Ul-monroe

Censored by Laurie · October 8, 2007

Orlando Early is quietly building a very strong basketball program in Monroe. Picked to finish near the bottom of the SBC in their first year up from the Southland Conference, the Warhawks surprised everybody by winning the West division regular season title...and many publications have them picked to defend.

Projected Starters:

PG. Brandon Roberts 6'0" 175 Soph.
SG. Tony Hooper 5'11" 165 Jr.
SF. Jonas Brown 6'3" 180 Sr.
PF. Lance Brasher 6'2" 215 Sr.
C. Afam Nweke 6'7" 220 Jr.

Frontcourt: I feel there should be quotation marks around the title of this section. There were points last season when Orlando Early ran out five players 6'5" or under, and a 6'2" power forward is non-traditional at best. Lance Brasher (6'2" 215 Sr.) will again see time up front in Early's four guard line-ups, and should see continued success in that role. Brasher averaged 10.4 points per game last season and finished second on the team with 5.8 boards per contest. A former walk-on, the "Bulldog" earned his nickname with his physical and scrappy play, collecting six double-doubles all while having to match up with players a half a foot taller than him. Brasher will have some actual forwards up front with him. Afam Nweke (6'7" 220 Jr.) started 26 games last season, and the active forward understands his role in Early's system. Nweke led the Warhawks in rebounds (6.9rpg) and blocks (18), scoring the majority of his points (5.1ppg) off of his team high 88 offensive rebounds. Gerard Jackson (6'5" 240 Sr.) became a key reserve once he gained his eligibility last January. The bruising, undersized forward contributed 7.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in Monroe's last 11 games, including 3 double figure scoring games. Dalky Melendez (6’8” 200 Jr.) had a solid freshman campaign, however he found his production dip last season (3.1ppg, 2.1rpg) as he found himself in Early’s doghouse most of the season. If things are patched up, Melendez will be a key contributor off the bench, if not, look for one of two talented freshmen to see significant minutes in the frontcourt. Raphael Turner (6’9” 260) is the closest thing to a legit post on the Warhawk roster and Mitchell Hampton (6’7” 220) is a strong and athletic and a solid defender. Nathaniel Roche’ (6’8” 230 Soph.) saw limited action last season and walk-on David Garrison (6’7” 200 Jr.) will give Early more frontcourt options than he had last season. Lawrence Gilbert (6’7” 201 Jr.) will sit out this season after transferring from Miami. The former Rivals 4 star recruit will be an immediate impact player up front in 2008.

Backcourt: As much as anybody in our little guard oriented conference, UL-Monroe relies heavily on its backcourt. Leading the way is Tony Hooper (5’11 165 Jr.). Hooper paced the Warhawk attack with 15.4 points per game, but was a horribly streaky shooter who took more than half of his shots from behind the 19’9”. If Hooper can pick up where he left off last season (26.0 ppg in last four games) he can be an all conference performer. Brandon Roberts (6’0” 175 Soph.) is the only true point guard on the roster, and while Monroe didn’t skip a beat when he went down with a season ending ACL injury, having him back in the line-up will make the Warhawks all the more dangerous. Roberts was off to a strong freshman campaign (9.7ppg, 4.7apg), and will be the catalyst for this talented backcourt. Jonas Brown (6’3” 180 Sr.) was steady when pressed into the point guard role, but is most dangerous on the wing. Brown was an adequate outside shooter (35.8% from 3pt), but his strength is as a slasher and getting to the free throw line, where he led the team in attempts (114). Jordan Payne (6’3” 170 Sr.) filled the role of sixth man last season for the Warhawks, and will likely see the same roll this year. And why not? Payne is instant offense off the bench, finishing second on the Warhawks with 12.4 ppg, and leading the team in three point field goal percentage (60 of 150, 40%). Sei Paye (6’3” 170 Fr.) will be the heir apparent in the Monroe backcourt. A solid guard with good size who shoots and handles the ball well, Paye and Roberts give the Warhawks a solid future in the backcourt, but with the depth Early has, Paye will see limited action this season. Walk-on Drew Meyerchuk saw limited action last season, but will provide depth.

