Monmouth Hawks (0-0, 0-0 MAAC) vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks (0-0, 0-0 Patriot)
Tuesday, November 6, 2018 | 8:30pm ET
OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, NJÂ
MEDIA INFORMATION
TV: ESPN3/Watch ESPN
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhipinti
Analyst: Steve Bazaz
Sideline: Suzi Mellano
RADIO
WMCX 88.9FM
Play-by-Play: Matt DeLuca
Analyst: Ryan Waldis
MAAC PRESEASON
Deion Hammond was named to the 2018 MAAC All-Rookie team after a freshman campaign that saw him lead MU in total points scored with 371, good for 12 points per game in his first season. He started 23 of 31 contests, making 123 shots, most on the team, as well as a team-best 76 triples. His 783 minutes marked second on the team, and he was third on the Blue and White with 24 steals. Monmouth was selected fifth in the league's preseason coaches' poll, with in-state foe Rider chosen first with all 11 first-place votes.
WHAT THE HAWKS LOST
Monmouth loses 37.1% of its scoring from a season ago, primarily led by guards Micah Seaborn and Austin Tilghman, who accounted for 579 points between them. Zac Tillman also contributed 209 points from the center position.
WHAT THE HAWKS BRING BACK
Monmouth returns 1,468 of the 2,336 points the team scored last season, meaning that Monmouth brings back 63.9% of its scoring from 2017-18. Monmouth's top total point scorer, Deion Hammond, is back as are three of MU's top six in scoring last year in Ray Salnave, Louie Pillari and Diago Quinn.
HAWKS AGAINST TOP COMPETITION
MU will see two teams in the non-conference that were ranked in the AP Top 25 to start the season, including the #2 ranked University of Kentucky at Rupp Arena at the end of November. MU took on the Wildcats last season at Madison Square Garden. Also ranked is #13 West Virginia, a team the Hawks will see on the first day of the Myrtle Beach Invi- tational. Monmouth will play 13 non-conference opponents, and of the 11 that MU already knows, none of them were chosen lower than fourth in their league's preseason poll. That includes two teams selected to win their league (Le- high-Patriot, Kentucky-SEC) and three more selected in second (St. Joe's-A10, Bucknell-Patriot, Penn-Ivy). In addition, if MU were to play Western Kentucky in the second round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational, the Hilltoppers were chosen to win Conference USA this season.
TAKING ON NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS
The Blue and White are slated to play four teams in non-conference play that qualified for the 2018 NCAA Tournament, with a potential fifth. Only seven teams nationally are slated for more than four including MAAC-rival Canisius (5) and several power-five programs, including North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, and Florida. MU will take on preseason ranked teams West Virginia and Kentucky, as well as league champions Bucknell and Penn. MU could play a fifth NCAA team from last season at the Myrtle Beach Invitational if they play Cal State Fullerton in the bracketed event. The Titans qualified by winning the Big West Conference last season.
STAFF CHANGES
King Rice had a few changes on his coaching staff during the offseason, with former assistant coach Duane Woodward moving on to the Seton Hall. Ex-NBA first-round pick and North Carolina All-American JR Reid joined the staff as an assistant, as did former Hawk captain Josh James in the Director of Basketball Operations role. Dan Murphy also came aboard as the Special Assistant to the Head Coach.
NEWCOMERS
Six new players enter the floor this season for the Blue and White, led by a pair of transfers to go along with four fresh- men. Nick Rutherford is eligible at the guard spot after sitting his NCAA-mandated season following his transfer from Florida Atlantic where he averaged 8.1 points per game for the Owls. Former University of Virginia guard Trevon Gross Jr. enters the fold along with four true freshmen. Nikkei Rutty comes in as a big man from Trinity-Pawling, while Samuel Chaput comes from a Saint Anthony's in Texas after growing up in Quebec. Dave Calloway Jr., son of Monmouth Athletics Hall of Famer Dave Calloway, and Mike James Jr., also come in at the guard spot for MU.
THE LONE SENIOR
Diago Quinn is the lone returning senior on the MU roster, back for his fourth and final season with the Hawks. Quinn averaged 6.8 points per game at the center spot a year ago, starting 27 of 31 contests and leading the Blue and White with 19 blocks while shooting 51% from the field on the year. Quinn's 17.8 minutes per night led all Hawks big men.
PAPAS SHOOTS IT FROM THE OUTSIDE
George Papas contributed from beyond the arc as a true freshman, making 16 field goals, 13 of which came from three- point land. Of his 43 field goal attempts on the year, 34 of them came from deep. The wing also made nine-of-11 free throw attempts.
STARTING LINEUPS BY THE GAME
Monmouth has started the seventh most lineup combinations in the country with 15 last season. Every player on the roster with the exception of Sam Ibiezugbe started a contest, and every freshman started at least once. MU returns 105 starts from a season ago, led by 27 from center Diago Quinn and 23 from guard Deion Hammond.
