Hofstra Pride
2019-2020 Overall Rank: #129
Conference Rank: #3 CAA
Hofstra won the CAA last year, but had to settle for a short trip to the NIT after falling to Northeastern in the conference tournament final. The expectations are still high, but the Pride will certainly miss Justin Wright-Foreman. Wright-Foreman was the nation’s second leading scorer, averaging 27.0 points per game, and no team would have an easy time replacing that much production.
2018-19 Record: 27-8, 15-3
2018-19 Postseason: NIT
Coach: Joe Mihalich
Coach Record: 115-84 at Hofstra, 380-287 overall
Key Departed Players:
Justin Wright-Foreman, Guard, 27.1 ppg
Jacquil Taylor, Forward, 8.5 ppg
Dan Dwyer, Forward, 2.2 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Eli Pemberton, Senior, Guard, 15.0 ppg
Desure Buie, Senior, Guard, 10.7 ppg
Tareq Coburn, Senior, Guard, 8.4 ppg
Jalen Ray, Guard, Junior, 7.7 ppg
Stafford Trueheart, Senior, Forward, 2.8 ppg
Key New Players:
Caleb Burgess, Freshman, Guard
Jermaine Miranda, Freshman, Guard
Hal Hughes, RS Sophomore, Forward
Kvonn Cramer, Freshman, Forward
Isaac Kante, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Georgia
Omar Silverio, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer from Rhode Island, not eligible
Projection:
Four returning perimeter players will help ease the loss of Wright-Foreman. Eli Pemberton is the team’s top returning scorer, averaging 15.0 points per game. Desure Buie averaged 10.7 points per game and added a team high 5.2 assists. Tareq Coburn and Jalen Ray are both prolific and efficient outside shooters. Those two will have to keep up their impressive shooting percentage while taking more shots to help replace Wright-Foreman’s production. The backcourt also adds freshman Caleb Burgess who will provide some much needed depth at point guard. The frontcourt lost Jacquil Taylor, who played very well with four guards around him. Stafford Trueheart and a few newcomers will look to fill the void. Isaac Kante, a transfer from Georgia, has the most potential. He barely played as a freshman with the Bulldogs, but the 6-7 sophomore is a tough player who should at least be able to work hard on the glass. However, if the frontcourt cannot play solid defense and equal Taylor’s production in the rebounding department, Hofstra will take a step back.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 83.4 (7th in nation, 1st in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.9 (216, 5)
Field-Goal Percentage: 48.6 (15, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 45.2 (261, 4)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.8 (67, 3)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.5 (15, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 80.2 (2, 1)
Rebound Margin: 0.4 (179, 6)
Assists Per Game: 14.1 (120, 6)
Turnovers Per Game: 9.8 (9, 1)