Overall: UL-Monroe returns 95% of its scoring from a team that won 18 games and a regular season division title. Guard play clearly drives this club, Hooper, Brown, Payne, Roberts, Brasher and Paye all defend, shoot and rebound well and will be the key to Monroe’s success. However, Nweke, a full season with Gerard Jackson and two strong incoming freshmen will form a very solid frontcourt, and give Orlando Early numerous line-up options. ULM and UNT are the class of the West, and it’s hard to pick against the Mean Green…but UNT has a lot of questions. Early is building a strong program in Monroe and the Warhwks will be near the top of the belt for years to come…including this season.

chrisfisher · October 8, 2007

Another great round-up.... I never realized that ULM was that small a team....

untgeorge · October 9, 2007

LY ULM was running away with the West Div but lost 3 of the last 4, fell into a tie w ArkSt, and lost the #1 seed. They won their 1st game in the conf tournament then lost to UNT. Meaning, they lost 4 of their last 6, and both their wins were over Denver, arguably one of the worst teams in D1. In the conf tournament (the only time I actually saw them) they were lacking a go-to guy and depth, and seemed to lack floor leadership.

So which is the real ULM? The team that was 10-4 in conf at one point in time or the team that finished 2-4?

It's a small team, often playing 4 guards and without a true center. It didn't shoot well (10th in conf). All stats, offense defense and rebounding, were in the middle of the conference. But somehow, for most of the year, they got things done.

But they were young, having only one senior on the squad, thus they have a lot of experience coming back, and they still have possibly their most important asset - coach Orlando Early. Early has been a HC only two seasons but he has eight years as an assistant at Charleston and Alabama; a solid resume. Winning 18 games with a young team with no size and lacking in shooting ability and playing in a new conference is no small accomplishment.

You can expect to see a team with solid fundamentals and which plays solid defense. Perhaps the season ending injury to Brandon Roberts caused their late season decline, if so, they could be a tough out. I am not discounting their favorable press, but it will be interesting to see if the late season decline was a fluke or if the other coaches in the conference just figured them out.

Censored by Laurie · October 9, 2007

LY ULM was running away with the West Div but lost 3 of the last 4, fell into a tie w ArkSt, and lost the #1 seed. They won their 1st game in the conf tournament then lost to UNT. Meaning, they lost 4 of their last 6, and both their wins were over Denver, arguably one of the worst teams in D1. In the conf tournament (the only time I actually saw them) they were lacking a go-to guy and depth, and seemed to lack floor leadership.
So which is the real ULM? The team that was 10-4 in conf at one point in time or the team that finished 2-4?
It's a small team, often playing 4 guards and without a true center. It didn't shoot well (10th in conf). All stats, offense defense and rebounding, were in the middle of the conference. But somehow, for most of the year, they got things done.
But they were young, having only one senior on the squad, thus they have a lot of experience coming back, and they still have possibly their most important asset - coach Orlando Early. Early has been a HC only two seasons but he has eight years as an assistant at Charleston and Alabama; a solid resume. Winning 18 games with a young team with no size and lacking in shooting ability and playing in a new conference is no small accomplishment.
You can expect to see a team with solid fundamentals and which plays solid defense. Perhaps the season ending injury to Brandon Roberts caused their late season decline, if so, they could be a tough out. I am not discounting their favorable press, but it will be interesting to see if the late season decline was a fluke or if the other coaches in the conference just figured them out.

Brandon Roberts' injury was huge...their offense could best be described as a modified Grinnell...they don't shoot well because they take so many 3s...when Roberts is on the floor, he is the undisputed point guard who will find Hooper, Brown and Payne their shots...when he was gone, all three combo guards wanted to play point, and the quality of shot went way down...Hooper got hot late and they tried to ride him. The reason I have them pegged above UNT this year is the improvement in their frontcourt...Nweke boards and defends, Jackson is one of my favorite types of college players...the 6'4" or 6'5" bruising power forward with moves and touch, think P.J. Tucker from UT two seasons ago. Melendez as some talent, but the two freshmen will be impact guys.

untgeorge · October 10, 2007

Brandon Roberts' injury was huge...their offense could best be described as a modified Grinnell...they don't shoot well because they take so many 3s...when Roberts is on the floor, he is the undisputed point guard who will find Hooper, Brown and Payne their shots...when he was gone, all three combo guards wanted to play point, and the quality of shot went way down...Hooper got hot late and they tried to ride him. The reason I have them pegged above UNT this year is the improvement in their frontcourt...Nweke boards and defends, Jackson is one of my favorite types of college players...the 6'4" or 6'5" bruising power forward with moves and touch, think P.J. Tucker from UT two seasons ago. Melendez as some talent, but the two freshmen will be impact guys.

