did not play at all.
"Any time there is a transition or turnover in staff, the returners are very critical to the success or the failure of the next year," Richard said. "So far, these five have done a nice job, in particular Lawrence Gilbert, who has taken to us and bought in."
There is one advantage with all the new faces. Few old habits will have to be broken.
"I'm bringing a new offensive system here-a new terminology, some of the stuff we did at LSU," said Richard, who had a nine-year run as head coach at Louisiana Tech before going to Baton Route. "I'm excited about coaching it."
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GETTING INSIDE
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Strategy And Personnel??
Probable Starting Lineup:?? G Fred Brown, G Hugh Mingo, F Lawrence Gilbert, F Tommie Sykes, C Fabio Ribeiro.
Lineup Breakdown:?? Sykes (10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) is the leading returning scorer and rebounder for the Warhawks, and Gilbert (9.6, 4.5) is the only other returning starter. The other positions are essentially up for grabs, but Brown, a transfer from Kansas State, likely will earn one of them. He played on NIT and NCAA teams for the Wildcats. Riberio is coming off a foot injury.
Scouting The Newcomers:?? Newcomers will have the opportunity to make an impact on the Warhawks. Junior college G Hugh Mingo, who sat out last season with a leg injury, averaged 12.0 ppg his second season at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas. Backcourt help arrives in the form of freshman G R.J. McCray from Arlington, Texas, and G Marcells Hansberry, from Jackson, Miss. F Bibi Ndongo is a 6-9 post player who transferred from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Ill. He is from Cameroon. F Ife Eke, a 6-7 freshman, averaged a double-double his senior year at Northwest Rankin High in Jackson, Miss.
Roster Report:??
?? G Charles Winborne, a 6-0 sophomore, will sit out the 2010-11 season after transferring from Loyola-Chicago. Winborne was a prep standout at Shreveport but played only in seven games at Loyola.
?? G Fred Brown is eligible after sitting out last season following his transfer from Kansas State. The junior had two starts for the Wildcats as a sophomore while playing in all 34 games (8.1 ppg, 1.3 apg) in 2008-09.
?? Freshman JaMichael Goodin, a 6-0 freshman, and G Lonell Reeves, a 5-10 junior, earned spots on the roster as walkons. Reeves played one season at Danville CC in Danville, Ill. Goodin is hometown product from Monroe's Wossman High. ULM is down a scholarship because of NCAA penalties stemming from academic issues.
?? C Rudy Turner, a 6-9 junior who started 26 of 31 games last year, transferred to McNeese State. He averaged 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds a game for the Warhawks.
?? C Fabio Riberio had one start in six games for the Warhawks last season before going out for the rest of the season with foot injury. The transfer from New Mexico Junior College and native of Brazil received a medical hardship waiver and will still have two seasons of eligibility.
