West Florida begins year two of the Bob Stinnett Era on November 12 when they travel to Orlando for a match-up against NCAA Division I opponent UCF. The Knights hail from Conference USA and posted a 15-17 record last season and won their opening game in the Conference USA Tournament.
DIVISION I HISTORY
The Argonauts are 0-1 all-time against UCF and 48-77 all-time against current members of NCAA Division I. UWF’s last Division I match-up was on November 22, 2006, a 91-71 loss to South Alabama.
STINNETT PRESSES RESET ON UWF PROGRAM
UWF will begin the 2010-11 season by fielding almost a completely different roster than they had last season. Only two players that saw game action in 2009-10, Peter Connole and Keldric White, are back this season, while Darryl McGhee and Nate Johnson return after redshirting last year. The Argonauts return only 8.7% of their scoring from last season.
ARGOS PICKED 4TH IN GSC EAST
Despite the turnover, West Florida was picked 4th out of six teams in the Gulf South Conference East Division Preseason Coaches Poll. Despite turning over almost their entire roster, UWF was picked ahead of West Georgia and West Alabama by the East’s six head coaches.
McGHEE EARNS ALL-GSC NOD
Returning senior forward Darryl McGhee is a large part of the reason why UWF is picked 4th in this season’s GSC East race. McGhee sat out 2009-10 with an injury but is healthy again and representing the Argonauts on the 2010-11 Preseason East Division All-Conference team.
DIAL IN THE DEFENSE
If West Florida is going to improve on their 11-14 record from last season, addressing their defensive deficiencies will be key. The Argonauts allowed 78.8 ppg last season, 13th out of 14 teams in the Gulf South Conference. Opponents shot 45.% against UWF last season, placing them 11th in field goal % defense in the GSC.
PUT IT IN PETER’S HAND
Sophomore guard Peter Connole is West Florida’s lone returning starter from last season, and he will be counted on heavily this time around. Connole averaged 6.1 ppg and 3.2 rpg last season and scored in double-figures on five occasions. However, like most second-year players, he must improve his consistency; Connole scored two or fewer points on seven occasions as a rookie.
FAULKNER STATE CONNECTION
Coach Stinnett is importing three transfers from Faulkner State Community College this season, and each one should play a big role for the Argos. Jamar Moore scored a team-high 18.3 points while pulling down 8.3 rpg per game last season for Faulkner State, leading the team to a 22-9 record. He topped the 30-point plateau two different times as a sophomore. Moore’s FSCC teammates, Jamel Brazeal and Anthony Sims, averaged 10.5 and 10.4 ppg respectively, with Brazeal knocking down nearly 38% of his three-point field goal attempts. Argonaut Assistant Coach Wade Anderson coached at Faulkner State from 2005-2007, and GA Kenny Holmes played there as well, from 2004-06.
DIVISION I TALENT
The Argonauts welcome two transfers from NCAA Division I programs to Pensacola. Terrance Beasley played for Stinnett at Pensacola High School as a senior before heading to Tulane last season. He averaged 1.8 ppg in 25 appearances last season, with a high of nine-points against Marshall.
Mike Lewis, meanwhile, played two seasons at Eastern Kentucky, including participating in the College Basketball Invitational postseason tournament last year. Lewis played 42 games for the Colonels, and he earned Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week honors after contributing 11 points against BIG EAST opponent Cincinnati on December 20, 2008.
UP NEXT: THE LAST FRONTIER
The Argos head to Fairbanks, Alaska for their next slate of games, at the 2010 Alaska Invitational. The men’s basketball team is the third UWF team to make an Alaskan trip in the last four seasons; the volleyball team made the trip in 2007 and women’s basketball played in Alaska last season. UWF will face Arkansas-Fort Smith, King and Alaska-Fairbanks at the event, which starts on November 18.
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