Can't argue with you on the significance of the Brandon Roberts injury, I have never seen him play. I am reminded, however, that we lost KD for a significant part of the season and he had a stomach ailment which affected him in the conference tournament, and others stepped up to carry the team. No one stepped up for ULM, which speaks to their depth and reliance on one player. They were younger than we were, and that could have made the difference.

As to shooting percentages, Troy and USA shoot as many 3s as ULM and had better overall shooting %s. Their shot selection at Lafayette wasn't very good, but as you pointed out that could be related to the Roberts injury as well. A better PG helps create better shots.

ULM is the popular favorite and probably should be, with Roberts and Early and the new players. But don't be surprised if it goes the other way.

I laughed out loud at "modified Grinnel" .... that's a good funny line.

Censored by Laurie · October 10, 2007

Can't argue with you on the significance of the Brandon Roberts injury, I have never seen him play. I am reminded, however, that we lost KD for a significant part of the season and he had a stomach ailment which affected him in the conference tournament, and others stepped up to carry the team. No one stepped up for ULM, which speaks to their depth and reliance on one player. They were younger than we were, and that could have made the difference.
As to shooting percentages, Troy and USA shoot as many 3s as ULM and had better overall shooting %s. Their shot selection at Lafayette wasn't very good, but as you pointed out that could be related to the Roberts injury as well. A better PG helps create better shots.
ULM is the popular favorite and probably should be, with Roberts and Early and the new players. But don't be surprised if it goes the other way.
I laughed out loud at "modified Grinnel" .... that's a good funny line.

Think what would've happened had we lost Ben Bell though...Sturns and KD would've run the point and our offense would've tanked. Had Brown, Payne or Hooper gone down, someone else would've slid in and picked up the scoring slack...but making a score first guy into a distributor is a lot different. Monroe only had 3 games with a full team (Roberts and Jackson together) and went 2-1, the loss a shoot out with WKU.

Shooting stats:

3pt attempts - 798 (1st in SBC); 3pt makes - 287 (1st SBC); 3pt % - 36% (T-6th SBC); FG% - 42.2 (10th SBC); 3pt attempts/FG attempts (798/1874, 43% 1st SBC); points per game - 72.0 (7th SBC)

The points per game is surprisingly low, and I think speaks to their streakiness, but to take the most threes in the conference and finish in the top half in percentage is solid. I wouldn't expect them to lead in 3s again...especially with Troy and USA having such inexperience up front...Early did what he had to last season, his talent was exclusivly in the backcourt. This year will be different with more up front.

untgeorge · October 16, 2007

This topic should be pinned.

Cooley · October 30, 2007

(Information in this team report is as of October 1.)

COACH AND PROGRAM

Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Last Season 18-14 (.563)

Conference Record 11-7 (t-1st)

Starters Lost/Returning 0/5

Coach Orlando Early (Gardner-Webb '90)

Record At School 28-32 (2 years)

Career Record 28-32 (2 years)

RPI Last 5 years 267-271-317-259-200

Orlando Early solved the Sun Belt in short order, but he sees a repeat performance as a taller task. Last season was Early's second on the Louisiana-Monroe bench and the program's first year in the Sun Belt. The quick ascent from the Southland Conference seemed like it might give the Warhawks the bends, especially when considering Early's first team went 6-10 in the Southland. ULM was picked to finish last in its new league. But the Warhawks, with only one starter above 6-3, went 11-7 to tie for first in the West Division and took eventual-champion North Texas to overtime in the league tournament. It was Louisiana-Monroe's best season since it finished 20-12 overall and 15-5 in the Southland in 2002, and included a 14-0 record at home.

The accomplishments weren't lost on Early's contemporaries. Among his five coaching honors were Sun Belt Coach of the Year and the Tommy Joe Eagles Memorial Award, which goes to the Louisiana's top major college coach and is voted on by the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches. Early was also a finalist for the Hugh Durham Mid-Major Coach of the Year. (Winthrop's Gregg Marshall won it.) Early was humbled by all of the attention but found the effort of his players most gratifying. ''I didn't really know what to expect in the Sun Belt, but I knew we had kids willing to compete,'' Early said. ''They deserve the credit.''

Sustaining the success might prove more difficult, even with five starters returning. Early doesn't want to discredit the sweat his players invested in last season or understate the performances of opponents. But he anticipates the Warhawks showing up brighter on the Sun Belt radar during their second go-round. ''There are a lot of good coaches in this league and I don't believe they'd allow their teams to rest or sleep on anyone,'' Early said. ''But I do think there will be a little bit of a dif-ferent mentality where we're concerned, like 'Hey, this team beat us last year.'

Avenging losses will be easier conceived than executed for opponents. The Warhawks' veteran roster is highlighted by 5-11 junior combo-guard Tony Hooper (15.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg). Hooper led the team in steals (1.7) and three-pointers (76), was second in assists (98) and finished with a kick, averaging 26 points in the final four games.

PLAYERS

ULM did a lot of damage from long range last season. The Warhawks made 287 treys and allowed 201 while out-shooting opponents 36 percent to 32.7 percent. Senior Jordan Payne (12.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg), a 6-3 wing, shot 40 percent (60-of-150) from long range. Other returning perimeter threats include 6-3 senior Jonas Brown (12.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and 6-2 senior Lance Brasher (10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg). Brown made 54 treys and Brasher tallied 51 last year while shooting 36 and 38 percent, respectively. Brasher's grit might have best symbolized this Little Engine That Could. He often jockeyed with power forwards despite needing his tip toes to stand as tall as several of his back-court teammates.

''Lance Brasher is basically a 6-3 power forward who doesn't jump as well as some and he's not all that quick,'' Early said. ''But he's tough and he hates to lose.'' Early believes much will hinge on how quickly point guard Brandon Roberts (9.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg), a 6-0 sophomore, returns from an ACL injury that cost him the last four games of the season. Roberts averaged 4.7 assists and shot 42.9 percent from three-point range.

The true frontcourt player with experience is 6-7 junior Afam Nweke (5.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg). He should get help right away from a pair of freshmen, 6-7 Mitchell Hampton and 6-8 Raphelle Turner. Hampton averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game for the Ouachita (La.) High School, and had scholarship offers from, among many others, Auburn and Ole Miss of the Southeastern Conference. Last season Hampton led Ouachita to the Class 4A state championship game.

''I believe Mitchell Hampton really, really has a chance to be a special player,'' Early said. ''He's a great athlete and has a lot of skills.'' Turner averaged 13 points and 12 rebounds last season for Peabody High School in Alexandria, La.

''He's a really good athlete and he's really strong,'' Early said. ''He should be able to bang and get rebounds right away.''

The addition of Hampton and Turner might leave taller players absorbing more of the minutes.

''We will have to adjust our roles some,'' Early said, ''but I think the beauty of these guys is that they really want to do whatever it takes to win. We try and recruit guys who are used to winning.'' Others returning in the frontcourt are 6-8 senior Dalky Melendez (3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and 6-8 sophomore Nathaniel Roche (1.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg).

Early is also excited about the addition of 6-3 freshman Sei Paye. The combo guard averaged approximately 20 points, five assists and five rebounds while shooting 54 percent from three-point range as a senior at Strake Jesuit in Houston.

Early was thankful to have a summer trip for exhibition games in Costa Rica. Such excursions often yield a head start on chemistry. ''Those ten extra days of practice mean more than anything,'' Early said.

Louisiana-Monroe thrived in tight spots last season. The eleven league wins during the regular season came compliments of a 5-0 mark in games decided by six points or less and a 2-0 record in overtime games. ''I thought we played with poise for the most part,'' Early said, ''and we had some things go our way.'' Early won't have the luxury of small expectations. Anything less than 11 victories in the league would be grounds for disappointment. Certainly, the Warhawks look better on paper.

''We don't approach it like we need to win a certain amount of games or finish at a certain place in the standings,'' Early said. ''The Sun Belt has a lot of its top players returning. We just try to focus on the process of getting better every day.''

A sophomore jinx in the Sun Belt doesn't look likely. If Roberts returns to form and Hampton is as good as advertised, the Warhawks should maintain their foothold near the top of the league.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS

BACKCOURT: A

BENCH/DEPTH: B

FRONTCOURT: B-

INTANGIBLES: A-